Reaching for the Stars – Chapter 8
There has been a lot of discussion with other 7-Star card holders about the ambiguity of the Caesars web site that describes the 7-Star Experiences by level. My beef was that nowhere on the site that lists the different trips and gifts when you achieve the next levels that if you get all of them or if you’re to pick one of them. I finally got a hold of a host in Laughlin that seemed to be in the know. He said you have to pick only ONE of the listed items. I took him to the site and asked to show me where that states it on the site. He (curtly) said that he’s not responsible for the Caesars web site; he just knows what it’s supposed to say. When I told him he should certainly understand all of our confusion and his answer was just a shrug. His tone was somewhat condescending as I was not pleased. Of course, I was also a bit frustrated that I worked so hard to get to level 2 and had I known it was only for one of the items, I certainly would have thought twice before going after it.
That’s now one thing cleared up. I do have my choice between a $500 forum shops voucher and room at Caesar’s in Las Vegas, or a $500 pier shops voucher and a room at Caesars in Atlantic City, or a room and invitation to the Lake Tahoe Fourth of July Fireworks Festival, and finally a room and ticket to the Memphis Grizzlies game. I’m sticking with the Lake Tahoe trip. I spoke with my host to book me as soon as possible, but he told me it hasn’t shown up on my offers yet and believes I might have to wait until the first of the year when the new benefits are posted.
So far as a 7-Stars card holder (and it’s still early, I have a full 16 more months eligibilty), I’m very happy with the gift baskets, the free Internet and movies in the rooms, and the line passes. However, I’ve only been given suites about half the time (something I initially expected, but learned later not to count on it). I’ve also learned that there’s a lot of confusion among hosts about the benefits, and that everything must be booked through your “home” host, which in my case is at Rincon. I find this a disadvantage as being at Rincon, my host doesn’t know anyone in Las Vegas nor has any contacts. So, in reality, he’s really simply a fancy concierge. He can book the rooms, but can’t book shows. He can only book restaurant reservations at Rincon, and nowhere else. All this has led me to believe that if you’re in a position to get your 7-Stars level at different properties, make it Las Vegas where the hosts seem to be far more connected and can do a lot more.
Rincon is the only place (at least as far as I’ve found) that offers two free buffets a day, though Cleveland’s Horseshoe hosts all but fall over each other to write you buffets if you’re Diamond or 7-Stars. Laughlin continues to send mail coupons for free buffets, but you only get one (for two people) every two weeks. To my knowledge, there are no properties in Las Vegas that offer free buffets. This summer, it’s my intention to visit the other Caesars properties and I’ll be able to give a more detailed account for this.
I came to Laughlin on an offer for a double tournament, both blackjack and slots. I’ve never done this type of tournament. I knew blackjack is not my game knowing only the basic strategy. This end up not being important as my luck was as bad as it could get. The table is given 21 hands total and you take the amount of chips you end up with and that is added to your two slot sessions for a grand total. The top 100 leaders are in the money. When I registered, I was given two tickets: one said the blackjack would start at 10 AM, the other ticket said my slot tournament sessions were at 10 AM and 2 PM (I assumed the next day). I arrived Saturday at my table for the blackjack tournament portion. I lasted only 14 of the 21 hands and all my money was gone. I was literally the very first person out of the tournament. Out of those hands, I was dealt a 14 (four and a ten) nine out of the 14 hands. I was dealt one blackjack, a 16, a 12, and an 8 (two fours) the other hands. I split the two 4s and was given another 4. I split them (all my money now in) and I had some luck as the three hands end up being 19, 19, and 20 with the dealer showing a five. He had a ten in the hole, and then dealt himself a six. I was out.
So, I would have to wait until tomorrow for the slot portion knowing I was already in a big hole having no points to transfer over to the total. I met Martin and we went to see ENDER’S GAME at the Laughlin Shopping Center (surprisingly busy today). The movie was good…but it was missing something…I can’t recommend it too highly.
I was able to double book this weekend because I had a free three-nighter at the Riverside that included two breakfast buffets and two prime rib dinners. I gave Martin the room and the coupons because I stayed at Harrahs where I was once again given a suite in the North Tower. I don’t like the North Tower (too many kids and families), but the suites are nice and well-maintained and the view is excellent.
Daytime view from my room on the 19th floor of the North Tower at Harrahs in Laughlin
Kudos goes to Harrahs, Laughlin as they have finished changing all of their video poker machines to the newer flat screen multigame formats. The reason for the positive review is that most the machines have maintained the same video poker schedules. Though some of the single line games have 6/5 Bonus Poker, the majority maintain the 7/5 (not full pay, but at least not lowered more) and this is true for all the multigame machines as well. They added a 50-play (1, 2, 5, 25-cent) machine so there are now two of them and both continue to have the 8/5 Super Double Bonus and Bonus Deuces both at slightly over 98% payback schedules. The machines are now much faster and all are the more comfortable slant back machines. I should also mention that they have improved their hot food items (used to be just chicken wings and gruel soup for two hours a day) that have been varied and is now available from opening to closing hours. On the two days I was there, you had choices of bacon wraps, chicken wings, sloppy Joes, cordon-bleu balls (yes, I know), and a variety of sandwiches, desserts, veggies, and assorted cheeses.
My gambling on Saturday was not terrible, just bad. I lost some at Quick Quads at the Riverside (got to keep the offers coming), lost a couple hundred at the 50-plays at Harrahs, and then dropped a little at the new Phantom of the Opera machines. However, I played the new Lord of the Rings machine at 80-cents and caught a couple of great bonuses and walked away with $360 bringing me back to even for the day. As a 7-Star holder, I get two free water taxi tickets per day, so I took it to the Riverside to meet Martin for the Prime Rib dinner, which as usual, was excellent.
Sunday morning I got up and hung around in the room until it was time for my two sessions at the slot tournaments. Just before 10 AM I headed downstairs and looked at my ticket. It said, Session 1: 2PM and Session 2: 10 AM. This was odd. Was it a mistake? When I went to the boothling, it turns out that Session 1 was yesterday at 2:00 PM. I showed her my ticket; there was no date on it. It seems I missed my slot tournament yesterday. She said I should go ahead and play today if I had a good blackjack score as I’d still have a shot at it. I laughed.
So, now I have the rest of the day with only dinner tonight once again with Martin using my free buffets coupon. I don’t need to play for tier points anymore this year; however, this doesn’t mean I’m not going to play a little for hopeful profit. I tried another hundred in my “lucky” Lord of Rings machine—a loss. I put a hundred in the Phantom of the Opera and then the Hot Dice machines—a loss. I then gave up on the penny games and went back to my trusty 50-plays at the 2-cent level. I lost a hundred at 8/5 SDB. I lost a hundred at the Double Deuces. I went back to SDB for my third and final hundred. I was up $75 when I was dealt quad 3s for a very sweet and needed $400 win and bringing me back even for the day. That was enough for me. I gave the place about a thousand tier points and broke even—I’m good.
Day saving dealt quad 3s on the 50 play at the 2-cent level good for $400
I headed back to the room to watch the Chargers play Miami and write this report—another loss—they’re just terrible. Martin will be coming at 6:30 for dinner and then I’ll go bed right after as I want to get right to bed and up very early to head back to San Diego. I’ll be subbing the rest of this week and as our district has the entire Thanksgiving week off, I’ll be back once again to Las Vegas where I’ll pick up Chapter 9.
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