Summer of Cal/Nev – Day 13
This morning was greeted with a USA TODAY at the door. Ah, reminds me of the good ol’ days. When I first made Diamond about four or five years ago, it was standard to get upgraded to a suite when one was available and every evening, there was a small box of gourmet cookies dropped off in your room, and there was a newspaper the next day at your door. As many Caesar’s Reward Diamond members will attest, this is no longer the case. Diamond members no longer qualify for host status (we’re relegated to the “host on duty”) and about the only real privileges left are line passes and the diamond lounges (which have also been downgraded the past couple of years). Basically, Diamond card holders now hold Platinum status (the one level below).
I’m here on the 15th floor of the south tower, which is the highest floor and all the rooms here are suites. I got a few replies on the web site telling me that by Babbitt suite was named after the Tom Cruise movie character Babbit. That’s a nice guess, but as you walk down the hall, you see other names on the doors of people as well. Anyway, it was nice to get the “treatment” of a 7 Stars member for a couple of days. I’ll be back here in Laughlin next month and no doubt, back in a regular room, which is okay. As much as I enjoy the suite treatment for my ego, truth be told, it’s wasted on me. Give it someone who would really get excited about it.
Took a pic of my suite from the water taxi. It's the very top corner with three windows on each side.
Today was the most inactive I’ve been since the trip began. After breakfast, I took the water taxi to the Colorado Belle with the intention of playing some poker, but the tables were full and there was a waiting list; besides, I was only going to play for an hour as I had intended to see The BLING RING at the Outlet Center across the street. So, I sat down at the dime 8/5 Bonus Poker and though I had a couple of four-to-the-royal teases, lost.
If you’ve been following the weather reports for here or Las Vegas, you no doubt noticed that all the talk is of the heat wave approaching this weekend. It has already begun as at 1:00 PM as I was walking across the street to the Outlet Center, the temperature gauge was already reading 109. Here in Laughlin, they are expecting the 120s by Sunday and Las Vegas is expecting to have the highest record in their history. Because of this, I’m leaving for Palm Springs tomorrow heading out around 4 or 5 AM. It’s a four drive, which should allow me enough time to get under covered parking because Palm Springs is just as bad as here. I do NOT want to drive in heats excess of 110, especially with the heating problems I’ve recently encountered with my Saturn. I’m playing it safe whenever possible.
The Laughlin Outlet Center. It's only about 3/4 occupied, but the theaters inside are nice
The BLING RING is movie by Sophia Coppola about the five spoiled Hollywood teens that robbed movie stars’ houses. It’s based on actual events and was mostly cast with unknowns except for Emma Watson, who speaks with an American accent, has a tramp stamp, and the language unbecoming of Hermione Granger. I was the only one in the theater so it was a private showing—and for good reason. The movie wasn’t very good. It’s a sad commentary on today’s spoiled teens who are willing to do anything to stand out and become a celebrity. The movie had its merits but I can’t recommend it; however, the snack-pack of popcorn, Coke Zero and gummies bears was excellent!
It was simply too hot to hang outside, so I took the water taxi back to Harrahs, went to my room to retrieve my Mystery Box mailer and head downstairs. Yesterday, I scratched off the minimum, $15. As I stood in line, I talked with a young girl who was holding her mailer. She told me she missed yesterday, so the box for that was no longer valid. She showed me her mailer and the possible totals on her card were $75 to $2000. I asked her if she was a 7 Stars card holder. “Heavens, no! who can afford that? I’m just a Gold member and always have been.” It made me wonder: why I’m a third level Diamond member and my range is only $15 to $750? You simply cannot figure out Caesar’s marketing…I gave that up long ago. It was my turn to scratch off my second day--$15 again! I just shook my head, accepted the free play and left.
So, my plan is to NOT play again today. I’ll scratch off tomorrow’s box (probably another $15) and play all of them together. For those of you who don’t know, Caesar’s uses a daily average to calculate your promotions. If you play $1000 one day, and $20 the next day, your average is around $500. So, if you’re about to leave the hotel and decide, “I’ll just throw one last twenty in the machine to see if I get lucky,” that’s a mistake. Now, I’ve heard rumors that Caesars might also divide your play with the days of your stay, but no one has confirmed that yet. As far as I know, you don’t use your card; the computer doesn’t know you’re there.
I hung out for the next couple of hours in the Diamond Lounge watching baseball (they don’t slide your card here, just check you I.D. The food today was back to the standard “make your own sandwich” fixings with tuna or chicken salad and some unknown cruel/soup. I passed.
So, I’m afraid there’s just not much to report today—rather uneventful. It’s off to Palms Springs tomorrow to begin the reports on more California casinos. I’ll be back in Las Vegas on Sunday—just in time for what they expect to be the hottest day on record—my timing again—perfect.
More tomorrow
This morning was greeted with a USA TODAY at the door. Ah, reminds me of the good ol’ days. When I first made Diamond about four or five years ago, it was standard to get upgraded to a suite when one was available and every evening, there was a small box of gourmet cookies dropped off in your room, and there was a newspaper the next day at your door. As many Caesar’s Reward Diamond members will attest, this is no longer the case. Diamond members no longer qualify for host status (we’re relegated to the “host on duty”) and about the only real privileges left are line passes and the diamond lounges (which have also been downgraded the past couple of years). Basically, Diamond card holders now hold Platinum status (the one level below).
I’m here on the 15th floor of the south tower, which is the highest floor and all the rooms here are suites. I got a few replies on the web site telling me that by Babbitt suite was named after the Tom Cruise movie character Babbit. That’s a nice guess, but as you walk down the hall, you see other names on the doors of people as well. Anyway, it was nice to get the “treatment” of a 7 Stars member for a couple of days. I’ll be back here in Laughlin next month and no doubt, back in a regular room, which is okay. As much as I enjoy the suite treatment for my ego, truth be told, it’s wasted on me. Give it someone who would really get excited about it.
Took a pic of my suite from the water taxi. It's the very top corner with three windows on each side.
Today was the most inactive I’ve been since the trip began. After breakfast, I took the water taxi to the Colorado Belle with the intention of playing some poker, but the tables were full and there was a waiting list; besides, I was only going to play for an hour as I had intended to see The BLING RING at the Outlet Center across the street. So, I sat down at the dime 8/5 Bonus Poker and though I had a couple of four-to-the-royal teases, lost.
If you’ve been following the weather reports for here or Las Vegas, you no doubt noticed that all the talk is of the heat wave approaching this weekend. It has already begun as at 1:00 PM as I was walking across the street to the Outlet Center, the temperature gauge was already reading 109. Here in Laughlin, they are expecting the 120s by Sunday and Las Vegas is expecting to have the highest record in their history. Because of this, I’m leaving for Palm Springs tomorrow heading out around 4 or 5 AM. It’s a four drive, which should allow me enough time to get under covered parking because Palm Springs is just as bad as here. I do NOT want to drive in heats excess of 110, especially with the heating problems I’ve recently encountered with my Saturn. I’m playing it safe whenever possible.
The Laughlin Outlet Center. It's only about 3/4 occupied, but the theaters inside are nice
The BLING RING is movie by Sophia Coppola about the five spoiled Hollywood teens that robbed movie stars’ houses. It’s based on actual events and was mostly cast with unknowns except for Emma Watson, who speaks with an American accent, has a tramp stamp, and the language unbecoming of Hermione Granger. I was the only one in the theater so it was a private showing—and for good reason. The movie wasn’t very good. It’s a sad commentary on today’s spoiled teens who are willing to do anything to stand out and become a celebrity. The movie had its merits but I can’t recommend it; however, the snack-pack of popcorn, Coke Zero and gummies bears was excellent!
It was simply too hot to hang outside, so I took the water taxi back to Harrahs, went to my room to retrieve my Mystery Box mailer and head downstairs. Yesterday, I scratched off the minimum, $15. As I stood in line, I talked with a young girl who was holding her mailer. She told me she missed yesterday, so the box for that was no longer valid. She showed me her mailer and the possible totals on her card were $75 to $2000. I asked her if she was a 7 Stars card holder. “Heavens, no! who can afford that? I’m just a Gold member and always have been.” It made me wonder: why I’m a third level Diamond member and my range is only $15 to $750? You simply cannot figure out Caesar’s marketing…I gave that up long ago. It was my turn to scratch off my second day--$15 again! I just shook my head, accepted the free play and left.
So, my plan is to NOT play again today. I’ll scratch off tomorrow’s box (probably another $15) and play all of them together. For those of you who don’t know, Caesar’s uses a daily average to calculate your promotions. If you play $1000 one day, and $20 the next day, your average is around $500. So, if you’re about to leave the hotel and decide, “I’ll just throw one last twenty in the machine to see if I get lucky,” that’s a mistake. Now, I’ve heard rumors that Caesars might also divide your play with the days of your stay, but no one has confirmed that yet. As far as I know, you don’t use your card; the computer doesn’t know you’re there.
I hung out for the next couple of hours in the Diamond Lounge watching baseball (they don’t slide your card here, just check you I.D. The food today was back to the standard “make your own sandwich” fixings with tuna or chicken salad and some unknown cruel/soup. I passed.
So, I’m afraid there’s just not much to report today—rather uneventful. It’s off to Palms Springs tomorrow to begin the reports on more California casinos. I’ll be back in Las Vegas on Sunday—just in time for what they expect to be the hottest day on record—my timing again—perfect.
More tomorrow
