Insider Guide: Las Vegas

Caesars Rewards Centers - All Las Vegas Caesars Rewards Centers – with the exception of Bally's and The Cromwell – are open daily from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Bally's is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

The Cromwell's is located inside the main cashier and is open 24 hours. If you've played at multiple properties during one gaming day, the Cromwell's Caesars Rewards Center will total your earned daily tier credits and Reward Credits.

Alternatively, you can get your total at one of these kiosks located at each of the Caesars Rewards Las Vegas casinos:

Laurel Lounge Alternatives - With the Laurel Lounges temporarily closed, Diamond Plus through Seven Stars cardholders are being given an alternative daily beverage credit. In addition, Seven Stars cardholders will receive a daily $10 food credit. Seven Stars Companion cardholders are not eligible for the food credit, but, if applicable, would qualify for the beverage credit based on their own personal tier level. The beverage credit is limited to four drinks per day, with each drink valued at no more than $20. The credit is good only for the cardholder and can be redeemed directly at the participating outlet. The beverage credits may be redeemed all at one location, or split among the currently open casinos. For example, a cardholder could redeem two beverage credits at Caesars Palace, and one each at Flamingo and Harrah’s. For a list of participating outlets, visit the Caesars Rewards Desk or click here.

Laurel Lounges (formerly Diamond Lounges) - There are no Seven Stars Lounges, just Laurel Lounges, located at Caesars Palace, Flamingo (currently closed for renovations – see website for information on the daily Seven Stars/Diamond cardholder Happy Hour), Harrah's, Paris, Planet Hollywood and Rio. Hours – always subject to change – are 4 to 9 p.m., Sunday through Thursday, and noon to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Guests used to the comparatively "lavish" buffets in Atlantic City will be extremely disappointed at the lounge fare in Las Vegas. Caesars apparently has put all its Laurel Lounges on a "Mediterranean Diet," but it's a nice selection of hummus, pita triangles, pretzels, potato chips, bruschetta, etc., as well as cookies and desserts. From 4:30 to 6 p.m. (or until it runs out), the lounge serves hot food, e.g., chicken wings, mini-burritos, etc. [The lounge at Caesars Palace sometimes has more substantial fare such as chicken, spaghetti and meatballs, etc., and I've seen salad greens and dressings at Paris] Beverages, but no food, may be taken out of the lounges. With the exception of bottled beer, all beverages must be transferred to plastic or paper cups. Seven Stars cardholders may bring up to three guests. (Diamond cardholders are limited to one guest.) The cardholder must be present at all times.

Beverage Policies - Don't plan to take your cocktail or other beverage into any of the showrooms in Caesars properties. Unlike those in MGM properties, if you want a beverage, you'll need to purchase it inside. In addition, several restaurants inside Caesars-owned casinos, e.g., Giada, Beijing Noodle No. 9, Carlos'n Charlie's, Gordon Ramsay Burger, Strip House, will not allow "outside beverages". Check when you make your reservation or before you order that drink on the casino floor or purchase one at a casino bar.

All of Caesars Las Vegas hotels participate in the Pet Stay program. Click here for more information.

Buffet Of Buffets - Starting at $59.99 for Caesars Rewards cardholders and $69.99 for others (plus tax and gratuity), this option allows you to try each of the buffets at the Flamingo, Harrah's, Paris, Planet Hollywood and Rio over a 24-hour period. (There is an additional upgrade fee if you want to include the Bacchanal at Caesars Palace.) Passes can be purchased at participating Caesars Rewards Centers or from the cashier at any of the participating buffets. For details, click here.

Complimentary Cocktails At Bars - The days and nights of wine and rows of bloody marys, in other words, unlimited free drinks for some Las Vegas gamblers are over. A color-coded light system has been installed citywide – actually, statewide – on the back of video poker machines at casino and sportsbook bars. No longer will it be up to a bartender’s discretion when to comp a cocktail for someone sitting at the bar playing VP – though, supposedly, that discretion still exists for some Diamond and Seven Stars cardholders. The system actually was introduced in the sportsbook at Caesars Palace in early 2016, but few noticed. According to one bartender – who agreed to speak anonymously for fear of reprisal from his bosses – to activate the system, players must insert a minimum of $20 into a machine and a blue light will turn on. To get a green light – which tells the bartenders they can serve you a free drink – you need to play a few hands at the machine’s maximum bet. To keep your juices – or gin and tonics – flowing you have to keep playing at a steady pace (and no more free drinks until you get another green light). Reaction from customers mostly has been positive. “I’ve seen too many guys sit down, put $5 in the machine, play a couple hands at minimum bet, get the bartender’s attention (and a free drink), and then sit there for 20 minutes watching whatever game was on the TV,” one player told me. “They take up valuable ‘real estate’ from those of us who enjoy sitting at the bar, playing video poker and keeping up with the game,” another added.

Use this interactive map to help find your way around Las Vegas.

Celebration Dinners - No longer do you have to visit the Caesars Rewards Center to redeem your Celebration Dinner certificate(s). Simply tell your server you are using all or a portion of your certificate(s) and the amount will be automatically deducted from your check. Any Caesars Rewards Center can give you an up-to-date list of participating restaurants.

Military, Veterans Discounts - Many food outlets, e.g., Cafe Hollywood at Planet Hollywood, offer a 10 percent discount if you show ID at the time your bill is presented. It's always worth asking.

Cashout Vouchers - Unlike most cities, the cashout vouchers you receive from slot machines at Las Vegas casinos expire in 180 days. Most cities, e.g., Atlantic City, give you a year. Especially if you're a Seven Stars cardholder, most Caesars casinos will cash them for you, but you'll probably get a, "Well, I'll have to check with my supervisor first." So, if you find yourself on the way to the airport with tickets in hand – and you're not planning a return trip within six months or so, best bet is to mail the voucher to your host. He or she will have someone process the voucher and you will receive payment by check from the casino. Remember, casinos can process vouchers only from their own slots.

When you check in, ask for the most up-to-date list, but this one (published January 2020) will give you an idea of where you can use your Seven Stars and Diamond celebration dinners and any folio credits. For a downloadable and printable .pdf, click here.

Uber, Lyft riders - To meet their rides at McCarren International Airport, Lyft and Uber users arriving at Terminal 1 need to cross the pedestrian bridge to parking garage Level 2, then make a right.

Golf - Exclusive of certain "high demand" times, once every six months Seven Stars cardholders – staying at a Caesars property in Las Vegas – and up to three guests receive a complimentary round of golf both at Cascata and Rio Secco Golf Club. The cardholder’s Companion cardholder may use the benefit in place of the Seven Stars cardholder. (The Companion cardholder must show the card with a valid ID to check-in at the course.) An executive host must make arrangements for the golf outing. NOTE: This golf outing may be used only once every six months in Las Vegas, and not once every six months per Caesars property in Las Vegas. (Additional accompanying guests of Seven Stars and Diamond cardholders may be eligible for discounts off the prevailing greens fee rate, but there may be a limit to the total maximum number of players eligible.)

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Parking - Valet and self-parking for Seven Stars, Diamond and Platinum cardholders is complimentary, but Seven Stars cardholders get priority valet service. Be sure to show your card to the valet attendant who parks your vehicle and, again, when you retrieve it, or use the valet kiosk, right, to retrieve your vehicle. Click here for Caesars latest parking policies. Click here for an article on Strip parking fees published in the Las Vegas Sun.

The LINQ Promenade

Boarding Passes - Seven Stars cardholders can get their airline boarding passes printed for free at any Caesars VIP registration desk. You don't even have to be staying at that property, just show your Caesars Rewards card. At Caesars Palace there are self-service computers with printers inside the Seven Stars/Diamond Registration area.

Taxis - If you're taking a taxi, look for the priority line for Seven Stars cardholders.

ATM Fees - Fees are $9.99 per transaction. This is in addition to any fees charged by your own financial institution. There are some less expensive alternatives. The best deal I found is at Casino Royale & Casino – $3 – next to Harrah's. The Venetian and Palazzo, as well as the Bellagio and Aria (and probably the other MGM properties in town) each charge $7.99, but the ATMs at Grand Bazaar Shops just outside the front door at Bally's charge $5.99. At The Shops At Crystals, just outside Aria, the ATM fee is $4, but there is a $400 limit per transaction. Off the Strip, at Ellis Island Casino & Brewery, 4178 Koval Ln., the fee is $2.50. However, check first, because this information is always subject to change.

Pools - Click here for up-to-date information on Las Vegas casino hotel pools.

Open Container Laws - You still can drink your gin and tonic or bottle of beer while strolling down the Strip in Las Vegas, it just has to be in an aluminum, paper or plastic container. Clark County commissioners instituted the ban in September 2014. Glass containers already had been banned on New Year’s Eve.

Free Show Tickets - Each month Seven Stars and Diamond cardholders receive two complimentary show or attraction tickets. For Platinum cardholders, it's buy one, get one (with some exceptions as noted). Single travelers can now get one ticket each to two different shows. Eligible shows change frequently, but you can always count on some of the afternoon shows like Mac King, and more expensive evening shows like Penn & Teller are sometimes included, but most Colosseum performers are not on the list). Based on demand, you also may be able to use the voucher to get tickets for the High Roller or the Eiffel Tower Experience, but discounted tickets always are available subject to your tier level.

With Caesars Sports, players now have a convenient way to place a sports wager anytime, anywhere in Nevada using any iOS or Android device. Download the app at Caesars.com/Mobile-Sports. Complete the mobile wagering applications on the site and bring them to any Caesars Entertainment sports book in Nevada to activate an account.

'Charge!' - Caesars Entertainment Corp. and Tesla have opened the largest Tesla Supercharger station on the Las Vegas Strip. Located behind The LINQ Promenade, the Supercharger station offers 39 charging connectors, including 24 of Tesla’s fast-charging “V3” Superchargers and 15 level-two Tesla Wall Connectors for drivers who are parking for longer periods of time. Tesla drivers will be billed for their use of Superchargers, but will not be billed for using the adjacent Tesla Wall Connectors. Drivers can access the site for free if staying less than an hour. Caesars will bill drivers $9 for parking two to four hours, $12 for four to 24 hours, and $15 for each additional day or fraction thereof. Seven Stars, Diamond and Platinum cardholders will receive complimentary access. With the addition of the new Supercharger station, there are now 110 charging connectors across 18 Caesars resorts in the United States.

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To find out which shows or attractions are available, go to any Caesars Rewards Center, and get your voucher. Then you have three – formerly seven – days to exchange it for your tickets. With the exception of the High Roller, go to any box office to pick up your tickets. The tickets can be for dates beyond the expiration date of your voucher.

As an alternative to two tickets to each of two shows, if your Las Vegas visit extends into another month, e.g., Sept. 29 to Oct. 5, you could get four tickets to one show. For example, pick up your September voucher no later than Sept. 30, get two tickets to the show of your choice, then on Oct. 1, get a second voucher and exchange it for two more tickets to the show of your choice. Many shows do not have reserved seating so your party can still sit together. If the show does have reserved seating, simply ask the box office to exchange the ones you obtained earlier for two more adjacent to your new tickets.

Akhob - Yes, Akhob. If you haven’t heard of it, I’m not surprised. What is it? A very avant-garde art installation at the Louis Vuitton store in Crystals. Created by artist James Turrell, Akhob plays with your senses via a total immersion experience using lighting in a slowly changing palette of colors. It’s free and open to the public, but limited to four people at a time (private parties can have up to six). Reservations are always booked at least a week in advance, so call 702-730-3150 as soon as you know when you want to visit. The exhibit is open between 11:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Monday. As a bonus, you can get a tour of the artwork discreetly on display throughout the store.

Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area - You’ll need a car, so pick a nice day and give yourself at least an hour for the 13-mile loop through Nevada’s first National Conservation Area. It’s a good 30 minutes from most Strip hotels so factor that into your plans. The Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area has launched a reservation system for visitors who want to drive into the park through May 31. Capacity rather than coronavirus issues prompted the new policy. Visitors will be charged a $2 processing fee when they make reservations at Recreation.gov. You can reserve up to 30 days in advance.The fee to enter Red Rock Canyon’s 13-mile scenic drive is $15 per car. Motorcyclists pay $10 and pedestrians pay $5. Admission is free for those who have the America the Beautiful – The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass. A senior pass costs $80 and is good until the cardholder’s death. Applicants must be 62 or older. Fee for the pass if you’re younger than 62 is $80 annually.

Opting Out Of Housekeeping - If you opt out of housekeeping services during your stay (minimum two-night stay), all of the Las Vegas hotels will give you a $10 per stay food and beverage credit. You still can request additional towels or other amenities, but your bathroom will not be cleaned, bed made, etc. If you didn’t get a pre-arrival email asking you to opt-in, just let the front desk know when you check-in.

Flamingo Wildlife Habitat - Take the time to get some fresh air and enjoy the birds and gardens surrounding the casino and hotel. If you’re lucky, maybe you’ll get to meet Robin or one of the other curators who monitor the Habitat. They’re a wealth of information and will make your visit particularly memorable.

Ethel M Chocolate Factory - I’m a bit ambivalent over this, but, if you’re a chocoholic or have an interest in horticulture – and, again, you have a car – consider a drive south to the Ethel M Chocolate Factory and its adjacent Botanical Cactus Garden. The factory “tour” is nothing more than a walk-by some windows while you watch workers making and packaging chocolates, but at least you get a free sample. There are plenty of treats to tempt you, so, hopefully, you’ve saved some of your gambling budget. The cactus garden is immense and has more than 300 species of plants. It’s something different, and a nice excursion away from the casinos.

Seven Magic Mountains - You may have read about this, but don’t even consider the long drive south of Las Vegas to see seven colorful stacks of man-made “rocks.” If you do go, be prepared and wear comfortable shoes because it’s a bit of a walk from the parking lot if you want an up-close and personal look at Ugo Rondinone’s creation in the middle of the desert. It takes at least 30 minutes to drive there and about five minutes to look at them, shrug your shoulders, and wonder, “Why did I come here?” Oh, and watch out for snakes. I hate snakes! The exhibit is on display through the end of 2021.

Pinball Hall of Fame - Located at 4915 S. Las Vegas Blvd., the Hall of Fame is actually a 25,000-sq. ft. interactive museum where you not only can view the machines, but play them. (Cost is either 25¢ or 50¢ – depending on the age of the machine.) Twice the size of the old Tropicana PHoF, the new locale is on "the Strip" across from the famous "Welcome To Fabulous Las Vegas Nevada" sign and across from Mandalay Bay. The Hall of Fame is open every day from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. All who enter must wear a mask. For complete information visit PinballMuseum.org.

Some Other Ideas - Speaking of floral displays, of course you don’t want to miss the Bellagio’s Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, but don’t forget about the beautiful floral displays at Wynn and Encore too. Aria also has some pretty impressive displays, along with its indoor and outdoor art collection. In addition, no Las Vegas visitor should miss the impressive décor at the Venetian – including the re-creation of St. Mark’s Square (without the pigeons!). I’d skip the expensive gondola ride, but just enjoy it vicariously through those who overpay for the privilege of floating through the faux city of Venice. Another “must” is the equally impressive architecture and decor at The Forum Shops adjacent to Caesars Palace. Riding the circular escalators is fun too, as is the daily Atlantis Show – every hour beginning at 11 a.m. The show is located by the Atlantis Aquarium, a 50,000-gallon salt water tank near The Cheesecake Factory. Even if you're not a shopper, be sure to check out the Fashion Show Mall, the Miracle Mile Shops, Crystals (at Aria), and the stores in the Bellagio, Wynn and Encore. Also, don't miss the fountain shows at the Bellagio and, if you're into fine art, there's the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art. Plus, there are the erupting "volcano" at Mirage, the High Roller observation wheel and other retail, dining and entertainment options at The LINQ Promenade (see photo), the Eiffel Tower Experience, the Mob Museum, the Pawn Stars shop, and the Neon Museum.