Benefits of Pearl

Just returned from a fun Vegas weekend and got very close to Pearl. I spent too much time spreading the wealth between MGM, TI, and Harrahs.

What are the benefits of Pearl? I'm more interested in free rooms if anything...or am I not even close?

If anyone wants to leave a few comments on best comp program for free rooms (off weekends are fine with me) that would be great. Thanks!

Quote: BrettSim

Just returned from a fun Vegas weekend and got very close to Pearl. I spent too much time spreading the wealth between MGM, TI, and Harrahs.

What are the benefits of Pearl? I'm more interested in free rooms if anything...or am I not even close?

If anyone wants to leave a few comments on best comp program for free rooms (off weekends are fine with me) that would be great. Thanks!

I attained Pearl on my last Vegas trip and as far as I can tell, there are no additional benefits from Sapphire to speak of. I have poked around at room rates through the MLife site while logged in, sometimes using a generic "MLife Spring Offer!" and other times just seeing if I get a discount for being logged in with my member account, and the results were underwhelming. I didn't compare to the generic public rate, but it was nothing special, and no free rooms to speak of, even at the low-end properties (Excalibur, Luxor). Compare this to Total Rewards, where I have gotten many free rooms at Flamingo and Bally's before I even hit Platinum.

I have heard that MLife will link room offers to the properties where you gamble. So if you want a free or cheap room at a specific place, you should gamble there. I can't confirm this personally, but who knows. When I got to Pearl I had done most of that gambling at Bellagio, and I'm sure you have to give them a lot more action than I did to get a free room there. I did get some "Bellagio" offers in my MLife account, but the rooms were still way out of my comfortable price range ($150-200+/night).

Total Rewards definitely beats MLife when it comes to room comps, at least for low to medium rollers. Not sure about other comps, my MLife "Express Comp" dollars seemed to grow at about the same rate as my TR rewards credits.

Best comp program for free rooms is Harrahs. I was getting free rooms at the Gold level (granted it was at Imperial Palace) but still free. Last year, I had the whole summer comped at Harrahs properties (except at Caesars, Planet Hollywood and Paris). Now that I am Diamond though I get my room comped at all properties.

Hopefully some more members will chime in regarding MGM...I am getting a little bored with Harrahs.

I'm Gold status with MGM (it's right between Pearl and Platinum) and am now down to Gold (lowest level) at Caesars Entertainment (after being Diamond from 2005-2009).

That being said, I am still getting room offers (and more) from Caesars Ent. even though they have me on their lowest tier. I still have a ton of Reward Credit so that may influence the offers in addion to my prior level of play. Who knows how they compute this stuff?

I'm more comfortable with the MGM properties in LV. I find them more nicer/cleaner/classier, the service better, and the games better, so I generally stay there (and on occasion at the Venetian/Palazzo). MGM can do more for you if you looking for tickets to big events (fights, concerts, etc.) than Caesars/Harrahs because of the MGM Grand Garden and the Mandalay Bay Event Center.

Thank you all for the great input. Looks like next time I'll do more gambling at Paris, ballys, and PH. I prefer MGM properties but free or discounted is always better than full price.

I really enjoyed my stay at TI. Great bars and nice dealers. They really are a middle class crowd with no high rollers to annoy the average $10 craps player.

I have also heard that GRAZIE at Venetian and palazzo is very stingy. Thoughts?

Quote: BrettSim

Thank you all for the great input. Looks like next time I'll do more gambling at Paris, ballys, and PH. I prefer MGM properties but free or discounted is always better than full price.

mLife isn't really "linked" like TR is. If you want to get offers from an MGM property, you have to play there. Playing at Bellagio (even a very high amount) will not get you any offers from NYNY, Luxor, Monte Carlo, Mandalay, etc. I think Harrah's tends to be more aggressive on room offers, mostly because they'll slot you into the hotel that they think your play deserves. If you want a cheap, easy free room from MGM, you've got to play explicitly at their lowest-tier casinos -- Circus, Excalibur, and Luxor. Monte Carlo and NYNY will be a step up.

If you have a host, however, that's a different story, and not what you're asking. Because if you do have a host at (eg) NYNY and frequently get free suites and resort credit and all that, you can talk to a host at any other MGM property and get an offer of a similar $-value.

Quote:

I have also heard that GRAZIE at Venetian and palazzo is very stingy. Thoughts?

I've heard that, too, but it's probably best to ask over there.

Finally: your card color won't do much for you wrt offers. Generally the benefit of having a pearl card is just those listed on the Tier Benefits page at mLife: buffet line pass and invitation to special events. Offers will be based on how much you gamble on a given trip, not how much you gamble in a year.

The two discernible differences between Pearl and Sapphire are:
- Cheaper room rates. These might piss you off since you're looking for a free room.
- Skipping the line at buffets. Admittedly, this one is kind of nice.

As per the comment about MLife being property specific, that's true, to a point. I think Monte Carlo may be considered overflow for Bellagio (I played a lot at Bellagio and was getting offers at Monte Carlo... great proof right?) - I might have only played there for an hour or so... definitely no longer.

I played PGP at Mirage 4 days in April, 6-8 hours/day, 30/hand. Not a word from them since. Didn't really expect much, but same size action at Harrah's brings free rooms and RC points to eat with.

Grazie, I played 4 days, 60/hand, 4-5 hours/day. Not a word from them since. Would have thought I'd hear something, even without free rooms.

Cosmo, played 1 day, about 6 hours, red-chip craps ($10 table) and a couple hours of PGP at 25/hand. Free rooms immediately.

Golden Nugget, 2 days, 6-7 hours/day, 10-20/hand on carnival games. Not a word.

The D, 3 days, 5 hours/day, carnival games and slots, low minimums. Free rooms whenever, no cage dollars/RC.

Club Grazie at Venetian / Palazzo is frequently changing their policies but if you've been playing at the TI they don't even want to see you at the Venetian much less have you stay there. And if you enjoyed the TI you probably would not enjoy the Venetian Pallazzo. Oh, its a nice, clean and very safe casino but they make it plain that its a high class joint where a black chip is like a pair of jacks, it makes you visible. Green chips are very difficult to see there. Thats just the way it is.

I believe in Play where you Stay, but I'm not slavish aout it.

Quote: beachbumbabs

I played at Mirage ... Grazie ... Cosmo ... GN ... The D

Interesting. Thanks for the info.

Cosmo has been hurting for players and I think that's why they're reaching out. However I've heard (from people that looked at the math) that their rewards system sucks. My guess is that they'll give you free rooms immediately but if you don't shake out that they'll dry up? I'm not sure but not willing to try; I don't go to Vegas often enough.

I've heard about stinginess of Venelazzo, and about good customer service from The D. I'll be staying at The D's sister property this weekend; I'll see what they say afterwards.

I got pearl after doing like 20 or 30 thousand coin in on a $10 VP machine. Didn't get any free play, but I do get these stupid locals offers and free rooms. Don't use them though. Haven't checked in a while.

Talked to a host or someone on the phone. It *sounded* like the bigger properties give free play while the smaller properties give buffets & rooms. It was a bit unclear, but, that's what she told me. Don't know if it's true or not and haven't verified it. But, it kinda makes sense.

From my experience as a visitor, Mlife's room offers only from those casinos where I have played significantly.
On the other hand, Total Rewards give me room offers to all CET hotels, even those I never set foot on.
Grazie never gives me anything even though I have played 10 times more (in terms of time and coin-in) there than at all CET casinos combined.