How to Redeem Reward Credits for Hotel Stay

Ok, this is probably the stupidest question ever, so I apologize in advance.

Both my wife and I earned 45,000 Reward Credits from last year's Race to Total Rewards. I'd like to use these points toward a hotel stay in Vegas in August. The problem is - I don't know how to use the Rewards Credits. We have never even had enough RCs to use for a free buffet before, so this is a new experience. Do we book the room through the Total Rewards website and then use the points to pay when we check out of the hotel? Or do we use the points at the time of making the reservation? Or is it something totally different than either of these thoughts? The answer may be on the Total Rewards website, but I am not a frequent visitor to the website and was not familiar enough with it to look in the right place, and found nothing.

Thanks in advance, and again sorry for such a basic question.

Not silly. I use the CET website to check for rates , (you usually get better rates after you sign in with your card) but not always, the LVA site now has some good promo rates. I have never paid a deposit on my CC but some others have. When you check in they will ask if you want to have any of your TR credits applied to the bill you can tick the box and initial or when you check out you can go to the front desk and have them applied then. If you had to pay a deposit you can ask to have that refunded and again use your TR credits

The rules are changing but it used to be that if you paid your bill with TR credits in the restaurants that you didn't have to pay the tax. Keep that in mind , that another 6% savings. If you bill it to your room you have to pay the tax.

To use your TR credits in the restaurants, the gift shop, for show tickets etc. you need to show valid picture ID and your TR card.

If you have any more questions give out a shout LVA is pretty friendly

Watch out for the expiration date on those Race to Rewards points!

- bcc

Good reminder. One needs to earn at least 1 point every 6 months to keep your reward credits active.

Thanks for the reply Slwst852. I was hoping it would be when checking out of the hotel, and not when making the reservation. Sounds like I do not necessarily even have to book through Total Rewards if LVA or another site has a better deal.

Thanks also for the reminders about the points expiring!

Much appreciated...

Tommy

Tommy,
If you have played even just a little at any CET casino this past year, I'd check the Vegas rate calendar once you log in online. I don't think you'll find anything that will beat the rates on there. My wife and I play nickle video poker a couple of times a year in KC and have COMPED rooms all year long. The highest yearly tier rate we've ever accomplished is only around 600 and we have COMPED rooms even at Caesar's Palace. We've got 5 nights booked at The Flamingo for August as Caesar's does not really appeal to us.

Rob

We were in Las Vegas in late March. I made my reservation through my offers on the TR website. Had a great rate and when I entered in both my husband's and my TR numbers the room came back as comped. We had 3 free nights and when we got there they bumped us to a luxury room and comped that too. Give it a try!

The way to use your points is to charge everything to your room and then use your points to pay your bill when you check out. This is even a better deal because you earn points by charging expenses to your room.

Thanks for all the great suggestions! One more question - when we check out, will they likely allow us to use both my points and my wife's points to pay for the room? Didn't know if they would be sticklers and say that the room is in my name, so can only use my points to pay (and I won't have enough by myself to pay for a week-long stay).

Rob, we went to CET casinos 7 or 8 times last year, but are such low rollers I don't think either of us earned 600 tier credits. I haven't checked the website for this August trip yet, but I've not ever had a comped room at any CET property. Reduced weekday rates, but never free. Between our casino-hopping and low play, we just don't get any love from CET.

Thanks again.

Tommy

I visited Vegas in December and after that visit my remaining race to rewards credits were set to expire in June -the six month period. After winning the dining category in March, when I was credited those points my expiration was extended to October. If you have not added any points in 2012 they will probably be expired by August. Good luck- I hope you have a fun trip!