I am still a new member here, so again forgive me if I am stating the obvious to the members, but I have always taken the approach that I don't want my point balances to get too high, since as someone indicated we always get free rooms and usually food as well.? I do the same thing with my online poker accounts - keep enough for a couple of buyins, but then cash out regularly as the dollars build up. (somettimes it takes awhile for that "build up....")
My philosophy is to keep my money working for ME.
At Harrah's I keep an eye on the catalog of stuff you can order from in the Total Rewards program.? Each month they have "featured items" that are usually discounted 25-30% for Diamond and 7 Stars members.? Ya, the stuff is still higher priced than what you can probably get at a retail store.? But when my points balance hits $50,000 or more, I know I am not going to use those points up for food or show tickets -- so I take the value conversion $50,000 in points = $500 in merchandise or purchase credits and "buy" something.? When we were in Laughlin last month, Samsonite luggage was on sale and I used $375 worth of points (37,500) to buy the 3 piece set.? It was good quality and after checking internet prices for luggage discounts on same stuff, seemed like a decent deal, especially with free shipping from Harrah's.?
At Mirage/MGM I convert my accumulated points to "free play" right at the machines.? 1,000 points = $10 in free play.? So I usually play down my points balance during my stay, since again rooms and food are?comped.? I use a Mirage branded credit card as well getting $25 gift certificates for every $2500 in purchases, with MGM/Mirage property purchases counting "double".? So if dining with friends there, I pay the bill by credit card to get the double points etc.......
At Venetian, I cash my points in for "free play" since you get more free play than you do if you cash in points for Venetian gift cards.? Since Venetian "good play" machines are "iffy" -- I usually make sure I cash out at the end of each trip.? Since I know I will have the usual free rooms, food and some more "free play" offers coming in the mail.
Orleans is the only "locals" casino I typically play at, but again I either use points for food or cash out the small amounts accumulated for cash before I leave at end of the trip.
I can't remember the last time I had to pay for a room in Vegas, Reno, or Laughlin -- so I use my points for "stuff" before balances get high.
Diane
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