Harrah's Summer Promotion: The Salesman Problem (POLL: How many will you get to??)

First of all, if you're not familiar with the Caesars promotion going on this summer, here it is in a nutshell.

*You must visit at least 3 separate Caesars property destinations. For example, Las Vegas is considered one destination, despite having 6 casinos. If you vist 3 between July 1 and October 31, log at least one base reward credit at each destination and check in at the appropriate place, you will get 15,000 bonus reward credits, awarded on October 31. 4 or more gets you more points, with the maximum of 6 destinations rewarded 60,000 RCs. Based on their point system, that's equivalent to $600 in comps or $300 in cash.

The poll is intended to find out how many people are going to attempt the travel necessary to get the maximum value. I'll be the first to admit that midwest gamblers will have an easier time achieving this.

Now, the fun part. What would be the easiest way to get to 6 destinations. You have any kind of transportation available to you, but factor in those costs before getting too crazy. I'll get you started, with mapquest details to boot.

D1: Horseshoe Council Bluffs, IA: Start at 8:00am. Play some Pai Gow Poker (1 hour), with favorable banking options. Ask for a buffet (they'll give it you without deducting RCs), and eat at the buffet. Leave by 9:30am.
D2: Harrah's Kansas City: Arrive at 12:30pm (182 mi.) Try to hit this casino during their favorable multiplier days (usually Wed.) Play some Double-deck BJ in the high-limit room (decent rules), and leave by 2:00pm.
D3: Harrah's St Louis: Arrive by 6:00pm (235 mi.) [includes a stop for gas and traffic] Get a hotel room (usually comped and very nice) and eat at Charlie Gitto's. Play the favorable 9/6 JoB on the Island side (possibly on a multiplier day). Get to bed no later than 9pm, but be sure to see the iBar dancers. Leave no later than 6:00 am the next morning to avoid rush hour.
D4: Harrah's Metropolis, IL: Arrive in Metropolis by 9:15am (186 mi.). Not sure what games are good there, I've only been once. Let's say BJ, since you haven't played that yet. Eat a light breakfast there, and check out the Superman statue downtown. Leave Metropolis no later than 11am.
D5: Horseshoe Southern Indiana: Arrive at 4:00pm (now EST) (244 mi.) Check into the hotel (usually free), and walk the mile to the Paula Deen Buffet. Eat up good, since the food is rich. Play some craps (pass line w/100x odds). After an hour, be sure to get your comp (no RCs needed to be used). Take that with you, and get breakfast with it in the morning. Leave by 8:00am.
D6: Horseshoe Hammond: Arrive by noon (CST again). (292 mi.) Check out the Asian themed room and play some tiles or BJ (S17).

edit: apparently the map doesn't work... sorry

That's a three-day tour that would be easily accomplished. Let's hear some of your ideas!!

This Traveling Salesman or Bridges of Kohninsberg problem is usually posed with travel time or travel cost metrics and a prohibition on the same hub twice or something. I don't know why you are seeking a minimum time at the casino and requiring High Limit Room play at one.

Walk a mile to Paula Deen buffet. Walk?? A mile?? LOL.

Well, I hope you get whatever the prize for all this travel is. Get your 600 points and use them in Pepto Bismal comps and Podiatry Care comps.

Good luck.

There are a couple people on this board who would be crazy enough to complete this. Okay, I am one of them.

The route you suggested is probably the best. For those out west, you could do Rincon-Tahoe-Reno-Vegas-Laughlin-Maricopa and see some absolutely MAGNIFICENT scenery along the way. (Death Valley/Yosemite/Mojave/Grand Canyon and tons of other stuff).

What does CET call this? I poked around at caesars.com and didn't find it.

Vegas/Laughlin and Reno/Tahoe are both easy for me without going to much extra (if any) extra effort, so I'd probably get to four.

Quote: FleaStiff

This Traveling Salesman or Bridges of Kohninsberg problem is usually posed with travel time or travel cost metrics and a prohibition on the same hub twice or something. I don't know why you are seeking a minimum time at the casino and requiring High Limit Room play at one.

I could figure out the exact costs, but for the purpose of trying to fall asleep last night, I just stuck to the number of miles traveled. And the only reason I put suggested games on there was based on knowledge of what games are the best at those particular casinos. I also tried to get a variety of games in, to keep it interesting. I believe (with the exception of Metropolis, as I only played there once, and for a few minutes at that) that my suggested games are the ones that provide the lowest house edge. And the time frames are designed to get you enough play for 1) a comp at Horseshoes where they still write them the old fashioned way and 2) to walk around and take everything in. The spirit of the promotion is designed so you see all the sites, but I'm trying to make it as fast as possible too.

Quote: FleaStiff

Walk a mile to Paula Deen buffet. Walk?? A mile?? LOL.

Have you ever been to HSI? The hotel is a ridiculously long walk from the main pavillion. It's not a mile, but it sure feels that way.

Quote: FleaStiff

Well, I hope you get whatever the prize for all this travel is. Get your 600 points and use them in Pepto Bismal comps and Podiatry Care comps.

Good luck.

LoL... now that's funny. Most of the gift shops sell Pepto Bismol, so I may pick some up on my journey...



By the way, this isn't the route that I, personally, will be taking. My journey begins Saturday in Las Vegas (a trip planned long before I knew about this). [D1] I get back to Ohio for a week, and then I'm going to visit family in Omaha, where undoubtedly I will play at both Horseshoe and Harrah's Council Bluffs [D2]. On Thursday, river permitting (I guess it's high on I-29, the interstate between Omaha and KC), I plan on visiting a friend in KC who just had a baby, so Harrah's North Kansas City it is [D3]. HSI is my favorite casino, so I'm sure I'll go there in August [D4]. That leaves two more to visit. The logical option is Chicago and St Louis. I think I may go to a neighborhood festival in Chicago, and I like Horseshoe there (although it's my least favorite of the Shoes). Harrah's St Louis has a nice hotel, some good VP and an easy poker room, though it's a 7 hour drive with a time change. I've never been to Chester, PA, and though it's an 8-hour drive, AC is only 2 hours from there. If I took a 4-day weekend, those would be easy to knock out. Obviously, I still have some decisions to make.

Quote: fivespot

What does CET call this? I poked around at caesars.com and didn't find it.

Vegas/Laughlin and Reno/Tahoe are both easy for me without going to much extra (if any) extra effort, so I'd probably get to four.

It's called the Great Race to Total Rewards Giveaway. Here (I hope) is the link to the site: Great Race

It's kind of disappointing to me that this starts July 1. From March to June, I visited:

Harrah's Chester PA
AC
Saint Louis
Metropolis
Kansas City
Southern Indiana
Joliet
Hammond
Vegas
Laughlin
Rincon
Bossier City
Council Bluffs
Windsor

From July to October, I will visit:
Reno/Tahoe
Cherokee
Ak-Chin
Vegas

I guess I'll probably create a long layover at some point and visit Hammond while I'm at O'Hare. And I'll probably drive down to Laughlin again when I'm in Vegas for G2E.

Why drive? http://www.keytourslv.com/ They go mon wed and fri for just $5 round trip and you get a buffet.! I went back in 08' forget the buffet!!! the driver was nice. If you plan on staying over I remember it costing $50 round trip and its reliable.

Quote: whatme

Why drive? http://www.keytourslv.com/ They go mon wed and fri for just $5 round trip and you get a buffet.! I went back in 08' forget the buffet!!! the driver was nice. If you plan on staying over I remember it costing $50 round trip and its reliable.

That is awesome. $5 is about 1/4 the cost of the gas to make the trip, plus there's free food.

The food was BAD. My friends ate there and it was barely edibale. I tried the salad but couldnt put it in my mouth. I don't remember which casino it was and from then to know it might be better good luck!