CET Diamond Aspirations Level III Trip: How To Book?

[Dan Druff]

I don't like tipping on hand pays because they aren't doing you a favor or giving you any kind of service. This is required by law.

This is different than something like valet parking (where they are parking the car for you) and restaurants (where they are serving you food). It is literally impossible to hit a jackpot over $1100 on a machine without getting handpaid, due to legal regulations. I don't see why I should have to tip those people, yet the slot attendants who fix broken machines are not expected to be tipped.

It's like tipping the cashier when you cash out $10,000 because they have to file a CTR with the government.

They wouldn't do handpays if they didn't have to. I actually hate them (ignoring the tipping) because they freeze the action.

Am I sounding like Rob Singer yet?

[sassycat]

I don't like tipping on hand pays because they aren't doing you a favor or giving you any kind of service. This is required by law.

This is different than something like valet parking (where they are parking the car for you) and restaurants (where they are serving you food). It is literally impossible to hit a jackpot over $1100 on a machine without getting handpaid, due to legal regulations. I don't see why I should have to tip those people, yet the slot attendants who fix broken machines are not expected to be tipped.

It's like tipping the cashier when you cash out $10,000 because they have to file a CTR with the government.

They wouldn't do handpays if they didn't have to. I actually hate them (ignoring the tipping) because they freeze the action.

Am I sounding like Rob Singer yet?

A little bit - but not entirely. LOL

[Alan Mendelson]

Dan... don't tip. It's a personal issue.

[Dan Druff]

TW,

I read through your tips on booking the Seven Stars trip on this forum and the PFA forum. I just made Seven Stars this week, so I am looking to use the $1,200 airfare credit in the near future.

I want to use the free flight portion only and take my own vacation. So let's say I am looking to book two tickets JFK-Lindbergh Field. Now per annual trip requirement (or maybe not?), my host has to book a room at Harrah's Rincon as part of the trip and flight, right? So following your suggestion, I call up Rincon after Passport confirms the tickets, and tell them I can't make it, please give the room to someone else.

Now I have a nice little non-gambling vacation, and all I have to do is rent a car at the airport. I use my Hilton HHonors Rewards or book rooms on Kayak for a hotel in the city, maybe close to the zoo.

Will I still have the $500 dinner credit to use later (say, at Morton's in Atlantic City) when I am back in New York City, or is that forfeited if I cancel my room at Rincon?

Nerakil, were you a PFA member before this forum? Did you know of me from poker before seeing me post here? Just curious.

sassycat already answered some of the above, but I'll answer anyway.

Yes, you can totally hit Caesar's for the free airfare without ever setting foot in the Rincon.

Here's how:

1) Do not use your host other than where necessary. That is, book the room yourself at Rincon through a host there, and then go through Passport (in the manner I described in my earlier post) to book the flights. Your host will have to get involved to approve the flights, but that's it. Don't have them do anything with the room. If they try to offer, decline and say you'd rather talk to Rincon directly about it.

2) After the airline is fully ticketed, you're done for awhile. Wait and do nothing for awhile.

3) About 3 days before the trip, call the Rincon. Cancel the reservation. Don't call that host. Just call the Rincon itself and say "I'd like to cancel my reservation for this date, confirmation number XXXXX" and that will be that.

Your ticket will be non-refundable. I don't even think Caesar's would have the ability to confiscate it, even if they wanted to. But believe me, they won't.

If your host (or the Rincon host) calls, tell them that an emergency came up with a relative in San Diego, so you are going to stay with them and can't make the hotel part of it. It's likely that nobody will call you. You aren't technically doing anything wrong, by the way. You're just half-redeeming this promotion, which is unusual.

You will lose your $500 food credit (meaning you can't stay in a different hotel later and claim it), but this will NOT affect the $500 "celebration dinner" benefit, which is separate.

Make sure to use the $500 celebration dinner before the deadline, which is either December 31 or March 31 (I never got clear on this). I think it's March 31, but make sure to verify this.

On April 1, ALL of your Seven Star benefits will reset, meaning you can use all benefits again once, no matter how soon after you used the last one. So making Seven Stars essentially gets you two years' worth of benefits -- the current and the next.

Did you order your Appreciation Gift yet? Get that going before December 31 for sure. It's nothing great, but might as well get it.

I think it's too late for all of the Signature Experiences, but you'll have the ones next year.

[nerakil]

Here is a current list of all machines at Harvey's:

http://www.vpfree2.com/casino/harveys-lake-tahoe

There aren't any +EV machines, btw. 8-5 bonus is 99.17%, and 9-6 JoB is 99.54%.

You are correct, my mistake. I calculated the RF meter at 2.5% instead of 0.25%.

I browse the posts in your forum. I think I played at the same table as you in a WSOP prelim in 2008 ($1,500 NL). Maybe also online on UB.

[Alan Mendelson]

Make sure to use the $500 celebration dinner before the deadline, which is either December 31 or March 31 (I never got clear on this). I think it's March 31, but make sure to verify this.

Technically, it's March 31st. But it can be carried over beyond that if the host pushes it through.

Signature experiences also carry over at least until March 31st and sometimes later. Again talk to the host.

[sassycat]

Actually - on the Signature Experiences - he can book that at Atlantic City. I did that earlier this year. I booked a room a suite at Caesar's and told them that I was doing my Signature Experience which states that it is a $500 shopping experience with a personal shopper at the Pier Shops. When I called, I told them that I did not want a personal shopper and they said that is fine. They actually gave me a $500 TR gift card (good for one year at any place that accepts TR) when I checked in. I can use it at Tahoe, Vegas, or other places.

I got the suite, the limo pickup, and the gift card so it worked out great.

[Dan Druff]

sassycat, you are right.

I always get Signature Experiences and Signature Events confused.

I meant that nerakil missed the Signature Events.

BTW, sassycat, that personal shopper thing in AC was hilarious. You get $500, which barely buys anything at those expensive shops, so what is the personal shopper even going to do? Carry your one bag around? Talk about a waste. I wonder how much they pay this "personal shopper" to follow you around like a puppydog. Probably way too much -- and money we'd love to have in freeplay or meals instead, amirite?

[Dan Druff]

You are correct, my mistake. I calculated the RF meter at 2.5% instead of 0.25%.

I browse the posts in your forum. I think I played at the same table as you in a WSOP prelim in 2008 ($1,500 NL). Maybe also online on UB.

Interesting. Did anything notable happen while I was at your table?

We probably didn't play together on UB, unless you played 30-60 limit hold 'em or above.

[nerakil]

Day 3 at Harvey's was another winning day, but with no handpays.

First started off playing some $2/$3 No Limit, cashing out $405.

Then decided to play 50 play Super Double Bonus for quarters, as the $1 Bonus Poker progressives were taken. Lots of trips, straights, and flushes dealt. Won $1,100 within 45 minutes and decided to book the win and call it a day Best hit was this one.



Day 4 tomorrow. Updates to come.

[nerakil]

Last update from the Reno-Tahoe airport.

Ready to fly back to NYC. Last gaming day wasn't too exciting, lost around $900 playing video poker and table games. I was hoping for a plus 5 figure trip, but it wasn't meant to be. Still, I'll take the win; a great first trip to Lake Tahoe.

Earned maybe 15,000 RCs but I won't be back to pick up any bounceback offers or the Great Gift Wrap Up this year.

Thanks to everyone for their helpful advise to make this an enjoyable vacation!

[sassycat]

Safe travels and congrats on a winning trip.

You need to go to Tahoe during the summer. I love all seasons there but Summer is my favorite. Absolutely perfect weather and such a nice escape from our Texas heat and humidity.