Diamond to Las Vegas

I'm going to Las Vegas in October to meet my brother for some football and bonding time! I'm relatively new to being a Diamond member with CET! What are some of the perks I should look forward to while in Las Vegas? My host (never meet, just got a call one day saying he was my host and to call if coming to LV) already set me up with a free room for our stay. I was in LV for a convention and staying at the Rio and their Diamond Lounge was only open for a small window that I couldn't make with the convention committment. Do all CET properties have lounges? Are any of them open for lunch like back here in the midwest (Joliet & Horseshoe Hammond)?

Did I see something about free shows?

What is an appropriate gift for my casino host getting me 6 nights of rooms comped without any play requirement?

I made it to Diamond with bonuses and lots of small play. I mostly play craps at $5.00 level, which means I have $30-$70 riding on each shooter. Usually go with $200-$500 bankroll a few times a month. Is there any chance of me earning food comps in LV at this level? My brother and I usually play 1-2 hands of $5.00 BJ at THE ORLEANS in the past and have never paid for a meal out there. I'm guessing the strip CET properties don't even have $5.00 BJ. Do they record play and comp for small BJ players? I'm feeling obligated to do some playing at the CET properties instead of heading out to the local's casinos because of the free room, but need my money to last for 6 days!

Thanks in advance for any and all advice!

Not many 5.00 tables on the strip and most BJ pays 6:5

Unfortunately, the best "gift" for your Host will be your play within the CET system.

Personally, having done the Host gift thing many times, I recommend NO gift at this time. Whatever he did for you is based on your small but frequent play. Of course he is counting on you to give CET some decent play.

You don't even need to contact him when you get there unless you just want to.

Take my advice...when you start that 'gifting', you feel obligated every time, and it really doesn't change much. If you want to establish a relationship with him, give them decent play, book all your CET trips through him (even for CET stays in other cities). You can stiff him this trip if you want to, but eventually your offers will drop. He isn't bringing you in to gamble at non CET places, though you certainly can do that. If you play pretty good (hours at a time) you might get a good NYE offer, if interested. And you might get some offers that include the headliner shows, such as Elton John, Brooks & Dunn, Rod Stewart, etc. with the free rooms.

As for Diamond, the best perks are using the Diamond check-in line or room, free or 2 for 1 shows (stop at any Total Rewards desk to get the list of shows, as they change often). Plus you probably earned a $100 celebration dinner. Again, there is a list of eateries at each CET where you can use it. Check the expiration date. And wherever you use it, you have to use it all or forfeit what isn't used. You can't use some here and some there. Since your Host booked your trip, you can request a better room (upgrade, view, tower, etc.) and probably get it.

Sometimes the shows include a free or 2-fer ride on the High Roller.

The Diamond Lounges are all different as to hours and when they put out the heavy food, which is usually a small window such as 4-6 pm. The rest of the time it is chips and dips. But nice to relax and drink free (though you need to tip), maybe watch something interesting on big screen TVs. Beware, in Vegas when they bring out the food, you can get run over by the stampede of people acting as if they haven't eaten in a month, especially at Caesars Diamond Lounge. I actually hate that, and it can be hard to get a table. We liked the DL at Paris much better, great bartenders, but haven't seen them all. The Harrah's DL used to be very good for excellent drinks, call brands, and decent food (should call it heavy hors d'oeuvres). Haven't been there in a while. But restaurants in Vegas CETs are high priced for what you get, so evening snacking in a DL is good for the budget. Some open for lunch on the weekends. Check the hours. And, you get to take one, and only one, guest in for free (though later in the evening you might be able to sneak one in.

We were just in Laughlin, which had a great DL, but we were advised that "we are starting to charge your Total Rewards points for the second visit") in a day, so if two of you have a diamond card, and think you might return later, one of you needs to have the second one as a guest, and the other one do the "guest" thing for the second visit. Now, if you are just going out to the bathroom or something, tell them and they give you a pass back in. But Laughlin DL is open practically all day and it would be possible to go for breakfast and later for "dinner" on some days (again, heavy hors d'oeuvres but enough to fill up). I don't know if this "charge" for a second visit will be across all CETs or just Laughlin. And I didn't ask how many points they would take for this second visit.

Well, that's too much from me, but I hope you have a wonderful visit!

Candy, thanks so much for all the information! I would like to give CET some play this trip, but in the past my brother and I have mostly played 2 deck $5.00 Blackjack at the Orleans off-strip. They have treated us very well there (we have never had to pay for a meal on previous trips). We are usually able to get a buffet for lunch and the Prime Rib Loft for dinner between us for about 2-4 hours of play (sometimes we bump up to 2 hands at $5.00 each if not busy). Unfortunately I know the strip (CET or not) probably doesn't have those limits so our bankroll is more at risk and less of a chance to play for as long, which will also decrease comps. We are ok gambling at weird hours so maybe we'll some lower table limits early in the morning? :-)

Again, thanks for all the info!

All of the Diamond Lounge hours are the same: 4 pm - 9 pm Sunday-Thursday and Noon-9 pm Friday and Saturday. Paris serves hot appetizers from 4:30-6:30, and it gets crowded. Others serve from 4pm-6pm. Although management says "all DLs are the same," they are most definitely not. Paris,, Caesar's, and Harrah's have bars. Rio, Flamingo, and PH do not have bars. There is no DL at the Linq or Cromwell.

If you use the $100 dining certificate, keep in mind that you need to use the entire amount (or close to it) as they do not leave leftover money on your account.

A small host gift could be a lottery scratch off card--since you mentioned Hammond Horseshoe I'm assuming you live in IN or IL. We usually take a $5 one. Just a thought.

Have fun!

Joy

Regarding diamond lounges:
Harrahs has best "real" food.
Paris/CP best ambiance
PH drinks were STRONG STRONG STRONG last month
PH, CP & Paris love their chicken wings--seriuosly? EVERY night??!!
Rio--lovely windows for great views
Flamingo--don't bother. Not a single reason to go back
LINQ & Cromwell each have a bar that serve free diamond drinks from 4-6 I think. (Have not tried this)
Use that annual $100 diamond dinner if you haven't!--we LOVE Mesa Grill & Ruth Chris & Giadas
Shows--Penn & Teller are great (tough to get tho); we thought 50 Shades at Ballys was hysterical, if very rauchy (if you know what the books are about, you understand); I HIGHLY recommend the High roller at night (we have seen most shows; we tried the High Roller last month & enjoyed it so much we WILL do it again & recommend it to all!)

DL in Flamingo reminds me of a school cafeteria.
DL @ PH can be difficult to find the first time and maybe that is why have never seen it crowded.
DL @ Harrahs seems to be the place for locals that are Diamond.
DL @ Caesars can have a line, especially if there is a game.
Yes when the food trough is put out there tends to be a rush to get all those yummy chicken wings. Sometimes there is even a line building in anticipation.

You didn't say where you are staying. There are different hours on Diamond check in at different properties. If your flight will get you to your hotel after the Diamond check-in lounge closes, it can be like being Gold again. Flamingo counter check-in tended to be the worst for treating Diamond like Gold...or below.

Yes the point thing in Laughlin is terrible but they told me Ak Chin was worse. I do know the policies in Atlantic City are bad.

In the past we would visit more than one DL in a day. Stopping to possibly get some of the famous wings and a drink and then stopping again just before closing to get a late night specialty drink.

The point thing in Laughlin is new.

Ak-Chin doesn't have a point thing. Ak Chin gives diamond players 4 drink tickets and 1 appetizer ticket. Most appetizers are large enough for a meal. You can also trade 2 tickets for another appetizer. You can also get 4 drink tickets per day, $7 value, to use in the casino or at the restaurants. This is their way of being able to comp alcoholic beverages in accordance to state law. Ak-Chin might limit DL visits to 8 per month.

Thank you all for the information!

Limiting DL visits to 8 per month would not make locals happy.