Sarah Palin's Alias -- TINA!

So get this ... we found out when Sarah Palin checked into the Omni Berkshire Hotel in NYC for her "Saturday Night Live" performance, she used an alias -- first name, Tina (we're not mentioning last name -- national security!).

And there's more. The hotel had some specific instructions on what Her Hotness needed, and it appears to be a preemptive strike against another Couric attack.

Palin asked for and got copies of the Wall Street Journal, NY Times, New York Post, Daily News, and USA Today. No Wash Post -- of course they're on Team Obama now.

We also learned how the Governatrix keeps that pageant-ready figure -- all she asked for is diet soda, Atkins bars, and skinny white chocolate mochas ... but no whip. We're told Palin made it VERY clear, she's not into whip.