Besides the Harrah's to Rio shuttle (approximately every 15 min), there is
now a shuttle to the Rio from Caesar's Palace and from Bally's (the limo
entrance off Flamingo Rd. on the North side of the property). The shuttle runs
Mon-Wed 10 am to 1 am and Thurs-Sun 10 am to 4 am -- every 30 minutes.
The Park Place Connection card will merge with Harrah's as follows:
Flamingo Hilton - already merged
Ballys/Paris - 1/17/06
Caesars Palace - 2/14/06
Unfortunately it's looking like this means that Park Place's cashback and
comp systems may be replaced by Harrah's far less generous system. However,
Harrah's is not the name everywhere, so I have some hope that perhaps some of
the properties will be a little more generous than Harrah's Las Vegas. For
example I was recently in Atlantic City and played at both Showboat and
Harrah's AC. I got back several hundred bucks in cashback from each place - and if
I'd played similarly at Harrah's Vegas, I would probably have only gotten
back between $10 and $40 in cashback! I was actually shocked to see how much
more generous they were in cashback. They definitely were not following the
4500 total points = $10 that Harrah's Vegas uses.
Rumor has it that Full RFB is going to be replaced by Harrah's system - you
must use up accumulated comps first. If so, a LOT of high rollers at Caesars
and Bally's/Paris are going to be complaining.
I was told that Bally's/paris is going to have its usual "cashback" and
"shopping spree" weekends in Jan. I hope so, since I've been getting $1000 at
each of these. Similar play at Harrah's Vegas got me a measly $250 shopping
spree about once a quarter, compared to getting both "cashbash" and "shopping"
at Bally's/Paris. Because I've been so badly treated by Harrah's I've
switched all my play there over to Bally's where they treat me very well. So far
they don't seem to care that I'm a Vegas local, while Harrah's Vegas punishes
locals by refusing to send them most mail promos, even if you are a loser
(ME) and at Seven Stars (ME) and playing $5 reel slots (ME). You can book
promotions at Harrahs -- if you know about them. But if they don't send them to
you, what are you supposed to do? Apparently they expect hosts to contact
you, but they rarely contact me except for a letter that lists some (but not
all) promotions once a quarter. So far Bally's sends me all the same promos
they send out of town players, and they are happy to get my action. The host
there even went to extra effort to increase my "cashbash" amounts. Also I've
been getting full RFB - plus cashback plus accumulated comps.
So if Bally's goes over to Harrah's system I'm going to be really sad -- and
switching much of that play elsewhere.
By the way, I'm spending New Year's at Bally's -- RFB, small suite with
jaccuzi, party, champagne in room, and nice clock as gift.
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