A well-known tip when visiting Las Vegas is to tip the front
desk attendant when you are checking in with the hopes of getting a “free”
upgrade. This trick has always worked for me and I have received free upgrades
every time (though some have not been as fortunate).
I wondered if this worked in non-Vegas hotels and to my surprise,
it worked in boutique hotels I visited in Chicago and in Washington DC. The DC
hotel even covered all my resort fees. But then I got a little cocky and tried
it in a more established chain in Orlando. Being laughed at by the attendant
when I tried to tip them was very embarrassing and something I won’t soon
forget.
What I failed to take in account, is the higher level of
monitoring by these bigger hotel chains. Even if the employee wanted to give
you an upgrade, many times big brother is watching them. True, the tip still
works well in Las Vegas but that has almost become customary in Las Vegas.
Since then I have realized a much simpler way to try to upgrade
your rooms. Many hotels offer status levels that include room upgrades (when
available) when you sign up for their credit cards. While many of these cards
do have an annual fee, many of these hotels offer a free night’s stay which is
usually worth more than the fee. Also, what I was offering in tips adds up as
well.
Some hotel credit cards to consider:
o
80,000 sign-up points, 1 night free at your sign-up
anniversary, $85 annual fee
o
Silver status
o
40,000 sign-up points, 1 night free at your sign-up
anniversary, $75 annual fee
o
Discoverist status
o
75,000 sign-up points, no annual fee
o
Silver status
o
80,000 sign-up points,$75 annual fee
o
Gold status
Unless you are in Las Vegas, I recommend signing up for one
of these cards if you are looking for complimentary upgrades. True, most of
these have an annual fee but consider it an investment in your trip planning.
It sure beats getting laughed at in your face.
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