Guide
The $20 Trick in Las Vegas
Updated June 20, 2026 · 5 min read
The $20 trick is simple: at hotel check-in, you slip a $20 bill between your ID and credit card, hand them over, and politely ask whether any complimentary upgrades are available. The clerk either makes it happen and keeps the tip, or hands the $20 back if there's nothing to give. That's the whole thing. It's worth knowing exactly what it is, and what it isn't.
How to do it right
- Have the bill ready before you reach the desk. Fold a $20 (or more for a bigger ask) and place it behind your ID and card so you can hand everything over together.
- Ask an open question, quietly: "Are there any complimentary upgrades available?" Don't demand a specific suite, give the clerk room to help.
- Match the tip to the ask. $20 is standard for a better room or view; $50 to $100 makes sense if you're hoping to jump to a suite.
- Accept either outcome graciously. If they hand the money back, no harm done, smile and move on. Rudeness kills your odds and theirs to help.
What you might get
A higher or quieter floor, a better view (Strip or fountains over a parking-garage view), an early check-in or late checkout, connecting rooms for a group, or on a wide-open night, a bump into a junior suite. You're tapping unsold upgrade inventory, so the better the availability, the better your odds.
Does it still work in 2026?
Less reliably than in its 2000s heyday, but yes, often enough to be worth the try. Resort fees, dynamic pricing, and consistently high occupancy have shrunk the free upgrade inventory clerks can hand out. Your best odds are midweek, at a property that isn't sold out, during a quieter check-in window rather than the 4 p.m. rush. On a packed weekend with a convention in town, expect the $20 back.
The bigger picture
The $20 trick is a one-off hotel hack. It can make a single stay nicer, but it does nothing for the rest of your trip and nothing the next time you visit. The repeatable engine for rooms, dining, shows, and suites is tracked play plus a casino host, where the casino rewards how you gamble rather than how you tip. If you play at real stakes, that's where the real value is. See How Vegas Comps Work and How to Get a Free Room in Las Vegas.
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Frequently asked
Does the $20 trick still work in Las Vegas?
Sometimes, for a room upgrade. It works less reliably than it used to because of dynamic pricing and high occupancy, but it still lands often enough to be worth trying, especially midweek at a property that isn't sold out.
How much should I tip for the $20 trick?
$20 is the standard for a better room, view, or floor. Bump it to $50 to $100 if you're hoping to jump to a suite. Match the tip to the size of the favor you're asking.
Will the $20 trick get me a free room?
No. It's a tip for an upgrade on a room you're already paying for, not a comped room. To get a room comped, you need tracked casino play or loyalty-tier benefits, which is a separate thing.
Is the $20 trick rude or against the rules?
No. It's simply a discreet tip in exchange for a favor the clerk may be able to do. Done politely, it's a normal, low-risk ask. If nothing's available, they hand the money back.
When is the best time to try it?
Midweek, at a property that isn't sold out, during a calmer check-in window rather than peak afternoon. The more empty upgrade inventory the hotel has, the better your odds.
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