The benefits for 7* over Diamond are not worth "going for it" unless you
happen to be within a few thousand or so extra points to get to that next level.
Benefits are Once a year trip to any Harrah's casino that includes $500 for
food or spa, airfare for 2, and hotel room for at least 3 nights. A
"birthday" or other celebratory dinner of up to $500 (you can invite as many people
as you want, so could, for example take 10 people to a $50 dinner). Special
lines for restaurants, total rewards, drawings, special events -- the line
advantage is a major one if you go to events that have long lines, for example
at some sweepstakes drawings or tournament sign-ins. A gift once a year - a
choice of about 20 items such as a digital camera or DVD player, etc., with
values around $100-200.
You may also get invites on occasion to special "7 Star Events." I had one
from New Orleans for a slot tournament. One year I had a Caesars Palace
invite for a 7 Star dinner. As far as I can see, these invites are fairly
random, and come only a couple of times a year. You might get a special 7 Star
gift during such events as well - I received a decanter and wine glasses from
Caesars.
As for offers, as far as I can see, they are otherwise no better or worse
than you can get as Diamond. Offers depend on your play level in terms of ADT
- Adjusted Daily Theoretical. While I had far more points than my husband
(I'm 7*, he is Diamond), his offers were consistently better than mine because
he had a higher ADT, because he played only a couple of times at a high
rate, while I played far more, but some trips were at a lower ADT, giving him a
higher ADT than me. As a result, he would get offers for say $1200 Visa
card, while mine were for $750. We are still having this happen - he just got a
$800 cash offer from Caesars, I got $600. Although I am by far the bigger
total player (80,000 base points now compared to his 12,000), with Harrah's
crazy system of using a 12-month ADT, he is getting the better offers.
Some places may send you offers based on your play at 1 particular property
(such as offers from New Orleans, it seems), while others base their offers on
play at all parties within a certain geographic area (such as Las Vegas), or
base it on your play over the entire U.S. In addition, it seems some
offers are tied to your "primary" casino. Mine is Caesars, so as a result I get
lots of Caesars offers, but not offers at other Vegas casinos such as Paris
where I also play, except for what I consider "generalized" Vegas offers, which
allow you to choose any of the Vegas properties to stay at.
7* in Atlantic City can use their very nice 7* Lounge. Unfortunately the
one is Vegas has closed.
An unwritten benefit is that sometimes you get extra good service from
servers and Total Reward personnel when they see you are 7* - occasionally even
obsequious service! I see absolutely no better service from hosts though,
who unfortunately are generally miserable at many Harrah's properties. The
best hosts seem to be in New Orleans. The worst are in Las Vegas - perhaps
because they are overworked or undertrained. It is rare to find a good Las Vegas
Harrah's property host - and if you do, hang onto them!
**************Get trade secrets for amazing burgers. Watch "Cooking with
Tyler Florence" on AOL Food.
(http://food.aol.com/tyler-florence?video=4?&NCID=aolfod00030000000002)
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