I've been going to Reno at least a couple of times a year for the past 8 yrs or so, and
recently stepped up my visits to Las Vegas and Atlantic City. I'm not a high roller - a mid-
level Harrah's diamond type.
Last month was my first real visit to the Atlantis, so I can't address changes - I can say
that I was treated very well by my host, who arranged for a comped room even though I
had no history with them, as well as all staffers I came in touch with. The room was great,
I had no problem finding playable VP, the free drinks flowed, and I was able to eat decent
food at fair prices. I will go back.
The Grand Sierra used to be my Reno home when it was the Hilton. The VP pay tables
have gone all to hell, and on weekend nights it is impossible to gamble without being
besieged by three very loud and conflicting music venues - the now - enclosed nightclub
(formerly The Garage) playing contemporary stuff some label "music"; the overhead
speakers playing oldies; and the new non-smoking bar with a potpurri of sounds from a
one- man- band. I found it very uncomfortable. I don't think that the new owners have
really decided who they want to attract - as a result, in addition to us gamblers, there is a
plethora of 20- and 30- somethings primarily interested in seeing how much they can
drink and how loud they have to be to impress their opposite-sexed counterparts, and too
many kids running here and there both outside the casino floor and on their ways from
one end of the hotel to the other. Nonetheless, the staff are great, I have gotten good
promotions, nice rooms (though overly modern-yuppie for my tastes in the renovated
areas), promotions and cashback are nice. Most of the negative changes, in my opinioin,
come not from something genral in Reno, but from new owners who can't decide what
they want the place to be, and have little sense of how to design public areas that are
comfortable for players. The rotten VP paytables are a shame.
The Peppermill has been my primary home since the Hilton was overrun... er... overtaken.
I played there before, but more intensely in the last few years. I've seen no change other
than some deterioration in the VP pays, but there are still loads of playable machines all
over the floor. I hate the mystery surrounding the comps program, but I've gotten good
offers, three - figure free play promos (last trip, THREE of 'em), and am treated courteously
and fairly by all staffers. My host goes out of her way to accomodate, is always friendly
and helpful, even on the rare occasion when she can't meet a request. I've also had very
nice treatment from hosts at Atlantis and even Grand Sierra, though not as good as Maggie
Scott at the Peppermill.
Even the somewhat threadbare Harrah's downtown has nice people who treat you well,
and while the VP is far from good, it's still better than in Harrah's properties in LV.
In contrast, while I get good offers from the Harrah's properties and the LV Hilton in Las
Vegas, the experience there is not nearly as positive as Reno for me. Decent VP bleow the
$5 (and in some instances, $25) level is extremely rare; staffers always seem too rushed
and busy when dealing with me; it costs a fortune to eat half - way decent food, and the
"charm" of the sleazy old days is gone. Even the hosts I've dealt with at three different
properties have been different from those in Reno. Once I finally connect with them, they
usually come thorugh with what I ask for, but I always feel like I'm keeping them from
more important activities. In Reno they make me feel like they actually care if I spend
money in their establishment. Overall, I much prefer Reno over LV - and LV over Atlantic
City.
Bob in San Antonio
···
--- In vpFREE_Reno@yahoogroups.com, "Jonathan" <diversified_slave@...> wrote:
--- In vpFREE_Reno@yahoogroups.com, "nightoftheiguana2000"
<nightoftheiguana2000@> wrote:
>
>
> Both Peppermill and Atlantis seem to want to run promotions
> but they don't actually want players to collect on them or they make
> it very complicated to actually collect. If you've noticed there
aren't many
> regulars at these places anymore, there is a reason for that. Both
of
> them are transforming into luxury resort hotels, presumably most of
> their business coming from the convention center, the gaming floor
is
> just a side business now.
>
This may be unique, but the Peppermill hasn't changed, at least for
me, in the last 6 years with the exception of adjusting pay tables
like every other casino. I still get comped for rooms and meals, get
3 figure free play and a bunch of bonus offers and nobody beats me up
for winning. I don't really think that it is us against them and I
don't think that the casino has become a side business. The amount of
money the casino makes off of their machines alone makes the hotel
business look sad. I "regular"ly come to the Peppermill every 3
months and find it to be friendly, gracious and pretty crowded on
weekends. I think it would really be OK for others to pass on their
positive experiences rather than have all this constant negativity,
sort of make this forum no fun anymore.
Jonathan