The Vegas Strip is four gaudy miles of the some of the world's priciest, largest and most surreal hotels. The Wynn Las Vegas cost $2.7 billion to construct, the MGM Grand has 5,690 rooms and The Venetian offers gondola rides. More than 36 million annual Las Vegas visitors will stay in standard rooms with standard amenities. But with these hotel room upgrade tips, your next Vegas vacation may have you luxuriously perched high above Sin City.
While Las Vegas has become a more family friendly vacation destination in recent years, gambling still accounts for a majority of a hotel's revenue. Each hotel casino has a player club's card that tracks the amount of money a player gambles at a certain casino. The amount gambled translates into "comps," which are free giveaways, such as rooms, dinners and upgrades. So the more you gamble, the more the hotel wants you to stay, the more likely it will offer you a room upgrade.
Just as the concierge will arrange for flowers and a bottle of bubbly in your room, the agent checking you in will be more likely to assure a room with a better view by offering a generous tip. Vegas revolves around the service industry, and with almost every job, from bellhops to cabbies, tipping ensures better service.
This is the most understated tip for getting a room upgrade at a Las Vegas hotel. Front desk agents deal with irate, irrational and arrogant customers on an hourly basis, and handling a stressed person in a polite and positive manner can help you get that suite on the top floor. Don't begin your interaction by asking for an upgrade, but inquire about their day, or compliment them. But remember to ask for the upgrade before they begin filling out key packets.
Hotels have frequent stay clubs like airlines have frequent flier miles. Just like you can receive an upgrade to first class with enough miles, you can be upgraded to a better room with enough points.
This means plan your Vegas holiday during the a time when a hotel's occupancy is down. The slower months are January, February, July, August, November and December. The weekends are always more busy than the weekdays. Holidays, notably Memorial Day and Labor Day, always see a surge in room occupancy. It is also a good idea to check with the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority for city-wide events, and with individual hotels for any conventions and large meetings they may be hosting.
Many visitors to Vegas have the same plan: Reserve a standard room and hope, holler or hand over cash for an upgraded room. Unfortunately, there are not enough suites to go around. Hotels will hold suites until later in the day in case of walk-in customers. As the day wears on, a hotel begins to see an advantage in upgrading a customer rather than let a better room go unoccupied. Arrive, grab a drink, throw the dice and check in during the early evening hours.
