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The "new" California.... impressive!

Discussion in 'Downtown Hotels' started by Champster1, Oct 16, 2016.

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  1. makikiboy

    makikiboy VIP Whale

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    Ah yes, I forgot about the comped people. Us lowly people who have to pay for rooms have to pay extra for the west tower. :poke:

    Just kidding.

    Sounds like they have a new safe for the west tower, guess that's good because the old safe had these huge keys to open the thing.
     
  2. surf87

    surf87 MIA

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    In 2 days I'll be staying at the Cal with family on a comp room (not suite) and I'll report back what the Cal gives us.
     
  3. letsgotovegas

    letsgotovegas VIP Whale

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    Have a great trip! Much good luck and even more fun!
     
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  4. surf87

    surf87 MIA

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    The people who book the Vacations Hawaii package deal do not get to choose which room they want. When they arrive they come in droves on the shuttle buses (maybe 4 or 5 buses per airplane). I have sat and waited for family & friends and counted those buses as they arrived, and usually my family & friends come on the last bus because they like to sit in the back of the plane (lol). They form a separate line to check-in (not the same line other guests use to check-in). The Vacations Hawaii staff stands behind the counter (as opposed to a Cal staff), and hands out the room keys (pre-assigned) along with the Aloha meal coupon books. So I don't think Vacations Hawaii guest who book the package deal have a choice as to what rooms they'd like. Vacations Hawaii makes that choice for the guests. Whether it is the newly renovated West tower or the old East tower, I have not a clue. Tomorrow I'll find out which tower my family who booked the Vacations Hawaii package will have, they are actually at the Cal tonight. And I'll find out which room another family and I will get with the comp room (not suite), which I will report on Wednesday night.
     
  5. djspam

    djspam Low-Roller

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    I usually book through VH... When I do, I will call ahead to my "host" (she is an employee, not a casino host though) and have her reserve my room for me. *If you fly VH, you probably get comped room offers. You can book those online and they still count for the 100.00 discount. You just have to have the reservation number when booking your VH package* I don't ask for anything in particular, but I have received the renovated rooms the past 2 times I have been there. Doing this saves me 100.00 off the package. And most people that use VH will also receive a voucher (Mahalo coupon) for up to 200.00 off their package. I also usually wait until the package goes on sale; usually drops to 699.00 for five nights. Now, doing the math, I start at 699.00 and subtract 100.00 for having my own room, then subtract another 200.00 with the Mahalo coupon and my price is now 399.00 for 5 nights with airfare, transportation, and my meal coupons are usually comped as well. If you fly VH, you should always do this. It's not a secret, anyone can do it... just not sure everyone does. Finally, when you book like this, you check in at the regular check in counter. I think your room is still preassigned, but maybe you can ask to change right then and there if it's that important to you. If you didn't know... well, now you do!

    I enjoy staying at the Cal; and as long as it's less expensive to fly and stay in Vegas for 5 nights than it is to stay a weekend in Waikiki or a neighbor island, I will continue to stay there. LOL

    p.s. I'm not Emerald, just a Sapphire that says please and thank you a lot.
    *edited
     
    Last edited: May 23, 2017
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  6. surf87

    surf87 MIA

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    Question: About the Mahalo coupon, some family members get $100 off, some get $200 off. Does it depend on the amount of play? Oh and they are all sapphires as well. I don't believe Ruby (red) get those Mahalo coupons. BTW djspam that is an awesome deal from $699 -$100 - $200 = $399 for 5 nights. My family who is there tonight I think started with $799 for 5 nights, minus $200 Mahalo coupon, $599 total for dbl occupancy.
     
  7. surf87

    surf87 MIA

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    I just got an update from family at the Cal tonight. They flew with Vacations Hawaii on the package deal and they are in the east tower, however, the lights are out for at least a few hours. Not sure about the specifics but I'm guessing maybe a power outage?
     
  8. djspam

    djspam Low-Roller

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    From my understanding when I asked about that... you are correct. You don't really have to gamble a lot to get the 200.00; trust me, I am not a big gambler at all. I have built several relationships with the pit bosses, shift managers, dealers, bartenders, etc. As I shared before, please and thank you go a long, long, long way! Macadamia nuts and chocolates never hurt either. Here's another piece of advice regarding the 100.00 Mahalo coupon versus the 200.00 coupon; if you never ask... you will never get. :D And asking never, ever hurts!

    Finally, a lot of folks don't really care for VH for various, albeit true, reasons. However, they are extremely affordable, convenient, and, for the most part, very friendly. I have had a few unpleasant experiences with them... mostly delayed flights for one reason or another.

    Hope this helps.
     
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  9. djslots

    djslots Low-Roller

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    Was following this thread for awhile and decided to finally book at the Cal, which will be the first time staying downtown. Hopefully it'll go well and I'll have a decent trip report afterwards.
     
  10. djspam

    djspam Low-Roller

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    djslots, have a great time in Vegas and at the Cal! If you've read other posts here you will know that Boyd markets to the Hawaii market so you will see a lot of people from Hawaii (not necessarily Hawaiian, but I digress). That being said, people from Hawaii tend to be more laid back and relaxed. The dealers, and employees in general, tend to like the people from Hawaii because of that... yes, they have told me that LOL. Anyhow, enjoy your stay there... play whatever you want, eat what you want, and remember to tip everyone that provides you with great service. Eat at the Market Street Cafe and try the oxtail soup or enjoy something from Aloha Specialties... food familiar to the Hawaiian crowd. Also, if you're not feeling the Cal vibe, take a walk to Main Street Station (another Boyd property) and check out their gaming. Try the buffet or Triple 7 restaurant and brewery... That is one of my favorite places to eat. Of course when you hit Fremont Street Experience, you can always play at the Fremont! What I'm getting at is that you're not limited to just the Cal. There are other Boyd properties, as well as, all of the other downtown casinos and fun on Fremont Street!

    I guess what I'm saying is... it's Vegas! Have fun; drink, eat, gamble, people watch, listen to the bands, enjoy the street performers, have a Coney Island dog, watch the bartenders, or whatever else floats your boat! Good luck, be safe, but most of all... have FUN!
     
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  11. surf87

    surf87 MIA

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    Another update, Market Street cafe was closed last night due to a power outage schedule to re-open in the morning. The staff were redirecting guests to eat at MSS or Fremont.
     
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  12. makikiboy

    makikiboy VIP Whale

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    You are incorrect. When you book the charter there is an area on the web page where you can make requests for your room or anything else. No guarantees and it is up to the people coordinating the charters. When I used Vacations Hawaii I have always made the request for West tower facing west and they have always accommodated me. Unfortunately sometimes that means that I get the furthest room down the hallway, I think the last room is xx48 as I had that once, boy it was a long walk from the elevator.

    One of the tour guides told me that they have certain floors reserved for the different daily charters so you can normally tell what day some of the guests came in by the floor they are on. It probably makes it easy for the hotel because the staff will know which block of rooms will be open because the charter checked out that day.

    I asked some of the charter guests when I was at the Cal in April and a number of them were in the west tower but didn't pay extra for the room.




    Yes, the Mahalo coupons depend on your play (or card level). As a ruby member I hardly get any coupons but every so often I do get the $100 off. Not sure why but after my trip last month I got a $100 off mahalo coupon. I didn't play much at the Cal but I did put in some play at MSS but I didn't think it was enough to warrant $100 off. But I hardly take Vacations Hawaii anymore, I can get better prices by booking ala carte (I go solo so would have to pay an extra $70 or more for a single room) and I like to take the redeyes to and from vegas because I can maximize my time in vegas. With the charters you are stuck with their schedule, some daily charters have a bag pull at 4 am with a 9 am flight (bag pull at 4 am, meet at 5 am to take the shuttles). Other charters get in at 10 or 11 at night so you basically lost that "day". Ala carte allows me to stay longer without having to pay for the extra night or lose a whole day.



    I'm a red chip player on the tables and I hardly ever get those mahalo coupons. The mahalo coupons are determined by boyd and not by the host but if you are a decent/big gambler you can probably ask the host to give you a discount on your VH charter.

    Many Hawaii people like the VH charter, especially the older people. The charter takes your bag at HNL and takes care of all your needs to go to and from and stay in Vegas. Bags go directly to your room, you get meal coupons for your stay, shuttles to take you to and from the hotel and airport. Boyd actually catered to the older crowd because the charter would make it easy to vacation in vegas and you don't have to worry about any logistics of going to vegas.
     
    Last edited: May 24, 2017
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  13. surf87

    surf87 MIA

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    As promised that I would report back on the comped room well it's in the old East tower but for free we are grateful and took whatever they gave us. BTW, I got lucky at Fremont and won $1124 on a $1 Quick hits. Look in the Downtown thread in the Fremont questions thread for a pic. Played the 50+ YAH and got the free lunch & dinner buffet today going back at 5:00 pm for the drawing.
     
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  14. vegasdev

    vegasdev VIP Whale

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    I saw that pic, awesome.
     
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  15. djspam

    djspam Low-Roller

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    @makikiboy Said: I'm a red chip player on the tables and I hardly ever get those mahalo coupons. The mahalo coupons are determined by boyd and not by the host but if you are a decent/big gambler you can probably ask the host to give you a discount on your VH charter.

    I can tell you right now that my host will get me the coupons if I want them; it's actually determined by someone else higher (remember the please and thank yous), but I always get them regardless. (I use them mainly for breakfast or a burger at 777. ) Again, i am not a big time gambler by any stretch of the imagination and I get the 200.00 Mahalo coupon i think 4 times a year and my monthly mailers include 4 nights comped. I'm not disagreeing with your experience, only sharing mine. YMMV.
     
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  16. surf87

    surf87 MIA

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    The parking booth at the Cal is gone. The good news for now is parking is free. The bad news is they are installing an automated parking system.
     
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  17. makikiboy

    makikiboy VIP Whale

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    Wish that I kept my old mahalo coupons but I thought that they were only good for use on Vacations Hawaii packages. I used them many years ago but I remember that it said that the discount was only if you were taking or booking through VH.

    Perhaps you are confused with the food coupon books? Those you can get through a host if you are a big enough gambler.

    But I'm a small time player and hardly get comped nights so you could be correct on this. I will try to look for an old mahalo coupon mailer to get the right info. If you have a copy of your mahalo coupon mailer plz post it for us so we can read what it says. The mailer might also be different for each level of play so maybe yours can be used for food and such while mine is only for travel.

    Rats, that means that you probably have to insert your player's card to get free parking. I wonder if they will also program it to use your room key to let you in.
     
  18. Joe

    Joe VIP Whale

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    By parking booth, are you referring to the one on the surface lot on the north side of Stewart Ave. across the street from MSS?
     
  19. surf87

    surf87 MIA

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    I was referring to the booth inside the Cal's parking structure (6 floors parking structure). Later today my family wants to go shopping at Premium North Outlets so when I pass that one that you speak of Joe I'll report back. Actually I'm not going that way because when I leave the structure I'm turning left on Main St but if I have extra time I'll go around the block to see if that one is still there.
     
  20. djslots

    djslots Low-Roller

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    Thanks for the encouragement! I'm really looking forward to staying downtown, most of all the money I have saved from staying downtown instead of on the strip. :thumbsup:
     
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