Can you request a room upgrade or room change at check-in in Hurghada hotels, and do you need to tip staff?

A family with young children paid $20 at the front desk to move from building 8 (near the hotel entrance, far from restaurants) to a closer room. The replacement rooms turned out to have ants and cockroaches. They eventually paid a significant extra fee through the hotel guide to transfer to a different hotel — a 4-star property that was far better. The guide mentioned that many positive reviews for the original hotel are written by staff.

At check-in, a polite request for a better room (originally booked with a pool view) resulted in an upgraded room with a nicer view at no extra charge. Afterward, as a thank-you gesture, the staff member was given chocolate, cigarettes, and $10.