Video Poker Forum

I was going to write a long, detailed Reno trip report, but then I read billyjoe's Biloxi report and was humbled and have retreated, slinking miserably away.

The Ace King and I spent six days in Reno, being joined by my sister from Florida, and my brother and sister-in-law from Arizona. We were celebrating our 36th anniversary, my 60something birthday, our very first Harrah's 7-star celebration dinner, and our first sibling reunion in four years. We had a great time. Harrah's comped us just about everything, and we kept earning enough buffets to feed everyone for nearly the whole trip (Monday - Thursday, earn 200 points and get two free buffets which can be used for any buffet time of your choice). We also received enough show tickets for everyone for the musical review, and boat tickets for the Lake Tahoe boat trip (although they only had 4 open seats left, so I stayed behind having done the ride before).

We started out decently the first night, having arrived late and exhausted -- only gambled 3 hours but went to bed a couple of hundred dollars to the good. The next three days were murder -- we could barely get any quads, and I missed two Royals in two days -- first a quarter one, then a dollar progressive. In both cases I was dealt something like (too painful to remember exactly) a pair of Aces, but a 10 or J in the same suit as one of the aces. Of course I kept my pair, and watched horrified as the other three to the royal popped out on the draw. Rats!

The last two days were nearly a gambler's paradise -- The Ace King got a royal, I hit A+K on DD and same thing on Trip Double after only 4 or 5 hands. It was hard work watching those 4 A dealt to me, and then hoping to draw the K (loved it when the 3 waved at me). I can't count the number of quads we received including many bonus and bonus+K quads. Sadly, we did not go home with a profit due to those previous horrid 3 days, but we left with most of our money. We don't add in the value of comps when computing our wins/losses. If we did, we would have been ahead.

I've read many posts here and on other boards from people who are less than enthusiastic about Reno and Harrah's in particular. I can only say that we've been to Reno many, many times and it is one of our favorite places. Also, we don't find the gambling any worse at Harrah's than anywhere else. I do wish we had hit a few more casinos while we were there (only made it to Boomtown and The Eldorado), but it was harder to fit everything in with family activities.

Nevertheless, it was a fantastic vacation. Reno was pleasingly hot (no humidity) -- I made it to the pool twice -- and Tahoe was gorgeous as ever. My siblings had a wonderful time, and we are already starting to look at dates for our next reunion.

As great as it all was, next time I hope to have pictures to post like those of billyjoe.

Sounds like a great trip. Glad you and the family enjoyed it. I have said it before, but it is amazing how many of us on this site are in that 60 something category. Kinda wish we could just stay there.

Tks for the interesting trip report, theacequeen. Happy Anniversary!  Hang in there on the monthly contest! G L!

Thanks for the on the monthly contest, Marie. I was having a lot of fun leaving messages but finally got bumped. Good luck to you, too. I know how much everyone wants to win or at least be on the top 10 board. Maybe we need more contests!

I have always touted Reno as a great place to stay and play.    I love Reno, and may one day move there semi-permanently!   I would NEVER contemplate living in Vegas except during the months October thru January (football season) but I love visiting and playing Vegas too.....but given a choice, I choose Reno.   Only problem is it is doubly expensive to FLY there from all the way back here in New England, unless I catch a special deal or promo.....

Tks for the interesting trip report, theacequeen. Happy Anniversary!  Hang in there on the monthly contest! G L!

Ditto what marie meijer said. We love the Reno/Tahoe area as well. Usually go about 5 or more times a year. Would love to meet up with you and your husband some time. What other CET properties do you play at?

That would be great chatty!! We'd love to meet you and your wife. Our "local" Harrah's is in Joliet, IL, a good 90 minute or so ride from us. Then, there is a big Horseshoe casino in Hammond, IN which is about the same distance. We would love to play more in Hammond, but one has to drive over the Chicago skyway or around it another way. In both cases, if you leave very early in the AM you can get there without a problem. Coming home is another thing. It has taken us as long as 3 hours to get back -- seems like there is always construction, or rush hour, or an accident. And, they don't have an attached hotel. Closest place to stay is about 15 minutes away (with shuttle service -- we've never stayed over). So we just gave up. Joliet is more like a rather tiny locals casino. They've just renovated the casino with new carpeting, and I believe the guest rooms have all been upgraded also. Any room we've stayed in during the past few months has been renovated. We're going to a slot tournament in Council Bluffs in about 3 weeks. Anybody here going also?

As far as Reno chatty, to both you and DaBurglar, we also have been kicking the idea around about living there for years. Earlier this year we went out and put a deposit down on a lot, but it fell through -- the developer let someone else have the lot. We went and looked at the house that was nearly completed on "our" lot while we were out there. It gave us a little pang to know that we could have been moving in next month but...sigh...we're still here. We used to go to Vegas at least 2 or 3 times/year, but don't like it much since it has become so crowded and smoggy. We also used to drive down to St. Louis 2 or 3 times/year -- loved that casino -- but haven't been back since Harrah's sold it to Hollywood. Hope to hit Biloxi this winter.

Good luck all in contests!!

We are going to be in Kansas City the first week of February. We have never played there before but hear the casino is real friendly and has a nice diamond lounge and gm lounge. WE would love for you to join us if you can work it into your schedule. We are meeting up with about 50 to 75 other people, mostly slot players, some vp players.

Our local we play at is Horseshoe in Bossier City, La. It is just under 2 hours away. If you have never been it has a very good steakhouse, asian restaurant, a 24 hour cafe, and the buffet is decent as well. We have contemplated going to Harrah's in Joliet but have never been. I noticed that you are going to Council Bluffs in about 3 weeks. We went there for the first time this past June. Did not do real well but we definitely liked the Horseshoe there better than Harrah's.

If we did not have so many roots where we are living now it would be tempting for us to move to the Reno/Tahoe area as well. We love the weather there. It is a great escape from the Texas heat and humidity.

Good luck to you as the monthly contest moves forward. If I am not lucky enough to pull a rabbit out of the hat and win it myself, I will definitely be pulling for you to win.

Wow chatty, your future KC trip sounds like lots of fun! I very much doubt that I could get The Ace King to go. We were in KC once, a few years ago, and it wasn't a great experience. Also, travel in the winter is sometimes difficult -- we've talked about a long trip down to Florida this winter to see my sister, stopping in all of the Harrah's along the way -- Joliet, Metropolis, Tunica, Biloxi, and then catching New Orleans on the way back. But, my brother would like us to stay with him for awhile this winter so we may head west. Or, like last year, we might get snowed in and just hang out here for the whole winter (ugh!).

Good luck to you in contests today. I've played 2/5 so far and the cards haven't been kind.

We've only been to Council Bluffs once as we drove out West, right after the Horseshoe opened. They had not yet been approved by the state for videopoker (game of skill rather than chance, so they said) so we stayed at Harrahs. As I recall, we didn't think much of the room but were lucky in the casino. We will definitely visit the Horseshoe while we are there.

The GM lounge at Horseshoe Council Bluffs is very large and has better food than either of the CB diamond lounges. Both casinos have video poker. There is more video poker and a better selection of games at Horseshoe. And the casino at Harrah's is tiny. There is a shuttle that goes back and forth between the two casinos so I bet you spend most of your time at Horseshoe. We did like the Steakhouse at Harrah's though.

Good luck to you in the monthly contest. I am pulling for you. BTW, are you doing one of the 7 star events this year?