All the MGM/Mirage casinos in Vegas will be or have switched to free play
instead of cashback. You can go to a machine and play. This should include
the Mandalay Bay properties as well.
One thing to watch out for is that during transition your pin number may
have vanished. I had to get a new one again at Mandalay Bay.
MGM/Mirage/Mandalay gift program seems to be the most generous compared to
Harrah's. They also have free play as an option. Every 15,000 gift points =
$50. I have a lot less play there than at Harrah's - probably 1/5th as much
or even less -- but got $600 in free play and a clock. At Harrah's it looks
like my points will get me gifts valued at about $1800.
Venetian Grazzi gifts value seemed to fall somewhere in between.
Grazzi gifts was a pain this year because on first day some items had the
wrong amount of points. We fought and did get a TV for the 5900 points that
were posted instead of the 6900 they later said it should have been. But it
took us over an hour at checkout desk, since this happened and also every time
the typist made a mistake - she had to retype all her entries!
MGM/Mirage was far better organized than Grazzi and had a much bigger
selection of gifts. They had some you could see in person and also others you
could see on the internet. Before going you should go online to see what you
like and make a list of items - this is helpful.
Harrah's had 2 gift periods this year - we are going to the 2nd because we
are still accumulating points. Husbands and wives may or may not be able to
merge accounts. If you want to do this, try doing it at Harrah's total
rewards before the going to the gifting. You can't do it at Paris/Ballys....they
said you can do it at Harrahs.
Aladdin also has a gift program - the Dream Bazaar.
Apparently some higher rollers at Wynn received gift cards, but I've been
told this isn't available for Vegas locals.
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