Caesars Las Vegas parking lot changes

[Dan Druff]

I hadn't been to Caesars since February. Back then, they were building the self-parking charging system, but it wasn't ready yet.

It is live now. It started on April 3, just three days ago.

I drove into the garage, and immediately was blocked by one of those "arms". True to Caesars form, it was already counter-intuitive and confusing.

You have four options, which is honestly way too many:

1) Scan your Nevada driver's license (for 24 hours of free parking)
-or-
2) Insert your room key. Does it charge you? Who knows? It doesn't say.
-or-
3) Insert your Total Rewards player's card. Platinum, Diamond, and Seven Stars get parking free. But do you get a ticket at that point? Who knows? It doesn't say.
-or-
4) Press the button to get a ticket.

Confused yet? I was.

Even worse, this was not laid out well on the panel, so you had to really study it to figure out that you had 4 different options.

I almost pressed the button for the ticket, but then saw the other options and inserted my Total Rewards card.

It did nothing.

I then noticed that I had to insert it upside down (with the magnetic stripe up), so I did that.

It gave me some kind of technical error message. Nothing like, "Could not read card, please try again", but some sort of weird error code which wouldn't make sense to the average person (or even a technical person like me).

It then told me to press a button and take a ticket, but I was skeptical, as it hadn't yet read my card properly!

I pulled my card and tried again. It read it properly that time, and said something like, "Welcome, TODD", and the gate opened.

No ticket was dispensed! So how do I get out? Who knows?

I drove in, and parked.

I got to the hotel check-in. A fairly new employee checked me in, and asked, "How many cars do you have?"

I quickly blurted out, "One", and then realized I might be making a mistake. Was she charging me for parking? (Rates are $10/day, even for hotel guests, though Platinum and above are supposed to get it for free.)

She replied that I wouldn't be charged because "The system knows you are Seven Stars, and will waive it."

I didn't trust that answer, knowing CET and their incompetence, especially with new systems like this.

I then asked her the tough question, which made her head spin: "So if Seven Stars get parking for free, why do I have to register a car with you guys at the front desk? I can park for free without staying here, so why not just let my Seven Stars card handle the parking, and not associate it with my room?"

She replied, "Well, you need the car associated with your room so it knows you're a Seven Stars and it won't charge you."

I answered, "That makes no sense. If I wasn't staying here and just came to play, I could just come in and out of the garage with my Seven Stars card, and pay nothing. So why can't I just do that? Why do we have to attach it to my room?"

She was still confused. "Well, umm... we just have to so... ummm... well, the system needs to know."

Made zero sense. I told her that I didn't want any cars listed related to my room, and that I was afraid it would erroneously charge me (or even worse, take my RCs without my knowledge.)

She refused to do this, and finally went to get her supervisor when I wasn't accepting that.

Her supervisor told her that I was right -- that there didn't need to be a car associated with the room. The supervisor apologized to me and said, "She's new here, and this parking system is only a few days old. So many people aren't up to speed yet."

Anyway, my advice to you would be to register ZERO cars to your room when checking in, even if you're a Platinum or above. I'm still not sure how the system will work when driving out (I assume I'll have to swipe my card again -- why?) But perhaps it will just read my license plate or something and let me out. I think MGM's works that way.

One nice upgrade that was done (presumably to justify the parking charge) was a list of number of spots available on each level. This has existed at the Wynn for like 10 years, but it was nice to finally see it added at Caesars. Now if they could only make some Seven Stars only self-park spots...

[Dan Druff]

Thinking about it, I guess it would be useful to associate a car with your room if you drove in without your player's card, but are actually a Platinum or above.

This would probably allow you to use your room key to get out of the garage without paying. But couldn't you just do the same thing by getting a new player's card at Total Rewards, and swipe THAT on the way out?

Presumably they're trying to integrate the system so you can use your room key for everything, without having to dig for your TR card to get in and out of the lot, but what does that really save you?

I don't trust it. This is the same company which has, for years, erroneously charged Seven Stars members for "free" internet and movies, if their booking isn't made with the right internal codes.

With Caesars, it's better to keep things as simple as possible in order to avoid aggravation down the line.

[redietz]

I think Wynn has had the signs telling you number of spots open forever. It's to the benefit of the casino to not have people unnecessarily tooling around the garage looking for spots, so why they all don't have something similar, I do not know.

Are there time constraints on being charged? Can you park for an hour without a charge, or do they charge you?

[Rob.Singer]

I have to agree with Dan on this complaint, but it still begs the question as to why anyone would continually want to put themselves thru all these hassles with CET when there is SOOO much better out there? I would NEVER pay to park at any casino, and I would never go to a parking garage again that was as unclear as this one is described as being.

I'm still trying to figure out why Dan doesn't simply valet park??

[Alan Mendelson]

I still think it's absurd for any casino to charge for parking.

I've been in Vegas since the wedding and we've been going out to various casinos for shows and dinners. Went to the Tropicana last night to see the Robert Irvine (chef) show and valet parking was free. Janet has been using my Seven Stars Companion card to go to shows and dinners with her girlfriends and there has been a glitch. The card has been rejected by scanners.

Total Rewards sent out an email about the glitch, and all companions have to have their cards "re-coded" at Total Rewards. She did that and now her card works fine.

I am also Platinum at MGM and I can share my Platinum status with her so she has a Platinum card also until the fall when I lose it since I haven't played there much at all in the past year.

Yes, I am moving to Vegas to live with Janet. Today I gave 30 days notice to my building here in LA that I am moving out. I've already arranged with Jason and my daughter for our work schedule to accommodate my living in Vegas and commuting to LA to do our shows. Fortunately I only shoot and edit about four or five days a month. The rest of the work is done by phone or with computers and emails and of course I can do that from anywhere.

One more thing about the Companion card: Janet cannot use it at the Flamingo VIP entrance. She has to use the other valets at Caesars Palace. The Flamingo entrance remains only for the actual 7 Stars card holders.

Last night we went to Mesa Grill for dinner. We parked at the Flamingo entrance. I felt so special when we came out after dinner to find my car right where we left it at the front door. But that's when I realized that by accident I took the key with me. I apologized. The valets know me, so they laughed about it, but I felt like an idiot. Fortunately we were there just to have dinner and we arrived at 9:45pm when the valet was not busy at all.

[Dan Druff]

Two updates:

1) I left the lot. Indeed, it sees your license plate and lets you out automatically.

2) They now post an employee at the entrance and exit to help. It's as if they saw my complaint!

[a2a3dseddie]

I still think it's absurd for any casino to charge for parking.

I've been in Vegas since the wedding and we've been going out to various casinos for shows and dinners. Went to the Tropicana last night to see the Robert Irvine (chef) show and valet parking was free. Janet has been using my Seven Stars Companion card to go to shows and dinners with her girlfriends and there has been a glitch. The card has been rejected by scanners.

Total Rewards sent out an email about the glitch, and all companions have to have their cards "re-coded" at Total Rewards. She did that and now her card works fine.

I am also Platinum at MGM and I can share my Platinum status with her so she has a Platinum card also until the fall when I lose it since I haven't played there much at all in the past year.

Yes, I am moving to Vegas to live with Janet. Today I gave 30 days notice to my building here in LA that I am moving out. I've already arranged with Jason and my daughter for our work schedule to accommodate my living in Vegas and commuting to LA to do our shows. Fortunately I only shoot and edit about four or five days a month. The rest of the work is done by phone or with computers and emails and of course I can do that from anywhere.

One more thing about the Companion card: Janet cannot use it at the Flamingo VIP entrance. She has to use the other valets at Caesars Palace. The Flamingo entrance remains only for the actual 7 Stars card holders.

Last night we went to Mesa Grill for dinner. We parked at the Flamingo entrance. I felt so special when we came out after dinner to find my car right where we left it at the front door. But that's when I realized that by accident I took the key with me. I apologized. The valets know me, so they laughed about it, but I felt like an idiot. Fortunately we were there just to have dinner and we arrived at 9:45pm when the valet was not busy at all.

Congratulations once again Alan!

Now that you've made the move to Las Vegas, do you think you'll still primarily gamble at Caesars?

[Alan Mendelson]

Congratulations once again Alan!

Now that you've made the move to Las Vegas, do you think you'll still primarily gamble at Caesars?

Janet isn't a gambler, so it's not like the two of us will go out gambling every day and every night for entertainment. We have been going to shows at various casinos because she belongs to a "club" that gets free and discounted show tickets at the last minute, but so far we've just gone to the shows, restaurants, and have not stopped to gamble.

So I think yes -- I will stick with Caesars to concentrate my play there.

I did stop by the craps table at the Tropicana the other night while waiting for a show, but the game layout didn't interest me. They had the "repeater bets" but not the Small, Tall, All. And now I prefer the STA. I did not play.

Went through some other casinos too, but did not play.
,
I am amazed that there are video poker machines everywhere. I had to go to my Bank of America branch near her house the other day and then to the Wells Fargo. They were in adjoining parking lots, and in between was a bar/restaurant with video poker -- didn't even bother to walk in to check the paytables. Janet and her friends go to a place for karaoke -- its a bar/restaurant owned by the Cannery Casino but no where near the Cannery. Eat, drink, sing... but no one plays.

[a2a3dseddie]

Since you don't need the hotel rooms anymore, you might want to look into what the highest tiered cards at properties will do for you. i.e.) Venetian, Wynn, Cosmopolitan or even the nicer "locals' casinos" like Red Rock, M or Green Valley Ranch

[Alan Mendelson]

It will be hard for me to maintain Seven Stars in the future since I doubt I'll be gambling as much as before, so I will concentrate on Caesars for play.

The advantage of living in Vegas year round is that I could be playing craps when the table minimums are lowest. There are plenty of times when Caesars Palace has $10 and sometimes $5 craps.

I had to drive over to the State building the other day to get official copies of the marriage certificate for insurance, etc. I passed by the Gamblers General Store... and I almost went in to buy what I've always wanted: my own video poker machine. Now that I live there, I am not restricted by the California law that says machines must be at least 25 years old. But I would have to ask Janet about where to put it?

[mickeycrimm]

Alan, local bars in Vegas can have up to 15 machines. And you can even get your video poker fix at the super market. You should look into the video poker at the locals casinos. You'll find much better payscales.

[RS__]

Grocery stores and 7-11 type stores have video poker. I've never seen a paytable that wasn't atrocious, though.


Local bars have slightly better paytables, on average, but they're still awful. Good thing about many bars in LV, is they tend to have pretty good but cheap food. It's not gourmet, but it's good bar food. Many places will comp your food if you lose $100-200, which obviously isn't a great deal, but acts like a mini loss rebate. You're not going to make money on it, perhaps save a few (literally, a few, at most) by getting free food in bars, as well as some low stakes entertainment.


Alan, I never saw you post it so may have missed it -- are you now a resident of Las Vegas, or seriously planning on it? I remember you making some remarks in the past, sounded like you were thinking of it or entertaining the idea, but not very serious.

[Alan Mendelson]

I am moving into Janet's place.

I gave 30 days notice to my rental here in LA.

I will be commuting to LA to continue with my TV show and Infomercial business.

[maxev]

Congrats Alan on your marriage and moving to Vegas!

Can you talk more about the Robert Irvine show at Tropicana? I checked the website and saw it but it wasn't open. Perhaps not for the public yet?

I'll be in Vegas for a week with a friend who doesn't gamble, so looking to fill up time with food events and shows. Wish the Bellagio cooking classes were happening while I'm there.


max

[Alan Mendelson]

The Robert Irvine show, to the best of my knowledge, was a one time thing. It was used to promote his restaurant that will be opening at the Trop soon.

The show was borderline entertaining. He does some cooking "challenges" which mimicked the Food Channel's "Chopped" where you have mystery items and have to come up with a dish. Audience members would pick things like pigs feet and lobster and green onions and celery and he'd have to come up with a meal while audience members would do the same thing. Stuff like that. Then he showed some videos of his tour of military bases. And there was some scripted humor. It seems he has a road show and this was it.

[Alan Mendelson]

By the way... leave it to a local like Janet to clue me in:

Her free tickets (she had 4 through her club) were for the back of the showroom at the trop. After we took our seats she says to me "do you have a twenty?" I gave it to her thinking she was going to buy a drink... but she comes back a minute later and says to me and the others "let's go."

Next thing I know an usher is walking us up to the front of the showroom. She says she often gets better seats with a $20 tip. Sometimes $10 will do.

[Rob.Singer]

The Tropicana is a dump. Irvine is slumming when he booked his show there. He's better than that.

Truth-be-told time--Prediction: OBVIOUSLY, Alan will gamble a LOT more now that he lives in LV. And smartmoney says it won't turn out well. Going back and forth to LA for work also makes no sense. Retiring does. WTF?? I wish him the best, but a 3-time divorcee getting married in LV really does not bode well. Here's hoping CET--who witnessed one of his marriages at a craps table--does not put up the odds of success or failure. C'mon man....

[redietz]

The Trop is a lot of things, but a dump isn't one of them (and it is not one of my fave places). Its comedy club is impressive. The entertainment isn't generally my cup of tea, but it is varied. The rooms are allegedly renovated, leading to its Doubletree status, and I will vouch for the old suites with the mirrored ceilings. There really are no "dump" Doubletrees.

That is Italian marble on the floors, and it wasn't required, so they spent some money on the place.

[pkspins]

There really are no "dump" Doubletrees.

I agree but there are definitely some that aren't all that great. Of all the Hilton brands, that one is probably the least consistent, except for the cookies.
I've only seen the public areas but if I ever wanted to stay at that end of the Strip on one of my Vegas trips instead of staying at Caesars, I wouldn't hesitate to stay there because they have that designation.

[Rob.Singer]

The Trop is a lot of things, but a dump isn't one of them (and it is not one of my fave places). Its comedy club is impressive. The entertainment isn't generally my cup of tea, but it is varied. The rooms are allegedly renovated, leading to its Doubletree status, and I will vouch for the old suites with the mirrored ceilings. There really are no "dump" Doubletrees.

That is Italian marble on the floors, and it wasn't required, so they spent some money on the place.

C'mon be realistic. The first sign of a dump in LV is when the check-in area has ZERO decorations on the walls or ceilings, and when the only people on the floor overnights during the week are a bunch of black thugs and Chinese slot machine players. Their restaurants suck the rod, they're unattractive as hell, and their best tower is a 10 minute walk from the front desk.

Pure trash. But then again, you're impressed with downtown.