3rd stop on our "Midwest vacation ( 1st 2 stops being Hollywood Lawrenceburg Indiana & Horseshoe South Indiana)". Got cut short by 1 night because of a family emergency in Baltimore (uncle had quadruple bypass 2 days after we arrived in Joliet), so we had to leave a day/night early (stayed 2 nights instead of 3).
Had no idea, especially after stays in Lawrenceburg and Elizabeth Indiana, that Joliet was a small city type area. Was ready for another 'country' type casino/hotel. Check in counter of hotel was a different experience. An "apparently new" hotel guy stared at my license for over a min as i tried to check in. I asked him if everything was alright and did he need me to interpret anything on my NYS license. He said no and after another glance handed me my license back. Too be honest I couldn't understand what the heck he was looking at for so long (thought that he was actually being asinine). The other 'front desk person", a lady, actually corrected him a couple of times as he began to check us in (check in took longer than my 2 previous stops put together). The valet guy brought luggage to our room promptly after we arrived in room.
Ventured to casino after first making a stop at Diamond lounge. A rather nice D L.. The menu was set for that day (stuffed cabbage, rice etc.) and the room was nice size too. Great view of the river and an outside area adjacent, to the Diamond lounge, that allowed you to sit outside and enjoy the scenery also.
The first casino entrance was just for those who were re-entering the casino? ! had to walk around to main entrance. A decent amount of construction was going on between diamond lounge and casino entrance, making way for a new restaurant (I believe)! I also noticed that all casinos that i had been to during my "Midwest' trip, in Indiana and Illinois, had metal detectors at their entrance! That was a first (2nd and 3rd) for me!
VP choices were better than my 2 previous stops with $1.00 double double bonus machine getting most of my VP dollars. Most VP was concentrated in 1 main area with a few other banks at the bar and near the poker room. Craps had the small/tall/all bonus bet, and a guy hit all 12 numbers while i was there! He made a couple grand. I picked up roughly $300.00 on it.
Aces diner, on the casino floor, feed me pretty well during my stay there. Chicago dogs, philly steaks, salads, wings....a decent assortment of late night/anytime munchies. And Aces was open...anytime! The Flavors buffet did NOT remind me of the Flavors buffet at Harrahs Vegas. Didn't know that I could order prime rib, crab legs etc ala-carte until I walked to the bathroom and saw a couple chowing down on both. By then I was stuffed. The buffet was considerably smaller than the "Spread" buffet at Horseshoe South Indiana property, which I had just enjoyed 2 days earlier. Fortunately ACES never closed.
Room was decent. No safe, nor desk and chair. Bathroom had separate enclosed toilet area. No fitness center on the property, nor access to 1 near by. Gaming was not eventful other than craps wins on first night.
Before i checked out I had called down stairs to inform the front desk lady that I was leaving a day early ( family emergency) and could she have a host look at my play, to comp my room charges (approx $30.00 for food). When I went downstairs to check out, the front desk lady said that "no host had gotten back to" her yet! This was 90 mins AFTER I called down with the request. I informed them to follow up with the host when they could and if he/she choose not to do anything then I would leave the charges on Credit Card.
2 hours later i called, while traveling toward Baltimore! I called back to Harrahs Joliet. Operator connected me to a host extension. The "hold on music' began while i waited for a host to come to the phone. I remained on hold for 15 FIFTEEN MINUTES. I AM NOT EXAGGERATING. 15 MINUTES!!!!!!!!
I hung up and called back. This time the same operator answered the phone. When I told her why I was calling she began to give me the "hold on while i connect you". I said absolutely not. Told her that I had already been on hold for 15 minutes, after my previous conversation with her, to which she responded that "that was unacceptable. Hold on and i will take care of this for you"! Which she did. Kudos to this operator who also returned to the phone to tell me that room charges were all comped.
I don't know if Harrahs Joliet was just in the middle of training front desk personnel or I just picked a bad time to come, but their service was the worse that I have ever experienced from a CET property. And as a diamond, for the past 3/4 years, I have been to a few CET properties in my years. At most properties, the front desk staff and the hosts are the 1's that usually go over board to make sure that your stay is enjoyable. I'm gonna assume that this was just a bad/busy time for me to come, although checking out on a Tuesday morning should not have had that much confusion!
I doubt that I will return to Harrahs Joliet!
Had no idea, especially after stays in Lawrenceburg and Elizabeth Indiana, that Joliet was a small city type area. Was ready for another 'country' type casino/hotel. Check in counter of hotel was a different experience. An "apparently new" hotel guy stared at my license for over a min as i tried to check in. I asked him if everything was alright and did he need me to interpret anything on my NYS license. He said no and after another glance handed me my license back. Too be honest I couldn't understand what the heck he was looking at for so long (thought that he was actually being asinine). The other 'front desk person", a lady, actually corrected him a couple of times as he began to check us in (check in took longer than my 2 previous stops put together). The valet guy brought luggage to our room promptly after we arrived in room.
Ventured to casino after first making a stop at Diamond lounge. A rather nice D L.. The menu was set for that day (stuffed cabbage, rice etc.) and the room was nice size too. Great view of the river and an outside area adjacent, to the Diamond lounge, that allowed you to sit outside and enjoy the scenery also.
The first casino entrance was just for those who were re-entering the casino? ! had to walk around to main entrance. A decent amount of construction was going on between diamond lounge and casino entrance, making way for a new restaurant (I believe)! I also noticed that all casinos that i had been to during my "Midwest' trip, in Indiana and Illinois, had metal detectors at their entrance! That was a first (2nd and 3rd) for me!
VP choices were better than my 2 previous stops with $1.00 double double bonus machine getting most of my VP dollars. Most VP was concentrated in 1 main area with a few other banks at the bar and near the poker room. Craps had the small/tall/all bonus bet, and a guy hit all 12 numbers while i was there! He made a couple grand. I picked up roughly $300.00 on it.
Aces diner, on the casino floor, feed me pretty well during my stay there. Chicago dogs, philly steaks, salads, wings....a decent assortment of late night/anytime munchies. And Aces was open...anytime! The Flavors buffet did NOT remind me of the Flavors buffet at Harrahs Vegas. Didn't know that I could order prime rib, crab legs etc ala-carte until I walked to the bathroom and saw a couple chowing down on both. By then I was stuffed. The buffet was considerably smaller than the "Spread" buffet at Horseshoe South Indiana property, which I had just enjoyed 2 days earlier. Fortunately ACES never closed.
Room was decent. No safe, nor desk and chair. Bathroom had separate enclosed toilet area. No fitness center on the property, nor access to 1 near by. Gaming was not eventful other than craps wins on first night.
Before i checked out I had called down stairs to inform the front desk lady that I was leaving a day early ( family emergency) and could she have a host look at my play, to comp my room charges (approx $30.00 for food). When I went downstairs to check out, the front desk lady said that "no host had gotten back to" her yet! This was 90 mins AFTER I called down with the request. I informed them to follow up with the host when they could and if he/she choose not to do anything then I would leave the charges on Credit Card.
2 hours later i called, while traveling toward Baltimore! I called back to Harrahs Joliet. Operator connected me to a host extension. The "hold on music' began while i waited for a host to come to the phone. I remained on hold for 15 FIFTEEN MINUTES. I AM NOT EXAGGERATING. 15 MINUTES!!!!!!!!
I hung up and called back. This time the same operator answered the phone. When I told her why I was calling she began to give me the "hold on while i connect you". I said absolutely not. Told her that I had already been on hold for 15 minutes, after my previous conversation with her, to which she responded that "that was unacceptable. Hold on and i will take care of this for you"! Which she did. Kudos to this operator who also returned to the phone to tell me that room charges were all comped.
I don't know if Harrahs Joliet was just in the middle of training front desk personnel or I just picked a bad time to come, but their service was the worse that I have ever experienced from a CET property. And as a diamond, for the past 3/4 years, I have been to a few CET properties in my years. At most properties, the front desk staff and the hosts are the 1's that usually go over board to make sure that your stay is enjoyable. I'm gonna assume that this was just a bad/busy time for me to come, although checking out on a Tuesday morning should not have had that much confusion!
I doubt that I will return to Harrahs Joliet!
