Orleans changes shuttle policy

[dewey089bluegill]

There is a new shuttle policy at the Coast casinos. Only hotel guests can ride the shuttles. I took a couple email addresses from their website and wrote this letter of protest:


I'm writing to protest the new changes in shuttle availability. As I understand it the shuttle is now officially only available to hotel guests who must show room keys to travel.

I have been a very big promotor of the Orleans both to my local friends here and on Vegas bulletin boards. I argue it is the best place to stay in Vegas and especially argue with people who always chose the strip that they can still visit on the shuttle, walk around, see all the attractions and then come back to the Orleans for better gambling. At worst, I argue you can ride one way to the strip on the shuttle and then cab it back after your show lets out or after a late night snack. Add the cab fare to the difference in hotel room costs and you will still realize a savings. So the Orleans has always seemed the perfect place to gamble between pirate shows and fountains.

Last December I came with a half dozen other friends and some grow children and heir friends. We had a good time using the Orleans as a central location. We did not have to make plans, just wander about and we'd bump into someone. Or we knew where to look for the craps players and where to look for those on their "favorite" machines or the ones who like Irish stout at Brendan's.

The selling point was that others who wanted to join us from Strip casinos could easily get to us by taking the shuttle from the Barbary Coast.

After having had such a great time, we have decided to celebrate my 60th birthday next year (2006) by meeting in December at the Orleans(my birthday is in October but people can't go then). So I was to be inviting over 100 friends( not that they will all come) to either stay at the Orleans or come there to meet me and gamble over a window of a couple weeks. The new shuttle policy forces me to reconsider and look around at other convenient alternatives, perhaps downtown with the new double decker buses as transport for those who choose to stay on the strip.

I am not a high roller. But add up a few more people like me and I can't imagine how limiting shuttle service will help the Orleans. People staying there for the cheaper hotel prices will be encouraged to meet their friends on the strip because they will be the only ones who have shuttle priviledges instead of having the shuttle as incentive to draw away those friends and get them to come and gamble at the Orleans even if they won't stay there.

In addition, some of the people reporting bumping into this new policy are reporting that the bus drivers are rude about advising them of it. I've been also arguing that Orleans staff are the friendliest in Las Vegas. Lots of people go to Las Vegas because they are treated well and don't have to face that constant abrasion of say the staff in Atlantic City. That rudeness alone will turn some off who I've been trying to turn on to the Orleans.

let me know what you think and what we can expect in the future. I'll share it with all of my Vegas pals and e-pals.

Thanks for your attention to this matter. I hope the the decision will be reversed. I love the casino.

[btodd22]

We were in Vegas last week. We rode the shuttle back and forth from the Barbary to the Orleans many times. There was a sign that said to show your room key, but only once was it an issue. It was around the dinner hour and not enought room on the bus. The driver gave room key holders the first seats and then gave us "non key people" the remaing seats.

I will certainly add an email to yours if this is indeed the policy. My Mom and I were actually considering staying at the Orleans next time, but we certainly won't if the shuttle service is not offered. I gues we would have a key then wouldn't we??

[GREGRIO]

yeah, now ya got it.
I wonder if SouthCoast will have their own shuttle or if they'll share...

[grannyvegas]

We stayed at Gold Coast a few weeks ago. They also have the sign saying must show room key. Again it was only enforced when a long line was waiting for bus. Those with room keys got on first. The rest of the times the drivers didnt bother to ask us for our key.

[mturner]

what? they don't want our gambling money?

that said.. while i agree that room key holders should perhaps get first preference.. that sounds fair... but they still need walk-ins, i would think!

[Wilbur95]

I had the same expereince. I stayed at the Rio and took the Coast shuttles several times on the trip and had no issues riding the shuttle despite seeing the signs clearly posted. I actaully have no problem with this new policy as long as they keep it hotel guests first and then non-guests for the remaining seats as I do feel that patrons that stay at one of the Coast properties should get first seating.

[mommabear]

The driver of the shuttle told us the guest only rule only applied when lines were long especially around 5 pm. Hotel guests needed to get back and freshen up before heading out for shows and dinner reservations so they were a priority. The other time was during the "last run" for the night between 12:30 and 1 am. Sometimes they had 40-60 people waiting for the last run. Other then that everyone was welcome.

[Treasurerat]

I totally agree with the new ruling.
Hotel guests should be first.
But, it would be nice if the lines showed hotel guests, and the other guests. It would give you a good idea if you were going to get on.

I presume that the Orleans shuttle to Barbary Coast does not stop at the Gold Coast, or you may be off-loaded???

[mturner]

Treasurerat: if i understand your question--- no the orleans shuttle to bc does not stop at the gold coast. bc has one that goes back and forth to GC -- orleans has one to the GC and GC has one to BC and etc. etc. all different shuttles going to and fro. i may make sound confusing but it isn't. the signs are posted where to where.