Hotel: Bellagio
Date: Sat 10/31-09 - Tues 11/3/09
Time: 1:00PM
Airport or Hotel Check-in: Hotel
Clerk Gender: Female
Clerk Age Aprox.: late 30's
Tip Amount: $20
Success?: Yes
Reserved Room: Deluxe Room via TI website 3rd night free offer
Upgraded To: Fountain View

How It Happened: Arrived at the hotel and had previously sandwiched the $20 between my ID and credit card. Lobby was FULL. Smiled at the attendant and confirmed I was checking in. I asked if there were any upgrades available and she said. Let me check for you. After a few moments she told me the Hotel was booked, but if I could wait an hour, she would view the checkouts for the day. We went to explore the hotel and she called me on the my cell phone to tell me that the rooms were ready, and she gave us upgrades to the Fountain View. She also gave us VIP line passes, and VIP entry to CLub Bank. We also received Satin robes and slippers from housekeeping! Shhhhhhh!

Hotel: Mirage
Date: 11/8 - 11/12
Time: 1230 PM
Airport or Hotel Check-in: Hotel
Clerk Gender: Female
Clerk Age Aprox.: Mid 20's
Tip Amount: $20
Success?: Yes
Reserved Room: Complimentary Deluxe Room from casino marketing
Upgraded To: 24th floor (tower) Deluxe

How It Happened: We chose the line of a mid 20's girl that was at the far end of the check-in desk. It made it a lot easier to slip her the $20 sandwich since the stations at Mirage are kind of close together and not very private. I told her we were hoping for a complimentary upgrade and she started to say, "I'm sorry, we don't have anythin..." and then she noticed the twenty. She slipped it under the corner and her keyboard and told us she could upgrade us if we wouldn't mind switching from 2 queen beds to a king. Since I didn't remember booking 2 queens anyway, this wasn't a problem. She told us we would be on the 24th floor, via the private elevators, in a room with a sunset view. We asked her if it would be possible to get a strip view, thinking that this would be like every other time we've been to Vegas and we would be immediately told no. She typed away for a bit and told us we could have a strip view if we would be willing to wait until 330 PM. We agreed, came back at 330 to get our keys, and were then astonished at the view from the room. We had an unobstructed view of the volcano as well as the east side of the strip from Pallazo down to PH.

The upgrade was great - glass shower in addition to a jacuzzi tub, double sinks, vanity, view, etc. - plus we only paid a total of $20 for the three nights. Our only complaint would be that one of the two elevators for the 24/25th floors wasn't working, which made getting to and from the room kind of a hassle.

Hotel: New York New York
Date: 11/09
Time: 8:30 am-ish
Airport or Hotel Check-in: Hotel
Clerk Gender: Female
Clerk Age Aprox.: early 30's
Tip Amount: $20
Success?: Yes, but not much
Reserved Room: Skyline king bed room from Expedia for $79.99 a night, stay 3 nights get 4th free promotion

How it happened: We had a EARLY flight, got there put the $20 between my id and credit card and the girl smiled at me and put it on the counter. Mostly we were exhausted from having to get up at 3am to catch our flight and didnt get to bed until 11pm the night before so we just wanted anything available that was an upgrade. All they had that was clean was the park avenue room which is the next room up. However i have stayed at nyny before and had broadway deluxed last time and i liked the park avenue room better. It had a partial view. She upgraded us with no extra charge other then our $20 tip. she Took the tip with no problems she laid it out on the counter. She told us if we wanted to wait to come back and see her later but we were just to tired to wait it out so took the first thing they would give us, and glad we did because we enjoyed the room and it was century tower so as soon as you got off the elevator you were right there in the casino/lobby and close to restaurants and a few exits. I think normally this room is like $10 or more a night upgrade depending on the night and we stayed 4 nights so still a little cheaper then paying the upgrade on Expedia. Hope it helps and good luck to anyone else going

Hotel: Terrible’s Hotel & Casino
Date: 11/13 - 11/15
Time: 9:30 PM Airport or Hotel Check-in: Hotel Clerk Gender: Female
Clerk Age Aprox.: Early 20's
Tip Amount: $20
Success? Yes
Reserved Room: Standard room
Upgraded To: Tower
How It Happened: I folded the $20.00 bill and placed it between the credit card and driver’s license and handed them to the clerk when she asked for them.
The clerk placed both the credit card and driver’s license on the table near the key board. I asked if there were any complementary upgrades available. She typed away and said that she could upgrade me to the New Tower. I said thanks that would be great.
The clerk handed back my driver’s license and noticed the $20.00 bill on top of the credit card.
She gave a big smile and said thank you, she did not realize that there was a $20.00 sandwiched between the two cards. It was worth every penny to see someone who really appreciated the tip.