Harrah's Total Rewards "Diamond"
 

My significant other and I have managed to make "Diamond". Not that we are big gamblers, but we have managed to rack up considerable points. We go to Vegas once or twice a month and every time we go some other place we always look for a Harrah's casino and usually play about $100.00 at different slot machines. I've managed in 2004 to win $5000 in penny slot machines and and about $5000 on quarter Video Poker. The Roulette table has averaged about $1000. Even though its not the greatest Hotel, we have gotten significant reductions in hotel rates and have even gotten rooms comped. Buffets , Show tickets etc. Considering the amount of time we really spend in our room this has worked out pretty well for us.

For you 'seasoned vegas hogs' what can we expect being Diamond and what do you have to do to get to the highest tier? What's the best way to use this new status to our advantage? Comments please!

Thanks, Pananna

To attain Diamond status, you have to rack up 10,000 base reward credits, as you know. The next level is Seven Stars which requires 100,000 base reward credits.

Check the Total Rewards website for additional benefits that come with Diamond status. The only real difference I can think of between Diamond and Platinum status is access to Diamond lounges at Harrah's properties. If you often go to LV, you can also check out the Diamond Lounge at the Rio.

As far as treatment is concerned, based on my experience at the Rio, there is a special check-in area for Diamonds. I receive free room coupons in the mail and use them for my stays. I have always been upgraded to a one-bedroom suite with comp food and beverage and limo service. Fruit basket and wine is always delivered to the room.

By all means take advantage of the Diamond lounges at Harrah's Las Vegas and the Rio. They are quite nice and have complimentary snacks and drinks.

Also, feel free to ask for a complimentary suite upgrade when you check in. They can usually accommodate.

QL

Diamond level players also can use the less crowded entrance to the buffet at the Rio - get a discount on the food and less wait. I assume it is similar at Harrahs.

Also was good for free access to the Voodoo lounge a few years ago. Don't know if that is still available. And better seats at their shows.

We were upgraded to Platinum back in 2002 - evidently due to the smaller crowds after 9-11. Don't know why we managed the upgrade as we only had about 1500 points in 2001. It was nice while it lasted though. Only once did we get the big corner suite at the Rio. Very nice!

edited to change Diamond to Platinum - my mistake. We were only upgraded the one level. Diamond should be a totally comped level. Platinum had it's own advantages which were very nice, but nothing compared to Diamond!!
Enjoy

Report: Rio And The Diamond Thing
 

I got the urge to go to Vegas this past weekend and overall I would have to say that the whole "Diamond" experience was pretty great.

Stayed at the RIO, and really the room was not impressive, no different from what we've stayed in before at the RIO. Didn't get totally comped, $109.00 for two nights, but really can't complain about that. What I loved, was the fast check in at the seperate for "Diamond only check-in" which was totally enclosed, no waiting in line and very friendly staff. The Diamond Lounge was great also, with good complimentary finger food and great drinks and away from all that noise and people tripping allover you. They have remodeled the buffet area, and now have a very nice section reserved for Diamond members in center which was enclosed as well but easy access to the food. And the food was really great with constant refills on the chamgagne, never had an empty glass. I sort of felt bad for the 100 or so people standing in line to get in, but not for too long!

Unfortunately, we did leave some money at the RIO, but really had a great time! I can see that this kind of treatment is probably going to spoil me. The only bad part was that my significant other was upgraded on Continental, and I on the other hand was sitting center in an EXIT row on the red eye. The other side to that story, was the money we left behind was all HIS!

We'll surely try to gain Diamond status again this year!

I'm a little surprised to hear that as Diamond you didn't get your room comped for the two nights. Did you go through a Casino Host? They have a lot more discretion that just using your accumulated comp rewards. You might want to call back and talk with someone in Casino Services and see if they can reverse that charge.

Ever since we made Diamond, we have not had to pay for rooms at any Harrah's - Rincon, Ak-Chin, Reno, Tahoe. We were comped up front when we made the reservation. With so many Indian Casinos fluorishing, there is really a lot of competition out there. As long as you are polite about asking, you should be able to get a lot more.

How's the newly opened Rincon? I received an invitation for free nights, food, beverage and air credit. Taking the family to Disneyland next month. Is it within 2 hours of Anaheim?

We did not talk to a host. We were kind of embarassed because we are not
really big table gamblers. We mostly play slots with an occasional run at the roulette table. Being that this was the first time we went as Diamond we sort of got the feel for what it was supposed to be all about.

But I will play dumb and give them a call and next time I'll be a little more aggressive in asking. Compared to other people that go there to gamble we probably look like real amateurs! But we had a great time! Thanks for your tips!

If you book your reservations on the Harrah's web site it may give you comp rooms up front. And always, always ask before you check out if they can take care of any part of the bill. Most of their business comes from quarter slot players.

QL

Never be afraid to ask. Next time, call VIP services and ask to be assigned a host and take it from there. Now that everything is computerized they pretty much know to the dollar what kind of credit/comp you will receive towards charges to your room based on your play. Still, they can take care of some minor items for you and do have the authority to upgrade your room.

Whales may affect a casino's earnings and obviously on a per capita basis they are the big spenders who are lavished with the $$$ comps, but based on your frequent visits you appear to be the type of player that is essential for the casino to survive. I haven't been near a BJ or crap table in years and play $1 and $5 VP exclusively. Get everything you are entitled to.

As QL alluded to, Harrahs/Rio has a great website. Using your Diamond #, you can get a pin and look at your account and 'Your Offers', which will show that each month you are entitled to 4 or 5 free nights.
You will get these offers by mail as well (since you are new to Diamond, the mailings probably haven't caught up). I just received my Diamond offers in the mail and it offers a free round of golf for me and my companion at the Rio Secco Golf Course. I played there before and really enjoyed it. Unfortunately , it's about a $30 taxi ride (limo will probably be only $5 or so more). I don't know how much the club rental will be.
Pananna, when in Vegas, always feel free to ask for comps. If the answer is no, then don't sweat it. I wouldn't ask for anything aggressively. Buddy up with a host; if they like you I think they will give you more. I see people whining to hosts - I don't think that gets them anywhere.
Next time in Vegas, use the Diamond card to gain free access (normally $10) to the Voodoo Lounge (high over the strip) and Carnival Court (outdoor live music lounge) at the Rio. Also, remember to not pay cash at Rio/Harrahs bars and restaurants; sign it to your room. Then you have a chance of getting it comped when you check out.

It's not what I would call elegant but it is very comfortable and the staff are friendly and eager to please. We had an excellent dinner in their main restaurant and a very credible breakfast in the coffee shop. The pool is fairly large, but we didn't check out the health club.

They were building a new tower for the hotel which may be open now. If so, I don't know how the rooms compare with the section we stayed in, but it seemed to have more floors. Perhaps the rooms are larger and represent an upgrade compared with the room we had.

There isn't much else around except some other casinos - Pala, Valley View. But it's very scenic if you like the high desert atmosphere.

Thanks for the info. The invite I received said that they opened a new 21-story, 450-room tower in December. Can't imagine the place being elegant or anything. Seems to cater a lot to seniors (website says they offer free shuttles to parts of L.A. and San Diego).

I don't remember seeing any more seniors at Rincon than most other casinos. Most of the Indian casinos offer shuttles now - Barona, Valley View, Pala. There are more Indian casinos in San Diego county than anywhere else in California and the competition is quite severe.

I think it's a pretty nice place. We enjoy staying at good places - Harrah's Tahoe, Caesar's Las Vegas. Rincon is not either of these but we felt totally comfortable.

Report: Back To The Rio!
 

Well guess what?

I called the Rio and talked to a host about room rates for this coming weekend. And they will be totally comped! Not only that,she saw that we were there last weekend and gave us a refund! We got her name and we'll be talking to her from now on. With rooms comped that is just more money I can throw away in the slot machines. Or maybe I'll use saved hotel money for the roulette table and use the other for slots! How fun is that?

She told us to charge everything to our room just as some of you mentioned here and that would be comped also!

It's like Christmas!