Grueninger Gold Casino Travel blog

7-Day Alaskan Cruise on NCL Bliss: Our experience up North

joe@ggcasinotravel.com (Joe Hanauer) — Sun, 08 Mar 2026 14:18:26 GMT

Learn more about our Alaskan Cruise experience

Joe Hanauer

Hi everyone! My wife Julia and I just finished our 7-Day Alaskan Cruise on the Norwegian Bliss. I wanted to take a bit of time and recap our trip and share some insights on our week, and hopefully, inspire you to book your next Alaskan sailing with our team.

This is my first time back to Alaska in over 12 years! I went with my family on an NCL ship back when I was in college - little beknownst to me that my Dad was working for the better part of the trip, I have fond memories of watching the sea planes land and having morning coffee with my Mom. Julia and I have had Alaska on our travel list for some time now - this was her first trip to Alaska and we’ve been planning this with Grueninger Gold since last August.

A bit of an aside before we get started - Alaska is an absolutely breathtaking, and beautiful place. At any moment, you can stop, look at the untouched mountains, and be in awe at the world around you. I do think Americans take Alaska a bit for granted - when I talk to friends who aren’t from the US, going to Alaska always finds its way on their bucket list. Fortunately for us, it can be very accessible, and an awesome trip when planned well.

Our turnout for this trip was great! We had 50 total guests in our group - our biggest Alaska group ever! We feel so fortunate to be well supported as new business owners. I’ll break down our trip day by day, with a few extra notes at the end

Day 1 - Seattle

Julia and I flew out of Ft. Wayne, to Minneapolis, then finally to Seattle. We opted to get in a day early because neither of us can handle the stress of missing a sailing (that’d be a tough look with 50 passengers).

We stayed at the Kimpton Palladium in downtown Seattle, and walked and toured the city. We visited Pike Place Market, had some great oysters at a Happy Hour at Half Shell, then walked around Bell Town and made our way up to the Chihuly Garden & Glass. After spending a bit of time seeing some beautiful glass art (he’s famous for what you see in the Bellagio ceiling installations), we made our way to a sushi spot called Shiro’s Sushi, and had an omakase style dinner. Omakase is a set menu that allows you to try a bit of everything - I’d never done it before, let alone had truly great sushi. It was a great way to start the trip!

Seattle is a fun city - if you have a chance to get in early, I’d strongly recommend it.

Space needle!

Day 2 - Depart

Julia and I got up early (quite early with the time change), and went for a run on the boardwalk, and finished at an extremely tasty french bakery for pastries at Le Panier at Pike Place Market I would consider the bakery a ‘can’t miss’ and a great way to start the trip.

Around noon we started making our way to the ship, and boarded at our pre-selected time of 12:30. If there is one significant upgrade to the cruise experience in the last 10 years in my opinion - it’s the check-in process. Because so much of the check-in happens on your app well before you board, it makes for a very smooth experience getting on the ship. It took us maybe 10 mins to check-in, and I don’t think we ever waited in a line for more than a minute.

After getting settled and unpacked, Julia and I walked around the ship, and went to the Cavern Club on Deck 8 for a Welcome Reception that was exclusive to our guests. I had a chance to visit with our guests, see a few faces I haven’t seen in some time, and our team from the casino introduced themselves and let our guests know about events going on in the casino that week.
Christa, Joyce, and everyone that’s apart of the casino team were incredibly helpful that night and all week - I feel confident knowing our customers are being taken care of in the event that I’m not able to assist, or be on a sailing.

Julia and I are what the Baby Boomer generation would clearly define as ‘Millenial Foodies’. I will design my entire day around a meal, which could be of little or no interest to some, but if you like to eat, I’ll do my best to cover what’s on the ship.

We ate at Palomar for dinner that evening - which was a Mediterranean Seafood restaurant. Portions were small, but you can order as much as you’d like, and I was very impressed with the quality. I’d consider it ‘lighter fare’, but one of the ‘can’t-miss’ meals on the ship. Palomar is considered ‘specialty dining’, and is not included in the base package. As part of our More at Sea package (included for all guests in our groups), we used one of our dining credits towards this meal.

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Day 3 - Day at Sea

Julia and I woke up early (again), and grabbed coffee and headed back to our room. We had a nice quiet morning, and eventually made our way up to the gym. Julia and I are training for a half marathon, and with the way I eat on vacation, I need literally every step I can get.

That afternoon we read, watched a show, grabbed a drink, and made our way to the Manhattan Room for our group dinner. This reservation is typically first come first served, but the casino team had reserved several tables for our group so that we didn’t have to wait.

The Manhattan Room is a beautiful, large, and bustling room where people tend to dress up a bit more than other restaurants. We had a great meal with our guests! I really enjoy getting the chance to catch up with everyone, and everyone seemed to enjoy getting to know each other a bit more.

I thought the food in the Manhattan Room was great, and it’s open to all guests (dining package not required). It does fill up quickly, so plan to arrive early or potentially wait a bit.

My recommendation for a Day at Sea: Enjoy the amenities of the boat. If you want to listen to a podcast or watch a show, remember to download it before you’re at Sea and have no cell service (I learned this from experience)

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Day 4 - Sitka

We arrived to Sitka around 10AM and had the better part of the afternoon free. Julia and I found a nearby hiking trail, hiked for about two miles on a very nice trail, found a cool trail that went up the side of the mountain, found fresh bear scat, then immediately turned around to the nice trail. We probably should have been carrying bear spray regardless, but what’s hiking without a bit of a thrill knowing you could get eaten by a bear at any moment. I did see a Golden Eagle (and many many Bald Eagles), which is always a thrill for me.

We hiked for around 7 miles, then headed our way back to town.

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Truthfully: We only took a pic as our 'last pic' in the event we were eaten by a bear.

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We ate lunch at Coldwater Bar and Grill, and opted for the $39 Halibut fish and chips over the $21 Cod fish and chips. Honestly, I don’t think I would’ve known the difference and should’ve gotten the cod. I don’t think there’s many ‘good’ deals on food in town, and while I’m not searching for a deal, I’ve gotta call out price gouging when I see it. $39 won’t break the bank, but that’s an absurd price for the maybe .1 lb of Halibut we got.

We walked town a bit and headed over to Ernies (link), where we met a super kind bartender, and talked with someone from town for a bit. The topic seems to always come up with locals, but they told us they were ‘pro-cruise’ in their town and that most folks were. They shared an interesting insight that they’ve seen what happens when the cruises aren’t around (during Covid), and know how much it supports the city.

Sitka also makes the majority of their income from fishing (nearly 80%), and only 20% from cruising, so they’re not entirely dependent.

Sitka’s a small town, with a few nice trails near the port. Personally, I’d recommend finding a trail, or enjoying the town for the day. I don’t think you ‘have’ to do an excursion here by any extent.

We checked out a book store where Julia got a post card for her grandma, and we headed back to the ship.

That night we ate at Food Republic, which is an asian-fusion specialty dining option. The food was great! I’d highly recommend it. We sampled a bit of everything and really enjoyed it.

Sitka recommendation: I’d consider an excursion as ‘optional’ - you can have a really nice day staying near the port, hiking a bit, and visiting the town.

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Day 5 - Juneau + Mendenhall Glacier

We arrived to Juneau very early, and headed out to meet up with our tour guides from Liquid Alaska, who took us on the Mendenhall Glacier Ice Adventure Tour.

Our group of 10 headed to Mendenhall Lake, where our guides outfitted us with some very excellent outfits, and we canoed across the lake to Mendenhall Glacier. I’m glad everyone showed up, or the canoeing would’ve been much much harder!

She was a better paddler than I expected!

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Our guides Mason and Jordan did a great job of telling us about the Lake and the Glacier, and one small thing that I did notice with our group compared to other tour companies, was that they brought nice gloves for us, as well as rain gear (which we didn’t need, but helped keep the wind off of us).

These are the small details that make the difference between an average tour company, and a great one. It ended up being fairly chilly, with 20 mph winds. The gloves were needed and we were thankful to have them.

We made it to Mendenhall Glacier, and walked around a bit so we get a closer look.

Did we need the helmets for the .25 mile hike? Probably not, but they made for great pictures

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Then we heard a deep, thundering boom, and turned around to see the Glacier was calving! This is a rare event, and happens when the Glacier falls into the lake. You also get a chance to see how deeply blue the ‘fresh’ glacier is. I think Julia and I had a once in a lifetime moment, and even the guides were freaking out with how cool it was.

A picture of the glacier right after it calved. You can look at the photo of me and Julia to see what it looked like a few minutes before (above and slightly right of my head is where it calved).

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We canoed back (with a tailwind, thankfully), and made our way back to the ship.

There’s many excursion options in Juneau, most focused on the Mendenhall Glacier (Hike, canoe, or even helicopter). There’s attractions in the town, and while I don’t think you ‘have’ to do an excursion in Juneau, I think you should. The Mendenhall Glacier is beautiful and breathtaking - there’s not many other opportunities to get as close to a glacier as you can at Mendenhall.

That afternoon, we cruised through the Endicott Arm to see the Dawes Glacier. Julia and I shared a bottle of champagne on our balcony and enjoyed a nice afternoon, and reflected a bit on how this can be a pretty great job at times. We had an awesome day.

The cruise through Endicott Arm is 3 hours both ways - it made for a great happy hour(s)

A picture of Dawes Glacier inside of Endicott Arm

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That evening, we had dinner at Le Bistro, which is a French cuisine specialty dining option. I had a wonderful Coq Au Vin, which I have to say was my favorite meal I ate all week.

Julia and I went down to the casino to see our guests for a bit, then called it a night.

Juneau recommendation: Book an excursion that gets you to the Mendenhall Glacier - it’s worth the cost!

Day 6 - Icy Strait Point

The next morning, we arrived at Icy Strait Point. Icy Strait Point is a small town that offers a few gift shops, and a gondola ride to a scenic view. There’s also a zipline and while it looks fun, it does make playing slots look like an affordable hobby - we’d heard the zip line runs at about $175 per person for a 90 second ride.

Julia and I opted to walk to the next town over (about 45 min walk along a very nice scenic boardwalk) to a small town called Hoonah, where we grabbed breakfast at a place I’d recommend to anyone called The Fisherman’s Daughter (https://maps.app.goo.gl/GeVHJckqkFEAvcEJ7), and eventually lunch from a food truck called Oso Gordito (https://maps.app.goo.gl/Qdm6wmncNQCDWE6g6)

A very kind local saw us heading to a trail, and told us there’s so many bears on the island, we’re out of our minds if we even think about hiking. Icy Strait Point does have a 4:1 bear to human ratio, so we decided to stay in town.

I’ll be frank, while it was a very scenic port, there isn’t much to do. Some guests opted for a whale watching excursion (~$300 per person), we looked at an ATV excursion that we didn’t end up doing ($380 for a 90 minute rental - yikes), and also looked at a 3 hour kayak excursion (again, $180 per person).

I saw more bald eagles than I could count!

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Again, I know you’re rarely going to find a deal on an excursion, but these prices were too high for our interest in the activities.

There's a ton of incredible scenery along the trail - I thought this old Grand Wagoneer was super sweet and grabbed a pic.

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We had a nice morning walking around and enjoying the scenery. Icy Strait Point is a breathtakingly beautiful place, and I saw dozens, and dozens of bald eagles.

That night we had dinner at La Cucina, then visited the casino to meet a few guests, and called it a night because we had an early day at Ketchikan the next day.

Icy Strait Point recommendation: Take the $50 gondola ride, spend a bit of time at the top of the mountain, come back down, walk to Hoonah for a meal, then head back to the ship. ‘Whale watching’ is offered at many, if not all ports. If you’re interested in doing that type of excursion, this is the port to do it. If none of these are of interest, get a deal on the spa and have a day at sea at port.

Day 7 - Ketchikan

Julia and I got up early (or so we thought!) to head off the ship to Ketchikan. Our time in port was from 6AM to 12:30PM.

Unfortunately, NCL docks at Ward Cove, which is 6 miles from downtown Ketchikan. They built this dock so they would have a guaranteed birth in Ketchikan (docks downtown are limited and competitive). The shuttles are free, but a bit of a hassle to deal with. Ketchikan is worth the effort, as the town offers many attractions (Lumberjack show, the Salmon Ladders, hiking, restaurants).

Julia and I were off the ship at 7:45, and made it to town by about 8:30. After grabbing a quick breakfast sandwich, we walked to the Salmon Ladder, then went off to hike for a few hours.

We found out that morning that the last shuttle to go back to Ward Cove leaves at 11:30 AM - but you can take a taxi if needed. Not wanting to deal with the taxis, we opted for the shuttle, and were back at the pickup area a little after 11, where we waited in line for about 30 minutes.

We wished we would've had a bit more time in Ketchikan, or gotten up a bit earlier. The city offers so much for everyone, and we felt like we had a few hours to tour before we had to make it back to the shuttle. It was enough time in port to shop around and grab a meal, but unfortunately not enough time for a full outdoor activity and lunch like we were hoping.

Despite a short day, we made a great hike to an incredible lookout point

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I took the experience as a learning opportunity to be a bit more aware of the time in port in the future.

That night we had dinner at Cagney’s, then visited the casino to meet a few guests. I had a ribeye with a side of truffle fries that was delightful - and a 7 Layer Chocolate Cake I would call both heavenly and sinful.

My very wonderful travel partner

Day 8 - Day at Sea / Victoria

Julia and I were up and at it, and walked the ‘walking path’ for a bit, before heading down to The Waterfront at Deck 8 to walk a bit more. We had coffee l, reflected on the week, and talked about how we can continue to improve our cruise offering at Grueninger Gold.

That evening at 8PM, we arrived to Victoria, British Columbia. We walked into town to get a drink a the bustling Fairmont Empress (https://maps.app.goo.gl/x8ZcKqLgwYQ3GNN59), then went out for ice cream at Better Acres (https://maps.app.goo.gl/amfXUmBXVKrtNZmbA). I had the best waffle cone I’ve had in my entire life! The person at the counter asked if I could wait 30 seconds so she could make a fresh waffle cone. I’ve never said ‘yes’ faster.

Picture of said waffle cone

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Day 9 - Disembark

Julia and I got up early and hit the road - we had a slightly earlier flight, and opted to take a taxi to the airport.

It was around 1AM that morning when I realized how much the time change affected me! I slept well that night, and am finishing up this blog as I watch Scottie Scheffler shuffle his way to a win in Portrush.

Additional notes

Casino

I have to say, I was very impressed by what was offered with the casino. I’ve heard some criticism that the casino feels small at times, but I’d always rather see a casino that feels lively, than one that’s too big and feels dead.

The casino host team is absolutely wonderful, and guests always have easy access to ask any questions they may have. The casino was always clean, well supported, and always a good time. There’s a game for everyone on the floor. And to answer ‘how are the machines?’ - I had a customer hit for over $10K on the first night - the handpays are out there!

Renovations

The NCL Bliss first sailed in 2018, and underwent renovations in early 2025. I was seriously impressed with the renovations - if you told me the ship was a year old, I’d believe you. The best way to note renovations is to look closely at a few things, whether it be a hallway, elevator, or entry way - every time I checked, I was impressed with how clean and well maintained everything was.
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Food and drink

If you really want to take your cruise to the next level, I’d recommend spending a little extra money on additional nights of specialty dining. Specialty dining is around $50 per person at each restaurant.

The buffet was pretty standard for a cruise ship - lots of food stations, though not a ton of variety. The two other main restaurants, Taste and Savor, were not our favorite meals on the ship but we would eat at them again.

A power-ranking of dishes I had, and where I had them

Coq Au Vin at Le Bistro
Ribeye and Truffle Fries at Cagney’s
Goat Cheese Salad at Le Bistro
Carbonara at La Cucina
7 Layer Chocolate Cake at Cagney’s
Kimchi Fried Rice at Food Republic
Any of the sushi at Food Republic
Filet of Sole at Palomar
Apple Tart at the Manhattan Room
Any of the snacks in the Observation Lounge

A few more miscellaneous tips

There’s a bar in Cagney’s called the A-List Bar - it is included with the beverage package, and if you ask for high end liquor, they’ll provide most of it (Woodford Bourbon, Grey Goose Vodka for example), at no premium uncharge. Tipping the bartender the occasional $5 will get you even better service. I ended up being given an extremely healthy ‘sample’ of Clase Azul Tequila, which retails around $150 a bottle. We were always able to get a spot at the bar, and it had a great atmosphere. There’s also a small bar in Le Bistro which we really enjoyed that offered some very nice champagne at a minimal ($10 a glass) additional charge.
We found out you can make Specialty Dining reservations from your TV in the stateroom, which was a nice convenience we figured out and thought was worth sharing.

Shows

Julia and I didn’t do any shows - we usually are in / around the casino at that time. Our guests really enjoyed Icons and Jersey Boys. The Cavern Club had a Beatles cover band each night which we heard was an awesome time. They cover a different album / era each night - it’s a cool concept so you aren’t seeing the same show each night

BOGO Air

NCL offers guests a ‘BOGO Air’ offer. You pay for one plane ticket, and NCL pays the other. I’ll go through the pros and cons of this offer.

I’d consider the pros fairly obvious - NCL covers the cost of the ticket, which can range between $400 and $800 depending on where you fly from. NCL manages the ticket on your behalf, which some guests prefer. The cons are that you have no control over the flight schedule, or itinerary. This means you could be taking red-eyes on one leg, or both. We had a few guests taking red-eyes on the return, which means that after disembarking at ~10AM in Seattle, they were in Seattle until their 10PM flight. That’s a long day. When you factor in the cost of meals in Seattle for 1-2 additional days, and whatever value you put into not having a red-eye, I think its worth evaluating the cost benefit of the offer

Also, you may get initially booked on an ‘ideal’ itinerary, then be rescheduled closer to the flight - again, it’s up to their discretion what they do with your flights and the tickets.

If you don’t mind not controlling your itinerary, and want to save a few hundred dollars, the BOGO airfare deal is a great offer. I think I’m biased because my wife and I are both travel agents, and I’m on the road enough as it is - I’d rather pay to control my itinerary.

Players Card / Room Key

Your Room key doubles as your Players Card, which is what you use to get on and off the ship. Having 1 card that does everything is a nice convenience they’ve implemented over the past few years

Room categories

Where i don’t think it’s quite important on a Caribbean cruise, I’d recommend paying the upgrade cost to a balcony room if you don’t qualify for it with your play. We had poor weather our first day at sea, and the public areas (Observation Lounge) were quite full throughout the sea day. Our second day at sea we had great weather, and the weather was nice enough to sit on the top deck outside. I do think the balcony makes the ‘Endicott Arm + Dawes Glacier’ afternoon a much more enjoyable experience.

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Below are just a few pics I got from our balcony.

Leaving Juneau

Inside of Endicott Arm

Dawes Glacier

Should you do an Alaska cruise?

Absolutely - everyone needs to go at least one, but only if you book it through our team!

Hope you enjoyed - as always, give us a shout with any questions you may have.

MGM: Ultimate Charter Offer Guide and FAQ

joe@ggcasinotravel.com (Joe Hanauer) — Wed, 04 Mar 2026 17:44:18 GMT

Ultimate Charter Offer Guide and FAQ

When we’re referring to “offer”, we’re referring to the offer for your rate to go on a Beau Rivage Charters.

Basic concepts of charter rates (If you’re only going to read for the next 30 seconds, read this —>)

Offers are determined by your Average Daily Theoretical (or ADT) with MGM Rewards (Read more on ADT here).
Each Beau Rivage charter has a unique criteria level that’s needed for a “comp” rate of $50 per person, or better.
The Beau Rivage is constantly evaluating each trip’s criteria level, and changing the criteria based on customer demand, and supply of remaining seats available.

One example you need to read through

Okay, please read this as well. Let’s look a few imaginary guests (along with their ADTs) who’ve submitted quotes to go to the Beau Rivage from St. Petersburg, FL on from 5/25 - 5/29. Let’s call it a Beau Rivage Vacation 🙂

As you can see in the example above, Clark and Ellen are quoted a full comp, Eddie Johnson is quoted at $50 per person, Nick Papgiorgio is quoted at $399 per person, and Audrey Griswold is quoted at $586.16 per person.

Frequently Asked Questions / Examples

“How are my rates determined”?

When you submit for a quote or reservation request, we (Casino Gold Tours) submits your request to the Beau Rivage. The Beau Rivage checks what that trip’s criteria is. From there, we let you know what your rate is.

“I tried to book the day the dates were released, and was told it’s sold out. How can the trip be sold out?”

Not every trip is available to book by every guest. The Beau Rivage charter team may choose to ‘yield’ the trip to a certain comp criteria.
Certain trips have booking criteria that’s set at a certain ADT from the day they’re released, meaning guests below comp criteria may be told it’s sold out (to their play level), and they’ve been placed on the waitlist.

“How often does criteria for a trip change?”

Each trip is looked at on a near daily basis and re-assessed based on remaining inventory.
Typically, guests who pay comp rates or better will more often than not, will continue to get quoted that rate. The same rule applies for guests who are quoted retail rates.

“Why are some trips have higher criteria than others?”

Some trips have much higher demand than others, which would cause the comp criteria rate to be increased.
For example, a trip over New Year’s Eve may have a comp criteria of 750 ADT, where as a weekday trip in January may have a comp criteria of 300 ADT

“I used to get comp’d trips, why does the Beau Rivage want me to pay?”

The answer here generally falls to one of the following:

The criteria for this trip (or all trips) has increased
Your ADT has dropped as of recent

I often hear this question from guests who were getting comp’d to go during Covid, when demand was lower than it was in 2021 and 2022. The comp criteria in 2023 is now higher than what it was during Covid, which is where these discrepancies may fall.

“I’m a Sapphire (or Pearl, Gold, or Platinum) player - why do I have to pay to go on this trip?”

Booking criteria is based on ADT, and your tier status is NOT evaluated when looking at charter rates. Let’s look at the following example →

Frank plays for 30 minutes a day, 5 days all year at his local MGM casino.
Sally goes on two separate 4-day trips to the Beau Rivage, and plays for 6 hours each day on those trips.
Frank will likely achieve a higher tier status than Sally, but Sally will get better rates to go on a charter, because she has a higher ADT than Frank.

“I haven’t played with MGM Rewards in a few years - how far back will they look at my play?”

Typically, your play is rated in the past 24 months.

I hope you found this helpful!

Why Grueninger Gold Is Your Best Bet: Compare Us to the Rest

joe@ggcasinotravel.com (Joe Hanauer) — Fri, 01 Aug 2025 04:00:00 GMT

When planning a casino trip, guests often ask what the difference is between booking through our team versus booking directly with a casino, an app, or another travel provider.

Below is a breakdown of how booking with Grueninger Gold Casino Travel compares to other options.

Where you can be booked

Booking with Grueninger Gold
- We can book you across our network of properties across the country, including Caesars, MGM, Penn, Boyd properties, and Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Lines, Celebrity Cruises, Carnival cruises, and many other options.
Other booking options
- Limited to properties in network

How your play is rated

Booking with Grueninger Gold
- We'll rate you based on your best play across all trips that you've booked through our team. This ensures that you're getting the maximum value of your play.
Other booking options
- You'll be rated based on specific play with that property group, or property groups in that hosts network.

Suite, limo, food and beverage folio requests

Booking with Grueninger Gold
- It's our policy to always review your play, and submit limo, suite, and food/beverage folios on your behalf when we believe you'll qualify for these benefits.
Other booking options
- Casino hosts may submit special requests on your behalf.
  
  Booking through apps or call centers will not submit these requests on your behalf.

Who you're working with

Booking with Grueninger Gold
- We have six team members at Grueninger Gold who have a combined 75 years of experience in the casino business.
  
  We plan on always keeping our team small so you have a chance to build relationships with our team members, and you know who you're working with.
Other booking options
- Guests at a certain play level may qualify for an on-property host.
  
  If you book through an app, or by calling directly, you will work with the casinos call center.

Who you're supporting with your business

Booking with Grueninger Gold
- A 50-year old family owned business managed and operated by a second-generation casino host.
Other booking options
- Whoever you choose to book with.

Exclusive offers

Booking with Grueninger Gold
- When you book with us, you'll get offers from all gaming groups within our network, as well as private trips we set up.
  
  These VIP trips are exclusive to guests who book through Grueninger Gold.
Other booking options
- You'll only get offers from the gaming group you choose to book with.

Prices on charters packages, and rooms

Booking with Grueninger Gold
- You're getting the guaranteed lowest rate because we review your play across all gaming groups to ensure you're getting the lowest rate available.
Other booking options
- You'll pay the price that you're offered based on your play with that gaming group.

Getting established with new gaming groups

Booking with Grueninger Gold
- We help you get established with new gaming groups so you don't have to 'start over' when you want to try a new gaming brand.
Other booking options
- You'll be looked at as a new player and pay prices equivalent to a new player with no gaming history.

Charter date releases

Booking with Grueninger Gold
- We notify our guests as soon as new charter dates are released.
Other booking options
- Guests are notified at different times based on their play level.

Why book with Grueninger Gold Casino Travel?

joe@ggcasinotravel.com (Joe Hanauer) — Sat, 01 Mar 2025 05:00:00 GMT

1. We offer old-school customer service

When you call, one of our team members will pickup, and we pride on offering old-school customer service in the modern age.

You can talk to a real person, quickly and efficiently. Our customer service is unparalleled - whether it’s a plane seating preference, hotel accommodation request, scooter rental, or more, we can submit your custom requests, and have them saved for future reservation.

Need a second opinion on our customer service? Read over 3,000 reviews from happy customers who vouch for us

2. We’re industry experts

Our team has an extensive background of casino experience. We’ve worked in call centers, at the front-desk, and booked thousands of trips each year for our guests. From knowing how to increase your chances at getting your desired room, helping you understand what theoretical is and why it’s the most important metric in casino play, we’re here to help share what we know.

We also wrote the blog on ADT (Average Daily Theoretical) that's been read over 50,000 time. It's the most important metric, and helps determine your comps. Spend 5 minutes reading it here

3. We price and offer match at the best available rate

We will always offer the lowest price available.Whether you’ve received your offer directly, or from someone else, we can get you booked. If you have an offer for the trip you’re interested in, you’re more than welcome to try to redeem on property as well.

4. You'll get exclusive offers you won't find anywhere else

Guests who book with us receive Grueninger Gold exclusive offers for private trips, parties, and experiences. These are offers you will not receive when booking directly through the casino

5. We can help you get established with new gaming groups

Guests who book with us will be eligible for play referrals, meaning we can get you established with new gaming groups without having to 'start over'

6. Booking with Grueninger Gold ensures you're getting the maximum value from your play

Grueninger Gold rates players based on their highest rating from all casino brands they've booked through our team. This ensures that you're receiving the highest rating, and best possible offers from our network of gaming groups

Introducing: Grueninger Gold Casino Travel

joe@ggcasinotravel.com (Joe Hanauer) — Wed, 01 Jan 2025 05:00:00 GMT

Hi everyone

We wanted to share some exciting news.

We've made the decision to merge our operations at Grueninger Travel with our sister-company, Casino Gold Tours starting in 2025.

New name, same management.

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We'd like to introduce you to Grueninger Gold Casino Travel - our next chapter

About Grueninger Travel

Grueninger Travel originated as a leisure travel company and was a chain of travel agencies across the midwest. in 1974, Jim Reffeitt (Joe's grandfather, Gary's father-in-law) purchased the rights to own and operate Grueninger Travel in Ft. Wayne, IN.

Grueninger Travel began sending chartered flights to Las Vegas back in 1993, and Gary was approached by Caesars Entertainment inquiring about interest in becoming an Independent Casino Host. He did, and Grueninger Travel quickly became a top-10 producer for Caesars Entertainment and the top producer for MGM's charter program. Grueninger Travel is focused on booking guests from the Midwest to casinos all across the country. In the beginning of 2020, Joe began working for Grueninger Travel and training under Gary.

About Casino Gold Tours

When Gary entered the casino business in the early 1990s, Tomm Cirone (original owner of Casino Gold Tours) became his first mentor, showed him the ropes, and helped him learn how to be great in this business. Tomm was the original owner of Casino Gold Tours, and focused on booking guests from the Southeast to casino all across the country. Tomm and Gary kept in touch, ran into each other over many trips to Las Vegas, and stay great friends to this day.

In 2019, when Tomm was ready to retire, Gary was his first call to see if he wanted to buy the business. Gary purchased Casino Gold Tours in the winter of 2019, and we (Grueninger Travel) have been operating that business, as well as Grueninger Travel since then. Joe began managing Casino Gold Tours in 2020, and in 2021, our team at Casino Gold Tours made the decision to expand, and book guests from all across the country.

Introducing Grueninger Gold Casino Travel

When Gary purchased Casino Gold Tours in 2019, he made the decision to operate the businesses separately. As time has passed, our teams have grown closer, and our operations have grown more similar. Both businesses have grown (thanks to you!), and we’ve recognized the opportunities for everyone who would benefit from the change.

Merging our teams allows us to streamline our operations so we can spend more time focusing on heightening your experience. Working as one team will allow us to better serve you, while also giving our team members more flexibility with their time off, as well as a few other perks that we're excited about.

We truly believe both of our companies are the best in the business, and we're the best option to manage and plan your casino travel. We want to take our services to the next level for you – and believe we can do so becoming one team.

Our mission is to be the gold standard when booking and managing your casino travel. We believe that merging our teams and working together as one will help us in that mission.

This merger is a celebration and recognition of the success of two companies that have grown, and succeeded to incredible heights. This is our next step as we begin a new chapter in our industry that we're excited to write alongside you.

How we picked the name

We chose the name Grueninger Gold because we wanted to honor both companies, and blending the names was the best way to do it.

Also, we thought it was a fitting name as Grueninger Travel celebrated it’s 50th Anniversary in 2024! We also believe we’re the gold standard in this industry, and if there was ever a time for change, this was it!

What will change

Our name, and our logo. We're now referred to as Grueninger Gold Casino Travel, or Grueninger Gold (for short)
Our website is now GGCasinoTravel.com. GG represents ‘Grueninger Gold’.
You'll receive marketing emails ending with @GGCasinoTravel.com
You’ll likely meet new team members. Lisa, Katy, and Melanie will be familiar names for guests coming from Grueninger. Carmen and Christian will be familiar names for our Casino Gold guests.

As you can see, the majority of these changes are in the name, and logo.

FAQs

Can I book my trip through team members I have in the past?

Absolutely and always! You'll always have the option to book through Lisa, Katy, Carmen, Christian, and Melanie!

Can I still email your old Grueninger (@grueningertravel.com) emails or Casino Gold Tours (@casinogoldtours.com)?

Absolutely. Our emails will be forward to our new inboxes.

What's your phone number?

We will use 260-969-5626 as our primary number. Guests who previously called our Casino Gold Tours number (678-546-8700) will automatically be forwarded to our new phone number

Is this a good thing that’s happening?

We certainly believe so! The customer experience will improve, and we’ll improve the work experience for our employees. Everyone wins.

What’s your company named now?

Grueninger Gold Casino Travel. If you want to refer to it as Grueninger Travel, or Casino Gold Tours, that's more than fine with us

Has management changed?

No. Joe has been managing both companies for over five years, and will continue to do so.

If I have a current booking with you - do I need to do anything?

Not at all. You will receive confirmation and travel documents with the new name and logo when they are sent to guests.

Do I need to sign up for your mailing list again?

No - we've gone ahead and moved everyone into our new mailing list.

This seems like a good change – why so much information?

You’ve been an important part of our journey, and we want to ensure full transparency as we begin this exciting new chapter.

We couldn't do it without you.

Thank you for your support - we can't wait for you to join us in our next exciting chapter!

With sincere gratitude,
Joe and Gary Hanauer

Play referrals and getting started with new gaming groups

joe@ggcasinotravel.com (Joe Hanauer) — Wed, 07 Feb 2024 05:00:00 GMT

I often hear from customers who have play history and status with one gaming group and want to get established with a different gaming group where they have little to no play history.

The problem they face when they book their casino trips directly through the gaming group where they have play history, the new gaming group they’re interested in getting established with has no ability to look play history that didn’t happen within their group.

The ability to refer your play history from one gaming group to another is a massive benefit of choosing to book through an Independent Casino Host.

Whenever you book your casino trips through an Independent Casino Host, your play history is sent to the Independent Casino Host after your trip is completed.

If you’re ever looking to get established with a new gaming group, your Independent Casino Host can send your play history to the new gaming groups where you don’t have play history, and can negotiate comp’d rates, or rates that reflect your play history.

If you’re looking to get established with one, or many different new gaming groups, I would strongly recommend that you book all of your casino trips through an Independent Casino Host. Your Independent Casino Host can help ensure that you’re receiving the maximum benefit of your play – especially when you’re looking to book at casino groups where you have little to no play history.

Let’s consider the following:

Scenario 1 - Customers who do not book with an Independent Casino Host

- Customer has established gaming and rewards history with a Gaming Group A. They receive comp’d rooms, charter offers, and more. They do all of their bookings directly through the Gaming Group A, and do not work with an Independent Casino Host ‍

- Customer is interested in getting established with Gaming Group B, where they have little to no play history.

- Customer tries to book a charter, or room reservation with Gaming Group B on their own, they will be viewed as a New Player, and likely charged a full retail rate.

Scenario 2 - Customers who book through an Independent Casino Host

- Customer has established gaming and rewards history with a Gaming Group A. They receive comp’d rooms, charter offers, and more. They make their bookings to Gaming Group A casinos through their Independent Casino Host.‍

- After each trip the customer books to casinos in Gaming Group A, their Independent Casino Host receives a play history report that shows how much the customer played on their trip.

- Customer is interested in getting established with Gaming Group B, where they have little to no play history.

- Customer tries to book a charter, or reservation to Gaming Group B through their Independent Casino Host. Their Independent Casino Host provides the customer’s play history from trips they’ve booked with them in the past to Gaming Group B. The Independent Casino Host and can negotiate a comp’d trip, or rate that reflects their previous play history.‍

As you can see, booking your casino trips through an Independent Casino Host helps you maximize the value of your play, and potential comps.

If you think you may be interested in getting established with a new gaming group, booking all of your casino trips through your Independent Casino Host ensures that you’ll get the best rate possible when you begin getting established with a new gaming group.

One more friendly reminder – Grueninger Gold is an Independent Casino Host. Booking your trips through our team will make you eligible for play referrals as demonstrated above.

How to convert your 7 Star Retreat Benefit to 50,000 Reward Credits

joe@ggcasinotravel.com (Joe Hanauer) — Sat, 20 Jan 2024 05:00:00 GMT

Use this link to convert your 7 Star Retreat to 50,000 RCs --> Booking Form (caesars.com)

Hi everyone! I posted a video on how you can convert your 7 Star Retreat benefit to 50,000 Reward Credits. If you don't think you're going to use your retreat benefit before it expires, this is a great way to convert it to 50,000 Reward Credits

Below are the fields that are required to fill out.

Requested Signature Experience - Select 50,000 RC in lieu of Annual Retreat
Caesars Rewards # - Enter your Caesars Rewards Number
Member First Name - Enter your FIrst Name
Member Last Name - Enter your Last Name
Phone Number - Enter your Phone number
E-Mail - Enter your email address
Arrival/Experience Date - Select any date (including today) that is no later than January 31st. This is very important!

Once you've filled these out, click 'Next', and you'll see a confirmation screen.

Give us a call if you have any questions!

How to Win at the Casino

joe@ggcasinotravel.com (Joe Hanauer) — Tue, 16 May 2023 04:00:00 GMT

Hi everyone - we hope you enjoy our read! While we're yet to find a machine with positive odds, here's 8 ways you can maximize the most of our play, and make your next trip a bit more enjoyable

1. Play with your players card

Always play with your players card in the machine. Your play helps you earn Tier Credits, Reward Credits, and future trip offers. Without a card in the machine, your play is not tracked, and you don’t earn any of the previously mentioned benefits. Playing on your card also makes you eligible for having additional folio items comp’d off your bill, and most importantly, playing on your card helps you qualify for future trips, offers, and more from Casino Gold Tours.

2. Know how to maximize the value of your play

We have a few tips and tricks on how you can maximize the value of your existing casino play. At Caesars casinos, we recommend consolidating play onto one card to more easily reach their Daily Tier Credit Bonus. At MGM properties, we recommend that couples link their account,

3. Set a limit, and stick to it

Sticking to a limit at the casino means setting a budget and not exceeding it, no matter what happens during your gambling session. This can help you avoid overspending and preventing disappointment at the end of your trip. To stick to a limit at the casino, it's important to plan ahead, understand how to manage your bankroll, and avoid making decisions that can impair your judgement. It's also a good idea to take frequent breaks and not chase your losses, as this can lead to more significant losses.

4. Swipe your card at the kiosk (daily!)

You never know what surprise benefits are waiting! Surprise benefits may include giveaways, bonus reward credits, free play, show tickets, drink voucher, and more may be available to you. We recommend guests swipe their card on a daily basis - you never know what you’ll find, and its free to check.

5. Know where your comps get the most value

Casinos have restaurants that allow you to pay for your bill with Reward Credits. Its important to know what the comp ratio is to pay your bill prior to your meal. Most restaurants, bars, and coffee shops will allow you to pay for your bill with a 1:1 ratio. Some restaurants may be 2:1, or even 3:1. Some restaurants may not accept Reward Credits at all. If you find yourself at a restaurant that’s 2:1 or 3:1, you might consider paying with cash, and saving your Reward Credits for something of better value.

6. Confirm your room type and preferences at check-in

We always recommend guests confirm at check-in that the room they’re assigned to matches their expectations. While these may not be upgrades per-say, we hope that each and every guest ends up in their desired room.

For example - in Las Vegas, some guests may prefer to have a view of the strip to watch the fountains. For me, I prefer to face away from the strip, because its a bit quieter, and I’m an early-riser.

While all properties have standard King and 2 Queen rooms, they can all slightly vary based on the property.

7. Know how you can extend your bankroll

Games like blackjack, craps, and video poker have lower house edges, meaning that you have a higher chance of winning over the long-term. By playing these games, you can extend your bankroll and maximize your chances of walking away with a profit. Reducing your denomination of play can also help in extending your bankroll as well.

8. Set up dinner reservations, shows, concerts, golf, pool time, more before your trip

Take the stress of planning and deciding what you’re going to do and where you’re going to eat ahead of your trip. Nearly all restaurants at casinos allow you to set reservations beforehand either by calling directly, or booking a reservation on OpenTable.

When my father and I go to Las Vegas, we set a recurring 8AM breakfast at Alexxa’s outside of Paris (we even put in the request for outdoor seating as well). We’ll usually set up a few dinners ahead of time as well. Typically, we do this the week before we travel, and most restaurants have fairly flexible cancel policies.

The same logic applies to shows, concerts, golf, pool cabanas, and more. We can always assist with the reservations and point you in the right direction

9. Have fun, and set realistic expectations

If there was a machine or game that had an advantage to the customer, I promise I’d tell you! Be realistic about expectations, and play to have fun.

A few contributions from our friends on Facebook

Craps: Beginner Guide

joe@ggcasinotravel.com (Joe Hanauer) — Wed, 12 Apr 2023 04:00:00 GMT

Craps is an exciting social game played in casinos around the world. If you're familiar with casinos but have never tried craps before, this comprehensive guide will turn you into an advanced player in no time.

Today we’re going to go over

Basic Terminology
A Basic Round of Craps
Explaining the different Types of Bets in Craps
Top 10 Beginner Tips and Strategy for New Craps Players

What's the objective of Craps?

The goal of craps is to correctly guess the outcome of dice rolls, placing bets and earning payouts based on predictions.

Basic Terminology

Craps: The name of the game, also refers to rolling a 2, 3, or 12 on the come-out roll.
Shooter: The player who rolls the dice.
Dice: The two six-sided cubes used in the game.
Come-Out Roll: The first roll of the dice in a new round.
Point: The number established on the Come-Out Roll (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10).
Pass Line: The area where Pass Line bets are placed.
Pass Line Bet: A bet that the shooter will win by rolling a 7 or 11 on the Come-Out Roll or by establishing a Point and then rolling it again before rolling a 7.
Don't Pass Line: The area where Don't Pass Line bets are placed.
Don't Pass Line Bet: A bet that the shooter will lose by rolling a 2, 3, or 12 on the Come-Out Roll or by establishing a Point and then rolling a 7 before rolling the Point again.
Come: The area where Come bets are placed.
Come Bet: Similar to a Pass Line Bet but made after a Point is established.
Don't Come: The area where Don't Come bets are placed.
Don't Come Bet: Similar to a Don't Pass Line Bet but made after a Point is established.
Place Bet: A bet on a specific number (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10) being rolled before a 7.
Field: The area where Field bets are placed.
Field Bet: A bet that the next roll will be a 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, or 12.
Hardways: Bets that the shooter will roll a specific hard number (4, 6, 8, or 10) as a double (e.g., two 4s for a hard 8) before rolling a 7 or an easy version of that number.
Proposition Bets: One-roll bets placed in the center of the table (e.g., bets on specific numbers, combinations, or outcomes).
Boxman: The casino employee who oversees the game, manages the chips, and supervises the dealers.
Stickman: The casino employee who calls the results of each roll, retrieves the dice with a stick, and controls the pace of the game.
Dealers: The two casino employees who manage bets, collect losing bets, and pay out winning bets.
Bankroll: The total amount of money a player has available for betting.
House Edge: The casino's statistical advantage over the player in a game of chance.
Odds: The probability of a specific outcome occurring.
Payout: The amount of money paid to a player for a winning bet.

A Basic Round of Craps

Come-Out Roll: The shooter (the player rolling the dice) begins the round by making a come-out roll. Before the roll, players place their Pass Line or Don't Pass Line bets.
Pass Line Bets: If the shooter rolls a 7 or 11 on the come-out roll, Pass Line bets win. If the shooter rolls a 2, 3, or 12 (craps), Pass Line bets lose. In either case, the round ends, and a new round starts with a new come-out roll.
Don't Pass Line Bets: If the shooter rolls a 7 or 11 on the come-out roll, Don't Pass Line bets lose. If the shooter rolls a 2 or 3, Don't Pass Line bets win. If the shooter rolls a 12, the bet is a push (neither win nor lose). In any of these cases, the round ends, and a new round starts with a new come-out roll.
Establishing the Point: If the come-out roll is a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10, that number becomes the point. The dealer places a marker (called a puck) on the corresponding number on the craps table to indicate the point. The game now moves into the point phase.
Point Phase: During the point phase, the shooter continues to roll the dice until either the point is rolled again or a 7 is rolled.
Betting during the Point Phase: Players can make additional bets during the point phase, such as Come/Don't Come bets, Place bets, Field bets, Hardways bets, and Proposition bets. Each bet type has specific rules, odds, and payouts, as explained in a previous answer.
Pass Line Bets during the Point Phase: If the shooter rolls the point before rolling a 7, Pass Line bets win, and the round ends. If the shooter rolls a 7 before the point, Pass Line bets lose, and the round ends.
Don't Pass Line Bets during the Point Phase: If the shooter rolls the point before rolling a 7, Don't Pass Line bets lose. If the shooter rolls a 7 before the point, Don't Pass Line bets win. In either case, the round ends.
Next Round: After the round ends, the same shooter will start a new round with a new come-out roll if they won (by rolling the point). If the shooter lost (by rolling a 7 before the point), the dice move to the next player in a clockwise direction, who becomes the new shooter.

This cycle of establishing a point, rolling the dice, and resolving bets continues until the shooter either sevens out (rolls a 7 before the point) or passes the dice to another player.

Explaining the different Types of Bets in Craps

Pass Line Bet: A bet placed before the come-out roll, betting that the shooter will win. A win occurs if the come-out roll is a 7 or 11. If the come-out roll is a 2, 3, or 12, the bet loses. If the shooter establishes a point, the bet wins if the point is rolled again before a 7.

Don't Pass Line Bet: Opposite of a Pass Line bet. Before the come-out roll, you bet that the shooter will lose. A win occurs if the come-out roll is a 2 or 3. If it's a 12, the bet results in a push (neither win nor lose). If the come-out roll is a 7 or 11, the bet loses. If the shooter establishes a point, the bet wins if a 7 is rolled before the point.

Come Bet: Made after a point is established, it works similarly to a Pass Line bet. A 7 or 11 on the roll after the bet is placed results in a win, while a 2, 3, or 12 results in a loss. If another point is established, the bet wins if that point is rolled again before a 7.

Don't Come Bet: Made after a point is established, it works similarly to a Don't Pass Line bet. A 2 or 3 on the roll after the bet is placed results in a win, while a 7 or 11 results in a loss. If it's a 12, the bet results in a push. If another point is established, the bet wins if a 7 is rolled before that point.

Place Bet: A bet that a specific number (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10) will be rolled before a 7. Each number has different odds and payouts. Place bets can be made, increased, or removed at any time.

Field Bet: A one-roll bet that the next roll will be a 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, or 12. Field bets typically pay even money, except for 2 and 12, which pay double or triple depending on the casino.

Hardways Bet: A bet that the shooter will roll a specific hard number (4, 6, 8, or 10) as a double (e.g., two 4s for a hard 8) before rolling a 7 or an easy version of that number. Hardways bets can be made, increased, or removed at any time.

Big 6 and Big 8: A bet that a 6 or 8 will be rolled before a 7. This bet is generally not recommended due to its high house edge. Most players prefer to make Place bets on 6 and 8 instead.

Any Craps: A one-roll bet that the next roll will be a 2, 3, or 12. This is a proposition bet with a high house edge.

Any Seven: A one-roll bet that the next roll will be a 7. This is a proposition bet with a high house edge.

Horn Bet: The Horn Bet is a one-roll bet in Craps that is a combination of four individual bets: the 2, 3, 11, and 12. When a player places a Horn Bet, they are essentially betting that the next roll of the dice will be one of these four numbers.

Craps Etiquette

When playing craps, it's essential to follow proper etiquette to ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience for everyone at the table. Here's a list of basic craps etiquette tips to help you blend in with advanced players:

Handle the dice with one hand: When it's your turn to be the shooter, use only one hand to handle and throw the dice. This is a casino rule meant to prevent cheating by swapping the dice.
Toss the dice, don't slide: When rolling the dice, toss them gently against the back wall of the table so they bounce off. Avoid sliding or deliberately trying to control the dice, as this can be seen as an attempt to manipulate the game.
Respect the shooter's space: Give the shooter enough room to roll the dice comfortably. Don't crowd or lean on the table excessively, as this can disrupt the game.
Don't say "seven" at the table: Superstitious players consider saying the word "seven" bad luck when a point has been established. Instead, use a phrase like "big red" to refer to the number 7.
Wait for the stickman's signal: Before placing bets, wait for the stickman to finish paying out winning bets and collecting losing ones. The stickman will then signal that it's time to place new bets.
Place bets in a timely manner: To keep the game moving smoothly, place your bets quickly and efficiently during the appropriate betting window.
Keep your hands out of the playing area: When the shooter is about to roll, make sure your hands are clear of the table's playing area to avoid interfering with the dice.
Be courteous to dealers and other players: Treat dealers and fellow players with respect. Avoid arguing, shouting, or making rude comments.
Tip the dealers: Dealers work hard to ensure a smooth and enjoyable gaming experience. It's customary to tip them occasionally, either by placing a bet on their behalf or giving them chips directly.
Know the rules and bets: Familiarize yourself with the basic rules and betting options in craps before joining the table. This will help you avoid confusion and keep the game running smoothly.
Don't celebrate excessively: While it's okay to be excited when you win, avoid excessive celebrations, as this can be seen as disrespectful to players who may have lost on that roll.

By following these etiquette tips, you'll be able to enjoy the game and blend in with advanced craps players at the table.

Top 10 Beginner Tips and Strategy for New Craps Players

When playing craps, having a basic bankroll strategy is essential to manage your money effectively and maximize your playing time. Here are some tips to help you develop a bankroll strategy when playing craps:

Set a budget: Before you start playing, decide how much money you're willing to risk. This should be an amount you can afford to lose without affecting your financial well-being. Stick to your budget and avoid chasing losses.
Divide your bankroll: Break your bankroll into smaller units or session bankrolls. This helps you manage your money and avoid losing your entire bankroll in a single session. For example, if your total bankroll is $500, you could divide it into five $100 session bankrolls.
Choose appropriate bets: Focus on bets with lower house edges, such as Pass Line, Don't Pass Line, Come, Don't Come, and placing 6 and 8. Avoid high house edge bets like Big 6/Big 8, Hardways, and most Proposition bets, as they will deplete your bankroll more quickly.
Utilize odds bets: When possible, take advantage of the odds bets (taking or laying odds) after making a Pass Line, Don't Pass Line, Come, or Don't Come bet. Odds bets have no house edge, which means they offer fair payouts and can help balance the overall house edge of your betting strategy.
Set win and loss limits: Establish limits for how much you're willing to lose or win in a single session. If you reach either limit, stop playing and take a break. This helps protect your bankroll and prevents you from losing too much or giving back your winnings.
Manage your emotions: Keep a clear head and avoid making impulsive decisions based on emotions. Stick to your strategy and remember that craps is a game of chance, so both winning and losing streaks are normal.
Adjust your bet size: Based on your session bankroll, determine an appropriate bet size that allows you to enjoy the game without running out of money too quickly. As a general rule, your bets should not exceed 1-5% of your session bankroll.
Be disciplined: Stick to your bankroll management strategy and avoid deviating from it. This includes not chasing losses, not increasing bet sizes to recoup losses, and not playing with money you can't afford to lose.

By following these basic bankroll management tips, you can improve your chances of having a more enjoyable and longer-lasting craps experience. Remember that the key to bankroll management is discipline and consistency.

Have fun and good luck!

Caesars Air Charters - Ultimate Charter Offer Guide and FAQ

joe@ggcasinotravel.com (Joe Hanauer) — Tue, 21 Mar 2023 04:00:00 GMT

When we’re referring to “offer”, we’re referring to the offer for your rate to go on a Caesars Air charter

Basic concepts of charter rates (If you’re only going to read for the next 30 seconds, read this —>)

Offers are determined by your Average Daily Theoretical (or ADT) with Caesars Entertainment (Read more on ADT here)
Each Caesars Air charter trip has a unique criteria level that’s needed for a “comp” rate of $45 per person or more
Each Caesars Air charter property has different criteria levels that determine different rates (i.e. Lake Tahoe and Reno have higher criteria rates than Laughlin)
The charter team at Caesars Air is constantly evaluating each trip’s criteria level, and changing the criteria based on customer demand, and supply of remaining seats available

One example you need to read through

Okay, please read this as well. Let’s look a few imaginary guests (along with their ADTs) who’ve submitted quotes to go on a Harrah’s - Atlantic City charter from Indianapolis, IN on from 7/10 - 7/14. Let’s call it a Atlantic City boys trip get away 🙂

Interested guests and ADT

Criteria and rates for 7/10 - 7/14 charter to Atlantic City from Indianapolis, IN

Rates for guests to go on charter

As you can see in the example above, Bradley Cooper is quoted at $45 to go on charter, Ed Helms has a rate of $129, Zach Galifianakis has a rate of $399, and Ken Jeong’s rate is $650.

All of these rates are for each guest to have their own room.

Let’s say their interested in sharing rooms, and how their rates change

Sharing rooms rate

Not bad! That dropped their total price by over $1,000+. That’s more money for face tattoos, bail money, or however these hungover guys seem fit.

The Caesars Air Charter team evaluates the combined play of both guests in the room.

Frequently Asked Questions / Examples

“How are my rates determined”?

When you call Casino Gold Tours for a rate to go on a charter, we look up what your rate is, and the rate is based on the criteria of the trip.

“Do you offer the same price as when I call directly or try to get booked through the app”?

Yes. If you provide us with the Caesars Rewards number (and offer code if applicable), we will be able to get you booked at the same exact pricing.

“Okay, well why should I book with you”?

We offer the same pricing, we’ll start sending you additional offers you won’t get when you book directly, we have a rock-star staff of pros. We even wrote this helpful blog featuring our favorite movie gamblers. We go above and beyond, and when you book with us, you’re supporting a small, family-owned business.

“I tried to book the day the dates were released, and was told it’s sold out. How can the trip be sold out?”

Not every trip is available to book by every guest. The Caesars Air charter team may choose to ‘yield’ the trip to a certain comp criteria.
Certain trips have booking criteria that’s set at a certain ADT from the day they’re released, meaning guests below comp criteria may be told it’s sold out (to their play level), and they’ve been placed on the waitlist.

“How often does criteria for a trip change?”

Each trip is looked at on a near daily basis and re-assessed based on remaining inventory.
Typically, guests who pay $45 rates or better will more often than not, will continue to get quoted that rate. The same rule applies for guests who are quoted retail rates.

“Why are some trips have higher criteria than others?”

Some trips have much higher demand than others, which would cause the comp criteria rate to be increased.
For example, a trip over New Year’s Eve may have a comp criteria of 750 ADT, where as a weekday trip in January may have a comp criteria of 300 ADT

“I used to get comp’d trips, why does Caesars want me to pay?”

The answer here generally falls to one of the following:

The criteria for this trip (or all trips) has increased
Your ADT has dropped as of recent

“I’m a Diamond player - why do I have to pay to go on this trip?”

Booking criteria is based on ADT, and your tier status is NOT evaluated when looking at charter rates. Let’s look at the following example →

Frank plays for 30 minutes a day, 5 days all year at his local Caesars casino.
Sally goes on two separate 4-day trips to a Caesars casino, and plays for 6 hours each day on those trips.
Frank will likely achieve a higher tier status than Sally, but Sally will get better rates to go on a charter, because she has a higher ADT than Frank.

“I haven’t played with Caesars Rewards in a few years - how far back will they look at my play?”

Typically, your play is rated in the past 24 months.

I hope you found this helpful!