Update:
Total Rewards changed its name to Caesars Rewards and they are partnering with Wyndham as SPG got bought by Marriott.
Total Rewards is the loyalty program of the Caesar Entertainment group in Las Vegas and other cities throughout the country and in Canada. This makes Total Rewards to one of the biggest loyalty programs for gambling if you also look for locations outside of Las Vegas.
“M life” is the other big rewards program in Las Vegas which consists of MGM Grand, Bellagio, Luxor and a couple more of the famous one in Vegas.
I preferred Total Rewards because they have a partnership with Starwood Preferred Guest. If you are a Gold member (this is the basic level) you earn nights and points at your Starwood account as well as credits at Total Rewards. You can also redeem your credits at Starwood or your Starwood points at properties of the Caesar Entertainment group (Total Rewards). If you are Platinum level or higher you will also earn SPG points for the dollars you spend like room charges and so on. The great thing in Vegas is, that you can charge all the restaurants, shops and bars to your room if they are part of the Caesar Entertainment group.
Total Rewards has four tier levels:
- Gold
- Platinum
- Diamond
- Seven Stars
I got my Diamond status with FoundersCard (more about it in another post) for free. I have to admit I like the status a lot. I don’t know if M life offers all the same benefits.
The biggest benefit for me is the Diamond lounges which are located at every property in Las Vegas except at the Linq, Cromwell, and Ballys. This is like an airline lounge, you get free drinks, beers, cocktails, and snacks. They also serve appetizers for a short amount of time like chicken wings.
Another great benefit is that as Diamond level member you get 2 show tickets for free every month. Yes, that’s right, every month. Platinum members get a buy one get one free option and are excluded from them of the shows. But the list is short and doesn’t include all the shows which are available throughout the Caesar Entertainment group. But you could get free tickets for the Eiffel Tower at Paris or the High Roller observation wheel at The Linq.
A couple more high tier benefits are, that you get higher discounts at shops and restaurants and that you can pass the waiting lines at most locations. For example, everybody wants to do the Eiffel Tower experience at night and the queue was long when I arrived, but I was just walking by them at the designated lane for Platinum and Diamond level members (which includes also Seven Stars) and didn’t have to wait at all. The same is for waiting at restaurants. The queues for buffets get pretty long during the usual dinner hours and with your status, you can pass the queue.
But even if you are new to Las Vegas I would recommend you sign up for the card. Because even as a gold member you get discounts at the attractions like the Eiffel Tower or discounts on food. It’s usually just one or two dollars but it adds up quickly in Vegas. You also get reward credits that can be used for rooms, shopping or dining. You can even sign-up in Las Vegas directly and you can have your card printed at any Total Rewards counter.
There are more benefits to the card level, but they depend on how much you gamble and how much money you spend. Make sure you always use your card when you shop, dine and gamble. This will help you to recover some of your losses during gambling (if you gamble).
Another interesting partner of Total Rewards is Norwegian Crouse Lines (NCL). If you have a level of Platinum or higher you get discounts on booking rooms on a cruise. As higher your level as higher the discount. Information on how to book and overview of the discounts can be found here.
For me, Total Rewards works out pretty well, because I am a fan of Starwood Prefered Guest. If you are a Hyatt member I would recommend you checking out the M life rewards program.
To maximize your earnings with the Total Rewards network you can get the Total Rewards Visa card.
I guess I got the most important things covered. Has anybody experience with Total Rewards and more tips?
Peter has a passion for Traveling, Photography, and Geocaching. These are the best ingredients for amazing adventures all over the globe. “Traveling is fun, no matter if you stay in a luxury hotel or travel like a backpacker.” Peter shares his experiences on his Blog www.gatetoadventures.com
Some of Peter’s photos are published on corporate websites, in-flight magazines, travel guides, and much more.