Parking fees!!!!

Tricky situation for those that don't gamble. I like to play so I don't pay for anything since I reached the top level with Caesars properties. For those that don't play but frequent the strip often, I think you can still rack up enough points using their credit card (M and Caesars) to avoid at least the parking fees. If I remember correctly anyone that gets the Caesars cc and spends $750 with it automatically gets platinum status, hence free parking plus other cool benefits. Very easy to do.

 

Stephane. That's right. MGM and the other properties want you to sign up for their affinity CC and they are using these nagging fees, charging for items previously free, etc. to drive customer loyalty and leverage margins. I won't even get into resort fees, which have gone at Bellagio from $20 to $ 39. That's essentially pure profit. Many locals in the suburbs only go to the strip when they have friends and family visit. They gamble at their neighborhood joints and go to the strip to eat, shop, concerts, etc.

 

Parking has been an understood agreement between visitors and hotel management in LAS for a million years. It's just now the finance people find a way to monetize it. It's breaking a bargain that was made and understood to be a compact between customer and hotel. People are rightly unhappy for the "nickle and diming" because their banks do it, the airlines do it, they are sick of it. This fee business is out of control. Last week I took one of my cars (not the Ferraris) to have some minor work done. Tacked onto the bill was a $ 35 "Shop Fee". I asked what in the world was that? Manager said it's "corporate policy".
They took it off the bill (NTB was the chain). The casino properties also laid off hundreds of valet employees and outsourced it.

 

Probably 5 years ago or so, I got my hands on a Caesars Palace VIP parking badge. I don't know where in the garage you would actually use this and never tried. I asked two valets when I first got it, unfortunately both were relatively new employees and they were clueless. I'm a bit of a collector, so I didn't bring it with me to show the valets.

 

They probably had reserved spots for that badge. The Rio has them for their VIP's.

 

I'm sure you're right. I assumed the spots were somewhere near the valet since the hotel entry point is there, but never seen them there. I suppose they could be on the higher levels of the garage perhaps near the elevators. I never self park at Caesars so worth another look I guess.

Still wouldn't help me get around the fee though if the VIP spaces are on the higher levels of the garage. Never thought of using that badge until the fees popped up.

 

My favorite VIP at Caesar's parking story occurred maybe 10 years ago when Andre Agassi was driving a royal blue Countach. Janet and I were walking into Caesars when he pulled up in it. All of a sudden out of nowhere there are at least 15 valet guys blasting out from the porte cochere to greet him. It was the funniest thing ever

 

On a side note, there's a pretty good read out there from a former MGM Grand doorman/valet. He worked it in its early days. Ironically I gave it away to a valet at Mandalay. A good chunk of the book gets pretty heavy, so maybe half only deals with the actual job, still an interesting read. He might have taken liberty with over characterizing his personality on the job, honestly I don't remember seeing a personality of his type there back then.

https://www.amazon.com/Under-Neon-Vegas-Doormans-Story/dp/0984210911

 

+1. Or eat it for hotel room guests and work it into the room price. Vegas used to be all about gambling and the rest was a bargain to get you there. Now every aspect needs to be a profit center and they hit you every way coming. The rooms are expensive, the food is expensive, the parking is expensive, the drinks are expensive (unless gambling) and then after taking all of your money in those ways, they take more at the tables (unless you get comped).

I used to get comped but somewhere along the way, I realized that I would rather spend a week in Hawaii and a few hours at a craps table. many times the cost was the same. Of course there were those times when I won...

 

Well. I am headed to Bellagio in a few weeks. Made reservations for 2 rooms. Then we received an offer by email (M club) for cheaper rates. I called the reservation desk and they promptly matched the offer and discounted the room rate to match the email offer. Plus $100 worth of meals plus $100 in Cassino funds to gamble. Do I mind the $80 I will pay for parking over 4 days? Not one bit.

 

I can see the casino's point of not wanting moochers taking up valuable space in their lots that prevents more valuable customers from visiting due to a full lot. Has anyone ever thought about "validating" parking for locals by stamping their bar tab or dinner bill or whatever when services are paid for, possibly on a sliding scale? Some restaurants in DC do this and have arrangements with the independent lot operators so the customer does not have to fork over any money when leaving.

 

The only place that validates is Fremont, last time we were down at Forum Shops its was real slow, the Casinos shoot themselves in the foot, I avoid that area now everyone shakes you down not paying $20 to park to pay for overpriced drinks and restaurants.

 

I assume the answer is no, but I wonder how the parking fees will affect the youth that bankroll a lot of the bottom lines at the hotel nightclubs. I'm guessing no effect, but who knows. I guess if you work 5 days in order to blow your check at the club on ridiculously price drinks what's another $20 to pay for parking.

 

I'm in Vegas now.. I usually stay at Aria but they were sold out. I stopped by yesterday to see if my dealers were there and noticed that they've moved the 6:5 blackjack payouts up to the $50 tables now. This was rolled out a few years ago on the $10 tables, then 25, and now 50. I commented on it to a dealer and pit boss and in a not very nice tone, their response was "if you don't like it, go somewhere else." Ok then, will do.

 

That's quality customer service there! I'd be out the door ASAP, if they can't at least pretend they appreciate my business. Is this parking/$$ squeezing phenomenon limited to The Strip, or have the Fremont/off Strip casinos joined in?
T

 

the off-Strip places are still good (Red Rock, Rampart, Orleans, Palms, GVR, South Point, M.............etc.)

For Strip, depending on where you want to be, you have these free options: Tropicana, Crystals mall in Aria (no self, valet with tip), Miracle Mile Shops (in Planet Hollywood), Westin, Venetian, Palazzo, Fashion Show Mall, Circus Circus, & SLS. So in some case you have to do some walking to get to where you want to be, but you still have options at all points on the Strip.

 

Robin. Go back, get the table number the time you were insulted and go to the main office and ask to see GM or assistant. This sort of behaviour needs to be reported. I also suggest you complete the survey you will get from ARIA. Denote table number (you can find it on side, lower leg of BJ tables or in some places on dealer side of corner leg. Everybody raised hell about 6:5 and it was only a matter of time before the beancounters inched up the lousy odds to higher limit tables.

 

+1. I agree. Unacceptable comment, that can get this guy fired where I play.

 

Bob, Uber Black is the way to go. It costs more than the other types of car (definitely more than pool), but it's still really cheap and all the drivers are licensed commercial drivers whereas typical drivers are not. Plus, the level of car is much nicer.

Jen and I use black when we do a nice night out.



Mark

 

IMO, it's well worth the cost to be chauffeured door to door in a "black car" for what amounts to a minimal cost. You can even prearrange rides on the app now, which I love.



Mark