Bellagio Fountain Room

[Tandyc]

Help! I made these ressie with AAA in January and was told they would get me a fountain room. The ta called and was told to put on the ressie it was our 20th anniversary and it should be no probelm. We were told to check back when it was closer to departure time.

The TA called today to say the doc's were in. I asked if they stated we had the fountain room and she wasn't sure, it said deluxe room. So she called The Bellagio direct and was told none were available and that if there were it was a $50 a nite cost. What?

When I said that is not what I was told months ago the TA said she had called the travel company not the hotel directly. She called the travel company again today and was told they cannot book fountain rooms. She said she would call back every day or so and "see what she could do."

This trip has been paid for for months and I do not want to pay another $50 a nite, but we had our hearts set on a fountain room. Any suggestions about how to handle this?

Thanks for any help!

Tandyc

 

[VegasMike21]

Help! I made these ressie with AAA in January and was told they would get me a fountain room. The ta called and was told to put on the ressie it was our 20th anniversary and it should be no probelm. We were told to check back when it was closer to departure time.

The TA called today to say the doc's were in. I asked if they stated we had the fountain room and she wasn't sure, it said deluxe room. So she called The Bellagio direct and was told none were available and that if there were it was a $50 a nite cost. What?

When I said that is not what I was told months ago the TA said she had called the travel company not the hotel directly. She called the travel company again today and was told they cannot book fountain rooms. She said she would call back every day or so and "see what she could do."

This trip has been paid for for months and I do not want to pay another $50 a nite, but we had our hearts set on a fountain room. Any suggestions about how to handle this?

Thanks for any help!

Tandyc

When you check into the Bellagio use the $20 trick. Basically just fork over a $20 spot to the desk clerk and they might just upgrade you for free to a fountain room. If that doesn't work try $40. If nothing then just forget about it. About 95% of the time this works when rooms are available.

 

[Tandyc]

Wow! Thanks for the advice. I love it! Hope it works.

Tandyc

 

[VegasMike21]

Wow! Thanks for the advice. I love it! Hope it works.

Tandyc

it's worth a shot, if they have the rooms available and empty and you tip em a $20 spot it works. they'll be more then happy to do it for you.

 

[jlima]

the TA said she had called the travel company not the hotel directly. She called the travel company again today and was told they cannot book fountain rooms.

If I am understanding this, your AAA travel agent booked the rooms through another company?

If this is the case, you're probably not getting a fountain view room, no matter how many times your TA calls. I worked in revenue management at a strip resort 3 jobs ago, and all rooms booked through wholesalers were housed in a less desirable part of the property. That's just how it works. The better rooms at any property will go to casino guests, or those paying a higher rate.

You can try tipping the front desk agent who checks you in, but the eye in the sky watches them too, plus when they sell out of certain room types you better believe an analyst will look at the coding on your reservation and wonder why someone who booked through a wholesaler has a better room, and then ask the agent who housed you there why they did it. Then their reputation is on the line, which isn't worth a $20 tip.

I would try to call the front desk the day of your arrival and ask. And if you don't get it I wouldn't worry too much. You will be in a beautiful five star hotel and just like at DL or WDW, you're not in your room for very long!

 

[Danauk]

Sorry this has happened to you, perhaps ask at check in if an upgrade is available. If not, well the Bellagio is beautiful.
Jlima, I too am going to stay at the Bellagio next year and want a fountain view room. We were going to book direct with the hotel but then we noticed that the Bellagio was one of the hotels in the fine hotel programme with our Amex platinum card. Will using Amex to book for me put me in a less desirable room? We were going to book through Amex as it says that we get a free room upgrade on arrival (not fussed about this as I would rather pay to guaruntee a fountain view room anyway) plus we get free breakfast at the buffet every day. So would we be better just booking ourselves? Would this get us a better room, or will the Amex people book direct with the hotel and get us the same type of room?

Sorry to hijack the thread! I hope you have an amazing stay at the Bellagio.

 

[VegasMike21]

You can try tipping the front desk agent who checks you in, but the eye in the sky watches them too, plus when they sell out of certain room types you better believe an analyst will look at the coding on your reservation and wonder why someone who booked through a wholesaler has a better room, and then ask the agent who housed you there why they did it. Then their reputation is on the line, which isn't worth a $20 tip.

The $20 tip trick works in Vegas about 95% of the time when there are upgrade rooms available. Vegas is a city where just about everyone gets tips including hotel front desk clerks. I'm certain they set it to aside or put it someplace and not just into their pocket when they receive a tip and won't get in trouble.

 

[jlima]

We were going to book through Amex as it says that we get a free room upgrade on arrival (not fussed about this as I would rather pay to guaruntee a fountain view room anyway) plus we get free breakfast at the buffet every day.

I would ask Amex if they can guarantee you the lakeview room. If they cannot give you something in writing, then book it direct with the hotel. The words "on arrival" would raise my suspicion that they give you the room if it's available when you check in.

 

[GailT]

I booked a partial lake view hopping to get upgraded, I then decided that I would pay to book a lakeview room that way I would know I got it. I got the room low $200 now they are for Wed night $349.00 and Thursday night 399.00 so I am glad I booked it when I did

 

[jlima]

I booked a partial lake view hopping to get upgraded, I then decided that I would pay to book a lakeview room that way I would know I got it. I got the room low $200 now they are for Wed night $349.00 and Thursday night 399.00 so I am glad I booked it when I did

The "partial lakeview" rooms at Bellagio are in their Spa Tower, their newer tower that opened about 3 years ago. It's nowhere near the lake.

 

[kaytieeldr]

The $20 tip trick works in Vegas about 95% of the time when there are upgrade rooms available. Vegas is a city where just about everyone gets tips including hotel front desk clerks. I'm certain they set it to aside or put it someplace and not just into their pocket when they receive a tip and won't get in trouble.

I haven't ever tried it, but the OP should check out the travel forums at fatwallet.com. There's an entire (huge!) thread about "the $20 trick".