Also see: 

• Confirmed: FoundersCard Gets You Total Rewards Diamond Status Through 2018
• 18 FoundersCard Travel Benefits (Status, Discounts, and Freebies)

This past weekend, I flew to New Orleans for a few days. I usually stay at a Hyatt (here are my reviews of the Hyatt Regency and Hyatt Centric French Quarter), but stayed at the Sheraton on Canal Street this time (for lounge access, mostly – review soon).

When I realized there was a Harrah’s only 2 blocks down Canal, I decided to pay a visit to grab some free drinks and a free $100 dinner at the steakhouse on property – thanks to my free Total Rewards Diamond elite status from FoundersCard. (Because Harrah’s uses the Total Rewards program and this one has a private lounge for elite members.)

I went 2 days in a row. And between me and my guest, we had 4 drinks, 2 entrees, and a whole $100 dinner – all completely free.

The Palm Room

• Link: The Palm Room

This lounge is only for Diamond and Seven Star members.

It’s kinda funny. When I walked into Harrah’s – the lights, the carpet, the jangly music, the whole casino experience – it’s always like walking into another realm. Those places are designed to limit your access to the outside world.

I’m not much of a gambler. I stuck a fiver into the nickel slots and ordered a free drink until the funds ran out (didn’t hit the jackpot this time, darn). Then resumed my mission to access The Palm Room.

I flashed my sparkly Diamond card at the small check-in desk. Then was shown to a table and given a menu. Amazing.

I could select any 2 food items and grab 4 drinks that day. Here were the options:

I was saving my appetite for my upcoming $100 free dinner, but ordered an old fashioned and the pralines.

Nothing fancy, but it hit the spot.

The lounge wasn’t huge. Just a big room really, with another door that led into its own little kitchen. There were private bathrooms in there, though, which is handy because locating restrooms in casinos can be a project.

Our server was friendly and stopped to ask if we wanted anything else. I was mostly just checking it out. But made a mental note to swing by the next day and collect my free drinks and entrees.

I did go back the next day and it was much more crowded. I sat on a couch and couldn’t balance everything in my hands to snap more pics. But between my two experiences, it seems hit or miss with the crowd levels.

Either way, I enjoyed both visits. And it was nice to have a little cave to chill out and grab a couple free drinks.

$100 Celebration Dinner

I approached the Diamond elite line and kind of nervously asked the desk agent if I had any remaining Diamond benefits left for the year. I’d heard mixed reports of Diamond members not getting their free dinner. “Let me check on that.” A few minutes later: “You haven’t had your Celebration Dinner yet!”

She printed out a voucher and handed it to me like I knew what to do with it. (NOT a casino pro lol.)

“W-where can I use it?”

She said I could take it to:

• BH Steak
• The Buffet
• …or the sports bar (I forget the name)

I thanked her and set off in search of free dinner.

I saw the sports place advertise their big screens and games and “a place to cheer” or something and was like… pass.

Then took a look at the buffet.

But opted for the steakhouse in the end.

We got:

• A $50 steak
• The famous shrimp BBQ
• A gigantic burger
• And a nice cocktail

Very coincidentally, it added up to exactly $100. There’s no tax on the reward dinner, so my grand total was $0!

The steak was so soft and buttery. It looks small in the picture, but the portions were perfect. Combined with the appetizer and drink I had at The Palm Room, the overall experience was amazing.

I left a $20 as tip (20%) and left sated. Afterward, we strolled over the French Quarter, which is only 2 blocks east of Harrah’s. So it was easy to pop in, grab drinks and dinner, and continue the fun.

Interested in FoundersCard?

• Link: Sign up for FoundersCard
• Link: Sneak peak at FoundersCard bennies

Right now, you can sign up and lock in a rate of $495 per year.

If you use my promo code “FCHARLAN818” you can get the $495 rate ($100 off the normal rate).

You also get tons of other benefits, so take a look and see if it’s worth it for you.

Most peeps seem to only want the Total Rewards Diamond status, so if that’s you, you get:

• Access to Diamond Lounges
• No resort fees
• $100 Celebration Dinner
• Guaranteed Room with 72 hours notice in Atlantic City and Las Vegas
• Access to Priority lines at hotel check-in, restaurants, casino cages and the Total Rewards Center
• Use of VIP Reservations Hotline
• Diamond Aspirations eligibility
• Receive 20% discounts at casino gift shops

The Diamond Lounge access and lack of resort fees in Vegas is easily enough to cover the FoundersCard membership fee. I personally love the card and am going on my 3rd year with it – and this was my first time accessing the Diamond lounges and getting the $100 Celebration Dinner.

I do NOT know if this benefit will come back for 2018 with status through early 2019. But as soon as I know, I’ll have a post on it (in case you wanna hold off to make sure).

Bottom line

I had a great experience at Harrah’s in New Orleans as a Total Rewards Diamond member, with access to The Palm Room and a free $100 dinner at BH Steak. And the elite status came free as a FoundersCard perk. I didn’t have any issue accessing the perks even though it was my first time using them.

It was a bit odd bouncing up into a casino with no intention whatsoever of gambling. But it was a nice time – and added a bit of fun to the weekend. The location is fantastic – only 2 blocks from the French Quarter.

Obviously, it would be even easier to maximize in Las Vegas. And after this experience, I’m wondering if I shouldn’t spend a weekend in Vegas sometime soon…

Any questions about the perks or FoundersCard, lemme know! 

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