Laughlin Rookie

[Pinch Hits]

Headed to Laughlin for the first time in a few weeks. Never been. I've always gone to Vegas when heading west from Indy. But when the casino offers a free trip, why not try it out!

So we're staying at Harrah's but it looks like there are several casinos along the river.

Any advice on good casinos, machines, food, etc would be appreciated.

Thanks!

[billryan]

   The problem with Harrahs is it is very isolated. Long walk to any other casinos. If you walk, ask the valet for directions to the stairwell in the garage , it will cut 15 minutes or more off the walk.
I like the Buffet, and can't complain about the coffee shop.
Favorite buffet is at the Edgewater.
Will you have a car? Most of my favorite activities in Laughlin require a car.

[FAA]

Whatever you do, don't actually buy a machine.

[onemoretry]

Given that our dining and video poker preferences may be entirely different, what's good to me may not be to your liking. That said, here are my comments.

Our video poker play at Harrah's is mostly on their 50 play machines. There are three in the non smoking casino and two in the video poker "room" in the smoking casino. The latter two have 1c, 5c and 10c denominations, while the three in the non smoking casino have 5c and 10c. We play deuces wild bonus (98.8%) at 50 line 5c denomination.

The other multiline game we play there is the 98.91% version of deuces wild. That game is available on eleven machines (I think) in that video poker room at 25c and 50c denominations in 3.5 or 10 play. There is also one lonely machine in the non smoking casino with that same selection.

With the exception of one machine in the video poker room that has 25c 50c and $1 9/6 JOB, there is no single line video poker for less than $1 that I would bother with. There are, however, four single line machines in the non smoking casino with $1, $2, and $5 8/5 bonus poker that may interest you.

The only other casino in Laughlin we are currently playing at is Aquarius, where we usually play multiline 25c bonus poker. They also have single line 25c, 50c and $1 9/6 JOB. In addition, they have a bank of single line 25c Optimum machines with 10/7 double bonus, 10/6 double double bonus, NSU deuces and two or three other high payback games. These Optimum machines generate very little comps.

The Laughlin River Lodge and the Riverside may interest you. According to vpFREE 2, both offer single line NSU deuces.

The Vinyard Ristorante restaurant at Aquarius is a place we always try to visit. They have excellent food, and very moderate prices.

Another quite reasonable place is the Saltgrass Steakhouse at the Golden Nugget.

At Harrah's, the Range Steakhouse is on our "must" list each tine we're there. The Guy Fierro mexican restaurant is pretty good, too. And, Smashburger has great burgers.

As noted above, Harrah's is a bit removed from the rest of the casinos. There are water taxis running on the river all day. We find them to be a very convenient way to get to and from other casinos. The cost is $5 per ride, or you can get an all day pass for $20.

If you have diamond status at Caesar's, you can get a $1 discount coupon at the total rewards desk. If you are seven stars, you can get a free pass.

When will you be going there?

[JoB Hero]

I’m also heading out to Laughlin, March 1st through the 4th. Staying at riverside but most of my play will be at harrahs. After several Laughlin trips I’ve never made it out to harrahs, thanks for the review

[alpax]

I will be paying a visit here myself next month, so coincidental this is talked about. Have not been there for 15+ years.

Thank you so much OMT for providing a good heads up with what to expect at Laughlin. I finally get to go on a VP vacation these days and arranging one with some buddies I have not seen in a long time.

[POKERKAT]

We love Laughlin. Very different from Vegas and much cheaper. Not real fond of Harrahs. Used to stay at Riverside which we loved for the balconies and the fact you could see Don Laughlin himself in the poker room late at night. Then Riverside removed several poker machines. We now favor the Aquarius. The rooms are nice, with a great view and they have a good variety of poker including some of the new stuff. We were just there and I did leave with more money than I started with. Enjoy!

[case]

I was just across the river from Laughlin for the month of January.

Best VP is still Aquarius. The River Lodge has some real cheap food and some real comfortable chairs while gambling. The VP there is plentiful but not real good. One room is directly over the river so you get an excellent view while playing. They also have free snacks you can help yourself to.

In-N- Out burger joint near the the Tropicana if you crave a burger. The buffets are not great anywhere. If you want an excellent meal try the Prime Rib Room at the Riverside Casino. I have never had a bad meal there.

I did go to the steak house at Harrahs and was disappointed. The steak was excellent but the "fixings" were terrible. The potato was one of those small ones cut in half. You ate it in two bites. The vegetable was 2 baby carrots and 2 green beans.....that was it. All I was eating was meat. I complained to me server and he said I could order garlic mashed potatoes but they would cost me. This was a 100 dollar meal without extras. Never again.

[JoB Hero]

This is probably the first bad review I’ve heard about harrahs steak house, how can you get to the river lodge? Can you walk or do you have to drive? Or river taxi

[billryan]

Except for the Trop, all the casinos are along the river. River Lodge is the closest casino to Harrahs but it's a good walk. Maybe a half mile from entrance to entrance.