Gaming Loyalty Programs - Harrah's Diamond - Best 2nd Club in Vegas?

My typical tier score at Harrah's is around 20,000 points. Mostly VP and VBJ, but some table and slots. I got the same free rooms when I didn't play as much. Maybe a few better offers, but nothing to write home about.

I visit LV around 8 times a year, but occasionally hit the other Harrah's properties when business brings me near one.

Thoughts on splitting play (keeping diamond at Harrah's)? If so, which other casino/program would you recommend? Appreciate the advice on this board!

My typical tier score at Harrah's is around 20,000 points. Mostly VP and VBJ, but some table and slots. I got the same free rooms when I didn't play as much. Maybe a few better offers, but nothing to write home about.

I visit LV around 8 times a year, but occasionally hit the other Harrah's properties when business brings me near one.

Thoughts on splitting play (keeping diamond at Harrah's)? If so, which other casino/program would you recommend? Appreciate the advice on this board!
The other group in LAS (as well as a few outside) is MGM/Mirage included are MGM, Bellagio, Mandalay Bay, Luxor, Excalibur, NY NY, Aria (as well as City Center), Mirage, plus a few others; the ones I mentioned are all in the "main" portion of the strip. Playing in one of these will probably get you offers in some or all of the others.
PS: I've found that one can get "unlisted" room offers from Harrahs by booking on the internet. Do you check your account at www.harrahs.com regularly?

Harrah's starts offering some free rooms (weekdays at lesser properties) for Platinums, which is only 3,000 pts ($30,000-33,000 coin-in - I'm not too clear on this anymore).

I booked 5 nights & 4 nights for two stays on their website, after qualifying for Platinum.

Availability was much better as a Diamond in 2007, but as a 2nd choice property, Harrah's website allows easy booking/viewing.

Actually, you don't even need to be Plat to get free rooms at Harrah's. I've been a lowly Harrah's gold for 5 years, and I get free weekday nights at any property and free weekend nights at most.

Just log in to Harrahs.com with your TR number and pin, and click on "Reservations." You can look at a calendar view of all properties and the corresponding rates...

In reality, though, your Theo (theoretical loss) is more important to Harrah's than your specific tier... (In other words, someone who gambles less frequently, but for higher amounts, but stays at gold would receive the same or better offers than someone who gambles more frequently for lesser amounts.)

Good luck!
Brent

MGM is probably not a good choice since they are now charging a nightly resort fee even if the room is comped. There are exceptions for now - MGM Grand and Aria, I believe.

We're finding the Venetian offers to be unbelievably good after one visit - although we have not gone back yet. The V will match your Harrah's Diamond status and upgrade you to their Gold status. There is now some question about resort fees at the V and Palazzo; some people are charged, some (Gold and up?) are not. Best to ask this in advance - repeatedly.

Other programs which serve us well are Boyd Gaming (especially Sam's Town), because they have cash back/freeplay in addition to comps. We are RFB at ST, so all of our points go to cash back. If you plan your trip right, you can get 5x points on each day of your stay using coupons, senior, and holiday promotions.

The other program we like is Station casinos. The offers are generous - and usually include free nights at their luxury properties, Red Rock and Green Valley Ranch. For now, free buffet coupons are abundant in your mailed offer - so no cost to you whatsoever, either paid or in points. Of course, you still tip.

The stategy for Harrah's offers is to keep your daily average up. Play heavily on only one day of your 3-day stay - the no-play days won't be counted in the average unless you take a comp (food, show, pay hotel bill with points). If you have a short-play day (checkout day, quick visit to local casino), your daily average will drop, and so will your offers. So it's best to not insert your player card that day.

Good luck.

- tcccc

We're finding the Venetian offers to be unbelievably good after one visit - although we have not gone back yet. The V will match your Harrah's Diamond status and upgrade you to their Gold status. There is now some question about resort fees at the V and Palazzo; some people are charged, some (Gold and up?) are not. Best to ask this in advance - repeatedly.


tcccc has it nailed right here... Venetian is shooting the best strip-side offers lately. I'm not even gold there (though I'm knocking on it) and get offers for tournaments, rooms, freeplay every single week.

The other one that's decent is the Palms, even if you're not a local to LV. My dad (doesn't play much) gets offers there all the time. Same is true for Wynn.

The thing I don't like about Wynn/MGM is that they don't have tiers. So if you play alot at either of those, get a host and skip the Players Club / Red Card desks all together.

-SF