Had a reservation for 2 queen bed standard non-smoking room. Slipped the clerk a $20 between the Credit card and ID and asked if there were any complimentary upgrades available. Typed for a while, and gave me 3 options:

1. Jr. Suite with 75 square feet more room and a king and rollaway.

2. Lakeview smoking room with 2 queens

3. Lakeview non-smoking with a king and rollaway.

Took option 2 as neither of us wanted to sleep in a rollaway, and not worried about smoke.

I was in at the Bellagio for a sales rally and my company had already booked and paid for my room weeks in advance. Upon check-in, I handed over the twenty between my DL and credit card. The woman behind the desk took the twenty and placed it aside without acknowledging it. After searching for my reservation, she said to me, “Currently we have you with a pool and garden view, is there something else you were looking for?” When I asked for a lake view, she responded that at this time of day (1 PM), those rooms are extremely rare. But she checked anyways, and a minute later this is what she said: “Sir, I hope you plan on doing some gambling because this is your lucky day! This is the first time I’ve ever seen a lake view room available at this time of day.” She booked me on the 18th floor with a perfect central view of the lake. It made my trip!

booked bellagio suite room for $299. I went up to the check in desk, and began my registration. When the part came to give my credit card I gave it to the receptionist w/ $20.00. I asked if therer where anyupgrades. Before she could finish saying no, She saw the $20.00 send hold on & picked up the phone. She replied Sir I have a Penthouse in the Cornner of the hotel. Said thank you and was on my way.
2000 plus square foot room w/ 2 1/2 baths steam shower jacuzzi tub for 299.99 a nite now that is sweet (suite) !!!!!!!!!

Gave the check-in lady some nice English chat about this being my girlfriend’s first time in Vegas, her birthday present, etc (all true). Slipped $20 between CC and ID, asked if there was anything she could do to make my girl’s stay a little nicer. She pocketed the $20 without blinking and upgraded me to a lake view room, which was pretty damned nice. Result.

I had the $20 bill folded under DH’s driver’s license during entire check in process. Our clerk was familiar with our hometown location – Wine Country – which started a conversation about her next visit to our area. I gave her my business card and said she should email us next time she was coming out and that we would be happy to help her with her visit. DH asked if there were any comp. upgrades available for a full lake view (knew what we wanted), she said sure, and that they were allowed to accept gratuities, so DH slid the $20 over. She was very pleasant, and the trick worked so well.

It was my first time going to Vegas and I was really excited about trying the $20 dollar trick. I was skpetical at first as I booked the hotel via Travelocity and I read from this forum that hotels are known to give Travelocity customer the worst rooms and do not allow upgrades. But I gave it a try anyways. I arrived to Bellagio at 11 am (while the standard check-in time is 3:00 pm)
All of the Check-in Clerks were available thus I just went up to a random one. I started to have small talk with her and asked how her day was going. Then I gave my credit card and driver’s license to her with the $20 in between. After she saw that, I asked if “IS there any complimentary upgrades available as it was me and my gf’s 5th year anniversary and I want to make it extra special for her…” Unfortunately, she said no at first as she claimed the hotel is fully booked today, then she asked “I am sorry, but Do I have to give this back? (Referring to the $20)” OF course i dont want to sound cheap so I told her its okay. Then after typing for a minute or two on the computer, she said “Oh Mr. _____ , I have found a room facing the fountain at no extra cost to you, would you like that?” Of course i said yes, then she said “be right back” and she went to the office. When she came back, she said, “Congratulation Mr. ____ , we want to make your annivesary extra special, here is a complimentary vouchers for our bellagio perfume and cologne that you could redeem at our giftshop at no costs.” I thanked her once again when the transaction was done.

Key points: As long as you are nice, you will be able to get upgrades even booking hotels via Priceline or Travelocity.
It never hurt to ask, even at hotels like Bellagio.

Put the $20 between my license and the credit card – barely sticking out – handed it to her – didn’t let go when she reached for them – then I said “anything you can do to help make this stay memorable would be greatly appreciated” – 2 minutes later we had checked in almost 5 hours early to a beautiful room.

Upgraded To: 27th floor full strip/fountain view – free gift (perfume for my wife, cologne for me, free line cutting pass for our stay for the buffet, and got to check in @ 10 am instead of 3 pm

Sent my wife in and she told them it was our anniversary. (it was close enough, haha). She typed for several minutes and then went in the back for a while.
Not sure she even saw the $20 but we gave it to her anyway. Also got a line pass for the buffet (it sucked btw, Beau Rivage in Biloxi was MUCH MUCH better), and a free gift of
their Bellagio colonge and perfume from the gift shop. ($40 value)

pretty much didn’t want to check in too early because of the sunday morning rush from everybody checking out. so we ate at the buffet and killed some time and then finally checked in. found a guy, because we figured we’d have better luck with a guy, had the 50 inbetween the cc and dl and just asked, would you happen to have any upgrades to suites available? he typed away, and said this is what i can do for you, found a nice mini-suite on the 25th floor with the lakeview and two windows views of everything to the right of bellagio. again, as everybody else says, well worth it in my opinion.

I never knew about this trick but when I stayed at the Bellagio for my Honeymoon, but I asked if we could be upgraded to a room over looking the fountains. The lady at the check in was very polite but said there was no rooms available but to check back tomorrow. We didn’t end up checking back the next day as the standard rooms are amazing to begin with but next time I will try the $20 trick to see what it gets me!

Highly recommend Bellagio, amazing hotel!