What would you do?

[zeus]

Okay fellow Jokers, I need some advice. We are planning our September trip to Vegas and I want some input. You all know that we are MLife and Total Rewards players, so that is where our offers are at. During our trip to Vegas in April, we accumulated 159,652 tiers at MLife in just over days between Aria and Bellagio. I realize that is not a lot for a lot of the slotters on the forum, but for low-rollers I think it is pretty respectable. That puts us 40k away from Platinum. Our offers from Aria and Bellagio for the upcoming months are for only 2 nights with $150 free play and $100 RC. $150-180 for a 3rd night. We have never gotten offers for less than 3 nights. We could get 3 nights at MGM Grand and other MLife properties with $50-100 more in free play and RC's, but we dislike the slot floor of MGM Grand, even though it was our home base for 6 or 7 years. It would allow us to hit the other casinos at that end of the strip that we never seem to make it to. Have never stayed at their other properties. Mandalay Bay is nice, but it is so far away from the other properties even with using the tram. Plus we have never had a single decent hit there. We are not snobs and look down on lower ranking resorts, but we enjoy the nice hotels that have great casinos.

Total Rewards is offering us $350 in free play, plus we can get up to 5 nights comped. I emailed our host at PHo to find out if we should book through her or the site. She replied definitely use her because she can normally get us better rooms and probably throw in some food credits. And when I questioned her she stated that booking through her she actually does get a little something for booking our stay. I have to admit she has been fabulous getting us in to Cherokee when nothing was showing on the website, plus she got us all 4 nights comped at KC for the M&G. I am thinking that if we stay 4 nights at Caesars we could hit Aspiration 1. Though it does not give a lot extra it does come with the 5k bonus to start us off next year, and a $100 folio credit.

What would you do?
1. Give Aria & Bellagio just the 2 nights and then move to Caesars?
2. Stay at a lower MLife property for 3 nights for the extra free play & RC, and then move to Caesars for 3 nights?

I do have to say that 2015 was really the first year that we gave TR much play, and so far have been very impressed with the way we have been treated. Each of our last three trips to Vegas our free play offers have increased. In April it was $250, and now it is $350. Plus we have come to enjoy the perks of being Diamond. At this point we are not looking to move outside of these programs because our level of play and the limited trips to Vegas does not warrant trying to impress another loyalty program.

My question is, what would you do? I so much appreciate everyone's input on this forum!

[treyster]

My priority would be to maintain your CET level of play to keep the FP coming. I'd earmark heavy play days at CET.

Try Delano for 2 nights, top notch rooms. Seems like folks are getting clobbered at Aria recently.

[sondor]

I would do #1 and stay at the places you prefer....

[goldengreeke]

Stay with CET!

[Pat]

@zeus, do you have a host at MLife? I would certainly ask for that third night.

[zeus]

My priority would be to maintain your CET level of play to keep the FP coming. I'd earmark heavy play days at CET.

Try Delano for 2 nights, top notch rooms. Seems like folks are getting clobbered at Aria recently.

Delano is not available for the Saturday night we need. $309 for that night. All of our experiences at the casino at Mandalay Bay has been brutal. We have never, ever experience anything but hoover mode there. And next door is Luxor. Our least favorite MLife casino of all. Well, in a tie with Mirage.

[zeus]

@zeus, do you have a host at MLife? I would certainly ask for that third night.

Pat, we have never been approached by a host, and one was never mentioned last year when we went in to the host on duty office at Aria about having a small amount of rooms charges removed. When we called the Marketing number last week they told us that the third night would be $180 at Bellagio, but they could review our play at the end of our trip and possibly comp it. I do not want to be held to that. I want it up front. We are not high maintenance. We never ask for or expect a lot. Just 3 nights in a basic room. I don't need a suite. We do not spend any time in the room, so why have one? We are consistent with our level of play. Normally 12+ hours of play per day. It is a little disheartening because we have been very loyal to them for at least 10 years, and I have always sang their praises here and to anyone that asks me about Vegas. If our play warranted a host I feel like we would have been approached long before now.

[zeus]

I would do #1 and stay at the places you prefer....

That is what my gut is telling me. It is just who I am and what I do in my career. I have to over analyze the hell out of everything. Drives Allen bat-shit crazy!

[zeus]

Stay with CET!

You know something Gene, we have started to see something that you and so many others have talked about the TR's program. They do truly have a nice program. The perks of the Diamond Lounge to get away for a few nice drinks and a snack, free shows, etc., are really a nice bonus to enjoy, and you can accomplish it without playing large.

[sondor]

That is what my gut is telling me. It is just who I am and what I do in my career. I have to over analyze the hell out of everything. Drives Allen bat-shit crazy!

I understand, I'm a member of that club as well......You can always play some at MLIFE while staying at CET if needed.