At checkin, handed over id and 2 x $20 and asked if there was a chance of a complimentray upgrade. Was given the Panorama Suite, iirc. Had 180 degree view of the fountains and Arc de Triumphe and Eiffel Tower. Was sooo worth it. The rate was from the Player Club posted on these forums, and also got an extra voucher for a pair of tickets for Stomp.

I was holding the $20 between my ID and credit card, where she could see it. I asked about an upgrade. She told me I was very early for check-in, and started typing away. I gave her my ID and CC, but not the $20 yet (didn’t know if she was even trying), I was still holding it as she was typing away at her PC. She gave me a nice strip view room on the 36th floor, but not a suite (I had reserved a standard room). I overheard the people on both sides of me being told to come back several hours later in the day. I gave her the $20, she said you don’t have to do that, but I told her thank you and that it was for her. So, the $20 got me an early check in, strip view, and high floor. To me, it was a success, even though I didn’t get the suite. I booked using the $69 promo on a different thread, so I really can’t complain.

The reason I said yes it worked is because the clerk said he upgraded us to a Resort room, but later found it was just a regular room. But it did have the fantastic view of the Bellagio fountains, which I found out later that is a $30 per night upgrade. So I was happy.

Tried the trick, between ID and card — the lady stated she was sorry, she was unable to upgrade because the hotel was full (very high occupancy during our stay, and it also appears blocks of rooms are being renovated at a time, from what we saw and heard). Gave the $20 back to us, no problem. However, she stated that they had blocked the last available strip-view room for us, so that was fine. While a regular room, it had the fantastic soaking tub that the Aladdin has been known for, and though we were next to the elevator and ice machines, I think we heard them once only, the entire stay. Some of the old Aladdin touches are still there (carpets, etc.) but the big fake jewels are long gone, and this hotel’s evolution is going to be very interesting.

I love the fact that you do not need to walk through the casino to check in. Very, very nice, a seamless stay.

Of most note: a Trader Vic’s (!!!!) is coming into the Desert Passage Shops (soon to be “Miracle Mile.”) Spice Market Buffet is keeping its name and continues to be good.

The official change-over to the PH was formally made on Tue 4/17. The PH is very sleek and hip, it appears to be going for the “Palms of the Strip” vibe. We LOVED it and will stay there again. Thanks to the fatwallet/promo code forum, I got a fantastic rate which included “Stomp Out Loud” (excellent!) show tickets — and they weren’t the cheap seats, we got two front mezzanine tickets normally $75 each — this equaled half the cost of the room. Heart Center Bar is great, and has lovely go-go girls at 10 p.m. nightly.

We had booked the standard deluxe room. I was concerned about our late check-in time on a saturday night. We were also staying 7 nights. I debated going with a $50 tip( in hindsite I should have). She upgraded us to a resort room with a partial strip view. This was a handicap access room with extra floor space. The room was very large with a sofa, highback chairs and his&her vanity sinks. We saved $350 over the seven nights. Well worth the tip.

We had choice to pick between bigger romm or better view, we asked for better view. my finance loved it!!

Arrived Easter Sunday early…10 AM…gave the c.c and id with $20 showing….asked for a Vista Resort Room…no can do she said but a strip view 18th floor resort room was offered…yes I said…to her credit she offered the $20 back…told her to buy some easter items for her kids…she was very thankful…yes worth the $20..over the last two years never had them say no to this type of upgrade…deluxe to resort..maybe one day deluxe to a Vista Resort room…

Asked if there was any complimentary upgrades so she checked and said she could get us a resort room with 2 queen beds or our deluxe room with king bed with strip view. We went with strip view and it was a nice room.

Checked in at the Starwood Gold/Platinum line. I asked about an upgrade and tipped $20. The clerk (early 30s, asian) told me that the only resort room open was smoking, but the smell wouldnt be too bad, and that every resort vista, strip suite, and panoramic suite was taken. Although skeptical, I said if that’s the best you can do, we’ll take it. This clerk was full of lies.

The room’s smell was unbearable and the view was mediocre, so we went back down to the front desk to try again. We went to a different clerk(caucasian, early 30s) at the SPG Gold/Platinum line. Even though we didn’t tip the second clerk, she had no problem finding us a wide selection of non-smoking resort rooms with a view. She let us take our pick. Resort vista and suites were available, but she said only she can only upgrade platinum members for free, and even then, resort vista is the highest they go. (Contrary to the Platinum “Best Room Available” guarantee touted by starwood) I asked her if they had changed their policy, as I was positive upgrades beyond resort vista were available for free. She said with supervisor approval, any discretionary upgrade is possible, and she kindly offered to go ask for me. A minute later she came back saying it was a no-go. The resort room we ended up with was fine. The extra sink was worth $20.

Checked in at 1:00 on Sunday afternoon. It was busy but executed the patter perfectly. The woman with glasses pocketed the $20 stealthly and gave us what must have been one of the nicest rooms in the place. It was a jr suite with 5 floor to ceiling windows with gorgeous view of the strip and a partial view of the fountains.

She was super nice and told us we were getting a really nice room.

We were stunned by how nice it was as we’d booked the $58 special.