Originally Posted by cesare
I also recommend buying the cheapest room possible and then "dropping" a $20-50 bill behind the counter when checking in and asking if there are any upgrades available. The amount varies depending on where you are staying.
Coming from an overseas country where tipping is not customary, how does one normally do this? What's the sequence of events? Do you offer a tip as soon as you get there, or as you hand over your documentation/credit card? If they don't give you an upgrade, do they still keep the tip? Or do you dangle it and say "If you have a better room available I might be able to offer this to you"?