Free rooms are cool. This late on a Wednesday night there was only one person in front of me at the front desk. There was also only one girl working, with two more standing around chewing cud like cows. The one working girl was haggard and a little grumpy. As I checked in, I tried a new approach to the upgrade.
Many people slip the clerk twenty bucks and get bumped up to a suite.
Others use courtesy or lie about a special occasion, such as an anniversary or wedding. So I let on that I didn't care if they put me in the dumpsters out back. I propped myself against the counter on one elbow. I don't care if you give me the crappiest room in the joint. And then she screwed me.