Visitreno

LilyJDragonfly · Joined: 03 Mar 2009 Posts: 425

As previously reported on this very board, The Dog and I have been considering eschewing Harrah's for another hotel in downtown. The toss-up was between Silver Legacy and Cal-Neva.

Nary an offer has ever crossed my mailbox or my inbox from Silver Legacy (and we've probably spent TRIPLE there what we've spent at Harrah's), but I figured I'd call them up and see what they could do for me on the 29th and 30th. Oooo... I got offered $69/night - a measly $20 off the rack rate. I told them that Harrah's offered me comped rooms, but no love from Silver Legacy still.

So I figured I'd look up the Cal-Neva. Their online reservation system is a bit outdated, but it gave me a rate of $64/night. I decided to give them a jingle directly to see if there was a better rate and was transferred to the players club and then told that I would have to leave a message.

Frankly, after the lack-of-service issue at their Top Deck restaurant, I didn't think I'd get a call back any time soon, if at all.

Much to my surprise, within a few hours, I got a call back letting me know my room will be comped and that I must come play the slot tourney this coming weekend. Irene was quite delightful on the phone and even said she remembered The Dog and I from our trip two weeks ago....

Cal-Neva, Cal-Neva, our hearts sing your praises.... now let's just hope the tables sing ours!

Report with pics to follow upon our return in early August.

BC Dave · Site Admin Joined: 18 Dec 2005 Posts: 1594

You're off to the Cal Neva!! The center of the "Gambling Universe" - (quoting myself). Looking forward to your report and pics. Good luck!

VAPA · Joined: 09 Apr 2009 Posts: 583

Is there a reason you didn't call the Eldorado. Earller this month when calling them they were very accomodating plus upgraded me on my room. IMHO the best rooms are the Peppermill Tower rooms. Of course you could stay there and gamble elsewhere. Just a thought !

LilyJDragonfly · Joined: 03 Mar 2009 Posts: 425

I debated the ElDo as I really like that casino, but I know we haven't put in much play there relative to SL and most recently Cal-Neva. Given that SL/ElDo/CC are all part of the MGM Machine, I figured ElDo won't do much more for us than SL offered.... but now that you mention it, perhaps I'll give them a jingle for our winter trip!

And I think we had a Peppermill offer laying around here somewhere, but after our trip there last summer where we stayed in one of their comped rooms (it was groovy with black-on-black zebra carpeting and "running lights" around the room), we just weren't impressed with the property comps/players club/attitude.

alison · Joined: 09 Jan 2006 Posts: 1150

Lilly-
You can log in on the Peppermill site and see your available offers. Sometimes if you email the hosts directly, they will give you a better deal. You probably were stuck in one of the unremodeled rooms last time. I miss those rooms...lol

LilyJDragonfly · Joined: 03 Mar 2009 Posts: 425

Yeah, I think someone else on the board mentioned I got one of the old school rooms - which I totally LOVED (save for the cheap dingy linoleum in the bathroom), but the casino and staff are what make me hesitant to head back to PM.

We enjoyed playing there but the service was lousy the entire time. I don't care for any of the restaurants (though I've heard they've deleted and added a few) and I like being able to stroll to another casino like I can when I'm downtown....

Atlantis has sent me a few offers via email here and there and we may give them a go on a future trip, but for now, we're going old school Reno at the Cal-Neva!! (now all y'all need to send up prayer that The Dog's work schedule doesn't prevent us from going as this is our last chance to travel until December!)

JD · Joined: 18 Dec 2005 Posts: 956

While the rooms are not nearly as plush as the P Mill, staff at Cal Neva are far more appreciative of your business. OK...so it's a little "seedy"...so are some of US. And the Cal Neva keeps their old time employees while Harrah's does not.

The hotel building has been around a long time and is far from "upscale".

But tip the waitress a duece (I tip the cook too) at the top deck for breakfast ($ 4.99 steak & eggs),

http://www.clubcalneva.com/dining

and pooof! You are her BEST customer. I like to get a bloody Mary before breakfast at the fully windowed sky bridge bar just outside the top deck...then take a coffee and bloody mary with me into restaurant.

And just what's wrong with doing the Virginia Street stroll to go to one of 30 restaurants within four blocks? Ever had an "Offal, Awful" at the Little Nugget?

By the way, Siena is closer to the cal Neva lobby than the Cube bar is to the new tower rooms at P Mill.

http://www.sienareno.com/

Go out on the outside deck (either Lexie's or Contrada) and either just have a drink or a nosh. If you like wine, go downstairs to the Enoteca.
http://www.sienareno.com/dining/
Have fun.