Great Race impressions

St Louis-nice place-decent VP-low end rooms for a Harrahs property

Kansas City-bad VP-ghost town-we were there early on a weekday but sure we were the only 2 customers in the casino

Phoenix Ak-Chin-small number of playable $1 VP-great rooms-best Diamond Lounge ever

Paris-Best treatment for Diamond we have ever seen-nice room-poor VP-good Diamond Lounge

Council Bluffs-(Horseshoe)-Bad employees-bad gambling-bad hotel (not Harrah's owned)

Rio-looks like less business than any Vegas casino-Moron at Total Rewards center

I agree that St Louis is nice. We used to live there, and kinda miss it. I like that they have lots of One-Eyed Jacks video poker (but different machines have different payouts - beware). The Mardi Gras tower is newer and much nicer - rooms are a lot like Horseshoe Shreveport rooms. Nice Diamond room, and you can now order from a menu (sandwiches or one entree, which changes daily). Only the salad bar is self-serve. You pay for liquor.

Kansas City - I agree with KSeitz. What a shame.

Shreveport - Beautiful hotel, we've been going here for years. OK video poker, not great, but some not too bad. Bad buffet (when compared to past years). Good Asian and Steakhouse.

- bcc

My comments -

Sheveport - large rooms (could add safes and some reomdeling), decent VP, buffet only so-so (but free weekdays with 50 base points earned), good Asian dining. Good beverage service and front desk staff. TR staff average at best. Outlet mall next door (10 minute walk).

Tahoe - they treat their Diamond players well (much better than Vegas IMO). Nice Diamond Lounges (Harrahs and especially Harveys) with special carving station on Fri and Sat. Friendly, helpful staff. Nice rooms (Harrahs), good sized. Dining options limited, especially for breakfast.

Reno - only popped in for an hour or so. Casino a bit dirty and weak VP. Buffet average at best, but prices were reasonable (plus seniors 2 for 1 certain days). Did not see rooms. Would not stay here though - Tahoe MUCH nicer.

Laughlin - again just popped in - casino decent with decent VP. Buffet good and reasonable price.

The Race for Rewards program worked as intended (IMO) for me, as we now will be staying more often at Tahoe (had not been here for years).

Horseshoe Hammond - Our home casino along w/Joliet. Big floor lots of slots, Diamond lounge good

Vegas - Planet Hollywood good love Earl of Sandwich on the property and love Vegas in general

Laughlin - Had never been before. Very easy drive from Vegas. Ok slots we only were there a couple hours so we didn't eat or anything. Might or might not go back.

Horseshoe Southern Indiana - Hotel ok although it is a mile from the casino. Paula Deen buffet was good. Not sure I would make the 5 hour drive again unless there was some incentive.

We most likely wouldn't have seen Laughlin or Southern Indiana if it wasn't for the Great Race. If they were to do it again we would definately check out other Harrah's properties.

Keith - were you able to get a 6th venue for the $600, or did you have to settle for those 5?
We were able to only get 5 venues in also.

Did not mention home casino-Horseshoe Hammond-no hotel-very little playable VP ($1)-OK diamond lounge

We also loved St. Louis. We had a nice room,the Diamond Lounge was awesome and had a very small nominal charge for alcohol, and they had a nice mix of games. We would go more often if it were not for the fice hour drive.

Laughlin was a once is enough kind of place and we just did a day trip.

Horseshoe So IN was nice and they keep sending me, a penny slot player, tons of offers (free room Sun-Thurs, $30 comp at Legends, $15 free play). Again, the five hour drive is a turn off.

Las Vegas was grest, as always.

Hammond Horseshoe is OK, but I rarely even get $5 to lure me there.

This was a great promo.

Joy

KSeitz, glad to hear you enjoyed your stay at my local Harrahs. What specifically did you like about Ak-Chin's DL?
As a local, I've noticed subtle changes since the property got a new GM. The DL has become very "go by the book" and less warm and fuzzy. I'm always interested in how people from other areas see the casino in my backyard.

I appreciate everyone's viewpoints on the other properties.

MissL7777 and anyone else who has not been to Ak-Chin,

When you enter the Diamond Lounge (after having the adventure of finding it as it is a restaurant with not much DL labeling) you are given 3 drink tickets and a food ticket, seated by a hostess, and served by a very friendly staff. The drinks available (most anything anyone would want) are listed on one side of the menu. The selection of what they refer to as "appetizers" is on the other. These are big servings of sliders, meatballs, chicken wings, shrimp, etc that served as a full dinner for us. The room has a great view of the pool. While check in for Diamonds was nothing special the hostess in the DL more than made up for it.

Unfortunately sometimes you play for a short time at a casino and just know you will not win there. Well this is how I felt and was smart enough to not try for very long or very much. Next time could very well be different.

KSeitz, thank you for sharing your impressions.

I'm pretty sure they give you 4 drink tickets. My friends and I who usually visit monthly see subtle changes where it no longer feels as warm and fuzzy.