I have advised that you try the $20 trick for room upgrades at check in. However, I have never had one turn out quite the way things did last month at the Palazzo.
We asked if there were any upgrades at check-in, using our $20 bill as an eye catcher. We were told that “yes, actually, there is a $1600 a night suite that is available, for a mere $100.” This was a hospitality suite and it had a huge patio overlooking the golf course or pool. We’d be insane not to take it, right? So we did.
When we get to our room, we found it arranged in such a way that we could not even access the Murphy bed without moving a massive table and eight chairs. Then, the bed had no linens. There was no mini bar, as promised. And the room just looked as if it were still under construction. (Keep in mind that the Palazzo had been open for eight months and claims to be a 5 Diamond hotel.) Oh, and let’s not forget the patio. It was large, but that’s where the compliments end. It had no view other than a 15-foot high stucco wall. We called the front desk and were moved to a different hospitality suite. The second suite was just as bad as the first. There were no bed linens, the furniture was not arranged for habitation, and the patio was just as uninspiring. There was still no mini-bar, and there was even a broken chair. Frustrated, we called registration again. We asked to simply have a regular room, and get a refund on our “upgrade”.

Granted, we realize what the pupose of the hospitality suite is; parties, and meetings. All the same the decor and condition of the rooms were overseen by a blind, insomniac wrestler.

All of this had taken about an hour and a half.
Once we arrived at the regular room, which was a suite, we were greeted by hooks on the wall rather than Art. The room was definitely an improvement, but still felt and was unfinished. We had probably five locations in the room, where there were beautiful metal hooks on the wall, where presumably the Buonarotti and Caravaggio replicas were supposed to be. Once the previous check-in saga was over, however, the lack of Art seemed bearable. We told the housekeeping crew, but nothing ever got delivered.

At checkout we spoke with a manager who was extremely apologetic and encouraged us to contact a manager immediately when anything like this happens. He gave a decent chunk of food and beverage credit and allowed us to stay in the room till 6PM since we had a late flight out.

Overall, the Palazzo seems a nice enough place. I’d like to believe my crazy experience is a fluke. Though, I will not be putting them on my high-end recommended list. That honor belongs solely to the Wynn, with the Bellagio, Venetian, and Mandalay Bay close behind.