AboutTom Expertise I can tell you detail of every major hotel in Vegas, such as the restaurants they offer and the attractions they maintain, on the Las Vegas Strip. The kind of patrons each hotel attracts. How to play blackjack, both etiquette and strategy. How to obtain comps and make the most of your money when in town. Any Vegas general knowledge.
Experience
Past/Present clients Caesar's Palace, Flamingo Las Vegas, Bally's, Paris and Las Vegas Hilton.
Question Whats the best way to go about getting perks.(low roller. Thank You. Richard
Answer Low rollers have a harder time getting the perks, but if you put yourself in the right place at the right time it can happen for you.
First of all, make sure you sign up for your hotel's frequent player club, even if you don't play enough to qualify for comps. This will at least get you in the database and on the mailing list. And, simply having a card will show the hotel employees that you *could* be someone they should consider giving the VIP treatment to.
Next thing to do is to seek out the perks you want. It can't hurt to just ask. One time I was staying at the Hard Rock Hotel, and I just called a few days in advance to ask if they could give me a limo ride from the airport when I arrived. I guess their driver's schedule was light that day, because they said they would do it. This obviously won't work every time, but you'll never know unless you ask. It also doesn't hurt to have a special situation to mention, like perhaps its your "anniversary" and you'd really appreciate a limo ride, or maybe some complimentary champagne sent to your room, etc.
Another thing you can do is to ask for a suite when you check-in, and be prepared to give the desk clerk a tip if they get you an upgrade. This is commonly referred to as the "$20 trick." Have a $20 bill tucked in your hand when you check in, and mention to the clerk you'd really appreciate an upgraded room (make sure they see the money in your hand - they will know what this means). Usually, if there is an unreserved suite available, they can put you in it. If they say no suites are available but they can give you a premium view, then you can take that if you like, but in that case the $20 tip is not required.
Another way to get perks is to hunt for coupons. There is a great website I found called www.billhere.com, and you can search their list of coupons and deals before you go to Vegas. If there is something on there you like, just send them an e-mail and they will send you the coupons for a small charge. I used this site when I was planning a bachelor party last month, and I got over $1000 worth of nightclub passes for only $18.
Lastly, tipping is a way of life in Las Vegas. It will open doors for you. Maybe there is a sold-out show you wanted to see... tip the concierge up front and all of a sudden they'll find some tickets for you. Maybe there's a long line to get into the buffet, but with a small tip to the hostess you can walk right in through the VIP line. Same goes for clubs. Interestingly, I took that bachelor group to a nightclub where the cover charge was $20/person. There was a long line so I walked to the front and gave the doorman $100 - he let us all right inside, and there were eight of us. We would have paid $160 if we waited in line, but the tip got us a $60 discount and instant entry.
Low rollers won't automatically get perks and upgrades, but if you put yourself in position and ask, sometimes you might just get lucky.
Good luck, and let me know if you need any clarification on anything!
