Now that HET has gotten rid of all that nasty, flab-inducing good video poker, us Diamond Card holders have more time to work out our frustrations at the gym.
Bad news first: Caesars, Rio, Ballys and Paris spas no longer permit Diamond Card patrons to bring along a guest for free. Only one pass per customer. Harrah's and Flamingo still let you bring a friend.
I could get all worked up about the stupidity of this. They had a program that brought fresh customers into their casinos and showed off a premium perk, and COST THEM NOTHING. But it's hard to criticize them for this move without acknowledging that they were bright enough to offer use of their gyms as a perk in the first place. I mean, it's not like the facilities are overcrowded.
Good news: The new "Aqua" spa at Caesars is gorgeous and enormous. The assortment of weight-training devices rivals your basic 24-hour fitness. The collection aerobic devices lacks variety (it's now just three flavors: treadmill, bike, push-pull elliptical), but makes up for it by having each machine equipped with its very own flat-screen TV. IT has the same basic-cable selection as in the rooms. Headphones are available if you didn't bring your own. Or, you can gaze out the window at the Bellagio fountains... albeit by yourself. The rock-climbing wall is gone, but that thing was just a major lawsuit waiting to happen anyway. The decor is sumptious - it feels way too nice to foul it up by sweating. It is located in the 2nd floor of the Augustus Tower.