Does it really make sense to use RCs at 2:1?

OK, here's my "dilemma". I'm going down to N.O. in January for my 7* retreat. I will receive 50,000RC instead of the $500 food voucher.

I go to LV between 5-7 times a year, where almost everywhere takes them at 1:1.

The partner restaurants in N.O. take them, but at 2:1.

It would seem to me that it would be better to spend cash (I just got a whole bunch of Mastercard Gift cards at GGWU) at the restaurants in N.O., and save the RCs for Las Vegas (or anywhere else they take them at 1:1)

Your thoughts and opinions are appreciated.

 

No dilemma use your gift cards in the big easy

 

I guess it depends on how many RC's you have saved up and how fast you will eventually spend them. RCs that are not used are worth NOTHING. Those that you will use for food and other stuff are worth money.

 

No way would I do the 2 for 1 as that would be burning half of your reward credits. I would use the gift cards for meals and since you are Seven Stars I would convert the 50k RC into slot play at a 1.25 to 1 rate.

 

There are so many great restaurants and food options in NOLA; the place is really known for it's cuisine...and this is outside of the Harrah's sphere. So, use the gift cards trying some of the regional cuisine at some really tremendous restaurants in the French Quarter and save the RCs for Vegas.

 

Absolutely agree with this. We earn RC's at such a slow rate these days as it is, there's no way I would use them at the 2 to 1 rate.

I don't think the buffet in NOLA is anything that great, but it's 1 to 1. Besh (in the casino) is also 1 to 1, and, in my opinion, delicious. I could live on the BBQ shrimp appetizer for days! Better than at any of Emeril's places.

If you want to try a good restaurant try Tommy's Cuisine. It's across the street from Emeril's in the Warehouse District (walkable from the casino). It was outstanding when we dined there and would be a great use of your gift cards.

 

1) convert the points to free play at 1.25:1

2) charge the meals to your room

3). Since you won't have any RCs, your host isn't able to wipe those out. Then it's possible to get some back end comps. If you don't get the comps then use the gift cards.

 

This is really a no brainer.

Would you play a slot that only gave you one RC for $10 coin in instead of two?

Any restaurant that charges 2:1 on RCs, look at the menu prices and double them. Would you pay that much in cash? That's what you're doing.

Considering the markups on what you can spend RCs on anyway, if you can get 1.25:1 on freeplay, that's probably the best use for them, I think you have to convert them in round numbers, but that's a good way to wipe them out and keep your balance low when looking for back end.

 

As a general rule, no to 2:1. But in the case of NOLA, it's the only place where I thought about it. When I was there a good while ago, they had partnered with a nice assortment of places off property and it was tempting to use the points that way to make some of the more affordable. But in the casino and on Fulton Street, I didn't consider any of those places worth 2:1 and my understanding was some of them did try to charge that rate.

Another couple places to use those gift cards would be Cafe Adelaide in the Loews Hotel and the Ruby Slipper Cafe.

 

Yeah, I've got reservations for:

lunch at Commander's Palace for the gumbo
dinner at Antoine's for the Oysters Rockefeller
brunch at the Palace Cafe for Bananas Foster

 

Oooh! Don't skip the martinis!

 

Those MC Gift cards can also be used at the grocery store, gas stations, Walmart, etc. They are just another form of cash.

 

My only caution with using the GCs at a restaurant is that when they swipe them to authorize them, you will have an issue because of the gratuity that is calculated in with the 'swipe'. Most restaurants automatically authorize an 18-25% tip on each card swipe. At the chain I worked for they could not swipe & key in a card with a defined amount such as 'only using $25 on a $25 card' - it was a single swipe & it authorized 20% over the bill amount so small value MC/Visa gift cards failed even if the actual ticket amount was less than the value of the card because authorized tip took it over. So if you were eating at a restaurant with a $200 meal and had 4 $50 GCs you would likely have a problem. Now at Walmart, if you can get a cashier that has been properly trained, they will key in $25 as the value before you swipe it and it will only request that much - and then the remainder of the bill will be left. (I encountered a bunch of newbies for a while so I would just buy a $25 WM gift card and then use that at check-out).

So after being wordy, I guess what I am trying to say is to use the GCs for everyday life & take the equivalent amount of $ and bank it for the trip.

 

@jgates . . Thanks for the tip. I'll just use my Amex and save the MC Gift cards for funding my Paypal or Amazon accounts. Sounds like that might be easier.