Convention dreaming of course when I ran across a forum post titled "$20 Trick at the Wynn". Geez, they use Twenties for wet-naps at Wynn. Pretty good reading though, and I got a link to a site similar to the "$20 trick" site that got posted here a while back. A poster noted that he tried a $2 trick at the Western Hotel desk and got upgraded... to another hotel. Some thought that the tricks at Wynn would run closer to $150-$200.

So I wondered how the trick would work at the Riv. What's the $20 Trick? For a work-around room upgrade, folks have been known to insert a Jackson between their credit card and ID upon check-in and ask the desk clerk if anything else was available. Works well, they say. Two problems at the Riviera that strike me. First is the self-checkin stations. When you need to clarify something that shows on the screen you gotta wave at one of the nice folks standing waaay over there by the back wall.

"Hey!" you shout.

"Yes?" the nice person yells back.

"Is this non-smoking like I reserved or what? Doesn't say so here."

"Oh yes sir, no problem."

"Thanks. Say, where is the Click Tower located anyway?"

"What? Oh, it's 1:45 sir."

So, I'd imagine the $20 trick is a logistic challenge at the Riviera. Second problem? Well, what are you gonna upgrade to at the joint? Don't get me wrong, Riviera treats us right at convention time but the rooms are just plain worn out. Not an issue really when you're having so much fun at the convention but... Check out the Riviera page and others at: http://www.frontdesktip.com/index.php

Top picture was a visit to chippers' Expedia room a year or two ago. Remember the Island Tower when we were down at the Trop and the mirrors on the ceiling in the rooms? Perhaps Riv ought to try something similar: