In our last
Around Hawaii column we discussed how to get a discounted room by visiting your favorite hotel’s website and signing up for offers using your email address. We also covered how to get a free room by using your Players Card wherever and whenever you played.
Suppose you’re not a whale (hi-roller) or maybe you like “go Vegas” for the food, the shows or the shopping and gambling’s OK but not really you’re thing. Is there something between the hotel email offers and a comp room that you qualify for? The answer is a resounding yes!
Casino rate is the term for folks who play but don’t bet enough or play long enough to qualify for a comp (free) room. Getting the casino rate requires a call to a casino host, he’ll want to know why you should get a rate… don’t tell him you’re a minnow (opposite of a whale) and just wanna get your “shop on”… ask what you have to do to qualify for the casino rate and most hosts will offer it hoping you will become one of their players.
If you end up playing a lot more than you planned (hey, it happens) check with your casino host before you leave because you may qualify for a room comp or even better an RFB comp (an acronym for Room Food and Beverage or full comp).
Now that you’ve gotten your room comp’ed what’s next? How about free food or a suite upgrade.
The Harrahs Total Rewards Club makes it easy to get free food. Just charge all your meals to your room then use your Total Rewards card while you play and when you’re ready to leave use your Rewards Credits to pay your bill. Many other Players Clubs work the same way but for me points rack up pretty fast at Harrah’s (your mileage may differ).
How can you turn your casino rate, email offer or comp’ed room into a suite? Try the $20 bill trick. When you’re checking in place a $20 bill ($50 have been known to work as well) between your ID and credit card so it’s sticking out a little. Ask the front desk clerk if there are any room upgrades available. This works about half the time and it works better with older males rather than younger women clerks. The front desk has some leeway in your room assignment. They are also in a completely different department (Hotel Operations) than the casino so how much you lose is of little importance to them but $20 will buy a few meals in the employee lunch room.
Kimo’s Vegas Tip: If you have a Diamond Card from Harrah’s ask the Grazie Club at the Venetian for their highest tier card. They have been known to give Diamonds a Gold card. Other casinos may do this as well check with a host for best results.
Be realistic in your expectations… a big strip hotel like The Palazzo, Venetian, Wynn or Bellagio probably won’t give you a free room if you are playing the nickel slots, thirty minutes a day. But if you usually play about four hours a day (not including breaks for meals and shopping) you may qualify for some comp action depending on your level of play (how much you bet or slot machine denomnination).
Next month on Around Hawaii we’ll tell you “How to Win a Million Dollars in Vegas” and explain the 80/20 rule. ‘Till then Good Luck and get the latest Vegas news and more Kimo’s Vegas at http://www.kimosvegas.com/.
