I checked in at the airport, and slipped the $20 between my cc and ID, asking for a complimentary upgrade since it was my wife’s birthday. he immediately saw it and gave it back to me and said, hold on to this, let me see what i can do. apparently Ceasar’s was completely booked all weekend, and he couldnt get us a Palace tower suite or something in the Augustus Tower. But he said he gave us a non-smoking room with a nice view. I decided to try my luck at the front desk, and again slipped them $20 and said that the airport clerk said I should try and get an upgrade at the hotel check in. The desk clerk took a look at my reservation and said that I would be very happy with the room, and if I didnt like it, to come down and talk to him. he gave me back the $20. So we went to go check out the room, and it was a nice room with a great view of the strip, but it was definitely not a non-smoking room. so i went back down and talked to another desk clerk, and complained to her that it was my wife’s bday and that we couldnt breathe in the smokey room. she tried to move us, but since it was so late and the hotel was overbooked, there was nothing she could move us to. but she gave us a food credit of $75, and then put in a note in the computer to upgrade us to a nice room the next morning. So finally the next morning, I went downstairs and they took a look at the reservation and gave us a room in the Augustus Tower – which ROCKED.

I checked in way too early, which isn’t always a bad idea. I was really nervous at the same time since this would be my first time trying the $20 trick. Struck a conversation right away about the weather difference from California to Nevada. He was very nice, and I had my GF stand away from us but close enough to where he could see her. I asked for any complimentary upgrades since this was my GF’s first trip to Vegas(true)and flashed the $20 between my ID and CC. He says let me see what I can do and starts typing away. They had a room in the Augustus Tower but it wouldn’t be ready for another couple of hours. I said that sounds good so he makes a call to someone and he’s on the phone arguing trying to get the room for me. After he hangs up he tells me that someone else beat him to that room. Then he offered me the same room that I had booked but higher to the top which isn’t a big difference but it had it’s own elevator and so forth. So I felt a little better…hehe. I still gave him the $20 for the effort he put into it and he told me to call him on his direct line if there was any problems or anything I needed.

There was a big line when we got there, ended up checking in with a female. I politely asked if there were any upgrades available, she said she’d check. After typing away for a bit, she said that she could offer us a free upgrade to the Palace Towers. We had booked through an online deal where we were already guaranteed a free upgrade from the Classic Guest room to the Palace Towers, so this wasn’t really an upgrade. I told her that was the room we had originally booked and asked if there was any way she could give us the Augustus towers. She replied that they were all sold out. Didn’t try with cash, maybe that would have helped, although being a weekend it is possible that the Augustus towers were full.

Got in a huge line to check in. Had the $20 in my pocket and was only going to bring it out if I thought I had a chance with the front desk host. I got a young guy and thought I would go for it again. I started a conversation about how much I respected him for dealing with all the chaos and mentioned it was my girlfriends birthday and that I wanted her to have a really special stay. He asked for the card and when he noticed the $20 he set it in front of him and said he would see what he could do. He typed for a while and then mentioned the suite and the view(it sounded great). He said it would be an additional $400 a night(I was thinking great…), but aparently he hadn’t finished his sentence. He said it would be an additional $400 a night, but that it would be waived because it was my girlfriends birthday. SWEET! He also said he would make sure we got comped room service in the morning. He gave me is card and said if I needed anything else to give him a call.

Worked great both times. Thanks you guys for the posts. Im thinking it was better to have checked in as early as possible because they will have that many more upgrades available. You got to beat everyone to them. Good look guys.

Got in a huge line to check in. Had the $20 in my pocket and was only going to bring it out if I thought I had a chance with the front desk host. I got a young guy and thought I would go for it again. I started a conversation about how much I respected him for dealing with all the chaos and mentioned it was my girlfriends birthday and that I wanted her to have a really special stay. He asked for the card and when he noticed the $20 he set it in front of him and said he would see what he could do. He typed for a while and then mentioned the suite and the view(it sounded great). He said it would be an additional $400 a night(I was thinking great…), but aparently he hadn’t finished his sentece. He said it would be an additional $400 a night, but that it would be waived because it was my girlfriends birthday. SWEET! He also said he would make sure we got comped room service in the morning. He gave me is card and said if I needed anything else to give him a call.

Decided to try, she said all Augustus rooms were sold out, I didn’t really believe her since the new tower is huge. But I asked a few times for upgrades, she said there is nothing she can do. She said the Palace Tower is really nice since the remodel, it is the same as the Augustus except no LCD tv in the bathroom. I said, “ok, thanks for trying.” When we got to the room, she was right because our room looked just like the Augustus virtual room on the Caesars webpage. I don’t think I’m going to try the $20 tip again because it made me and (I think) the check-in girl uncomfortable.

I was asked which hotel I’m staying at and was asked for the ID.

I threw a $20 under my ID and she knew what was up. As she typed away on the computer I was wondering if I should ask for an upgrade just to be clear so I did.. which came out awkward.

She asked if a room /w a view is okay and I said “I was really hoping for the Augustus Tower”

She really tried to get me into Augustus, typing away for a good 2 minutes but told me they were booked.

She showed me the towers available and let me choose. I chose Forum Tower, supposedly things are newer here. Got a room right next to the elevator. She told me Roman Tower, the tower I would’ve been in is old, etc.

It didn’t work like I wanted to, but I can say it definitely works. I’m sure if I asked her to keep looking or even a Palace tower, she would’ve done it. Other employees were close by and also saw the $20 on her table, but didn’t say a thing.

My suggestion is to know all the room types. They may just try to throw you in the same room.

My girlfriend and I approached the check in counter with a smile and said we’d like to check in. The woman asked for my last name, then looked up the reservation. She said, “So we have you for 2 nights in the Deluxe Palace Tower Room, can I see your ID?” I had the $20 slipped between my ID and credit card and brought them above the counter, then said, “Sure, but we were wondering if there were any complimentary upgrades available?” and smiled looking at the ID and CC and $20. She said, “Oh, you don’t have to do that(referring the $20 tip). I’ll take a look. Have you stayed here before because the room you reserved is very nice already?” We replied no, and she started typing into the computer. She said, “Yes, I can upgrade you to the Augustus Tower w/ a beautiful view of the strip and Bellagio water fountain.” I offered her the $20 again, but she declined. She gave us our room keys, room charge card for use w/ complimentary $25 food credit and sent us on our way. The room was excellent, w/ a flat panel tv in living room and bathroom, king bed, large bathroom, and wonderful view. We used the $25 for room service and at the Augustus cafe. Food was great, highly recommend.

We also signed up for Total Rewards and were given some cheesy casino freebies like a Caesar’s gold medallion necklace so we could look like Flava Flav. I asked the woman at the TR desk about PURE nightclub passes and she looked in her drawer and handed me a VIP pass for two for the night. We didn’t end up using the VIP pass b/c as we were walking by PURE before it opened, one of the bouncers standing outside asked if we wanted on his guest list. Of course we said yes, so there was no waiting in line, we just came back around 11:00 pm walked to the front of the line and told them our names then went in. I don’t know why he asked, but we were very happy to not have to wait in a 200+ person line. The Pussycat Dolls were entertaining and the club was packed. VERY expensive drinks…Rockstar and Vodka + Crown and Coke = $25 + tip = $28…Yikes.
(Note: VIP passes only get you free admission. You still have to wait in forever long line. Guest list gets you to front of line + free admission saving at least a few hours of waiting.) How lucky!

Overall an amazing experience. I think the key in Vegas is you have to ask and not be afraid to be rejected. I also think a friendly smile can go a long way, as so many people you see in Vegas are rude and expecting the royal treatment. Seemed like most of the things we asked for we were given. Caesar’s treated us well and I wouldn’t have wanted to stay anywhere else.

Thanks to those who have shared in this forum. We wouldn’t have even attempted $20 trick if we hadn’t read all the experiences here and decided how worth it, it would be.

How It Happened: My girlfriend and I approached the check in counter with a smile and said we’d like to check in. The woman asked for my last name, then looked up the reservation. She said, “So we have you for 2 nights in the Deluxe Palace Tower Room, can I see your ID?” I had the $20 slipped between my ID and credit card and brought them above the counter, then said, “Sure, but we were wondering if there were any complimentary upgrades available?” and smiled looking at the ID and CC and $20. She said, “Oh, you don’t have to do that(referring the $20 tip). I’ll take a look. Have you stayed here before because the room you reserved is very nice already?” We replied no, and she started typing into the computer. She said, “Yes, I can upgrade you to the Augustus Tower w/ a beautiful view of the strip and Bellagio water fountain.” I offered her the $20 again, but she declined. She gave us our room keys, room charge card for use w/ complimentary $25 food credit and sent us on our way. The room was excellent, w/ a flat panel tv in living room and bathroom, king bed, large bathroom, and wonderful view. We used the $25 for room service and at the Augustus cafe. Food was great, highly recommend.

We also signed up for Total Rewards and were given some cheesy casino freebies like a Caesar’s gold medallion necklace so we could look like Flava Flav. I asked the woman at the TR desk about PURE nightclub passes and she looked in her drawer and handed me a VIP pass for two for the night. We didn’t end up using the VIP pass b/c as we were walking by PURE before it opened, one of the bouncers standing outside asked if we wanted on his guest list. Of course we said yes, so there was no waiting in line, we just came back around 11:00 pm walked to the front of the line and told them our names then went in. I don’t know why he asked, but we were very happy to not have to wait in a 200+ person line. The Pussycat Dolls were entertaining and the club was packed. VERY expensive drinks…Rockstar and Vodka + Crown and Coke = $25 + tip = $28…Yikes.
(Note: VIP passes only get you free admission. You still have to wait in forever long line. Guest list gets you to front of line + free admission saving at least a few hours of waiting.) How lucky!

Overall an amazing experience. I think the key in Vegas is you have to ask and not be afraid to be rejected. I also think a friendly smile can go a long way, as so many people you see in Vegas are rude and expecting the royal treatment. Seemed like most of the things we asked for we were given. Caesar’s treated us well and I wouldn’t have wanted to stay anywhere else.

It was kind of awkward as the clerk was on the phone as I approached, but she set the phone down then slipped a 20 with my CC and asked for an upgrade in the Augustus tower. She said that it’d be 120 extra for that but she can give me what I believe she called a Parlor Suite in the forum tower. It was room 7710. I asked her to make sure it had 2 beds and she said it did, but when we got there it just had 1 pull down queen, but boy the room was awesome. Would’ve been great for a party, huge bathroom, sitting area, table, etc. Anyway, since there was 4 of us, we called the desk and then they put us in the Augustus tower with a view of the fountains, on level 43. My friends were very impressed with the upgrade!