<p>I recently read the book, “Heads in Beds” a non-fic book about how hotels are really run. In it, the author talks about his experience as the desk clerk at a high end Manhattan Hotel and how he routinely gave upgraded rooms to people that tipped him. Discreetly. My husband and I are going to Washington DC next week and are staying at a Marriott that I got through a Groupon. I’m wondering if we should try the bribe method for an upgraded room. Has anyone done this? We got an upgraded room once - asked for a King and got a suite - and it just made our stay so much better. </p>
<p>We recently had an anniversary and could mention that. Any suggestions on a good way to get a better room?</p>
<p>Never even thought about tipping. But sometimes a, “How about a free upgrade today?” With a quick smile by a sharply polished person gets the same results. If an upgrade is available, sometimes just asking is all it takes.</p>
<p>I think there are always upgrades available. It just depends on who gets them, or who they are given to. I’m going to say that when you slide your credit card/ID and a folded 20 over to them, ask if there are any upgrades available. If not, your cash is returned to you.</p>
<p>Happy anniversary, kathiep! I hope you’ll let us know how the free upgrade quest goes. How long will you be staying, and will it be during the week or over the weekend? I think that Marriotts in DC may have lower occupancy rates on weekends; their room prices are certainly much lower on Friday and Saturday nights. </p>
<p>Marriott reward members at the gold and platinum levels are guaranteed a free upgrade if one is available. I imagine it might be at the individual clerk’s or manager’s discretion to award an upgrade to other guests. If you aren’t Marriott reward members now, you might want to join the program before you go - it’s free and you’ll qualify for free nights under certain promotions, etc. And the manager might be more inclined to upgrade a member, even one who isn’t yet at the higher levels, which are based on nights stayed.</p>
<p>I have gotten free upgrades at hotels in the past without tipping. I think it’s mostly a matter of luck - i.e., are suites or upgraded rooms available for the number of nights I’m staying? And I am always very, very nice to the clerk, even if I have to wait to check in.</p>
<p>I always just ask and more often than not I get upgraded. I also tell the front desk that I don’t want to be by an elevator, low floor, no view…It’s easier for them to just upgrade me.</p>
<p>I am a Marriott rewards member but I got this room, for just one night, with a groupon. I’m thinking that since this is such a huge hotel, and it’s the low season in DC that I probably have a better shot at an upgrade then at busy times.</p>
<p>Personally, I would ask, not offer money. It is very likely against hotel policy for a desk employee to take bribes like this. I wouldn’t want to put the employee in an awkward position.</p>
<p>Just ask…maybe there is an upgrade available. If not…you got a great deal on this room, and my understanding is they are all pretty nice!</p>
<p>Sometimes reviews of the hotel on sites such as Tripadvisor will give tips on room selection. Some reviewers might also share if they got upgrades.</p>
<p>In our experience, asking for an upgrade is always worth a try.</p>
<p>Not wishing to be a stinker…but some hotel policies specifically prohibit taking money in exchange for “favors”. The employee could lose their job if caught. Personally I would not want to be responsible for this. But asking the hotel manager for an upgrade certainly should be tried. </p>
<p>But didn’t folks say that this particular groupon deal had nice facilities overall? What would you want…a suite, or what? I believe all of the accommodations are very nice at this particular groupon deal hotel.</p>
<p>According to tripadvisor, the rooms are a mixed bag and I can see the hotel giving people that pay less the not-so-hot rooms. That’s often what happens when you get a priceline or hotwire room. Like giving someone one queen bed instead of two doubles. ;)</p>
<p>Ah…but asking the right person got two doubles! Not bribing the desk clerk! I would contact the manager ASAP…say you are a Marriott preferred customer…and wondered if an upgrade is available. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. You can ask the desk clerk again when you check in.</p>
<p>Personally with this hotel, in this location, I would not try to payoff the desk clerk.</p>
<p>We happened to be travelling yesterday and stayed at a Marriott last night. it’s a hotel we always stay at when doing this trip, and we were automatically given an upgrade last night. Not sure if it’s because we’re Rewards members or because we’re frequent guests or it was because they were not full on a Sunday night. In any case, remembering this thread, after we’d unpacked and were headed downstairs to the restaurant, I went over to the desk and asked the clerk about upgrades and tipping. He said that Marriott’s policy is that employees are not permitted to take a tip in this situation, and could, indeed, lose their job if they did so.</p>