Is Diamond worth it?

I have been a low Diamond since Total Rewards started and until know was able to get comped rooms in Las Vegas anytime including stays at Caesars Augustus. The last few calendars I've received no longer gives me weekend rooms and weekly rooms only at Harrahs and IP. I used to get free trips to Reno etc but no longer. Also now there may be no free shows and other perks gone I am thinking to not even try for Diamond this year.
I would like to hear thoughts from anyone on the subject.

We are moving our play to Tahoe - they trat their Diamond members better there IMO. Plus it is a much nicer area and the clientel is better. Also, no panhandlers, smut peddlers, timeshare, etc. Plus, the VP is better.

DaveOKC

Dave
i'm heading to Tahoe in a month...where can I find good VP?

JCreek,
agree with you on Diamond status - i have been a low diamond for years. it used to mean something to be diamond...lots of great offers, free rooms in Vegas just about anytime you wanted to travel with nice suite upgrades and extended stays past the 3 nights.

At one point, you and your spouse were both on the same TR account - which was nice...once we hit Diamond we could take 2 friends with us into diamond lounges in Atlantic City, Vegas...back then the DL's were very nice...comfortable conversational seating, top shelf alcohol, tasty appetizers in a very nice environment...just a great place to relax and chat or catch up on sports scores or latest news...then head back out to the casino. of course those days are gone. The DL in Cherokee,until just recently, was like a buffet line at the local diner - serving horrible food dumped out of cans - then carry your tray to a 4 top table. last time I was there, a few weeks, ago, a woman had her dog on one of the seats at a table (there were 2 couples and the dog so they pushed 2 tables together so accommodate her dog). the woman took a bite and then gave her dog a bit - it was a very small dog though.

technically, average paytables. . . both Harveys and Harrahs Lake Tahoe have several progressive machines at times are generous with Aces w Kicker.

There are so many factors that go into answering that question, based in large part on what matters to you most. If you aren't chasing comps and care about shorter lines and free access to a fitness center, then I say yes. If those things don't matter much then I'm not so sure. No automatic free tickets anymore for being Diamond. That's going to be based on play now. And yes, a Diamond card gets you into the DL but the DL in Vegas has purely become a place for me to just grab a drink and catch my breath now. It's nice but I wouldn't seek to do DIAD for that privilege. In AC, the DLs are a lot nicer but if you are a Diamond player who has earned less than 25.000 Tier Credits, then you have to "pay" using comp dollars to get access to the lounge, I believe for you and someone else. I played a lot last year and earned 25,000 TCs so I have that benefit for "free" (yeah, right) but I'd be annoyed if I didn't and had my comp account dinged each time even though I think the $10 is worth it.

I hate waiting so the shorter lines and the free gym access alone make the Diamond card worth it for me IF I were going to play that amount anyway (11k annually or DIAD) but I do agree that just getting Diamond status now clearly is "worth less" than it was even a year ago.

We have both been diamond for as long as they have had diamond status available. Next year, only one of us will be diamond. The free diamond show policy change sealed that.

That will cut our play nearly in half.

- bcc

BCC, FWIW, in your shoes I'd do the same thing. With just one of you being Diamond you're covered with the shorter lines, diamond lounge, etc. In my case, 99% of the time I travel solo to AC and most of the time I'm solo for a good portion of a Vegas trip so for me it's worth it but if I had a partner who was Diamond, I'd definitely just have one of us do it.

We were just in Tahoe on the Harrah's comp (flight, etc.) and I agree...clean, uncrowded on the sidewalks, relaxed atmosphere.

A tour guide told us that Lakeside Casino is the most popular with locals, best play, etc.

We only played at Harrahs and Harvey's last summer. Both places had quarter level 8/5 Bonus VP, which I consider pretty good nowadays. You have to look around a bit though, as they are mixed in. Harveys had more of them.

If you are Diamond on in Tahoe on a weekend, be sure to visit the Diamond Lounge in Harveys. You have to take a "private" elevator (which is the old style manual operated one). The Lounge is nothing special, but the view of the lake is great. They seem to have a locals crowd up there. Decent food (sandwiches and soup, plus a few other things), and good service.

Harrahs has a "carving station" at dinner time for Diamond members. You can make a nice light dinner out of it. Ask the T.R. or Diamond check-in desk for details.

Also, if you go to Tahoe in the summer, be sure to take a ride on the cabin cruiser owned by Harrahs. Free for Diamonds, other pay a reasonable fee. Open bar the whole time and a nice excurision across the lake to Emerald Bay and back. Takes about 2 hours as I recall. They bus you there are back from Harrahs (not much parking in the boat dock area).

DaveOKC