Visitreno Forum Index Visitreno
Visitreno.com's message board
There's a lot of information on the
MAIN SITE
 
 FAQFAQ   SearchSearch   MemberlistMemberlist   UsergroupsUsergroups   RegisterRegister 
 ProfileProfile   Log in to check your private messagesLog in to check your private messages   Log inLog in 

Chinese New Year at Harrah's-Reno

 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Visitreno Forum Index -> Trip Reports
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
grace



Joined: 26 Jan 2006
Posts: 7
Location: Virginia City, NV

PostPosted: Jan Sun 29, 2006 2:29 pm    Post subject: Chinese New Year at Harrah's-Reno Reply with quote

Just got back from an almost 3-day stay at Harrah's in Reno. Had no idea it was Chinese New Years Jan. 29th so until I figured it out, I was a little surprised that there were quite a few "hostesses" dressed in the traditional Chinese silks (no Geisha's)

Since this was my first stay at the Reno Harrah's (last year I stayed at Tahoe), I was greatly impressed. Again, my accomodations were in the East Tower which has been recently renovated and the room & view of Reno was breathtaking (if you can call Reno "breathtaking"). Room service was exceptional; the food was terrific (even though we ordered dinner at 3 am)

We had dinner Saturday night at The Napa Cafe and although the special on the menu for a NY Steak w/shrimp is $12.99, I asked for the "advertised" special dinner for $8.99 (same thing) and the lovely waitress informed me that that was the lunch speacial BUT they had their dinner special for $9.99, if I was interested. (The dinner special is the fine print at the end of the menu.) The shock was that the dinner special was bacon wrapped filet mignon w/steamed veggies, choice of baked, mashed or fries. So my friend and I ordered that and what a superb dinner that was. Done to perfection. You have to order the "Cheesy Gooey Bread" for 5.99. Never had it before but oh what a treat for an appetizer. Can be a meal in itself.

Compared to the dinner, the drink was 5.99. So, drink iced water with your meal and have a drink on the floow (it's free).

Now for the interesting part -- The GAMING. Friday afternoon and until about 9 pm, the slots were pretty decent. You actually won some. From around 9 pm until about midnight, absolutely NOTHING. No matter where you played your coin pennies, nickles, quaraters OR dollars. From about 12:30 am until around 3 am, they became loose again.

Saturday was another story - - lost everything everywhere. The tables must have been loose, because the entire area was packed. I am just wondering, probably not loose dealer's fingers but had to have been the VERY young girls standing beside the dealers dressed in jeans & bustiers, which I thought was kind of tacky.

The other NEW thing happening at Harrah's is that you no longer need to get a "comp. chit for dinner; tickets, room service, etc.) You just go to pay foryour expenses and swipe your player's card and it's as simple as that. They also posted a large board in plain view of what your credits are worth. Very nice.

All in all, my "first" experience at Harrah's Reno was absolutely fantastic.

I would like to know if anyone else had just as good an experience or if this was just a "special moment in time".


Crooked Smile

Grace
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Yahoo Messenger
steve



Joined: 18 Dec 2005
Posts: 47

PostPosted: Jan Mon 30, 2006 3:21 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I have always had a great stay at Harrahs Reno. Rooms are always nice(and comped). Service has always been awesome. Drinks come around fast and strong. Cafe Napa always has great food. The gambling there is not the best, but the dealers, pit bosses, and waitresses have always treated me well. I stay there everytime i go, and will continue to stay there. Lots of people here don't like Harrahs, but I'm not sure exactly why? Maybe they will chime in and give you some more opinions on the subjet.

Steve
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Yahoo Messenger
Yo Man



Joined: 17 Dec 2005
Posts: 80
Location: Portland, Oregon

PostPosted: Jan Tue 31, 2006 9:23 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Well I might as well be frank, sorry but Harrah's has gone of the hands down class Hotel Casino in Reno, to just another standard corporate joint.

I will spare you all of the details, but we had been staying at Harrahs from the time the Tower now called the West Tower was built.

Through the years, in our opinion their Machines were among the best. Food has always been good. The Entertainment was outstanding with most the best entertainers in the world appearing in the Headliner Room.

Anyway, the last time we stayed in the Hotel, probably Aug. 2002, the rooms had deteriorated, service was mediocre all around. Blackjack was multi-deck dealt from a shoe. Machines were tight!

We have visited this once great Hotel Casino on various trips, but no longer even bother to look at their Blackjack Tables. We could not find a 9/6 VP game in the joint.

Entertainment is hardly worth commenting on, other than Gordie Brown who was in the room for couple years, and was a very decent young entertainer. It is rather sad now as I was thinking I can't even remember the last show, other than Gordie Brown's that we went to at Harrah's. Heck, I don't even check their entertainment schedule anymore.

Many years we certainly received adequate comps for our level of play. However, now days I not sure they even notice $5 or $10 action at the tables.

On our last trip at New Years we didn't even bother stopping by Harrahs.

Our general opinion now is the Harrah's would just prefer us to throw our money on their floor and leave. (But then most of the Casinos in Reno pretty much act the same way.)

Yo Man......over and out
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Marian



Joined: 17 Dec 2005
Posts: 29

PostPosted: Jan Tue 31, 2006 11:07 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Been staying at Harrah's for years... love the place. Always get the rooms comp'd. The gambling is as good for me there as anywhere, in fact better than most places. The food isn't bad... not to rave about but ok for sure. I feel we've been treated more than fairly by Harrah's.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Bama



Joined: 20 Dec 2005
Posts: 89

PostPosted: Feb Wed 01, 2006 5:13 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The reason I do not like Harrahs is the gaming is just terrible. Rooms are nice but the majority seem to say the gaming is just difficult there and I totally agree.
I have seen some great comedy in Sammy's showroom as well as shows- I think they do well with entertainment.

Bama
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
spinner



Joined: 19 Dec 2005
Posts: 62

PostPosted: Feb Tue 14, 2006 7:21 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

When Bill Harrah was around, the place felt friendly, the shows were real headliners (I saw Sammy Davis Jr., Jerry Lewis, etc) and the machines were alot looser. Table games were pretty good. After his death in 1981 and the sale to Corporate Casino types, things started downhill, they built a Hampton Inn which is now their East Tower,and it was meant to be a bit cheaper than the Harrahs West Tower. It just seemed to lose its way. The Harrah's Casino explosion all over the USA is amazing, and they are marketing and getting people in, but the Reno property has been flat and might be sold in the future. That would be sad because that is where it all started.

I had really rotten service during the floor of downtown in 1997 and they kicked out their guests in the rain because they had problems with their generators in the basement getting flooded.

I also have seen the games deteriorate to not that favorable of odds. All Harrah's are not this way, I was just at the one in Atlantic City, and it was not as bad.

For me, when Harrah's bought Harold's Club and Nevada Club, and then tore them down to make a open air area, that was it. Those two clubs had been historic clubs in downtown and even though Pappy Smith and Bill Harrah were competitors (Harolds vs Harrahs), they are both rolling in their graves at what Harrah's Corp did to Harolds Club. It has forever darkened a vibrant downtown main street.

Shame to you Harrah's.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Bama



Joined: 20 Dec 2005
Posts: 89

PostPosted: Feb Wed 15, 2006 7:34 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Very well put - I love the history
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
JD



Joined: 18 Dec 2005
Posts: 956

PostPosted: Feb Wed 15, 2006 2:31 pm    Post subject: Bill Harrah and Nevada Gaming Reply with quote

If you love history, you'll find it ironic that in mid 1978 four new casinos opened in Reno, and Bill Harrah died at nearly the same time. I once posted the entire article from the RGJ when you didn't have to BUY the damn archives. Here are some headlines from the Reno Gazette Journal from June, 2003:
-----------------
The day Reno changed
June 29, 2003 •• 2282 words •• ID: ren2003063019168039
Twenty-five years ago, gaming pioneer Bill Harrah died on the eve of the opening of three new casinos, altering Reno's gaming history Casino openings clogged Reno's investment capital By Thomas J. Walsh RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL In 1978, from the afternoon of June 30 through the morning of July 1, Reno gaming history changed forever. For better, and for worse. Just after midnight, July 1, 1978, three casinos threw open their doors: Circus Circus, the Money Tree & Comstock.....

Harrah's legacy visible today
June 29, 2003 •• 711 words •• ID: ren2003063016527944
Dwayne Kling SPECIAL TO THE RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL When the MGM Hotel-Casino opened in May 1978, it was the beginning of a new era in Reno gaming history. However, the MGM was only the beginning. A few days later the Comstock Hotel-Casino opened and then on July l, 1978, at midnight, the Sahara Reno, the Money Tree expansion and the Circus-Circus hotel casino were opened. Coincidentally, on June 30, 1978, only a few hours before the grand openings of these new casinos, Bill Harrah died ...

Nevadans recall casino magnate, reflect on Reno's gaming history
June 29, 2003 •• 742 words •• ID: ren2003063016557945
By Lenita Powers RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL Twenty-five years ago, when Reno saw the unprecedented opening of three casinos on one night, advertising executive Harry Spencer was making the rounds at all three. He had just left the Mapes Money Tree and was in the Sahara Reno when the news broke about casino entrepreneur Bill Harrah. "It looked like the town was taking off like a fire rocket,"

-----------
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Bama



Joined: 20 Dec 2005
Posts: 89

PostPosted: Feb Thu 16, 2006 7:26 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Very cool stuff. MGM, Sahara, sounds like a little Vegas.

I sure root for downtown - but it definitely has some work to do.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Quinc



Joined: 18 Dec 2005
Posts: 32

PostPosted: Feb Thu 16, 2006 7:55 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

the best thing about harrahs is cal neva is right across the street Smile
_________________
Don't play blackjack that pays 6:5..Changing that one rule, reducing blackjack payouts from 3:2 to 6:5 adds a substantial 1.39% to the casino's advantage.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Dave



Joined: 18 Dec 2005
Posts: 212

PostPosted: Feb Fri 17, 2006 12:11 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Yeah Cal Neva is a CLASSIC! I love that place. The atmosphere definitely has a certain feel to it. I love it! Very Happy
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Bama



Joined: 20 Dec 2005
Posts: 89

PostPosted: Feb Fri 17, 2006 7:20 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Most certainly my favorite place to gamble.

Go Huskies! Another big road win puts them close to ticket to the BIG DANCE.

Starting to get real excited for my trip.

'Bama
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
ErininSD



Joined: 19 Dec 2005
Posts: 265

PostPosted: Mar Thu 02, 2006 7:11 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Spinner, I'm sorry, I love your history of Harrahs, but times change. Harolds Club was a disaster in it's last days. The only popular thing there was Dick Clark's club upstairs. Times change, look at Vegas, all the old school casino's are gone. It would be fun to keep those places intact, but they wouldn't hold any appeal for the younger generations. If they were money makers, they woulnd't be sold and imploded!

I had a crap room at Harrahs, last October, but complained and was upgraded. I heard they're in the process of remodeling all the rooms, and they need to.

As far as the casino goes, if you're a slot player, it really doesn't matter what games they have, they're the same everywhere. Can't comment on table games or VP.

I personally like Harrahs, they give me the best comps for my level of play. In Vegas, I can get comped rooms at Paris and Caesars, you can't beat that!

Erin
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Visitreno Forum Index -> Trip Reports All times are GMT - 8 Hours
Page 1 of 1

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum


Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2005 phpBB Group