So, What is the Twenty Dollar Trick?
The twenty dollar bill trick is sweeping the travel industry and becoming extremely popular, especially in Las Vegas. When you check into a hotel you simply slip the front desk clerk a $20 bill with your credit card, while asking "Do you have any complimentary upgrades available?". The general rule of thumb is that the front desk clerk will check for upgrades and if they cannot find anything they will return the $20 tip, making it risk free!
For more information, read our $20 Trick FAQ.
Have you ever tried the $20 Trick? Tell us about it.
Our users have been upgraded 78.3% of the time!
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Alex (Jun 10, 09) - SUCCESS (Standard Suite with a View, Late Checkout (2 pm)) The hotel was pretty packed this weekend, and initially the hotel clerk was apologetic and said she didn't have any rooms to upgrade us to, but she would if she could. We said we understood and chatted with her, and after a few minutes she went to the back to see if there was anything she could do. She ended up finding a room with a partial strip view towards Trump, and a nice view of the pool. |  |
Chris (Jun 7, 09) - SUCCESS (Handicap Accessible/Fountain View) I was leery of actually using the $20 dollar trick at such a nice place. I didn't need to give a CC because I booked through a website and it was paid so I just gave my ID and put the $20 on the counter, under my hand but made sure that he could see it. Asked for "free" upgrades to a fountain view.
I wholly expected him to say nothing available but he looked and asked us if we were ok with a handicapped accessible room with a partial fountain view. We said sure and room was great with an actual full fountain view. We were in the new SPA tower so not right on the fountains but they were in full view. I'd recommend trying this wholly. |  |
Ttone (Jun 7, 09) - SUCCESS (Deluxe Strip View)
This worked like a charm. Could of had a suite but opted for the renovated room. Extremely pleasant and helpful clerk.Upgrade to strip view and line passes for the week. |  |
k (Jun 7, 09) - SUCCESS (sky view suite) IT WORKED!!! i read about this a few nights before we left for vegas and thought "what the heck. it cant hurt to try it". We handed $20 to the young man checking us in, and asked about an upgrade. He said "hold on just a minute" and walked over to talk his manager for a minute. Came back to let us know they were negative on the bigger suites at mandalay but they were trying to find something. We were offered an upgraded suite in "the hotel" and after we checked in, we decided we would rather have the sky view at mandalay. We went back down to front desk and the woman that we spoke to had us cheked in to sky view within 10 minutes. We loved our room!! a $120 upgrade for $20. thanks guys. IT WORKS!! they seem to really want the $20 so they will do it if they can. |  |
WS (Jun 7, 09) - SUCCESS (Palace Tower Suite) Flight was delayed into Vegas so I called ahead to let them know I will be arriving late out of courtesy. Checked in to Caesars at about 830pm. My girlfriend and I were the only ones checking in. Young (early 20s) female checked us in. As I handed her $20 showing between ID and credit card I asked if there were any "complimentary upgrades" she didn't even see the $20 and checked for anything available. There was a "smoking optional" (only downside) 800sq ft suite available. When she looked up to see if I wanted it and saw the $20 she automatically pushed it back but I insisted she take it anyway. The suite had a king bed, sofa, flat screen tv, glass enclosed double shower, jacuzzi tub, his and her bathrooms, make-up area, view of the pool on the 26th floor. Anything above that were the card-accessed suites. $20 trick definitely worked! |
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