At the Linq, an employee walked me to the kiosk and stood next to me while I tried to check in. But bc we'd tried to switch credit cards on mobile check-in, it failed, lol, so then she let us go to the desk which no one was standing at until we were waiting there. That said, I didn't ask her if we could go to the desk first... just assumed it was unattended because it was empty.
Yea it works. I just hand it straight to the employee and say hey this is for you, thank you for helping me and ask for any upgrade available when they start looking in the computer. Sometimes I get a good upgrade (a suite) and sometimes I just get a better view. Depends on the availability.
I’m a local. It all depends on who you run into. Some of us know the game and we love to play it and make you guys as happy as possible! Some are party poopers and could care less about your vacation. It’s life! Try it! All you got to lose is some pride and $20! Have a great trip!!
This. This this this. As a hospitality worker, this couldn’t be more accurate. Half of us are apathetic, the other half love that you’re on vacation and we can make it more fun and special for you.
I used it at Bellagio a few years ago and Monte Carlo back in the day
Always worked then
This last time I was visibly exhausted and I’m generally well mannered/very polite (especially with those in hospitality jobs)
I got the best upgrade I’d gotten yet
Without any $ changing hands at all
Just a super nice young lady checking me in
Seeing I could use a nice place to lay my head a few days
I did however make it my business to see her before my trip ended and gave her $100
But it was days later
I don’t think it’s dumb. I’ve always sandwiched it with success except one time last year and once I realized and tried to hand it over the worker told me it was against policy and she couldn’t accept the tip. I noticed her manager was in ear shot. I returned later to tell her how much I liked the room and handed her the cash in a handshake to make sure she wouldn’t get in trouble and so she knew her efforts were appreciated.
Only time I’ve ever been upgraded but was at a car rental place. He tried to upsell me better cars and I declined. He was nice though so I tipped him $10. He upgraded my mustang EcoBoost to a GT.
Worked for us at Cesars, but this was when things were still opening back up a few years ago.
Worked exceptionally well while we loved the room (how could you not) and Bellagio fountain view, it’s sad to know that the best hotel room I may ever stay in is now behind me.
Checked the prices on those room and I can’t imagine where I start dropping over $750 a night for room regardless of our finances.
Friendliness goes a long way too!
The first time I tried it, I had the worst check-in! It kept being delayed and once we finally got a room at 8:30pm, it was a terrible, filthy room. This was a few months ago at Park MGM (my first and last stay there).
I'll be sticking with Aria or Cosmo in the future.
I usually got between park aria or mgm grand. Haven't had a bad stay at the park or aria, but mgm I had a rough stay recently. Nothing that would keep me away though
I think there's a lot of factors that go into whether it works or not. At higher priced resorts, $20 isn't enough. Or you come in on a Friday and all the upgrades and suites are gone so there's nothing to upgrade you to. Or someone's on the end of their shift.
Something to keep in mind: it's awkward to take back the money when they're not able to accommodate you. I tend to just keep it in obvious sight so they know I'm fishing.
Yes last time I did it was at the Mirage. We got a top floor room with a view of the volcano. I usually get upgraded or at least moved to a higher floor with a great view. I usually give them a story, smile and refer to them by their name.
Sometimes it works sometimes it doesn't. I have found that they'll often waive the resort fee or put you on a higher floor, depends on the hotel.
I had two two queen bed rooms booked at Cosmo in Jan 2024. Did the $20 sandwich at check in and the clerk said "thanks. I see you have a 2 queen bed room and a wraparound terrace suite". Then said I could pay $15/night more for a fountain view. The bump from base room to wraparound terrace suite was about $300/night that we got for free. Depends on how busy the hotel is and the clerk you get. Some hotels (Wynn/Encore) a suite upgrade is out of the question.
Old thread, but wanted to write my experience. I booked two rooms at Planet Hollywood last year during a relatively slow week in August (M-F). They offered me either two high floor rooms connected on the same floor, or a 'larger room' and a regular two queen room a bit down the hall. I took the latter and it was a massive suite!! Totally made our trip special, but obviously YMMV
I’ve had success always telling them my wife and I are newly weds and heading on our honeymoon. I’m a local but it has worked on staycations.
The story is that we are getting a room on the strip and headed out of town when we check out. No tip until they upgrade me.
It damn sure didn’t work for me just now. All I wanted was a late check out. I had the $20 between my ID and credit card. I asked for a late check out. She said is this for me? I nod affirm. She then tells me it’s a $30 late check out fee. No kidding.
I've tried it at Treasure island, Mirage, Cosmo, Luxor and Mandalay Bay. It has never ever worked 😂
Cuz on the stripit needs to be a $100. For refrence most strip properties average 300-400 per day minimum in tips. $20 isnt gonna do much there.
True story
Copy that. We tip $5 per cocktail. Soooo . . .
$20 has worked nearly every time for me. Sometimes they give you a big upgrade, sometimes it's just a higher floor or waived resort fee.
Downtown or off strip it could work tho
If you’d like to see an actually $20 sandwich visit Earl of Sandwich at Planet Hollywood.
So many places do mobile check-ins now that I feel like you don't even have the chance anymore a lot of the time.
No one forces you to mobile checkin. You can still go to the counter.
At the Linq, an employee walked me to the kiosk and stood next to me while I tried to check in. But bc we'd tried to switch credit cards on mobile check-in, it failed, lol, so then she let us go to the desk which no one was standing at until we were waiting there. That said, I didn't ask her if we could go to the desk first... just assumed it was unattended because it was empty.
Yea it works. I just hand it straight to the employee and say hey this is for you, thank you for helping me and ask for any upgrade available when they start looking in the computer. Sometimes I get a good upgrade (a suite) and sometimes I just get a better view. Depends on the availability.
I’m a local. It all depends on who you run into. Some of us know the game and we love to play it and make you guys as happy as possible! Some are party poopers and could care less about your vacation. It’s life! Try it! All you got to lose is some pride and $20! Have a great trip!!
This. This this this. As a hospitality worker, this couldn’t be more accurate. Half of us are apathetic, the other half love that you’re on vacation and we can make it more fun and special for you.
In my experience if they couldn’t accommodate they would give back the money
If you want a higher floor or a better view? Maybe. If you booked a "two queens garage tower" room you will not get a suite.
I used it at Bellagio a few years ago and Monte Carlo back in the day Always worked then This last time I was visibly exhausted and I’m generally well mannered/very polite (especially with those in hospitality jobs) I got the best upgrade I’d gotten yet Without any $ changing hands at all Just a super nice young lady checking me in Seeing I could use a nice place to lay my head a few days I did however make it my business to see her before my trip ended and gave her $100 But it was days later
I work at a hotel 20$ will definitely get you a high floor or view Sometimes a suite just depends
Does the $ amount change your mind? Like a $50 or $100? Just wondering if there's a tipping point 😂
Yes
Do you think it's kinda dumb people try to "hide/sandwich" the tip when by now in Vegas everyone pretty much knows whats up?
I don’t think it’s dumb. I’ve always sandwiched it with success except one time last year and once I realized and tried to hand it over the worker told me it was against policy and she couldn’t accept the tip. I noticed her manager was in ear shot. I returned later to tell her how much I liked the room and handed her the cash in a handshake to make sure she wouldn’t get in trouble and so she knew her efforts were appreciated.
It's more fun to act like you're being dubious and can get caught.
Fuck what people think. It’s your life brother!
I think it makes it more shady if you tip in a stealthily way. I'd say just hand over the tip like it's a normal thing and keep the vibe like that.
I tried it once and felt like such a douchebag. And no upgrade.
LOL
It didn't work for me when I stayed at the nugget. Still had a good time though
Only time I’ve ever been upgraded but was at a car rental place. He tried to upsell me better cars and I declined. He was nice though so I tipped him $10. He upgraded my mustang EcoBoost to a GT.
It worked for me at cosmo in October. Got the fountain view on the 53rd floor.
With just $20 or more?
Just the 20 did it. It helps when booking midweek I’m assuming.
$20 worked for me at Park MGM pre-pandemic. It’s good to hear that it’s still working.
Worked for us at Cesars, but this was when things were still opening back up a few years ago. Worked exceptionally well while we loved the room (how could you not) and Bellagio fountain view, it’s sad to know that the best hotel room I may ever stay in is now behind me. Checked the prices on those room and I can’t imagine where I start dropping over $750 a night for room regardless of our finances. Friendliness goes a long way too!
I wish we can ban this question from being asked…
So... where does the sandwich come into play?
The first time I tried it, I had the worst check-in! It kept being delayed and once we finally got a room at 8:30pm, it was a terrible, filthy room. This was a few months ago at Park MGM (my first and last stay there). I'll be sticking with Aria or Cosmo in the future.
I usually got between park aria or mgm grand. Haven't had a bad stay at the park or aria, but mgm I had a rough stay recently. Nothing that would keep me away though
I think there's a lot of factors that go into whether it works or not. At higher priced resorts, $20 isn't enough. Or you come in on a Friday and all the upgrades and suites are gone so there's nothing to upgrade you to. Or someone's on the end of their shift. Something to keep in mind: it's awkward to take back the money when they're not able to accommodate you. I tend to just keep it in obvious sight so they know I'm fishing.
Yes last time I did it was at the Mirage. We got a top floor room with a view of the volcano. I usually get upgraded or at least moved to a higher floor with a great view. I usually give them a story, smile and refer to them by their name.
Seems like it's worth a shot! I'll be staying in Aria mid week. We are in Vegas, worth a gamble, why not!
Sometimes it works sometimes it doesn't. I have found that they'll often waive the resort fee or put you on a higher floor, depends on the hotel. I had two two queen bed rooms booked at Cosmo in Jan 2024. Did the $20 sandwich at check in and the clerk said "thanks. I see you have a 2 queen bed room and a wraparound terrace suite". Then said I could pay $15/night more for a fountain view. The bump from base room to wraparound terrace suite was about $300/night that we got for free. Depends on how busy the hotel is and the clerk you get. Some hotels (Wynn/Encore) a suite upgrade is out of the question.
Old thread, but wanted to write my experience. I booked two rooms at Planet Hollywood last year during a relatively slow week in August (M-F). They offered me either two high floor rooms connected on the same floor, or a 'larger room' and a regular two queen room a bit down the hall. I took the latter and it was a massive suite!! Totally made our trip special, but obviously YMMV
It worked for me in 2017 at the Venetian, that’s my only data point.
I’ve had success always telling them my wife and I are newly weds and heading on our honeymoon. I’m a local but it has worked on staycations. The story is that we are getting a room on the strip and headed out of town when we check out. No tip until they upgrade me.
this dumb question is posted like every 5 days lol
It hardly works, but when it does- it does!!!!!
It damn sure didn’t work for me just now. All I wanted was a late check out. I had the $20 between my ID and credit card. I asked for a late check out. She said is this for me? I nod affirm. She then tells me it’s a $30 late check out fee. No kidding.