Seven Stars Annual Retreat

Editors note: We are honored to have Darryl McEwen, Publisher of Seven Stars Insider, write this post on how players are using UrComped to book their annual Seven Stars and Diamond Aspiration trips. 

One of the services UrComped can provide its members is booking the Annual Retreat for Total Rewards Seven Stars cardholders. If you're ready to book your Seven Stars retreat you can get started by registering with UrComped and Booking it Here or email host@urcomped.com to get started. Read below for some tips and tricks from Darryl about the booking process. 

Arrangements for this trip must be made at least 30 days prior to departure.  In addition, for trips earned through play in 2014, the trip must be completed by March 31, 2016.  For trips earned through play in 2015, the trip must be completed by January 31, 2017.  If you are eligible for both trips, you must complete (or forfeit) the trip earned in 2014 before the trip earned in 2015 is loaded into your account.

      Here is some important information to be aware of, as well as some tips for booking and enjoying this trip.

The Basics

• The trip must be taken to a destination where Total Rewards has a casino.  Note, though, that casinos without hotels, e.g., Horseshoe Hammond, Horseshoe Cleveland, etc., are under no obligation to accept any request for a retreat.
• It’s rare, but Seven Stars cardholders and their travel companions may fly on different airlines with different itineraries from different cities and on different days.
• Just because the trip includes a four-night stay at a Total Rewards casino does not mean you must return on the fifth day of your departure.  You can fly to your destination and (at your own expense) stay at another casino or with family/friends and several days later check-in to your designated Total Rewards casino – when your $500 folio credit (see below) kicks in.  Conversely, once the Seven Stars portion of your trip is completed, you may remain at your destination for as long as you like (also at your own expense).  Note, however, that the round-trip limo transfer (see below) may be affected.  Unless approved otherwise by the destination casino, you may only be transferred from the destination airport to the destination casino and vice versa.  That means, for example, if you fly to Las Vegas and stay at New York New York for the first three days, transfer to Caesars Palace for four nights, and then return to McCarren, the only complimentary transfer Total Rewards will provide will be from Caesars to the airport.
• Arrangements for the annual retreat must be made at least 30 days prior to departure.  In addition, for trips earned through play in 2014, the trip must be completed by March 31, 2016.  For trips earned through play in 2015, the trip must be completed by January 31, 2017.  If you are eligible for both trips, you must complete (or forfeit) the trip earned in 2014 before the trip earned in 2015 is loaded into your account. Email host@urcomped.com for help booking or if you have any questions. 
• If you’re traveling to a city where there is more than one casino, e.g., Las Vegas, Atlantic City, Tunica, ask UrComped to research which casino may provide you the best offer(s), e.g., free slot or match play, show tickets, etc.  Note, though, that not all of your offers can be combined with an annual retreat.  You may be able to participate in a slot tournament to which you were invited, but you may not be able to go on that $500 shopping spree at the Forum Shops to which you received an offer.
• Research your options on the Internet first and provide UrComped (by email if possible, host@urcomped.com) with exact departure and arrival dates and times, airline and flight numbers, frequent flyer account number(s) – if applicable, home contact number(s), and preferred seating requests (aisle, window).  There is less room for error if you do this.
• Air transportation is valued at no more than $1,200, but, if necessary, you can pay additional to book flights that may exceed the $1,200 threshold.  For example, you can fly business or first class, but any airfare exceeding $1,200 will be at your own expense.  The additional fare may be paid by credit card or by using Reward Credits.  Note, however, that if you use Reward Credits, these will be charged at a ratio of 2:1, i.e., 50,000 Rewards Credits equal US$250.
• Caesars Entertainment’s travel agency, Passport Travel, will book you on the least expensive ticket available for your itinerary.  This might mean that the trip is not eligible for upgrading (at your expense) or that you will not receive full (or any) mileage credit in your designated frequent flyer program.  Ask about this if that is important to you.
• Before UrComped confirms your flight arrangements, be sure to ask to review the itineraries.  Check this pre-confirmation very carefully, because once the flight is ticketed, there will be a charge for changes or cancellations. 
• Keep in mind, too, that Passport charges a fee of $10 to $25 per ticket which is deducted from your $1,200 credit.
• For those who, due to medical conditions or personal reasons, are unable to fly, ask UrComped about other transportation options. host@urcomped.com

Additional Tips

• To be sure you take full advantage of all that your chosen Total Rewards property offers, click on the link found on the home page of the Seven Stars Insider website (www.SevenStarsInsider.com), and read a full description of the hotel and casino, along with any special Seven Stars benefits it may offer.  There are separate pages for Atlantic City and Las Vegas.
• At least 24 hours before your departure, ask UrComped to reconfirm your hotel arrangements – especially that the $500 folio credit* has been set-up and what it includes (alcohol, for example, is sometimes not included due to tribal or state regulations).  While, theoretically, this credit is to be used only for certain food and beverage purchases, as well as “in-house shows”, check with the front desk to see if it might be used for spa treatments, golf or other charges.
• Since your retreat package includes round-trip limousine transportation between the destination airport and casino, be sure to get a contact number for the car service the casino has contracted for this.  If your flight is delayed for any reason, the car service may be aware of this, but it’s always a good idea to call to reconfirm if your flight is arriving later than originally scheduled.
• If you don’t already have one, ask UrComped for an onsite contact who is familiar with your trip at the casino/hotel destination.  This could be very important should problems arise.

Get Started Booking Your Seven Stars Trip Here

Darryl McEwen is a communications consultant and recreational gambler residing in Wilmington, Del.  He writes the Mr. AC Casino column for the Atlantic City Weekly.  He also publishes the monthly Seven Stars Insider Newsletter.  Download the latest issue at his Web site, www.SevenStarsInsider.com or request a free subscription by emailing SevenStarsInsider@gmail.com.  Follow him on Twitter at @7StarsInsider.

*While Total Rewards is trying to make this uniform, in most cases the $500 is in the form of a folio credit against which you sign your eligible charges.  At some casinos, e.g., Harrah’s New Orleans, your Total Rewards account will be credited with 50,000 Reward Credits ($500).  Still others may choose to split the $500 between a folio credit at the hotel in which you’re staying and comped meals at the casino’s restaurants.