Reaching for the Stars – Chapter 6
There is no stopping the surprises that come along the way as I continue to learn more about this 7-Star experience. I suppose, like many, I came into this with assumptions that simply have been eye opening just how wrong I could be.
Assumption: I will automatically be upgraded to a suite when I check into the hotel. Wrong. Cindy and I checked into Rincon (my home casino—a home casino is designated to you by the majority of your play and that is where your host is assigned) on Friday for two nights and were given a regular room. I asked for an upgrade and was told that all suites were taken. I said that couldn’t be right as I had my host make the reservations two weeks ago. Regardless, there were no suites available. I was a little upset (to put it mildly). The room was fine, of course, but I didn’t understand. The next day, my host walked up to me while I was playing. I told him about it and he politely schooled me, which was also quite informative. Rincon alone (and it’s a small Caesars property in the company) has 1300 7-Star members. There are 100 suites available. When more than a hundred 7 Star members check into the hotel on the same day, the hotel manager decides who gets the suites and this is (naturally) based on level of play. It just so happened on this weekend, there was many higher playing members than me, which isn’t surprising. My host explained that this situation is the biggest headache for hosts who are left with the job of soothing the egos of those members that were left off the list (me). He went on to say that there are literally thousands of Diamond members who also expect a suite. It’s just a matter of numbers and timing. I thanked him and it was now clear so I felt a lot better about it and made a personal note to quit bitching about things I have no control over.
The weekend went well. I had stayed at Rincon on this weekend because on Saturday night, I had a home poker game with family and friends about a half hour away. I had a $60 coupon for a spa treatment and was hoping I could give it to Cindy. It turns out that I could as long as I was there when we checked in and paid the remaining with my reward points. I went to the game, Cindy had a spa treatment and said it was fantastic and the people were extra helpful and efficient.
At Rincon I’m given $60 coupons for food every week (in addition to the two daily buffets—a great 7 Star benefit here at Rincon). We used it in the Fiore Restaurant for some “fine dining.” Cindy scolded me for laughing after the waitress asked if we were interested in ordering a “special fish item” that was $120 apiece. I had scallops and she enjoyed a steak. The food was excellent and the meal was just under $100, which I paid the remaining with reward credits. I’m a bit of a dullard when it comes to fine dining, so these coupons are a great excuse for me to learn and appreciate really well prepared food (I’ll always love me a good cheeseburger).
The construction at Rincon is coming right along as their adding a new hotel wing (forty more suites) and convention space. It’s supposed to be completed in the spring of 2014. The final thing to mention about this trip is how stupid even a veteran player like me can be. I had already finished my 2500 points for the day and just wanted to play some penny games for fun, so Cindy and I sat down to adjacent Red Riding Hood and Spartacus machines. Her ticket (that she had been playing on for over an hour) was $193. My $40 buy in was exhausted and I suggested we go somewhere else. I hit her Collect button and pulled out the slot card and we both went to the other side of the casino to play the recently installed Willy Wonka machines. She sat down and I told to go ahead and put in the ticket. She didn’t have it. She said she thought I took it. No, I took the slot card, not the ticket. I rushed back to the machines and sure enough…no ticket…no person playing the machine…nothing. Now, before you write and say I could call security and have them look at the cameras, yada, yada; well, I didn’t want to do to that. It would have taken a long time and simply too much hassle with no guarantee I’d get it back (my call). It didn’t hurt as much considering I was up for the day. So, I suppose someone made off with a better day than they expected (Timberwolf: you happen to be at Rincon that night?).
We left Rincon with a small profit and my tier points were now at 196,000, just 4,000 away from the next 7 Star level. I knew I’d get that with my next trip which was coming up in a week, the Horseshoe in Cleveland, Ohio.
As I had mentioned in a previous chapter, when I made my National Casino Run in 2010 driving across the country reviewing every Caesars’ property along the way, I did spend a night in Cleveland; however, the Horseshoe hadn’t opened yet so I missed it. When it came time to use my four night $750 airfare trip after passing the 80,000 tier point level (called Diamond Aspirations), I chose Cleveland so I could see the casino and it also happens to be where there are quite a few followers of LVA live.
There has been (and continues to be) confusion on how this benefit is dispersed. When I contacted my host, I assumed I would book the trip and would be reimbursed by the casino up to the $750. However, I was told “we don’t do that anymore” (too bad as I would have liked to have gotten the miles credit). My host said that Caesars now has its own travel section within the corporation that takes care of all the travel arrangements for all the benefits and that they (no surprise) look for the least expensive route. I was booked on American Airlines from San Diego with a stopover in Chicago in route and a stopover in Dallas on the return flight.
An odd thing happened. Both going and returning after picking up my boarding pass from the clerk at the airport, I was given TSA PRE, which meant I went past the usual security, didn’t have to open my luggage, didn’t have to take off my shoes, or belt. People who get this have to go through a long application and interview process. I have no idea why my tickets were flagged with this (I love it!), but I’m hoping this is a Caesars perk (but not sure how).
I arrived at the airport and got a call from my limo driver (a limo to and from the hotel was part of the benefit—booked by the same Caesars travel people). I felt a bit silly sitting all alone in the back of a very long stretch limo on the way to the hotel. I checked into the Ritz Carlton Hotel for four nights. I was told that my stay included free Internet and up to three movies a day (nice perk but I have no intention in coming to Cleveland to sit in my room and watch movies all day). The room was very nice. It wasn’t very large, but all the furnishings and linens were top quality. Every night turn down service included chocolates and a bottle of water and glass waiting for me by the bed.
My room at the Ritz Carlton in Cleveland
My view overlooks the river
First thing was to meet LVA members Judy and Dennis who live just outside of Cleveland who had also booked a couple of nights at the Ritz knowing I would be there. We headed to the Diamond Lounge on the third floor. The DL is very large and roomy with an array or flat screens on the walls and a full service bar. Like many casinos outside Nevada and Atlantic City, they are not allowed to give away alcoholic drinks. The Horseshoe does the next best thing, they charge very little. I ordered a Manhattan, a beer, and a Gin and Tonic for the three of us. The cost? $5. (Take a note Rincon…quit charging premium prices in your Diamond Lounge!).
The Diamond Lounge at the Horseshoe in Cleveland
Dennis, Judy, and I in the Diamond Lounge
The Ritz Carlton empties into a shopping mall called Tower City Square, which is connected to the Horseshoe Casino, so I could easily walk from one to the other without ever going outside.
The Tower City Square Mall
Judy and Dennis gave me a tour of the casino’s three floors (once a famous and historic department store). Like all Caesars properties, the video poker was all short pay with one glaring exception: there was a long bank of dollar 9/6 Jacks or Better Progressives. I was told that when the casino opened, these were not here but brought in months later. I can only guess that management heard from the video poker players and acquiesced with the bank of full pay machines.
It was on these machines that for the next two mornings I sat and played 1000 tier points each day to reach my 200,000 tier point level and thus a whole new list of benefits. I never caught a royal, but I did manage enough quads and full houses to play well over $20K and come home with a manageable loss of only $175 for the entire trip. Sweet!
On Thursday, I met up with LVA lurkers Mark and Jackie who have been following my trip reports for years. We met in front of the buffet (he recognized me from me picture) and they took me to one of their favorite places for lunch, the Great Lakes Brewery. I ordered their Christmas Ale (fantastic!) and a turkey sandwich (had to take half in a carry out carton). We had a wonderful time. Mark is president of Chemical Pack Services, which is a company that specializes in chemical clean ups (next time you spill anything in your Meth lab, give them a call). We had a great time and after lunch, they were kind enough to drive me around to find a cord for my iPad (left mine at home).
Mark and and Jackie and I at the Great Lakes Brewery
We found a Verizon store in a strip mall where I got the cord and we then headed back to the casino but not before driving to where the actual house used in the filming of A CHRISTMAS STORY. The house has the leg lamp in the window (though it’s hard to make it out in the picture I took).
The Christmas Story house
Mark and Jackie are passionate about Cleveland and told me a lot about its history and pointed out landmarks as we headed back to the hotel. I learned a lot. We said our goodbyes after dropping me off. LVA readers are the best!
Friday night I had a meeting with another LVA reader named Ed agreeing to meet at the Diamond Lounge. It’s a good thing I have my picture on all my posts as everyone seems to recognize me right away. Ed became a 7 Star member in May and we had a very nice meeting talking about the benefits, and we both agreed there was a lot of ambiguity in Caesars literature. Together we both looked once again at the Signature Benefits page. For example, under the 200,000 level two, it reads “three nights VIP suite accommodations and round trip limo service…” I understood this to mean airfare, he’s believes you need to pay for fare to the air travel and they pay for the limo. As it reads, I now think he’s right. When I brought this up to a host later, she admitted she had no clue as well. He also believes that the two $500 shopping trips (one at the Forum Shops in Las Vegas, the other at the Pier Shops in Atlantic City) are either/or, not both. But there’s nothing in the literature that says that. Here’s where the frustration lies: After speaking with a couple of different hosts, they weren’t sure either saying simply they aren’t familiar with the particulars of the program. I’m going to have to have a sit-down with my host first chance I can.
Ed is also an accomplished blackjack player as well as video poker and is very well read on both games. He brought along some printed out material from Yahoo groups on 7 Stars and was in contact with the Darryl McEwen, the author of Seven Stars Insider Newsletter. He took down these questions to email to him. We had a wonderful meeting and I certainly hope we’ll one day meet up in Las Vegas to play Pick ‘em (we share a love for the game) at the Freemont.
When I drove through Cleveland in 2010, I stopped to visit the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but I didn’t get there until 4:30 and they closed at 5 PM, so I missed it. This time, however, I was going to finally see it. Judy, Dennis, and I took the train (a depot is located on the basement floor of the Tower City Square Mall) which dropped us off just across the street from it.
We walked through the museum looking at all the exhibits and listening to the different music of the artists as you turned each corner. On display were many of the original instruments, clothing, and other memorabilia of the artists and groups. Of the more interesting things to see were the original pieces of paper with many of the famous songs written by the artists. It was fascinating. We spent a couple of hours going through the exhibits. I thought the prices were a bit steep but I can certainly understand the overhead they must have. If you’re a music lover, this really does need to be on your itinerary at least once.
Dennis and Judy in front of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
My favorite exhibit--the Beatles
Many of the dresses worn by Stevie Nicks were on display
Of course, the Elvis display was the largest one there
Almost all the meals on this trip were very easy. It seems that every time I sat down at a machine and inserted my 7 Stars slot card, within minutes I was approached by one of their many hosts introducing themselves and asking if there was anything I needed. If I said I’d like a buffet, they’d take out their notebook and write one out for me and for anyone else I’d like to take with me. Almost all my meals (along with Judy and Dennis) were at the buffet, which served excellent breakfasts and dinners.
Also met Cheryl and Bruce, who are also LVA lurkers...they were killing the machines this night
My contact during my stay at the Horseshoe was one of the best Host names to have: Sabrina Moneypenny. Unfortunately, I never got a chance to meet her. In the four days I was there, she was either busy with other clients, or not on the property when I was there. Though we talked on the phone a couple of times and she did change my pick up time with the limo service, I wanted to at least put a face to the name. I suppose I’ll just have to come back some day.
I did get the chance to just walk around the downtown area of Cleveland. I found the city fascinating. The mix of new and old architecture and the nobility of the historic landmarks should not be overlooked. I agree with Mark that this city doesn’t get its due.
Downtown Cleveland taken from the front of the Horseshoe Casino
Cleveland's majestic courtroom building
The Rock Chapel...just one of the many beautiful old chapels throughout the city
Sunday morning (noting daylights saving time) I was picked up by my limo driver. Thankfully, this time it was a Mercedes sedan, so I was much more comfortable. I had a different driver each time and I tipped them each $20 (thank you LVA readers for your help with this).
I was curious what the “Diamond Aspirations” trip would have cost had I booked it myself. I went online and found that my roundtrip airfare was $866 (I suppose Caesars got a corporate rate) and the Ritz Carlton room was $359 per night. With the room tax, that’s a total value of almost $2400. That’s one nice perk.
I really enjoyed myself in Cleveland and I came around to one honest conclusion: This isn’t my last time here. I’ll be back.
There is no stopping the surprises that come along the way as I continue to learn more about this 7-Star experience. I suppose, like many, I came into this with assumptions that simply have been eye opening just how wrong I could be.
Assumption: I will automatically be upgraded to a suite when I check into the hotel. Wrong. Cindy and I checked into Rincon (my home casino—a home casino is designated to you by the majority of your play and that is where your host is assigned) on Friday for two nights and were given a regular room. I asked for an upgrade and was told that all suites were taken. I said that couldn’t be right as I had my host make the reservations two weeks ago. Regardless, there were no suites available. I was a little upset (to put it mildly). The room was fine, of course, but I didn’t understand. The next day, my host walked up to me while I was playing. I told him about it and he politely schooled me, which was also quite informative. Rincon alone (and it’s a small Caesars property in the company) has 1300 7-Star members. There are 100 suites available. When more than a hundred 7 Star members check into the hotel on the same day, the hotel manager decides who gets the suites and this is (naturally) based on level of play. It just so happened on this weekend, there was many higher playing members than me, which isn’t surprising. My host explained that this situation is the biggest headache for hosts who are left with the job of soothing the egos of those members that were left off the list (me). He went on to say that there are literally thousands of Diamond members who also expect a suite. It’s just a matter of numbers and timing. I thanked him and it was now clear so I felt a lot better about it and made a personal note to quit bitching about things I have no control over.
The weekend went well. I had stayed at Rincon on this weekend because on Saturday night, I had a home poker game with family and friends about a half hour away. I had a $60 coupon for a spa treatment and was hoping I could give it to Cindy. It turns out that I could as long as I was there when we checked in and paid the remaining with my reward points. I went to the game, Cindy had a spa treatment and said it was fantastic and the people were extra helpful and efficient.
At Rincon I’m given $60 coupons for food every week (in addition to the two daily buffets—a great 7 Star benefit here at Rincon). We used it in the Fiore Restaurant for some “fine dining.” Cindy scolded me for laughing after the waitress asked if we were interested in ordering a “special fish item” that was $120 apiece. I had scallops and she enjoyed a steak. The food was excellent and the meal was just under $100, which I paid the remaining with reward credits. I’m a bit of a dullard when it comes to fine dining, so these coupons are a great excuse for me to learn and appreciate really well prepared food (I’ll always love me a good cheeseburger).
The construction at Rincon is coming right along as their adding a new hotel wing (forty more suites) and convention space. It’s supposed to be completed in the spring of 2014. The final thing to mention about this trip is how stupid even a veteran player like me can be. I had already finished my 2500 points for the day and just wanted to play some penny games for fun, so Cindy and I sat down to adjacent Red Riding Hood and Spartacus machines. Her ticket (that she had been playing on for over an hour) was $193. My $40 buy in was exhausted and I suggested we go somewhere else. I hit her Collect button and pulled out the slot card and we both went to the other side of the casino to play the recently installed Willy Wonka machines. She sat down and I told to go ahead and put in the ticket. She didn’t have it. She said she thought I took it. No, I took the slot card, not the ticket. I rushed back to the machines and sure enough…no ticket…no person playing the machine…nothing. Now, before you write and say I could call security and have them look at the cameras, yada, yada; well, I didn’t want to do to that. It would have taken a long time and simply too much hassle with no guarantee I’d get it back (my call). It didn’t hurt as much considering I was up for the day. So, I suppose someone made off with a better day than they expected (Timberwolf: you happen to be at Rincon that night?).
We left Rincon with a small profit and my tier points were now at 196,000, just 4,000 away from the next 7 Star level. I knew I’d get that with my next trip which was coming up in a week, the Horseshoe in Cleveland, Ohio.
As I had mentioned in a previous chapter, when I made my National Casino Run in 2010 driving across the country reviewing every Caesars’ property along the way, I did spend a night in Cleveland; however, the Horseshoe hadn’t opened yet so I missed it. When it came time to use my four night $750 airfare trip after passing the 80,000 tier point level (called Diamond Aspirations), I chose Cleveland so I could see the casino and it also happens to be where there are quite a few followers of LVA live.
There has been (and continues to be) confusion on how this benefit is dispersed. When I contacted my host, I assumed I would book the trip and would be reimbursed by the casino up to the $750. However, I was told “we don’t do that anymore” (too bad as I would have liked to have gotten the miles credit). My host said that Caesars now has its own travel section within the corporation that takes care of all the travel arrangements for all the benefits and that they (no surprise) look for the least expensive route. I was booked on American Airlines from San Diego with a stopover in Chicago in route and a stopover in Dallas on the return flight.
An odd thing happened. Both going and returning after picking up my boarding pass from the clerk at the airport, I was given TSA PRE, which meant I went past the usual security, didn’t have to open my luggage, didn’t have to take off my shoes, or belt. People who get this have to go through a long application and interview process. I have no idea why my tickets were flagged with this (I love it!), but I’m hoping this is a Caesars perk (but not sure how).
I arrived at the airport and got a call from my limo driver (a limo to and from the hotel was part of the benefit—booked by the same Caesars travel people). I felt a bit silly sitting all alone in the back of a very long stretch limo on the way to the hotel. I checked into the Ritz Carlton Hotel for four nights. I was told that my stay included free Internet and up to three movies a day (nice perk but I have no intention in coming to Cleveland to sit in my room and watch movies all day). The room was very nice. It wasn’t very large, but all the furnishings and linens were top quality. Every night turn down service included chocolates and a bottle of water and glass waiting for me by the bed.
My room at the Ritz Carlton in Cleveland
My view overlooks the river
First thing was to meet LVA members Judy and Dennis who live just outside of Cleveland who had also booked a couple of nights at the Ritz knowing I would be there. We headed to the Diamond Lounge on the third floor. The DL is very large and roomy with an array or flat screens on the walls and a full service bar. Like many casinos outside Nevada and Atlantic City, they are not allowed to give away alcoholic drinks. The Horseshoe does the next best thing, they charge very little. I ordered a Manhattan, a beer, and a Gin and Tonic for the three of us. The cost? $5. (Take a note Rincon…quit charging premium prices in your Diamond Lounge!).
The Diamond Lounge at the Horseshoe in Cleveland
Dennis, Judy, and I in the Diamond Lounge
The Ritz Carlton empties into a shopping mall called Tower City Square, which is connected to the Horseshoe Casino, so I could easily walk from one to the other without ever going outside.
The Tower City Square Mall
Judy and Dennis gave me a tour of the casino’s three floors (once a famous and historic department store). Like all Caesars properties, the video poker was all short pay with one glaring exception: there was a long bank of dollar 9/6 Jacks or Better Progressives. I was told that when the casino opened, these were not here but brought in months later. I can only guess that management heard from the video poker players and acquiesced with the bank of full pay machines.
It was on these machines that for the next two mornings I sat and played 1000 tier points each day to reach my 200,000 tier point level and thus a whole new list of benefits. I never caught a royal, but I did manage enough quads and full houses to play well over $20K and come home with a manageable loss of only $175 for the entire trip. Sweet!
On Thursday, I met up with LVA lurkers Mark and Jackie who have been following my trip reports for years. We met in front of the buffet (he recognized me from me picture) and they took me to one of their favorite places for lunch, the Great Lakes Brewery. I ordered their Christmas Ale (fantastic!) and a turkey sandwich (had to take half in a carry out carton). We had a wonderful time. Mark is president of Chemical Pack Services, which is a company that specializes in chemical clean ups (next time you spill anything in your Meth lab, give them a call). We had a great time and after lunch, they were kind enough to drive me around to find a cord for my iPad (left mine at home).
Mark and and Jackie and I at the Great Lakes Brewery
We found a Verizon store in a strip mall where I got the cord and we then headed back to the casino but not before driving to where the actual house used in the filming of A CHRISTMAS STORY. The house has the leg lamp in the window (though it’s hard to make it out in the picture I took).
The Christmas Story house
Mark and Jackie are passionate about Cleveland and told me a lot about its history and pointed out landmarks as we headed back to the hotel. I learned a lot. We said our goodbyes after dropping me off. LVA readers are the best!
Friday night I had a meeting with another LVA reader named Ed agreeing to meet at the Diamond Lounge. It’s a good thing I have my picture on all my posts as everyone seems to recognize me right away. Ed became a 7 Star member in May and we had a very nice meeting talking about the benefits, and we both agreed there was a lot of ambiguity in Caesars literature. Together we both looked once again at the Signature Benefits page. For example, under the 200,000 level two, it reads “three nights VIP suite accommodations and round trip limo service…” I understood this to mean airfare, he’s believes you need to pay for fare to the air travel and they pay for the limo. As it reads, I now think he’s right. When I brought this up to a host later, she admitted she had no clue as well. He also believes that the two $500 shopping trips (one at the Forum Shops in Las Vegas, the other at the Pier Shops in Atlantic City) are either/or, not both. But there’s nothing in the literature that says that. Here’s where the frustration lies: After speaking with a couple of different hosts, they weren’t sure either saying simply they aren’t familiar with the particulars of the program. I’m going to have to have a sit-down with my host first chance I can.
Ed is also an accomplished blackjack player as well as video poker and is very well read on both games. He brought along some printed out material from Yahoo groups on 7 Stars and was in contact with the Darryl McEwen, the author of Seven Stars Insider Newsletter. He took down these questions to email to him. We had a wonderful meeting and I certainly hope we’ll one day meet up in Las Vegas to play Pick ‘em (we share a love for the game) at the Freemont.
When I drove through Cleveland in 2010, I stopped to visit the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but I didn’t get there until 4:30 and they closed at 5 PM, so I missed it. This time, however, I was going to finally see it. Judy, Dennis, and I took the train (a depot is located on the basement floor of the Tower City Square Mall) which dropped us off just across the street from it.
We walked through the museum looking at all the exhibits and listening to the different music of the artists as you turned each corner. On display were many of the original instruments, clothing, and other memorabilia of the artists and groups. Of the more interesting things to see were the original pieces of paper with many of the famous songs written by the artists. It was fascinating. We spent a couple of hours going through the exhibits. I thought the prices were a bit steep but I can certainly understand the overhead they must have. If you’re a music lover, this really does need to be on your itinerary at least once.
Dennis and Judy in front of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
My favorite exhibit--the Beatles
Many of the dresses worn by Stevie Nicks were on display
Of course, the Elvis display was the largest one there
Almost all the meals on this trip were very easy. It seems that every time I sat down at a machine and inserted my 7 Stars slot card, within minutes I was approached by one of their many hosts introducing themselves and asking if there was anything I needed. If I said I’d like a buffet, they’d take out their notebook and write one out for me and for anyone else I’d like to take with me. Almost all my meals (along with Judy and Dennis) were at the buffet, which served excellent breakfasts and dinners.
Also met Cheryl and Bruce, who are also LVA lurkers...they were killing the machines this night
My contact during my stay at the Horseshoe was one of the best Host names to have: Sabrina Moneypenny. Unfortunately, I never got a chance to meet her. In the four days I was there, she was either busy with other clients, or not on the property when I was there. Though we talked on the phone a couple of times and she did change my pick up time with the limo service, I wanted to at least put a face to the name. I suppose I’ll just have to come back some day.
I did get the chance to just walk around the downtown area of Cleveland. I found the city fascinating. The mix of new and old architecture and the nobility of the historic landmarks should not be overlooked. I agree with Mark that this city doesn’t get its due.
Downtown Cleveland taken from the front of the Horseshoe Casino
Cleveland's majestic courtroom building
The Rock Chapel...just one of the many beautiful old chapels throughout the city
Sunday morning (noting daylights saving time) I was picked up by my limo driver. Thankfully, this time it was a Mercedes sedan, so I was much more comfortable. I had a different driver each time and I tipped them each $20 (thank you LVA readers for your help with this).
I was curious what the “Diamond Aspirations” trip would have cost had I booked it myself. I went online and found that my roundtrip airfare was $866 (I suppose Caesars got a corporate rate) and the Ritz Carlton room was $359 per night. With the room tax, that’s a total value of almost $2400. That’s one nice perk.
I really enjoyed myself in Cleveland and I came around to one honest conclusion: This isn’t my last time here. I’ll be back.
