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Fw: Bellagio and CP trip

#1

Arrived at Bellagio on Christmas day for 2 nites. The place was a zoo. We
stay there every Christmas and have never seen it so crowded. All of the
restaurants were booked up so we went to the the buffet. The line was
unbelievable. I can't imagine standing in line for 1-2 hours for a $40
buffet. We had a line pass of course but even the comp line was all the

way

into the casino. This at 5PM. We ended up at the coffee shop which was

also

full.
Stayed at CP for 2 nites. Played the MS 5 play and STP 10 play. First day
earned 1057 points($46,508) and got $55 comp dollars for a .118% rate.
Second day earned 1026 points($45,144) and got $35 comp dollars for a

.078%

rate. I don't know why the second day was so much lower than the first but

I

suspect that the more you play the lower your comp dollar rate goes. We

came

···

in on a2 nite and $50 food comp. A host took care of all of our food but
evidently also took abt $67 of our comp dollars also as our account was
reduced. Hard to get a true picture of how things work there.

JAS

#2

snow wrote:

Stayed at CP for 2 nites. Played the MS 5 play and STP 10 play.
First day earned 1057 points($46,508) and got $55 comp dollars for a
.118% rate. Second day earned 1026 points($45,144) and got $35 comp
dollars for a .078% rate. I don't know why the second day was so
much lower than the first but I suspect that the more you play the
lower your comp dollar rate goes. We came in on a 2-nite and $50
food comp.
A host took care of all of our food but evidently also took abt $67
of our comp dollars also as our account was reduced. Hard to get a
true picture of how things work there.

Interesting report, JAS, particularly re Caesars (I snipped out the B.
bit).

You know, it passed through my mind during the recent discussion
touching on Venetian/Bellagio that my wife and I really consider
Caesars superior when it comes to play variety and restaurant
diversity. The premium rooms are particularly nice, especially if you
can score an upgrade to a Petite Suite (which you have a fair chance
of obtaining via a host at your play level, John). I consider those
far superior to the Bellagio std. rooms. (Although a room-service
steak dinner overlooking the B. "Lake" fountains is among our fondest
LV memories.)

Despite these sentiments, the last two times we weighed stays at the
two properties, we opted for Bellagio. Frankly, with comparable play
level history at both properties, B. extends a "no foolin' around" RFB
offer with a nice slug of cash whereas we get a nominal cash/comp
offer from C.

Now, I don't have much doubt when it comes down to squaring things up
after play at Caesars that a host will be quite generous. In the past
our meals, running around .35-.4% of our coin-in, have been comped
without the host batting an eye. But frankly, I find not being
offered even a very basic coffee shop RFB status coming into the
property a little off-putting (they can keep the slim kiosk credit).
It's smacks of a suggestion that I might come in next visit and stiff
them on play.

The real clincher, though, has been that the B. offers typically
included $300 in cash ($600 on occasion). The higher cb rate adds
another $100 over that earned at C. Cash is indeed king and a $400
kicker is definitely nothing to sneeze at. The RFB-Ltd offer we
receive at B. includes an impressive array of restaurants (all but the
very nicest). And, because our play broaches upon that required for
full RFB status, we take in a premium restaurant each stay, which has
been a no-brainer comp with host play review before checkout.

So, I really do wonder what gives with Caesars. Mind you, with strong
play the comps extended by a host are considerably more generous than
the kiosk credits. But C. isn't exactly going out of its way to
entice players with mailed offers and cb. (Or am I simply missing the
boat on the offer end ... what's it take to get a true RFB offer these
days?)

Bottom line, for a player looking for nicer Strip digs, I'd still
recommend Caesars first. The play options are the most satisfying to
be found on the Strip. But if $1 Jacks is your game, and you don't
mind a bland play diet, Bellagio really edges out Caesars in what they
extend up front.

- Harry

#3

Harry Porter wrote:

But frankly, I find not being
offered even a very basic coffee shop RFB status coming into the
property a little off-putting (they can keep the slim kiosk credit).
It's smacks of a suggestion that I might come in next visit and
stiff them on play.

Well, there are a couple of factors that do bear upon my experience.

One is that I've tended to book only 2 night stays, even though 3 are
offered. I reason that it's best to strive for a strong per night
average (well, daily average is more likely). My stamina holds strong
for the first 2 days (or 2-1/2), but quickly wanes. I figure my play
on a 3rd night's stay would only hold at half that of each of the
first two. I move on to a property where I'm comfortable with weaker
play.

Turns out my reasoning is flawed. Like many properties, total play
per trip is key to aspects of some offers. I'd have fared much
better, from other accounts, if we'd stayed on for 3 nights. In fact,
some who stay 4 or 5 nights occasionally (add'l nights comped or at
casino rate) and log very strong total play receive rather exceptional
offers, despite weaker daily averages.

Live and learn ;).

Host discretion and play history are also considerable factors in what
may be offered. As with many properties, a host may extend greater
flexibility as they become more confident in reliability of your play
and if they have reasonable expectation you don't over utilize comps.

Bottom line, a little foreknowledge can avoid considerable frustration
-- truth for any property.

- Harry

#4

Harry- I do agree with you. We hadn't stayed at CP for over a year and

still had quite a bit of comp $s earned at the LVH and still on our
connection card and we do like the 5 play MS (a wild ride) and the 10 play
STP so we decided to give them a lot more play than usual and see if we get
any better offers. We have never played a lot there and usually get the 2 or
3 nite and $50 or $75 FB, although they send me a $200 FB every year for my
birthday.
We have had super offers from B over the years for abt the same amt of play
as we do at CP, although this years winter offer was much lower than usual.
We also gave the B abt twice our usual play this trip(abt 40K/day) to see if
that will kick the offers up again. Now I find out that they have shorted
the 9/6 $1 3/5 plays. I don't know if I'm ready for $2. We also got extra FB
comp from B over our $300 offer.

JAS

···

You know, it passed through my mind during the recent discussion
touching on Venetian/Bellagio that my wife and I really consider
Caesars superior when it comes to play variety and restaurant
diversity. The premium rooms are particularly nice, especially if you
can score an upgrade to a Petite Suite (which you have a fair chance
of obtaining via a host at your play level, John). I consider those
far superior to the Bellagio std. rooms. (Although a room-service
steak dinner overlooking the B. "Lake" fountains is among our fondest
LV memories.)

Despite these sentiments, the last two times we weighed stays at the
two properties, we opted for Bellagio. Frankly, with comparable play
level history at both properties, B. extends a "no foolin' around" RFB
offer with a nice slug of cash whereas we get a nominal cash/comp
offer from C.

Now, I don't have much doubt when it comes down to squaring things up
after play at Caesars that a host will be quite generous. In the past
our meals, running around .35-.4% of our coin-in, have been comped
without the host batting an eye. But frankly, I find not being
offered even a very basic coffee shop RFB status coming into the
property a little off-putting (they can keep the slim kiosk credit).
It's smacks of a suggestion that I might come in next visit and stiff
them on play.

The real clincher, though, has been that the B. offers typically
included $300 in cash ($600 on occasion). The higher cb rate adds
another $100 over that earned at C. Cash is indeed king and a $400
kicker is definitely nothing to sneeze at. The RFB-Ltd offer we
receive at B. includes an impressive array of restaurants (all but the
very nicest). And, because our play broaches upon that required for
full RFB status, we take in a premium restaurant each stay, which has
been a no-brainer comp with host play review before checkout.

So, I really do wonder what gives with Caesars. Mind you, with strong
play the comps extended by a host are considerably more generous than
the kiosk credits. But C. isn't exactly going out of its way to
entice players with mailed offers and cb. (Or am I simply missing the
boat on the offer end ... what's it take to get a true RFB offer these
days?)

Bottom line, for a player looking for nicer Strip digs, I'd still
recommend Caesars first. The play options are the most satisfying to
be found on the Strip. But if $1 Jacks is your game, and you don't
mind a bland play diet, Bellagio really edges out Caesars in what they
extend up front.

- Harry

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