Leaving CET

In ~30 trips over the past dozen years or so, I've stayed exclusively with CET. Its where my older brother had a host when I started going, so I worked on building status there, and enjoyed the free rooms back when my BR was only a few hundred bucks a day.

Now looking to move on for a couple reasons, one being that CET comps continue to dry up....I get less on the back end now than I did when my bankroll was half of what it currently is, and now that I'm looking at the rate calendar for the first time in over a year, I see that I don't have many weekend comps....before Covid I had weekend comps at every property most of the time, outside of NOBU and sometimes Cromwell. Plus who knows what will happen with the diamond lounges.

The other reason is that my new girlfriend is (currently) not really a big Vegas/gambling fan, so if I'm going to get her on board for an occasional trip, I'm thinking that a higher level of resort, compared to the CET offerings, will be a key factor.

To that end, I'm wondering where to move to....V/P, Wynncore, Cosmo, or the higher end of Mlife. From a comp perspective, I would want free rooms at the very least, and anything else up front (free play, resort credit) or back end would be a nice bonus. Bankroll is about $1k-1.5k per day, about half VP, half tables (mix of green chip BJ and red chip carny games), with a bit of slots once in a while. I'm sure this would be enough for free rooms at at least some Mlife properties, not sure about the others on my list.

As far as picking somewhere the gf would like, I'm thinking nice room, good selection of quality restaurants, and solid pool(s) would be what would make her happy. Downtown would NOT be her scene. Neither one of us is big on the club scene, and don't need good shows to be at the specific property we're staying at.

Sorry for the long post, appreciate any advice, and welcome any questions that would enable you to better advise me...

 

Its sounds like we're at similar levels of play, though I do mostly tables with a little bit of slots, at least for the last trip I took. Your bankroll is also a little higher than mine. With Mlife's last update, I can get 2-4 nights comped at any of their properties, though weekends are harder at Bellagio, Aria, and Delano. Room choice is mostly basic or stay-wells, with some junior suites at the lower end properties. I also got $50 FP and $50 Resort Credit ($100 at Luxor and Excalibur). So yeah, you can definitely score some free rooms at Mlife! I suspect offers you'd get will be better than mine.

Maybe take a look at Delano. The rooms are very nice, Mandalay Bay's pool is amazing. The restaurant selection is decent (when everything is open!) The big downside is you're at the very far end of the strip, and getting anywhere is a hike!

 

I think with that play profile, MLife and specifically Mandalay Bay/Delano or MGM Grand is your target. I think you'll get more bang for your buck at MLife than V/P, Wynn or Cosmo.

That is not my own play mix at all though; there are probably several people here who match up with it and can give a better informed opinion.

Upshot to me is that It's a healthy bankroll, but on low theo and the games are volatile.

 

I play a similar mix games at the $750-$1500 per day bankroll. My Mlife comps are 4 nights, $100 RC & $75 FP anytime at Excal/Luxor/Park/NYNY/MGM Grand/Mirage/Mandalay and 3 nights, $50 RC, $75 FP available most nights at Aria/Bellagio/Vdara. Hope this helps.

 

@grosx2 My bankroll is pretty comparable to yours but I am all slots and video poker and I have never been really on the radar at V/P Cosmo or Wynn. Mlife on the other hand I get 4 nights at most properties and 3 nights at Aria and Bellagio. Weekends included. I'm a CET loyalist only because of my proximity to Atlantic City. I completely understand why you're leaving.

If rooms are your main priority, I would suggest it might be worth taking money from your daily bankroll and paying for the room you want (casino rate of course) at the property you want. Then see what happens on the backend for that play. It might also benefit you to message the representative from Cosmopolitan who monitors these boards and see what he can offer you.

Also if you have a point of contact with CET, I would suggest you reach out to them and tell them why you're leaving. Not in the sense of I want more to stay, but more of a this is how you lost me. With the way offers move, it's not impossible to think CET can draw you back in, but at least with them knowing what they have done wrong, they can know how they should try to fix it.

 

As you work your way out of CET - be careful about low play days which will tank the remaining offers faster than you might plan.

After CET screwed me out of $200 FP on my last visit, it accelerated my departure. It really is not that much money as I can blow that in 10 minutes easily. It is just how CET does not seem to care. (they would not honor a FP offer because they said it had to be booked by November - even though it does not say that ANYWHERE in the offer). Screw em.

And, lack of lounges just adds to it. Yea, I know mlife has very few - almost none - but everything else there is better.

 

Other advantage of Delano is that it doesn’t really “feel” like a casino resort compared to just about everywhere else mentioned... which could be a selling point for the OP’s companion.

 

I have to admit, I am a little surprised others are reporting available comps at the top mlife tiers at that level of play. It must be the slot factor because red and green chip ay at the tables might (MIGHT) get you a couple free nights at Aria or Bellagio if you are able to put in the hours with that bankroll, but free play and resort credits on top of that is very different than what was offered back when I used to play at that level (admittedly, a long time ago). if you can get those offers wth that level of lay, jump on it. I think you're going to have a better/more consistent offer from the lower level and mid tier mlife resorts. WIll thoe places (Mandaay, Mirage, MGM Grand) really move the needle with your new gf? Don't know. I would suggest that if you are really trying to win her over to go on future vegas getaways, pay out of pocket for Wynn or Cosmo. You might even get a teaser offer if you plant some seeds there first. I think its a stretch to expect consistent comps there at those levels of play, but I also think they give you the best chance of impressing the gf

 

If room quality is important for your lady I think its Wynncore no brainer. Yeah their comps are a little lighter, but the quality of the properties is unsurpassed anywhere in town. And frankly I don't find the comps that much different for Wynn than some of the higher end Mlife properties and yet the product is so far superior. I have a roll similar to yours, and while I enjoy comps I dont chase them. Without even trying I usually get 1-2 free nights and greatly reduced weekend numbers. When I went in October I barely played, maybe 5000 coin in on video poker a day...tops. I'm going in June. Four nights in a Panaromic View over the weekend of June 17th, two of the nights are comped and the other two are $99 a night. Not too shabby at all. I'm not a believer in chasing comps and frankly while Wynncore is cheap with free nights, I'd rather gamble thinking zero about comps and still get an incentive to visit. My two cents...the only other place I'd consider is Cosmo. Stayed at Bellagio for many years...its seen better days. Not worth it. I agree with your assesment that it's not worth playing CET anymore. The quality of the properties has degraded to the point that there is literally no high end experience to be had with Caesars in Vegas. Even the Augustus tower is looking shabby. And the demographic gets less desirable late night.

 

I'm currently at 4 nights and 200/100 at Aria/Bellagio/VDara, and suites plus more FP/RC and no fees everywhere else, with somewhere in the neighborhood of 4k coin on slots per day average, and they gave me a host during my last trip.

 

I’m fully in the comp yourself camp and agree with what’s been said about Wynn, Cosmo and, to some degree, V/P.

• Wynn/Encore - I do not get anything comped, low-rolling slot and tables gamer, but their product, and more importantly - service, is so superior that I don’t mind paying full freight. Their Wynn Rewards rates definitely help the cause.
• Cosmo - I’ve never had a problem getting a couple of nights up front comped and at least some F&B off the back end. IMHO, Cosmo has the best rewards for slot players at my level on the Strip.
• V/P - Their comps have become more stingy but their base rooms might be the best on the strip.

At my modest level I’ll never get entire trips comped, but I check the rate calendars at all three of these properties and always manage to find something that is very reasonable for me for my 8-12 day trips. The way I look at is this: Even though I’m paying for my room, a 30%-50% discounted room is like getting 3-5 free nights at very swanky properties over the course of 10 days.

As far as the GF thing is concerned I completely get it. My GF isn’t really too enthralled with Vegas, to say the least, but whenever she’ll come out to visit me for a day or so at the end of my trips, before we visit the west coast, she always really enjoys herself at Cosmo or V/P and she’ll say something like “I could get used to this.”

I don’t mind to ante up for a stay at these properties because I know that I’ll be getting a very, very nice room along with exceptional customer service - especially at Wynn.

Hope this helps....

 

Sometimes Mlife will not comp off the resort fee, however. I have some comp days at Bellagio with a resort fee. Or luxor with no resort fee.

 

My thoughts are: If your girlfriend doesn't like Vegas, she is never going to have fun watching you gamble. I don't know what she is into, but find something she likes to make sure she also enjoys her time. Otherwise it will be her sitting next to you, bored out of her mind.

If she likes spas, check out all day spa packages. If she likes hiking, look into that.

You can book the nicest hotel on the planet, but that isn't entertainment. She has to be doing something she likes doing, or she will never want to accompany you again.

 

I would never recommend Cosmo to anyone with any table game play. It's just so undervalued compared to slot play. I actually do think that for your level of play, CET probably still is best but if you want a change I could see Delano or lower end mLife properties.

 

You will wonder why you didn't switch sooner when you start staying in Mlife rooms...

I am glad I didn't court CET other than a half day of play. I don't play as much as I used to and even with two VERY LOW PLAY burner Mlife reservations my offers are still in tact at a great level.

 

Look at NoMad. Great service at the hotel and Park is considered a lower tier property...so good for comps but still good gaming options.

 

Teaser offers are your friend while you leave CET. See what you like.

 

Which has certain benefits of its own. Having a significant other that isn't into Vegas isn't the worst thing in my experience.

 

If your girlfriend's happiness is a factor, consider Wynncore, Cosmo, or better yet - the new Resorts World property. Something new and different for both of you.

 

I get plenty of free room offers from Mlife but never have gotten the resort fee comped. I'm staying at Caesar's for 4 nights comped with no resort fee after giving them maybe a 1/4 of the play I gave Mlife on my last trip. I did the status match to Diamond so maybe that's why no resort fee. I'm looking forward to changing it up and hanging out at CET properties this trip and giving them the majority of my play after about 10 years of Mlife.