I visited both casinos for the first time last week. Pechanga gave me $10 in comp dollars for signing up, but Pala only offers a buffet discount.
The database is accurate for both properties. Inside High Limit at Pechanga is single-line NSUD, 9/6 Jacks and 8/5 BP at $1 and higher. I also took a chance at a $1 10 Play 8/5 SDB and survived. I was dealt three Qs and drew the fourth on 3 of the 10 hands.
Rather than use comp dollars I approached a host for a free lunch buffet. I figure it never hurts to try and was lucky enough to succeed. The food was actually quite good. They offer lots of fresh fruit which is very much appreciated in the summer. In terms of decor the buffet could definitely use some renovation (especially compared to Pala, which I'll write about shortly).
As mentioned in an earlier post your club dollars can be used at the Pechanga gas station outside. Gas was $2.91/gallon which is reasonable for California since it seems like we are back up to $3/gallon again.
As for Pala, there's no easy way to get there. The road from Pechanga can be treacherous, but Highway 76 which runs from I-15 (or Oceanside if you drive in from the coast) has enough of its own challenges. Do not make your first trip at night.
Pala started off poorly when signing up for Privileges, their slot club. There was a long line no matter which booth you chose. And if you had issues or questions later in the day, expect another 20 or 25 minute wait.
On the positive side, Pala has a lot of variety, especially compared to Morongo where playable options are limited to single-line $1 games. Pala has many of the newer fun games, including Good Times Pay, Quick Quads (only drawback was it was silent, so you couldn't hear the man yell "Quick Quads!"), Big Times Draw, STP MS and Super Triple Play, among others. Pala also offers SDDB which is not found in many casinos. Check each machine game and denomination, as adjacent machines can and do have different paytables.
Pala's High Limit Room has a VIP lounge at the back for higher tier club members. It takes lots of play to move up in Pala's slot club. I played about 4 hours and didn't even make a dent in moving up to Gold, only their second tier. But those that do move up are well rewarded. I saw giant crab legs and a carving station in that VIP lounge. It reminded me of what Harrahs Diamond Lounge used to be, sort of.
The highlight of the entire day was the Pala buffet called Choices. It's outstanding and was a total surprise. Choices reminded me of the Mirage Buffet "Cravings" but is actually much better. In fact, it even beats the Wynn buffet where I ate recently. The Pala food choices in the buffet are amazing. And every single thing I ate was first-rate. Be sure to show your club card for at least a 20% discount depending on your tier. It's a great meal if comped, but well worth the price even if you're paying.