Royally Flushed

Interesting.  The casino offers that have been filling my mailbox the past couple of weeks.  Casinos I haven’t played in for months (and really didn’t even spend much money in when I did visit) are sending me bigger and better players club deals/coupons/promotions seemingly every day. One mailer went as far as saying — in big, bold letters — “We Miss You!”  (Wow, how can you resist such a plaintive appeal?)  To sweeten the deal, a couple of $15 coupons accompanied this particular “love letter.”  And, actually, quite a few of the offers I’ve gotten are enough to get me to visit these casinos.

In addition to great room offers, free shows and merchandise giveaways, I’m also noticing quite a few more tournaments and promotional events for both slot and table game players.  Even the offers recognizing my April birthday have better incentives such as the $25 in bonus birthday play from — thank you, very much — Casino Arizona in Scottsdale.  (A side note:  Casino Arizona’s April giveaway is an umbrella.  These are the same people who gave away mittens and a scarf earlier this year.  Hmmm, someone needs to tell them it rains here just about as often as it gets cold enough for mittens and a scarf….)

Also interesting, a number of the offers are coming to me from the casinos via my email box.  Sending offers through email makes so much sense.  Got rooms to fill in a hurry?  Put together a quick email and send it to thousands of club members within a matter of minutes!

So, what does this all have to do with you?

1. Always, always sign up for a players club card even when you don’t plan on playing a lot.  A casino can’t send you offers if they don’t know who you are and where to find you.
2. Do not throw away the mailers unopened.  Who knows what goodies await inside?
3. Sign up for email notifications from the casinos.  You’ll get some great last-minute offers.
4. If you live somewhere it rains a lot, I’ve got an umbrella you can have….

Hotels.com Spring Sale- Last Week to Save up to 30% at Hotels.com! – Expires by 4/13/09

Take a trip to the Las Vegas Strip for less with Expedia's spring/summer airfare sale.

Quick! Don’t let time run out on these discount airfares to Las Vegas!  Expedia is offering great deals on flights to top cities across the country – including Las Vegas – through the peak travel season.  With tickets starting at just $98 round trip, now is the time to plan that spring or summer trip to Las Vegas or anywhere in the nation while prices are this low.

We checked on trips in April and May and here are some sample roundtrip fares:

Salt Lake – LV   $98         Chicago – LV     $199

Baltimore – LV   $178      New Orleans – LV   $178

Pittsburgh – LV   $189     Seattle – LV   $159

These fares are valid all the way through August 12, but you must book by April 6.  A 14-day advance purchase is required.  Hurry and book your flights while these prices last.  For even more savings, look at booking your hotel at the same time. Last-Minute Hotel Deals at Expedia.com

To see the full list of fares and to book you flights with Expedia go to: Summer on sale! Fly roundtrip from $98+ Expires – 4/6/09

If you haven’t yet seen Le Reve, the fabulous aqua-batics and dance show presented exclusively at Wynn Las Vegas, you’ll get the chance to see a portion of it when Le Reve performers make a special appearance on the “results show” of ABC’s smash-hit “Dancing with the Stars” on Tuesday, April 7.  As the first Las Vegas show to perform on the program, 19 cast members will take the stage to present a unique, dynamic segment that will feature a blend of ballroom dance, acrobatics and athleticism.

Viewers can probably thank Maksim Chmerkovskiy, one of the most popular professional partners on “DWTS,” for getting the Le Reve performers on the show since he joined the Wynn show’s artistic team to choreograph three dance scenes – “Tango,” “Paso Doble” and “Piece Montee.”  (Unfortunately, the talented “Max” and his partner Denise Richards are no longer on “Dancing With the Stars” having been voted off earlier in the season.)

Le Reve was created by Franco Dragone, the internationally acclaimed director, whose credits include O, Mystere and Celine Dion: A New Day.

Came across this players club promotion while doing some research for an article I’m writing for “Casino Player” magazine and just had to share it with you.  Seems Easter Sunday in Australia will be extremely lucky for anyone who loves — make that adores — chocolate.  At the Reef Hotel Casino in Cairns, Queensland, players who enter the casino’s “Easter EGGstravaganza” contest have the chance to WIN THEIR WEIGHT IN ASSORTED CHOCOLATES up to 150 kilograms.  That’s 330 pounds of assorted chocolates!

Check out this excerpt from the “official rules:”
“To enter the promotion, Reef Club Members must earn a minimum of 50 Bonus Points on any day and swipe their membership card at the Entrance Terminal on that same day, to automatically receive 1 entry form….

6. A minor prize draw for 1 Easter Basket will be conducted on Sunday the 29th March at 4:00pm and again on Sunday the 5th April 2009 at 4:00pm. A major prize draw for 150 kilograms of assorted chocolate will take place at approximately 4:00pm on Sunday the 12th April.

7. The major prize winner will win an amount of chocolate equivalent to their body weight up to a maximum of 150 kilograms, or if they do not wish to disclose their body weight, they will automatically win 150 kilograms of assorted chocolate.”

Considering my love for all things chocolate, I would SO BE THERE for the drawing.  Even if I wasn’t chosen, I might be able to talk the lucky winner into sharing the wealth because, as the rules state…

15. Prizes are not transferable or redeemable for cash, services or other goods.

(Now, I also have you wondering what that magazine article is all about but you just have to wait ’til the May issue release to find out!)

Dine for less at Enoteca San Marco at The Venetian and check out Chef Mario Batali's signature orange Crocs.

We’re always thrilled to bring you news of great deals on Las Vegas hotel rooms and now we have an amazing offer on some of the best restaurants in Las Vegas.

We’ve sung the praises of Restaurant.com in our “Las Vegas Values” article for “Casino Player” magazine (March 2009) and right here on RoyallyFlushed so we were excited to see this fantastic deal from the money-saving website.  From now through March 31 — you can purchase $25 dining coupons for just $3! Yes, you read that right…three bucks buys you twenty-five dollars in dining at restaurants all around Las Vegas.

And here’s what we really like about the program:  you buy certificates only for those restaurants you plan on visiting.  No more buying a whole “book” of coupons only to use one or two.  At Restaurant.com, you choose only those places you like or you’d like to try while on vacation.  (And if you live in Las Vegas, it’s a great way to try some new spots for a lot less dough or save some bucks at your favorite places, too.)

Here are some of our recommended restaurants in Las Vegas: (more…)

We started this website, RoyallyFlushed, because we love giving people information about how to make their casino trips more fun and, we hope, more profitable.  Since its start, RoyallyFlushed has grown to become a popular read for people planning a trip to Las Vegas as well as those who are looking for good general information on casinos and casino gaming, industry news and more.

Our initial idea was to do one site which would cover lots of great gambling destinations and give recommendations – and hot deal alerts! -  on where to stay, places to dine, where to shop and what sight-seeing and special events were not to be missed.  We’ve now decided that there is so much to see and do in so many of the good gambling spots we visit that it would best serve our readers to build some additional websites focusing on specific destinations.

With that in mind, we are pleased to announce our first “sister” site, AZCasinoTravel.com.  With 23 casinos spread throughout the state plus so many special things to do and see here in the Grand Canyon State, we felt we had more than enough to work with in building an info-packed site for visitors to our beautiful state. In addition to our casino guide and reviews, we’ll also keep readers up-to-date on the best deals on Arizona hotels, dining, golf, shopping and all types of vacation activities.

This new site is the first in what will be a family of websites our readers can go to for help in planning a casino trip that includes not only where to play but also where to stay, dine, shop, play golf and more.  (We think you’ll find these sites helpful in planning any trip to the specific destination – with or without gaming!)

Also, because these sites will be more location-oriented, we hope our readers will feel comfortable in asking for suggestions, posing questions and leaving comments about each spot we feature.

Click on the name – AZCasinoTravel – to visit our new site now and let us know what you think!

Steve and Elaine Wynn head for divorce court again.

While this isn’t a Las Vegas news site so to speak, I do keep up on — or try to keep up on — what’s happening in Las Vegas and when it’s something I think readers would be interested in, I do like to mention it here.

What has struck me as interesting lately is all the news about “splits” — both corporate and personal — happening these days in Las Vegas.  Here’s a quick rundown on what’s caught my eye lately:

Split #1 — Steve and Elaine Wynn filed for divorce.  While no one on the outside can ever know what’s going on within a marriage, this news made me sad.  I would think that having a string of successful properties, stock prices that haven’t tanked like the rest of the industry, and what would appear to be a “wynning” working relationship would allow them as a couple to sit back, relax and enjoy their family and what they have built together.  And it’s not like this is their first trip to the courthouse — they divorced once before and got remarried.  But, again, that’s just my opinion.  Read more about the Wynn divorce here.

Split #2 — “Cannery Casino Resorts and Crown Terminate Merger Agreement; Crown to Make Investment Into CCR” is the headline on a press release I received this week.  (more…)

Lots of interesting news reports and posts out today about the new M Resort, Spa and Casino that opened in Las Vegas (or I should say Henderson) Sunday evening.  CEO Anthony Marnell III, joined by his wife and Henderson mayor, Jim Gibson, cut the ribbon to open the property to the estimated 4,000 guests who were admitted to the new property at 10 p.m.  A display of fireworks was used to highlight the grand opening celebrations.

You can check out some terrific opening night photos by visiting ratevegas.com as well as read a “players” look at the new M Resort from David Matthews at his “Gambling in Space” blog.

And don’t forget to look for my interview with Anthony Marnell III in the March issue of “Casino Player” magazine.

Book a stay at Caesars Palace in Vegas for just $90 a night this spring.

We’re back….  After a driving trip across the country’s mid-section (and, sadly, no time for stopping at the numerous casinos along the way) we came home to a mailbox full of outstanding Las Vegas deals.

Las Vegas really does represent one of– if not the — best travel values available in the country right now.  Take a look at these rates for the best in Spring getaways:
Enjoy Caesars Palace from $90 a night or
Las Vegas on Sale: Trump Hotel from $89 a night.
and, remarkably,
The luxury of the 5-Star Wynn Las Vegas from just $129 a night!

You can also get great values on things to do while you’re in town by booking your shows and more online at Expedia.  Pick up tickets for less to shows like the highly-recommended KA at MGM Grand (plan on dinner at Nob Hill Tavern before or after) or the fast and funny “V – The Variety Show” at Planet Hollywood.  (While at Planet “Ho,” have a drink at the casino’s Heart Bar or play a couple of hands of blackjack with their “Pleasure Pit” dealers.)

You can also book trips to visit nearby Hoover Dam or explore the breath-taking scenery of the Red Rock Canyon area while on a Pink Jeep Tour. For all the coolest activities at terrific prices check out: Best of Vegas at Expedia.com

Better than a box of chocolates? A stop at Payard Patisserie at Caesars Palace on Valentine's Day.

In honor of Valentine’s Day, we were going to run a list of our favorite romantic (read expensive) restaurants in Las Vegas.  However, with all the talk about how Las Vegas has become such a great “frugal” destination for travelers (it is!) plus considering the state of the economy — not to mention our wallets — we’ve decided that in lieu of that list, we’ve come up with this list: Seven inexpensive yet fun and romantic things you and your sweetie can do this coming weekend.  (Lots of these ideas can be used in places other than Las Vegas so take a look even if you won’t be traveling for V-Day.)

1.  One of our favorite stores is Bijoux Terner, otherwise known as the “$10 boutique.”  Everything (and we really mean everything) from purses to watches to bold and brassy necklaces and earrings is just $10.  Why not treat your sweetie to a week’s worth of colorful watches or five new handbags in spring’s brightest shades.  No, not “designer” pieces but who wants to spend a ton on a bright orange watch or a psychedelic pink purse anyways?

2.  Try a “celebrity chef” for less.  Case in point; Tom Colicchio, famous head judge on Bravo TV’s smash-hit “Top Chef” is the brains (and toque) behind ‘wichcraft at MGM Grand.  His fabulous meatloaf sandwich is just $10 and almost as good as the beefy entrees at his high-priced Craftsteak restaurant just down the corridor.  Oh, and make sure you save room for the decadent “Whoopie Pie” — chocolate cake layers filled with vanilla pudding. (more…)

Video poker machines wait for tourney players at Bally's in Las Vegas.

One of the benefits of joining a casino’s players club is getting invitations to free tournaments — slots, video poker, table games, even bingo — along with the free hotel stay and other perks that go with the invite.  (Of course, you have to have past play in the casino to receive these types of invites.)

In a previous post, I mentioned that our last trip to Las Vegas was planned around a video poker tournament that we played in at Bally’s Las Vegas.  The tournament consisted of two 10-minutes sessions (one per day for two days) and it is no exaggeration when I say neither of us could hit anything during the tournament play.  No four-of-a-kinds, no straight flushes and certainly no Royals.  We both held four to the Royal, three aces, three low cards, three high cards — you name it — and still couldn’t hit for anything.  Funny thing though, while playing “for real,” we both did pretty well.  All those hands we couldn’t hit on in the tourney, we did, in several instances, pull off in the casino.

I’m thinking about this because we’re playing later this week in another video poker tournament — this time here in Phoenix — and I’m hoping that our luck will have a change of heart and maybe one of us will end up “in the money” this time out.  But, as always, even if we don’t win it’s always fun to compete, meet and talk with other players and generally just go out and have a good time on the “house’s” dime.

By the way, I’ve been practicing my Double Double Bonus tournament-style “holds” at videopoker.com, a great site for free, non-wagering game play.

Use our tips to get a great deal at mid-Strip favorite, Bally's Las Vegas.

How do you get the best hotel deals when you are planning your Las Vegas vacation? A little time, a little effort and some “web-work” will help you get the best rates on Las Vegas hotels.

Here are our favorite ten tips for booking the best rates on your hotel room in Las Vegas (or in any casino resort town) :

1. Be flexible in your dates. Can you stay early in the week or mid-week instead of over the weekend? Also, if you haven’t locked in your dates check the convention schedules for your destination and plan to be in town when they – the conventions – are not!

2. Try a new resort or one that is off the major drag. In Las Vegas, the new Eastside Cannery is offering a $29.95 per night special or check out the new M Resort opening March 1 in Henderson for some great deals. Also, off-Strip favorite, The Orleans Hotel & Casino, is offering nights in March as low as $48 and has a free shuttle to the Strip.

3. Check out the deals at places like hotels.com and Expedia.com for room and package offers and hotel/flight specials. I looked at dates in March and found a deal on Expedia for The Palms for three nights starting March 9 for $53 per night while the hotel’s website showed $89 per night for same the time period.
Book with confidence thanks to the Best Price Guarantee from Expedia.com
Search Here for Hotels.com Best Hotel Deals!

4. Search for promo codes. Offer codes, promo codes, discount codes – hotels issue them either by email, in mailers or right on their own websites and having one can save you lots of money when making reservations. We regularly publish codes here — see the Venetian and Palazzo post for February — on our site and are always on the look-out for ones we can pass on to our readers. (more…)