I went with a colleague to celebrate the end of the school year. We are both teachers and I decided to place my first bet when checking in. We were visiting Vegas for 4 nights (Sunday-Thursday) and 3 were comped so just $200ish for the 4 nights including taxes and fees. We were in line and took the next available clerk for check-in. I put the $100 bill with my credit card and ID. When he took everything out he said “oh, you boys are here for some fun.” After some chit chat about being teachers he left to talk to a manager. Upon coming back he said he took care of everything. We ended up in a two bedroom king suite overlooking the strip. In addition he gave us a $100 food credit.

Told the nice lady it was my birthday, slipped her a 20. Went from a standard resort room at Mandalay Bay to a suite at the Delano!

Prime rush, didn’t even have to ask. Made the sandwich and Got upgraded from a 5th floor room to a 27th floor room.

Our group arrived very late on a Wednesday night – more precisely 1230AM thursday morning.
Now I must admit I was skeptical of this concept but I figured what the heck, just try it and see what happens. After all, we’re in Vegas so if it doesn’t work we’ll still have a good time.

The lobby was almost vacant. It was late/early and a few days before the big Memorial Day weekend so we knew it was slow. Only two lines were open. We went to a younger Asian woman. I had the $50 stuck between my I’d and cc and was ready to do the routine. She asked for my last name and confirmed that our reservation was for the 550DR. She then asked for the I’d and cc. With a smile I handed it over and waited to make sure she noticed the $50. Once she touched it, I asked if she could do any comp upgrades. She looked back and smiled. This is where it gets fun.

She set the $50 aside and immediately got to work. My buddy who was with me could see the screen and said she was clicking through the list of available rooms at a blazing pace. I suspected that she was searching for something nice. She landed on one and asked us if a two bedroom, two king bed suite would work. Did we hear that right? No way would $50 get us THAT! We smiled and said yes. I couldn’t believe this was working. It was just like this site said! The $50 was quickly placed out of sight and after a few more clicks we had our room keys and the $50 was in her pocket.

As we got to our floor we wondered if we really got the 1500 suite. The desk clerk’s accent made her somewhat difficult to understand so maybe, just maybe, we got too excited and we got a room with a view- which wouldn’t be all that bad.

We stepped out of the elevator still not knowing what we got and joked how the double door suite at the end of the hall was our’s. With a bit of arrogance we continued to joke about those double doors as we kept walking down the hall. Yet we were still skeptical that this actually worked. Then we realized that our room was the last room number in that hall. We got the double doors!

We really had no idea what to expect when we opened the doors. I mean if we would have gotten any type of upgrade we would have been happy. But this was amazing. We opened the doors to see a huge suite with a lounge area, eating area, two bedrooms with separate bathrooms, and 5 TV’s. Oh yeah, and a full view of the strip on the ninth floor. Each night I went to bed (passed out) I was starring right down Las Vegas Blvd. Simply breathtaking. And if that view got boring I would walk to one side of my room and view the airport…and if that was too dull I would walk to the other room and enjoy the mountains.

So to sum this up, we went from the most basic room category to one of the best Mandalay Bay has to offer just for $50. Plus the daily resort fees were covered and we got a couple free drink tickets.

I am now a believer in this and will do it no matter where I go. This takes no special tricks or gimmicks. Just a little extra cash, a smile, and some confidence.

Originally booked 7 nights in a standard King Room! Front desk lady noticed straight away our $20 inside our passport and asked if we were celebrating a special occasion!?? We notified her it was our wedding anniversary and she gave us a an Elite King suite on the 29th floor!! Amazing upgrade including a bigger floor plan, a double bath tub with an excellent views! Amazing hotel and worth every cent of the $20!!!

Just came back from Vegas…I originally booked the King deluxe room. After reading and watching youtube videos regarding the 20 sandwich trick, I figured let me give it a try…Well, it worked out great…I went from a delux room to a Master penthouse on the 62 floor…it was amazing. I haven’t read of anyone getting upgrade to a penthouse..it was so amazing, just wish I had a big group of friends in Vegas to really enjoy the room..it was just to big…but hey, I am not complaining.

This was our first time visiting Las Vegas and our first time in 4 years getting away together without our kids (which we told the clerk when she asked if we were celebrating anything special). There were about 10 people ahead of us when we were checking in. We just went to the next available clerk to check in. I put a $50 bill in my passport with my credit card at check-in and asked if there were any complimentary upgrades available. The clerk ran my card and passed my passport and card back to me (she saw the tip but left the $50 in my passport) and said she’d go check with the room coordinator regarding an upgrade. She came back a few min later and said the room coordinator could give us a Moorea Suite for a reduced rate of $50 extra per night. That in itself would have been a great value but she continued on saying she’d comp that $50/night extra charge. So in the end it was a free upgrade. I asked if she needed to run my card again handing my passport and the card (and the $50) back to her to give her another chance to take the tip. She said no and that we were all set to go.

We originally booked an Elite King room which is one room at around 500 square feet with a large bathroom.

The Moorea Suite is 1,440 square feet with a wet bar, area and lounge area, and separate bedroom with large bathroom including a jacuzzi tub.

Got cheap last minute flight for the wife and I, got to MB late afternoon on my b-day, won $40 on a slot the moment I walked in. Feeling good, I’ll use the $40 to try the trick. Get to check in, no one in line…wow!!! Reading all the great stories, and my luck thus far, I thought upgrade for sure. Walk up to the clerk, and hand him the sandwich with the $40 between my ID and credit card and asked if there were any specials or upgrades available. He takes the ID and card, leaves the $40 on the counter. As he clicks away, he wishes me happy bday, makes a couple calls, jokes with us about spending time in Vegas with no kids…all great signs that an upgrade is coming. He takes the $40, gives us our room keys, and directs us to the elevator. I ask, “so was there an upgrade?” He simply says “sorry, no, were completely booked.” OK? Walking up to our room, I thought maybe a welcome basket or champagne will b waiting for us. Nope, nothing.
Didn’t work, but at least it wasn’t my own money.

HUGE line when we checked in around 530, which I knew was a bad sign. We approached our assigned FD clerk, handed her the ID and CC and obviously laid out a fresh twenty on the counter. We asked if they had any complimentary upgrades and relayed that we had stayed with friends in their 2 bedroom suite and would love to upgrade to on again. She typed for approximately four seconds and said nothing was available. Upon pressing, she said no suites were available at all, not even for paid upgrades. She was not terribly pleasant, but suggested we come down the following day to ask if any became available because there was a huge rush and everything was taken. We came down the following day to talk about upgrades and again presented a 20. She said we could upgrade to a suite for $200 a day. When we asked for a better view with the same room configuration as we had, it would be another $30 a day. Very confusing seeing as you could book a suite with a view for $20 extra for four days. Won’t be going to MB again, unfortunately. Very unhelpful.

Booked 2 rooms and thought that it might be difficult for the upgrade on the weekend. I did $50 with the trick, got the upgrade then she handed me back and said to keep it because helping us was her pleasure. So i gave her 20 after and told her thank you.