I checked in around 5pm. Since I had a comped room to begin with I asked about a complementary upgrade if possible. She found the $20 between the license and credit card, and promptly put it in her pocket. She asked me what type of room I would like and I said “what would you recommend?” She told me that she could put us in a mini suite. The room was larger than average but still an average room. I was thankful for the upgrade.

I checked in way early–10AM. Did the trick to the tee. The young woman did look to see what was available and said due to the fact that so many people had not yet checked out, there wasn’t much available. She did manage to get me a great view room and did return my $20.00 She was very pleasent and I gave her $5.00 just for her effort.

Arrived hotel at 11:30 a.m. Went straight to the Gold members line, got a young man, told him it was my birthday, (it really was) and asked for any comp upgrades for a larger room as there were 4 of us staying in one room. Had the $20 stuck between ID and Credit Card….. He did some checking and came up with the mini-suite which is really just a bigger room with a living area, BUT it was the last room on the 10th floor so it was a VERY long walk.

My $20 got me an upgrade to a GO Luxury room which is the same as GO Deluxe except for the fact that it has a strip view. It also allowed me to get a room at 11am when every one else was getting turned away until 4pm b/c rooms were still being cleaned.

I got to the Flamingo around 1 p.m with a long line of people waiting in the reservation line. There was another line called the “Gold Card” line, where if you had a gold player’s card from one of the connecting casinos (Caesars, Harrahs, etc..), you were able to reserve your room through that line which only had 1 older couple ahead of me. I had my sandwich ready for a 24ish-26ish young lady who was doing the reservations. I did my part with breaking the ice and making her smile and giggle with the intial conversation. When asked for my credit card, I gave her the sandwich, and aske her if there were any room upgrades available. She took the $20 out and put it on the counter and said, “We’ll see if we need this later, let me check and see we have anything available for you.” She left left for about 3 minutes and said she had good news. She placed us in a brand new “Go” room which she said was a $75 room upgrade. She asked if she could help with anything else, and I told her that she had done plenty, and I proceed toleave, leaving the $20 on the counter. She said thank you while I was grabbing my bag, and I just smiled back.

Arrived at the Flamingo approximately 9:30 AM. No line at front desk – went to check on availability. Folded $20 between license and credit card, slightly fanned out. Told clerk we were here for convention but that DH had to entertain himself while I was working. Told her it was our anniversary (didn’t say anniversary of what!) She noticed the $20 immediately, smiled and asked what I’d like. I told her that I didn’t care about the “Go” room, but wanted extra room to move around in, as DH liked to watch late TV while I slept.

She hooked us up! We got a mini-suite, corner room with beautiful view of pool area, 11th floor. DH tipped housekeeping to clean room early, so he was settled in by noon. This will be a wonderful stay, I’m sure!

Got to the hotel…slid the 20 between my ID and card…asked for a complementary upgrade. Older gentlemen said “no complementary upgrades…we’re completely booked” But he did offer a GO room for more $$$.. I really didnt expect it to work as it was fight night and everyone was there.

Checked in late in the afternoon, casually handed the clerk the $20 in between the two cards. I thought it was risky because he was training another clerk. He first offered me the executive which is not a go room. I asked if he could do a go room, he hesitated but I got the room after telling him it was my wife’s birthday.

I slipped the twenty in between the CC and license and chatted up the clerk who was an older African-American woman. I knew the hotel was sold out for the weekend so I wasn’t expecting anything great but I told her in a non-pushy way to “do what she could for us.” She seemed to like that and gave us a Go-Room on the 24th floor for free Thursday and Friday night. Saturday and Sunday we had to pay an extra $50/night. She also told us she’d have something special in the room for us about an hour later. We ended up getting some wine along with a fruit platter and basket. I’m not sure if that was part of the room price or what. It was well worth it though because we had a strip view and partial view of the Bellagio Fountains.

Was very personable with the clerk while checking in and telling her my name to look up the reservation. When she asked for ID and credit card, I asked about complimentary upgrades while handing her the card with 20 dollars under it; she saw the 20, but said that because it was a 5 night stay she couldn’t upgrade me for no cost. She did say that if it was a shorter stay she would have been able to. In any case, I kept the twenty, and then she attempted to upsell me to the go-rooms, for $25/night for a regular go-room and $40/night for their junior executives (the go-room but with an extra 60 sq ft. or so). Their regular rates for upselling ar $40 and $60 or so, but they were having a hotel-wide promo for people checking in that day, so the tip/being nice and personable didn’t really affect this one.

So… didn’t lose my 20, and the clerk was very polite, so no big loss, but no success either.