Jackpot! 10 tips for staying at a casino hotel
Back in 1999, I got my first job at a casino hotel. Boy, was I in for an education! Everything I thought I knew about the hotel business went right out the window.
Casino hotels are not run like other hotels. And for that reason, staying at a casino hotel isn’t like staying at other hotels. Don’t get me wrong — casino hotels can be some of the best hotels out there. But there are some things you should know before you pick up your room key.
* Your money is no good here. Well, at least it’s not much good at the hotel. Casinos aren’t too interested in getting you to book a really expensive suite or order overpriced room service. Instead, they want you to crack open your wallet where it really counts — on the casino floor. The hotel is an afterthought, there to serve the needs of the casino’s players. If casinos found that their top players would rather swim than sleep, they would toss every mattress and pillow and start building pools. This means that spending big money at the hotel will not get you VIP treatment. Unless you’re also spending big money at the casino, you’ll just be a regular ol’ guest.
* You can’t buy the most expensive rooms at the hotel. They’re free — but probably not for you. Many of these suites are set aside every night for VIP players who may or may not show up. And I’m not just talking about the ultrafancy penthouse suites that you see on travel specials about Las Vegas. Even “junior suites” and many regular rooms are held back in blocks that are controlled not by the hotel managers, but by the casino managers. The casino would rather have 50 rooms go unsold every night than have even one high roller show up and not have a private bathroom in which to brush his teeth after a long trip. For this reason, even the largest casino hotels can have very limited inventory on a regular basis. This means you have to book early, or else be flexible with your travel dates.
* It matters how you book your room. The next couple of tips come from my friend Lyra, whom I call “The Queen of Casino Hotel Bookings.” Lyra has been a reservations manager in the casino hotel industry for years, and is now corporate director of revenue management for a huge casino company. Lyra suggests a three-part strategy. First, book midweek for the best rates. Second, check out major travel Web sites or travel agencies that specialize in casino bookings, as these often offer low package rates. Third, call the casino directly to see if they’ll match any offers. (It’s usually better to book directly with a hotel; that way if something goes wrong, you can deal directly with the staff.) Having seen these hotels’ revenue-management computer programs in action, I can attest that room rates can fluctuate from hour to hour, so it really pays to shop around.
* You can’t always walk into a casino hotel restaurant and be seated. The restaurants are often booked in advance, and walk-in wait times can be long. And it’s nearly impossible these days to get tickets to a decent casino hotel show. It’s not just that these hotels are busy; it’s that restaurant tables and show tickets are often held for casino players. Your best bet is to book all your restaurant and show reservations when you make your room reservation.
* The rewards can be good. If you plan on dropping even one cent in the penny slots, sign up for a free casino rewards card and make sure the card details are attached to your room reservation. Even a small amount of casino play can get you unexpected discounts, free meals and other perks. You’ll also be put on a mailing list and receive lots of promotions, including offers for heavily discounted room rates. During slow times, casinos throw out some really amazing deals to bring people to their properties. Don’t miss out!
* Not all casino hotels are flashy, exciting and luxurious. Some casinos just park a riverboat in front of a nasty local hotel that had its heyday in the ’70s; they change the sign out front and do nothing else to spruce up the place. Some casino hotels are lucky to have two stars. Just because a place is near Beau Rivage or Borgata doesn’t mean it runs in the same crowd. Even some of the big-name casino chains have some really dumpy properties in smaller markets. So be sure to research each property individually before booking.
* Smokers are still very much welcome at many casinos. That means there are quite a few smoking rooms at the hotel, and not as many nonsmoking rooms as you might expect. If you want a nonsmoking room, request one when making a reservation. At some hotels, you will have to arrive early, as the nonsmoking rooms are often first-come, first-served. And if you’re “deathly allergic” to cigarette smoke (as I’ve heard thousands of guests proclaim when demanding a nonsmoking room at 11 p.m. after everyone else has already checked in), then you’ve really got no business setting foot in a casino anyway. Go somewhere else.
* Big Brother is watching you. There are cameras everywhere, so don’t pick your nose in the elevator, don’t raid the housekeeper’s cart, and don’t stick your head out in the hallway while smoking a fat joint (I’ve seen the video of this myself).
* Security is very tight at casinos, so do not do anything stupid while you’re there. Casinos must protect their gaming licenses at all costs, so they will put an immediate end to even the smallest improprieties and questionable activities. What’s more, casino security forces are often highly trained — they’re not rent-a-cops! — and many casinos have sheriff’s deputies, state troopers or some other form of law enforcement on the property at all times. These guys will “86″ you first (that’s casino lingo for “kick you out”) and ask questions later. That guy smoking the joint outside his door? He was politely asked to leave, and a police officer kindly gave him a ride to his next destination. I’ve even seen guests escorted off the property for being abusive to service employees. So if you’re a crazy Spring Breaker, or you plan on having a bit too much fun at your bachelor party, or you just have a nasty temper, a casino hotel may not be the place for you.
* Casino hotel employees aren’t all smokin’ hot. I love the TV show “Las Vegas,” but it really sets unrealistic expectations for casino employees everywhere. No boss of mine ever looked like Josh Duhamel, and I’m certainly no Molly Sims. Most of the women I worked with wore sensible shoes for their 12-hour shifts, not low-cut cocktail dresses and six-inch heels. I just don’t want you to be disappointed when you find that the front desk agents are pretty average-looking.
I had a lot of fun working in casino hotels. There was 24-hour action, fun-loving guests, safe facilities, five-star restaurants and fabulous shows. All these things also make casino hotels a great place to stay — so long as you know the score.
Let me know about some of your favorite casino hotels in the Comments section below.
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2 Responses to “Jackpot! 10 tips for staying at a casino hotel”
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I think that the first two items are probably the best information I ever got for travel to Las Vegas.
I’ve been there several times and the next time I go, I will definatly be following that advice!
As for “unrealistic expectations”, I think you can hold your own against Molly Simms…
Ed
web/gadget guru
re Las Vegas. We have never been there…What would be a good spot for a first timer to stay,…not the Ritz but also not the bottom
I hear to stay “On the Strip” but have no idea what hotels would work.
thanks.