Does the $20 sandwich trick work in other cities?

This worked in San Diego for me.

Quote from ThePug : This worked in San Diego for me.

New B here! What's that trick people?

Quote from vas0122 : New B here! What's that trick people?

Give the guy who takes your bags up to the room a $20 bill or give it to the people who are checking you in at the same time you're paying for the room to try to get a cheap upgrade.

I have heard of people using it in Atlantic City (presumably not on a Friday or Saturday night), but it isn't exactly as common or as easy to do anyplace outside of Vegas.

http://www.thetwentydollartrick.com/

http://thetwentydollartrick.com/Hotels/

http://www.frontdesktip.com/

http://www.frontdesktip.com/las-vegas/tropicana/

I already have a premium room booked at ShowBoat, but if it's just you and the desk clerk, I would be OK with asking Does the $20 trick work here?

Some people reporting success using it in Atlantic City:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTo...ersey.html

Oh damn. Its the new name of bribing! iLike. Will try this month end long weekend

My favorite one so far:

http://thetwentydollartrick.com/H...allys.html

I had a comped room to Bally's in AC for Mon & Tues, 9/12/11 & 9/13/11. $20 trick got me upgraded to a 2 room suite on the 46th floor of the Bally's Tower with views of the ocean and the city. Spent monday night in the jacuzzi watching Monday Night Football on the TV in the bathroom! I am just a gold status rewards card holder.

you'll have a better chance of getting the trick to work if

a. you're spending a few days as opposed to an entire week
b. you're NOT booking for the weekend/major holidays
c. you're booking a room on a weekday/ off-season.

P.S- i Stayed at Bally's, was meeting my girlfriend after 6 months. She was flying later in the evening from London. They had champagne and flowers sent to our room. Oh and they upgraded us to an amazing deluxe room with a beautiful view of the Bellagio fountains and the strip. They even waived the internet fee off of our bill.

Anyhoo... Anybody tried this in NYC or Boston?

I'm not too sure this is going to work there.. I think it's more of a Vegas thing...

Long time hotel person here. I used to manage an Internationally well known high end 2000+ room hotel in NYC and the problem in most hotels is that the rooms oversell but the suites lay vacant. In order to sell out a smart manager / Front Desk Manager will look to upgrade people. These are the things that would get you an upgrade:

1. If you're paying a corporate rate or better, spending just 1-2 nights, and slip the clerk a $50 (it's NYC after all, $20 is pittance) This criteria could get you a suite at the corporate rate if one's available.
2. If you're paying a decent rate (no net rates, i.e. Orbitz, Hotwire, Priceline, or group tour rates), staying just a few nights (not more than 3), are very friendly to the desk clerk and slip them $50.
3. If you have a genuine problem in your room and you're very nice about your complaint. In this circumstance skip the desk clerk, ask for a manager or assistant manager.

Overall, be nice. If you're nasty to a desk clerk in NYC you may find yourself in a room up against an elevator (my fave revenge was to put them in a room next to the elevator used by 24hr room service) or the AC units, or an ice machine, or in a room where the door hits the bed and the window is barely a 1' portal. Squeaky wheels don't always get the oil. Sometimes they get kicked.

Quote from brainofkjf : Long time hotel person here. I used to manage an Internationally well known high end 2000+ room hotel in NYC and the problem in most hotels is that the rooms oversell but the suites lay vacant. In order to sell out a smart manager / Front Desk Manager will look to upgrade people. These are the things that would get you an upgrade: 1. If you're paying a corporate rate or better, spending just 1-2 nights, and slip the clerk a $50 (it's NYC after all, $20 is pittance) This criteria could get you a suite at the corporate rate if one's available. 2. If you're paying a decent rate (no net rates, i.e. Orbitz, Hotwire, Priceline, or group tour rates), staying just a few nights (not more than 3), are very friendly to the desk clerk and slip them $50. 3. If you have a genuine problem in your room and you're very nice about your complaint. In this circumstance skip the desk clerk, ask for a manager or assistant manager. Overall, be nice. If you're nasty to a desk clerk in NYC you may find yourself in a room up against an elevator (my fave revenge was to put them in a room next to the elevator used by 24hr room service) or the AC units, or an ice machine, or in a room where the door hits the bed and the window is barely a 1' portal. Squeaky wheels don't always get the oil. Sometimes they get kicked.

Thanks for the tip!

Quote from brainofkjf : Long time hotel person here. I used to manage an Internationally well known high end 2000+ room hotel in NYC and the problem in most hotels is that the rooms oversell but the suites lay vacant. In order to sell out a smart manager / Front Desk Manager will look to upgrade people. These are the things that would get you an upgrade: 1. If you're paying a corporate rate or better, spending just 1-2 nights, and slip the clerk a $50 (it's NYC after all, $20 is pittance) This criteria could get you a suite at the corporate rate if one's available. 2. If you're paying a decent rate (no net rates, i.e. Orbitz, Hotwire, Priceline, or group tour rates), staying just a few nights (not more than 3), are very friendly to the desk clerk and slip them $50. 3. If you have a genuine problem in your room and you're very nice about your complaint. In this circumstance skip the desk clerk, ask for a manager or assistant manager. Overall, be nice. If you're nasty to a desk clerk in NYC you may find yourself in a room up against an elevator (my fave revenge was to put them in a room next to the elevator used by 24hr room service) or the AC units, or an ice machine, or in a room where the door hits the bed and the window is barely a 1' portal. Squeaky wheels don't always get the oil. Sometimes they get kicked.

Very nice tip
Thanks Op!!

but for $50 you might even get an upgrade on expedia or orbitz

Quote from nutcr0cker : but for $50 you might even get an upgrade on expedia or orbitz

I was thinking about this one as well, since for $20 or so a room upgrade is possible just the same sometimes. I've seen rooms at ShowBoat losted for $5/night for an upgrade (New Orleans VS Orleans rooms)

Quote from brainofkjf : Long time hotel person here. I used to manage an Internationally well known high end 2000+ room hotel in NYC and the problem in most hotels is that the rooms oversell but the suites lay vacant. In order to sell out a smart manager / Front Desk Manager will look to upgrade people. These are the things that would get you an upgrade: 1. If you're paying a corporate rate or better, spending just 1-2 nights, and slip the clerk a $50 (it's NYC after all, $20 is pittance) This criteria could get you a suite at the corporate rate if one's available. 2. If you're paying a decent rate (no net rates, i.e. Orbitz, Hotwire, Priceline, or group tour rates), staying just a few nights (not more than 3), are very friendly to the desk clerk and slip them $50. 3. If you have a genuine problem in your room and you're very nice about your complaint. In this circumstance skip the desk clerk, ask for a manager or assistant manager. Overall, be nice. If you're nasty to a desk clerk in NYC you may find yourself in a room up against an elevator (my fave revenge was to put them in a room next to the elevator used by 24hr room service) or the AC units, or an ice machine, or in a room where the door hits the bed and the window is barely a 1' portal. Squeaky wheels don't always get the oil. Sometimes they get kicked.

Thanks for the nice tip.
But I used a $30 sandwich even in NYC and got a suite for a single night...lol