What is the $20 Trick? Is it real? Does it really work? What in the world am I talking about? Those are some of the questions I’m asked when I mention the $20 Trick. Even after answering those questions, I still get a reaction mixed with doubt and disbelief. In short, the $20 trick is method to getting very travel hack to get upgrades at hotels. This article is everything that you need to know about the $20 Trick!
Table of Contents
What is the $20 Trick?
Obviously in order to check-in to a hotel, you’ll need to present your credit card and identification. The first step to pulling off the $20 trick is to slip a folded $20 bill (of course) between your ID and credit card. The front desk host will likely set it aside. When they do, you should make your intentions clear – ask for an upgrade. Do not demand one!
What You Should Know Before Trying
When attempting the $20 Trick, you should not try it without some due diligence. You need to know a few things:
- What kind of room did you book?
- What do you want to end up with if you succeed?
- What rooms are available?
Why should you know what you booked? The cheapest rooms aren’t always the worst rooms. You’ll want to know what you have reserved so you will be able to know how what you get compares to it.
Why do you want to know what you want to end up with? As with many things in life, it’s good to know what you want. With regards to the $20 trick, it doesn’t hurt to be specific. So doing a few minutes of research and knowing what kind of rooms a hotel has would aid that.
Why should you know what rooms are available? This is simple. Let’s say you want to stay in a corner suite at the Aria. If you ask for a corner suite and there isn’t one available, they may not offer you an alternative.
Does This Really Work?
Allow me to be snarky and answer that by asking a question. Would I really be spending time to write this if it weren’t real or didn’t work? Of course not! So yes, this does work. Does it work every time? No. Does it work everywhere? Not at all. When it doesn’t work, you’ll likely have your $20 returned to you. On rare occasions will they keep your bribe tip without giving you an upgrade.
The $20 Trick works at places where tipping is not just customary but also expected. While there may be other places the $20 trick will work, it is most common in Las Vegas. In fact, it works most of the time at most hotels. That depends on how vacant the hotel is. Keep in mind that vacancy in Las Vegas is quite seasonal and higher during the week.
Conclusion
MYTH: CONFIRMED…with a technicality.
While it’s possible for the $20 Trick to work outside of Las Vegas, it is fairly unlikely. It is more likely that it will work if you follow the steps above. In Las Vegas, you should find yourself getting some kind of upgrade roughly 75% of the time.
Here’s what one of my friends said about it recently!
https://twitter.com/bigmalx/status/932796626648760320
Aim high. Don’t be afraid of tipping more than $20 if there is a very nice room available. Jeanne at LeChicGeek once tipped $100 and almost got a villa at the Bellagio!
Have you tried the $20 Trick? If so, what kind of upgrade did you get? Share your experiences below and while you’re at it, check out the latest hotel rates in Las Vegas!
I’ve done it more than once. Also at concerts. It has never failed me.
Good to know – I’m happy to hear it has worked well for you. What has been your experience at concerts?
I once did $20 at the Trump hotel in Vegas. We booked the basic room and because of how busy it was during the summer, I understood why they were going slow. I was trying to be nice to the front desk to let them know they’re doing a really good job considering the lack of staff they had that day and they were happy to know their hard work was noticed. I slipped the $20 between my card and ID and they upgraded us to a 1 bedroom suite with a view with a kitchenette, living room, a guest bathroom, and an en suite bathroom complete with a dual shower and hot tub. Moral of the story: be nice to hard working people and tip them 🙂
That’s wonderful, Paula! Hope you had a good stay.
LOL! I don’t think I have the courage to do this! 😀
What a cool trick! I am going to try this next time I go somewhere 🙂 Thank you for coming to Fly Away Friday! See you tomorrow!
Haha! I have to laugh because I’ve worked in hospitality for 8+ years and in my opinion, I would say most agents wouldn’t do it for you especially if they have strict General Managers or Front Office Directors (which I was both and very strict :P). I would have busted this myth for ya! Thanks for joining Fly Away Friday, hope to see you again this week! xo
Kana, I completely understand! I think there’s a good reason it only really works in Las Vegas. There are multiple teams of people that can “sell” any hotel room for almost any price. That isn’t the case almost anywhere else.
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I’ve never heard of this trick but obviously it’s a thing among travelers. Maybe when too many people start doing it, the people at the desk will be less likely to accept the bribe… umh… tip. Or just on the contrary! lol
Yeah, I don’t foresee it stopping anytime soon. Even if more people do it, then it might not work for more people but I still see it working for many.
AHHAHAHAHHA this is is cool! I haven’t tried this before but would definitely try in the future.. I hope it will work lol. Thanks for sharing…
Love that you wrote about this! I have never done this but I have asked for upgrades. Sometimes when you just ask and ask the right person you get one. But I’m sure a 20.00 bill or more wouldn’t hurt 🙂
Haha I seriously never heard of the 20$ trick, but it sounds like a great idea! I will defo keep this in mind for our trip to the USA, and particularly to Las Vegas.
Interesting trick. So when they charge you for the upgrade?
I’ve only tried the $20 upgrade trick twice in my life. IMO, it’s kinda ballsy and the perfect opportunity rarely presents itself (an unusually slow day of business or no one else on line). That said, on both occasions I was successful: Chicago O’hare AVIS and The Belliago in Vegas … Avis Upgrade from “standard 4 door” to BMW 5 series, lower level Belliago standard room with fountain view to upper floor 2 bedroom suite w/ oversize hot tub, tv in the bathroom glass, “executive desk”, and an impressive panoramic view overlooking the fountain. My only “tips” … arrive as late as you can in the evening and project confidence at check-in counter.