Book an upgrade now..or wait until I arrive?
Started by slade on Wednesday, 20th February 2013 8:19 am
Good morning,
Yours is a trusted source and I am seeking your advice; I am booked at Paris for 3 nights (3/3 - 3/6). The room was comped. I have upgraded at Paris (years ago) and got lucky with a suite for minimal if not zero cost. I am aware that Paris is a bit long in the tooth now and the king-bed rooms are in need of an overhaul,etc. All of this to say I received an e-mail from Paris indicating that for $40.00 I could upgrade now and have an amazing view of some tower called the Eiffel..or something. Should I book the upgrade or do you suggest I wait until check-in on Sunday and ask for an upgrade?
I have been going to Vegas for years, however, I generally book the room/suite of choice prior to arrival and haven't been in a position to request an upgrade at check-in for some years. Guess I am curious if my instincts-show up and request an upgrade (after all, I am arriving on a Sunday)-are correct or should I take the dive and book the upgrade now..
Thanks in adnace for any comments/suggestions/insults.
jgarrett83 responded on Wednesday, 20th February 2013
I would probably go with your instincts. I booked 4 nights (3 were comped) at Bellagio last year for a standard room (spa tower/no view/old). I wasn't offered any pre-upgrade before I got there though. When I arrived I did the $20 trick and got a nice upgrade to a remodeled corner king room in Bellagio Tower. And that was checking in on a Friday in May.
Good luck!
slade replied on Wednesday, 20th February 2013
Thanks for the response; never tried the $20 trick but I think I will.
Chuckmonster replied on Wednesday, 20th February 2013
Re: the "$20 trick"....
Read my response to this topic
and
MikeE's blog post
Book your upgrade in advance... or at the very least do the math and bring it with you.
Drake responded on Wednesday, 20th February 2013
We stayed in an older standard room in July (which they call "Luxury"), and it was fine. Clean, comfortable, in decent shape, no problem at all. It had an older TV, not a flat screen, but that didn't bother us. I've already booked our trip to Paris again this June, same standard room.
It sounds like they're just trying to upsell you to a room with a strip view, which is a minor bump of an upgrade and not worth $40 extra per night IMO.
I'd wait until check-in and see if they'll do that for free, or upgrade you to a renovated Red Room with strip view for that extra $40 a night.
slade replied on Wednesday, 20th February 2013
I knew I had read that the $20.00 thing was a waste of time! Frankly, it feels fake: like I'm some Baller "in-the-know". Thanks for the advice from all of you. I'm gonna do my usual: arrive, be pleased to be in Vegas (again) and politely request an upgrade. Thanks again.
vespajet responded on Wednesday, 20th February 2013
Last October I got an email from Bally's offering me an upgrade from the South Tower to the North Tower for $10/day more. I decided to take a chance with the $20 trick since I would be saving myself $30 over the upgrade offer. I ended up with a room in the North Tower on the "Diamond Level" and on top of that, the desk clerk was also able to get me an even cheaper room rate than the TR rate I had booked. I definitely got lucky there.
I've only been offered an upgrade at check-in once and what an upgrade offer it was. I was staying at Caesars Palace at a steal of a TR rate during a slow weekend in December back in 2011 (Booked Forum Tower for 3 night for $250 and some change.). When I go to check in and was offered an upgrade to the Augustus Tower for $40 more a night (Which was a no-brainer decision.).
It's definitely a risk to wait until you get there and see if they have any upgrades available at check-in, but in some cases, it maybe better to go ahead and take them up on the offer. Now is this upgrade offer $40 for the entire stay or $40/night? If it's for the entire stay, jump on it. If it's $40 a night, that's a bit tougher of a call unless they're offering you a Red Room Premier.
slade replied on Wednesday, 20th February 2013
It's $40 a night..Premier Red Room, yes..the room offered made me hesitate and was the incentive to hit these boards..
jgarrett83 responded on Wednesday, 20th February 2013
The reason I tried the 'trick' on my last visit is because my attempts at getting an upgrade in the past had always failed. Maybe I wasn't nice enough or maybe I just have bad luck in that area? I don't know, but in the past I was always told, yes we can upgrade you for $$$/night. So when I got an upgrade doing the 'trick', I didn't feel like I was getting screwed. Maybe next time I'll try asking nicely again and see what happens....
erzeszut responded on Thursday, 21st February 2013
I'll be the dissenting voice here re. the $20 trick. Last month, I arrived at Paris the night before CES, checking in on a 6-night stay. Had booked a super cheap TR rate, lowest room category.
$20 and a smile got me a 26th floor room with a gorgeous view. Still a standard room, but incredible views of the pool, the Tower, the fountains, the Cosmo and Aria.
Surprising, because I had "two strikes against me" -- the length of my stay, and the very high occupancy level of the hotel. But for basically 3 bucks per day, it was surely worth it. (Who knows, the smile alone might have worked, instead.)
Now a standard to a red room premier is more of an upgrade. Will you get it for $20? Maybe not. You might get a standard room with a view, though. And I'd bet at the very least, you'd have another chance to get the $40/nt upgrade if you still want it.
slade responded on Monday, 11th March 2013
Just wanted to follow up on the topic I started; I asked for an upgrade at the desk and received a corner suite red room, etc.
What a complete rip-off! The Paris is officially falling apart and the rooms are shamefully run down in both appearance and amenities. The casino offers probably the worst gambling I have ever experienced and the overall feel of the place is a smoke dowsed (I smoke too) dingy garage fit for a mechanic shop and the attendant cherry picker to hoist an engine or three.
Now, don't get me wrong I respect mechanic's and there profession but I sure as hell don't want to play cards in their shop.
Dinner at Gordon Ramsey's was outstanding-thanks for the recommendation/review posted earlier.
Will never stay at Paris again (a place I truly enjoyed, albeit 10-15 years ago)nor in the four corners region of Las Vegas Blvd.