Paying the NJ Tax at CET One Way or the Other

You all may have known this but I learned today upon checking out of Caesars AC that whether you have a regular room comp or RFB comp, you'll pay the daily $13 NJ Hotel Tax (or whatever it's called) no matter what. I learned the difference is that if you have a regular room comp, you have to pay for the tax with cash or a credit card. If you have a RFB room comp, the taxes, "for your convenience", are taken out of our your TR credits, which is total BS.

I had previously learned that RFB at Caesars AC wasn't much anyway as food is covered AFTER you have exhausted your TR credits (at least that's the deal for me -- YMMV), which would never happen to me as I now have a LOT of TR Credits. When I booked the room on the phone the reservationist said specifically that RFB meant at least the taxes would be taken care of, whether or not I had plenty of TR credits. So I said, okay, I'll go through the trouble of calling to book a room comped RFB rather than just doing it online myself and getting a "regular" room comp.

I noticed my TR credits had taken a hit over the weekend and checked at the TR counter before checking out, which is when I was told about the $26 TR credit hit for the taxes. I called VIP check in and that's when the person said it was a new policy about the NJ tax coming out of the TR credits. I then asked: "So what's the difference between a regular comped room and a RFB room?" The VIP check in person said on a regular comped room you have to pay the taxes with a CC or in cash but on a RFB comped room the taxes would just be taken out of your TR credits and that it was a new policy.

I know it's just $26 and I have a lot of TR credits but for me that's not the point. I also play plenty enough, which annoys me even more that somehow CET in Atlantic City feels the need to pass on that tax on comped rooms, which it doesn't have to do. In addition, even though I have a lot of points, it still can take a while to earn $26 in TR credits, especially if you are playing VP. My guess is quite a few folks staying in AC for a couple of nights would have a good chunk of the TR credits earned during a stay eaten up by the tax, even before paying for a meal. Bottom line is that the "RFB room comp" for me really has no value and this new policy is really a crappy policy.

Okay, I'm finished venting.

Welcome to NJ!lol I live here and they get us coming and going with taxes.You gotta see the property taxes on my house.
steve

Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City charges $5.00 per day to cover exactly the same taxes. CET marks them up outrageously while at the same time promoting "No Resort Fees."

Mr. "O" has learned to work the system by bringing groups of family and other friends (read: me and my casino hubby John) to snack and drinks at some of the fanicer places, or ordering room service.
We had raw oysters, a cheese platter and filet mingon at the new fish place after a show...but you're not wrong... I like having a few hundred dollars worth of RCs always too..

Also..did you notice the gelato/coffee bar by caesars check in lobby sells their stuff 2-1 for RC? Awful..
2-1 rascio! and gelato is like $8.00 a scoop. no thank you.
I don't mind paying the $13.00 a night as we park for free and i always ask for more bath products.
I'll pay $13.00 a night as the DLs have real meals..life is too short.

NC,

I hate the 241 too as I often get my snacks there for the ride back. This past weekend I converted $300 in RCs to a $150 Pier Gift Card, added my $250 CET promo vouchers and a $50 gift card for my birthday and I walked away with a really nice piece of luggage and matching accessories from one of the Pier shops. The 241 was painful but it's really nice looking at a very nice piece of carry on luggage. I decided when I win in the future I'm going to run in that same store and pick up a matching piece.

I hear you regarding the fee/not a big deal, but it's so annoying. I don't drive to AC, just get the bus or train, so the free parking has no value for me.

I just think it's ridiculous that when I call to book a room and the reservationist says "your RFB, wonderful" or "would you like to be booked RFB?" that it really has no real meaning and it's so annoying. I also found out, almost by accident, about the new policy because I noticed the minor change in my reward credits. No notice before hand.

Save for the DLs (I have well more than 25,000 TCs so fortunately I don't take yet another hit out of my Reward Credits for visiting a DL), I'd definitely be better off playing at Borgata given the much better VP tables, down to the nickel level (at least relative to CET in AC). What I like most about CET AC is staying at Caesars and being able to use my RCs in Vegas.

You aren't wrong one bit.
Borgata is overall nicer and who doesn't like getting 45 for a fullhouse instead of 35..?

but I stay at Caesars/Ballys because of my RC's and I need a back door.
I need to, if I am losing; to go elsewhere (it's a mental thing) and Borgata can also feel like a trap to me, a beautiful Venus Fly Trap and I'm the fly.

This is freaky as I know exactly what you mean re: Venus Fly Trap!

Cash out your Reward Credits before you charge anything to your room if you're LFB/RFB at any Caesars Atlantic City property. At Harrah's you can convert your points to cash at a 2:1 ratio. You're losing 50% of your comp dollars, but you're getting cash and then you won't have any reward credits to pay for the room charges. It's the only way to really be RFB/LFB at the Caesars properties.

From what I've been told, Harrah's AC is the only property where you can always convert reward credits to cash (not free play). You ask for a gift certificate at the Total Rewards desk and then take that to the cash advance booth right down the hall and they'll give you cash.

This isn't very well publicized, but after years of trying to figure out how to spend my points, I failed to find anything valuable in the gift shop, on their online shop, or even foodwise, with all the other food offers they sent out, so I'd rather just have the cash.

Bob,
I know you are not a Spa hound like me,
but you can get product at Qua for your female family especially at Christmas time- and you get 10% or20% off for being Diamond w/ your RCs.

Bob and Noahcat, Both great points. Bob, I had no idea you could convert RC to cash. That's fabulous. I agree that 2 for 1 sucks but it's good to know.

I have a big trip to Vegas planned for the end of December and so I want to keep most of my points for that trip for the spa, show tickets, a nice meal or two, etc. but whatever I don't use when I get back and think I will definitely cash out or take a couple of hours RCs and do some Christmas shopping as Noahcat suggests before my trip.

Thanks.