My Mom and I each had a room reserved at the “tiny minnows” special rate of around $43 a night for 4 nights. We arrived at around 10:30pm, approached the Hilton HHonors check-in line together (we are both Diamond), and each handed her our credit cards and HHonors cards with the ole’ $20 in between. We asked if we could get a comp upgrade, and after seeing the tip, she said “what would you like?” We asked if instead of getting 2 rooms, if we could get a 2-bedroom suite instead. She typed for a while, and told us that the system coming up with 2 2-bedrooms suites when she tried to combine us. She kept typing away, and after about 10 minutes and some help from the supervisor, she gave us 3 rooms at the end of the 19th floor in the East wing. When we arrived we found we had a regular 2-double bedroom that connected to a “courtesy suite” that was basically a full living room with a murphy bed. The third room was a junior-suite with a king bed just across the hall. Since my sister was joining us the next day, this was really a fantastic convenience have one bedroom for her (with her body clock set to California time), another for us (on Michigan time), and a living room to sit around an spend family time. All the rooms were upgraded to the flat screen TVs, and there was also a bathroom in the courtesy suite, so each of the us got our own bathroom.

I would only expect this good an upgrade during the slowest days of the year, but will definitely be trying the $20 trick again on future trips!

Reserve basic room though a package. Checked in at 10:30 am and slipped the 20 with the license and asked for any complimentary upgrades. She smiled and immediatly pocketed the money and assured me of something. She showed me my room and then the upgraded room in hte towers (fridge, plasma tv etc). She knew what was going on and checked me in early with the upgrade. Worked like a charm even though it was a football weekend with a convention.

Had reserved the standard room as we were attending a convention at the hotel. Arrived around 10 am well before the 3 pm checkin time. Put the $20 between my license and credit card and asked if there were any complimentary upgrades. Also mentioned to the clerk that my husband and I were celebrating our 5 year wedding anniversary (it was true!) and the clerk first said he wasn’t sure anything was ready but quickly found us a great suite with a large comfortable king bed, wet bar, sunken living room, jacuzzi tub and separate shower. It was a great success!

I had a conference at the Hilton and had a standard room reserved for 4 nights, paid for by my company. My husband and I arrived at the Hilton around 11AM and figured we would try to check in even though check-in time wasn’t until 3PM. The clerk asked if we would like to upgrade our room for an additional $50 a night. I declined. She then asked me for my license and credit card. I already had the $20 folded in between them and handed it to the clerk. I then asked if she had any complimentary upgrades available. At first she said no, sorry..until she saw the $20 and then gave me a smile and told me she would see what she could do. She went to the back for a minute(which made me nervous) and then came back and was typing away trying to find us something. She was able to find us a renovated north tower room with the king size bed and plasma tv. She said the only room that was available at that time was on the 2nd floor. I didn’t care and took it since we just wanted to get in the room already insted of waiting until 3PM. I couldn’t believe it worked! The room was nice, had a fridge but dissapointed that there was no coffee maker. But, took the gamble and we really enjoyed the upgrades. Well worth the $20! Everyone should try it!

Checked in at VIP with Diamond HHonors card and was informed I’d already been upgraded. I offered $20 anyway and asked if he had any good coupons. He went to the back and returned with a $40 coffee shop comp.

I walked up to the clerk, gave my name, and asked if there were any upgrades available. He said, “Yes, let me check.” He started typing away and then asked for my ID. I slipped the $20 between DL, CC, and Hilton card and handed it over. He showed me a picture of the room that I had reserved and showed me a picture of what he could move me to. I said that was fine. I wonder, though, if I could’ve gotten a complimentary upgrade without the $20 since he had already said yes when I asked. I was too excited to try out the tipping trick that I didn’t think straight.

booked an offer for $135 for three nights. at check in told we told clerk it was our anniversary(9-20 5 year) and did the deal w/ cc-20-id. saved over 500 dollars and it was fun. do it on the sly, and be pleasant about it. the clerk next to us was explaining the upgrade prices to other people but not us!

My husband and I checked into the Hilton and did the hidden $20 thing. The female receptionist was so tickled, that alone was worth $20. She asked us what type of room we would like. Showed us numerous pictures of rooms and ask us our floor preference. The whole experience was quite fun.

We didn’t a strip view, but I will still take a renovated room any day. I spoke to the housekeeping lady and according to her, the rest of the hotel sucks. The North Tower is the only area that has been up graded.

I went directly to the VIP/HHonors line, bypassing the regular check in line. I had previously placed the folded up $20 bill between my ID, credid card, and Hilton HHonors card so that it peeked out just a tad. The clerk immediatly smiled and said thanks. I said that I was hoping that there might be a complimentary upgrade available and smile nicely back. She called someone about my reservation (I think it was because I was signed up for a tournament), handed me a sheet with tournament information on it, and told me that she upgraded me to the better room.