That's helpful, Dave. FWIW, I'll offer up my take on your complaints:
* Airport arrival transfer: You have every right to expect a prompt, comfortable transfer upon arrival. For shared transportation, I consider a 15-minute delay acceptable, although there's no question it should be avoided if possible (and in this case, it seems it could have). The shuttle should have been running with AC at all times.
I advise you to contact Harrah's/CE with feedback re this. If you don't complain, then they have little chance to improve next year.
btw, if your play warrants it, then by all means you should arrange with a host for a private limo when arriving for any casino sponsored trip. (I've seen others with arrangements for such transfers at New Orleans and Reno/Tahoe while we've waited for the shared shuttle on junkets.)
* Room accommodations: It's standard in AC, after something like 9p, that 7* must check in at the main desk. They're afforded priority, however, and may proceed to the front of the Diamond line if they desire.
That said, I would have (and believe I may have) advised any 7* desiring to stay on the Boardwalk to opt for Caesars over Bally's. All around, it's much better at affording a 7* experience. (Nonetheless, out of other considerations, Bally's AC has been our "home property" these last two years.)
Bally's standard check-in is the weakest of Harrah's four properties (Showboat comes in a close 2nd), and can be rife with frustration on a bad day. (Most times they come through decently, though.) I can understand expecting that they would be on their best performance during a 7* event, but sadly I can well imagine that wasn't the case.
Again, it's worth providing feedback to Bally's. You deserved an efficient, pleasant check-in experience.
* Room availability: Even under the best circumstances, summer demand for rooms is high and they cannot promise ocean view rooms at check-in for anyone but their strongest players. We've maintained a fairly strong ADT there (one affording some of the strongest receptions elsewhere, including our 7* trip to Caesars LV in March). Unless we arrive early on a Friday, we can't be assured of an oceanview room anywhere in AC.
That's particularly true at Bally's. I might hope things were otherwise, but I can't say that the reality is much different at most any other peak demand resort property.
* Our check-in experience: I checked in Thursday afternoon around 1p over at Harrah's Resort. My desired room, facing away from the pool (which can be loud at night, due to "pool parties" wasn't available. Further, the room I was assigned wasn't ready for occupancy until after 5p.
Again, I might hope for better, but I've come to accept that this is as good as it gets, even under more standard circumstances.
They did accommodate the next day with a room change and we were fine when we returned for our Saturday night occupancy. (Again, due to relocation to Atlanta this week, we were only able to attend Saturday events.)
* Massage scheduling: I believe you were provided an event schedule that should have included your spa appointment/location. If that schedule cited the Red Door at Harrah's as your location and it was instead the spa at Bally's, then by all means you should again include this fact in your communication to Harrah's/CE.
If, instead, your verbal confirmation was at Harrah's and you were subsequently rebooked to Bally's and this was communicated at check-in, then I don't think you have a major gripe. It should be anticipated that at an event with 1000 players having a massage benefit, that there might be some need for re-accommodation. Further, you have may been scheduled into Bally's as an anticipated convenience for you, since your room was there.
* Re AC VP: I certainly would expect any player from this group to have reviewed the inventory listings on vpFREE2 prior to attending this event.
Our own experience is that we expected, in limiting our presence to Saturday, to have to fight tooth and nail for access to the $1/$2 9/6 Jacks machines at Bally's and Harrah's (where we played).
Instead, at Bally's Saturday afternoon, Bev scored a machine upon arrival. I was able to sit down at the machine beside her within 15 minutes.
At Harrah's, Saturday evening after dinner, my friend again scored a machine upon arrival. Again, I was sitting next to him on a second machine within 15 minutes.
I couldn't have asked for better availability (and presume that one of the best assets here, vpFREE2, is widely overlooked).
* My bottom line take: Even factoring your more sour experience, given the fine time we had with the sponsored events during our stay, I'd be hard pressed to rate the overall trip any worse than a B+. I have to anticipate most fared better than you, and can indeed assign Harrah's/CE a "A" of some magnitude for the weekend.
- Harry
···
--- In vpFREE@yahoogroups.com, "Dave" <haaljo@...> wrote:
Sure, I'll note a few downers:
1) When we arrived at AC airport, we were on a list of the "anderson paty" and directed to a shuttle bus where we sat (no AC) for 15 minutes waiting for the andersons.
Not one of the 12 limos had a sign indicating destination. Finally, found a limo going to Bally's but had to ask half of the drivers.
2) The room at check-in was not the kind we (always) requested; A standard room with ocean view (why go to AC if not for an oceanview?). Took an hour to get the room ready.
3) Our friends arrived that night and 7* check in room had closed.
They and a dozen others behind them checked in at 7* counter but it was not staffed until they raised hell.
4) For the massage, told to go to Harrah's and upon arrival was told it was at Ballys.
And to top-off the trip, our ride back to airport was a no-show. We took a cab; an adventure where the cab driver took back roads apparently to avoid tolls.
One kudo was the slot tournamemt. Was impressed at how quickly they moved people through the ordeal. But when your dealing with 1000 participants, a drawing would have been better.
And as far as James saying "98% sounds good" ----- Huh?
