Hi, all.
First, a thank you to those of you posting on this forum. I'm relatively new to vpFree, and
a frequent Reno visitor - I've enjoyed the trip reports and the tips you've posted. I've
learned a lot, and enjoyed it as well.
I'm the one who started the confusion about comp/free rooms at the Peppermill after my
first hotel stay there. As a reminder - I was told at checkout by a VIP lounge attendant, in
the presence of two others, at least one of whom was a host, that ALL freebies were
charged against comp balances - a point with which several have since disagreed.
I e-mailed my host with questions, and after a couple of weeks and a reminder, got a
reply. Here's what I learned.
The VIP person misinformed me, and you folks were right - at least in part if not in toto.
She told me that booking from a mailer that says "complimentary" will always have the
footnote stating that room charges will be counted against comp balnances; but those that
advertise "free" rooms are not charged to your comps. Unfortunately, she didn't answer
my question about rooms booked through hosts - but she did tell me that the Imperial
Suite (booked through her) was charged against my balance. She also told me that I had
been comped at about 50% of theo - and that their target is 25% or theo. Not to worry,
she said, since I'll be earning more comps next visit.
She's taking a few days off right now so I can't follow up immediately. When she gets back
I will chat with her and find out about the host- booked rooms. I'll report back if I learn
more.
As a long time recreational VP player who only recently learned that one can get more
serioius about this venture, I haven't counted coin- in or returns. I plan to start, but can't
report back on the last trip. The news my host gave me was not good, however. I play
mostly $0.25 NSUD VP, and I play most waking hours while in Reno. If that level of play
put me at double the level they like to comp, I may have to move my play elsewhere. I
plan to try again next visit, but won't take a suite now that I know the thing is charged
against my account. We'll see how that goes. But before discovering the intricacies of pay
tables, EV etc I did most of my play at verious Harrh's casinos and at what was my Reno
home, the Grand Sierra (formerly Reno Hilton). In all my plays and stays, my hotel rooms
have always been free, and not charged to the comp balance. This obviously makes a
huge difference. If I wind up short again next visit, I'm going to have to look around at
other Reno venues to see if there is one that is more compatible with my play.
Again thanks - and sorry for passing on that misinformation. As I said earlier, all I had to
go on was what I was told by the VIP/ host folks - and as Trish reported, ya can't aloways
trust that.
Bob in San Antonio