The $20 trick

I've read quite a bit about the $20 trick (Google it if you've not heard of it) being used in Las Vegas to get a better hotel room, but all the web forums have gone very quiet on this method recently.

Does anyone know if the practice is still alive and well in Las Vegas, or is it one of those things that have disappeared from people's modus operandi, and isn't the done thing any more?

Thanks!

I'm sure this was asked very recently and the answer given (by someone who lives and works in Vegas) was that

+ it no longer works and certainly not in the reputable hotels

+ that staff can be dismissed if they are caught - there are plenty of cameras

+ room allocations and changes to room allocations are monitored so staff would have to justify someone getting a better room than booked

+ fired staff are essentially blacklisted by other hotels (they do talk to each other) so would find it difficult to work in the hotel trade again

I did do a search and couldn't find anything (promise).

Thanks for the info. I'll save the $20 bill for the craps table!

y)

Tried loads of times, has always been pushed back with a "sorry, none available", which is fine as so long as it has a decent bed, shower, aircon, I really spend no time in it to worry about it.

Book the room you want and then you will not be disappointed. I suspect the $20 trick was a victim of it's own success and once the word was out, everyone was doing it.

I do get the feeling (from reading some Vegas hotel threads on forums elsewhere) that some Americans think biggest is best but personally I don't like over large rooms.

However I love a huge bath! Rooms that are shower-only are very disappointing.

The best bet is AMEX-FHR not the $20 trick - pretty much guaranteed an upgrade on the AMEX rates at many properties.

[Neil]

The best bet is AMEX-FHR not the $20 trick - pretty much guaranteed an upgrade on the AMEX rates at many properties.

Providing you can justify the £450pa fee to get you a card that allows access to FHR rates, of course.

The best bet is AMEX-FHR not the $20 trick - pretty much guaranteed an upgrade on the AMEX rates at many properties.

Really? This is the first time I've actually heard this said...

I've got business plat, and would consider using it to book an occasional hotel (off my expenses) if there was a reasonable, never mind guaranteed chance of upgrade...

I use FHR a lot on my hotel bookings, and always in Vegas. Every time we've been upgraded. It's not just the room upgrades but things like the free breakfasts and late checkout that mount up to sizeable financial & practical benefits. For me though the best benefit of the Plat Card is Priority Pass, we use it loads in Europe when doing trips on EZY or other short haul carriers - been years since I paid for food or drink at an airport