Travel Blog

Ambiance at Casinos

September 29th, 2018 ernie Posted in Travel No Comments »

Does ambiance at casinos make a difference? For my wife it absolutely does. We suspect that for many others this is true. The atmosphere in a casino really makes a difference for many people. The moment you walk into a casino, we all have an immediate impression of the building, the casino and the hotel.  It either makes us feel good or ambivalent towards the casino. The ambiance factor is huge in terms of whether we feel we will have a good time and enjoy ourselves. For example, there is something about Hard Rock Casinos that does not appeal to us. The casino appears to us as a cold, dark place devoid of excitement. We do not like the machines they offer and the people working there appear stand offish to us. We are not picking on the Hard Rock casino. Many people prefer this casino to others. For some it appears dynamic and exciting especially with its nostalgic design including many mementos from famous artists.

Ambiance at Casinos

Does the ambiance at casinos make a difference in terms of winning or not? Probably not. But you feel better and more confident about the place. You may still lose money, but at least you were entertained and enjoyed the experience. More and more, visiting a casino is about enjoying yourself while there. If you happen to win a small jackpot, even better. It is the icing on the cake.

This is a feeling that we all tap into. Many cannot explain what makes us like a place or not. It is all about atmosphere, decor, music, colors, slot machines, tables and entertainment areas. Many people like the type of people that frequent a casino. Some places attract a particular clientele. For example the Hard Rock as far as we can tell is focused on a younger crowd. While many others focus on the older crowd. It is a tough challenge to be something for everyone.

Let us know what you think about ambiance at casinos and how it affects your decision to go to a casino.

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Money Saving Travel Tips

October 30th, 2017 ernie Posted in Trip Planning No Comments »

Money Saving Travel TipsThis rotten winter might have you hankering to take a vacation. And the less-than-robust economy means you’d probably like to travel for the least amount of money.  It is time for money saving travel tips. Always look for deals and ways to save money, but you need to watch out for scams as well. If your planning a vacation check out all of the deals, take advantage of traveling in time frames that are not as popular.

Visit travel shows and pick up tips as well as coupons for discounts on various trips and places to visit.

Money Saving Travel Tips

To get an airline’s lowest airfare, try calling the carrier instead of booking online. You may think all the available inventory is on the web. Not even close. It’s only the inventory they want to put online. The same applies to hotels.

As an example, The lowest fare online: American’s $809. Calling American directly and asking if the airline had a “positioning flight” (when a carrier needs to get one plane from one city to another); netted a flight for $109.

If you searched for airfares on a site but didn’t buy a ticket, use a different browser or computer on your next visit or clear your computer’s cookies and cache. Otherwise, you may be shown a higher fare because you left cookies the first time and the site knows you’re eager to buy.

If you belong to a Frequent Flier program, check its site for fares using your number and without it. “Delta offered me a fare for $529 and then I went put in my Frequent Flier number, the fare suddenly jumped to $607,” They said there was a different class of tickets for Frequent Fliers.”

Train lovers with time on their hands should look into Amtrak’s 15-day go-anywhere deal. “You can get off and on anytime and see all of your dysfunctional relatives in one trip for $500; $250 for kids under 12.

Exploit the cruise industry’s bad publicity (the Costa Concordia and Carnival Triumph disasters) and excess capacity. “It’s a buyer’s market with rates as low as $149”.

Call a hotel directly for its best room rate rather than booking online or phoning its 800 number. “You can get more discounts from a phone call than from a website,”. Conversely, if the hotel rate is higher than usual, check the online price. Sometimes they forget to update the prices online.

When you call, ask for the manager on duty or director of sales, not “reservations,”. That’s the person who knows that a wedding just canceled and the hotel suddenly lost 30 booked rooms.

Ask value-added questions: Can my kids stay free? Can they eat free? I recently had to rent a car in San Francisco and asked the hotel if I could get free parking and I did. The parking normally costs $42 a night.

Consider alternative lodgings to hotels. “I love hotels, but they’re rarely the most interesting place to stay and they’re usually the most expensive,”. One person bragged about renting a two-bedroom apartment in Venice for $83 a night.

Scams

Watch out for “free” travel offers on Facebook. What may look like a giveaway of two free Southwest tickets from “Allison” is really a ruse to trick people into giving up personal information.

Never click through a link, even if it looks legitimate.

Don’t agree to rent out someone’s home until you speak, Skype or FaceTime with them. “Legitimate renters are happy to talk to you. Skype or FaceTime conversations are best because you can then insist on seeing the whole apartment or house.

Bargain destinations

Visit countries where few Americans vacation.

Go where the local currency has been pounded.

But perhaps the biggest bargain of all (once you get there): Bali in the South Pacific. You can almost live there on $5 a day.”

For more travel planning posts, click here.

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Rafting River Rogue whitewater

May 28th, 2017 ernie Posted in Oregon, Travel No Comments »

Rafting River Rogue whitewaterNational Geographic Adventure considers the Rafting river Rogue whitewater the best wildlife viewing of all the western rivers:
Sparkling rapids, green forest and historical sites
The ultimate Oregon family camping adventure
Trips to fit any skill level or age group
Experienced and outrageously fun guides
Affordable prices for priceless memories

Welcome to the Wild and Scenic Rogue River a beautiful and pristine wilderness area. Novelist Zane Grey felt the draw of this beautiful area; he wrote many of his western books in a cabin which still stands along the Rogue today. The area is steeped in history and lore from Native Americans to recent stories told around the campfire. The Rogue has famous fun rapids like Rainie Falls, Upper and Lower Black Bar Falls and Blossom Bar that will leave you memories of the sun dancing off of frothing warm water through beautiful rock formations and narrow canyons edged by towering cliffs.

Rafting River Rogue whitewater

Legendary wildlife viewing the Rogue River canyon. Deer, black bear, river otters, mallard ducks, turtles, bald eagles, and osprey are usually seen during your 34 mile trip from Grave Creek to Foster Bar.

The Rogue River canyon from Grave Creek to Foster Bar features a historic hiking trail just above the river so hiking to side creeks and hidden swimming pools is easy and the views are spectacular. The Pacific Northwest Cascade Mountain Range near Crater Lake National Park in southern Oregon is where the Rogue River starts its journey to the Pacific Ocean.

Whenever you are hiking anywhere including the Rogue river, always let someone know where you are going. Tell them when you will return and jike with a buddy. Take extra water, clothes and some food just in case you do get lost. It could mean the difference in surviving until someone finds you.

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Costa Rafting Rica whitewater

May 21st, 2017 ernie Posted in Costa Rica, Travel No Comments »

 

Costa Rafting Rica whitewaterWhite water rafting adventure tours through the rain forest will make your Costa Rica rafting whitewater vacation truly one of a kind ! Costa rafting Rica whitewater can be a great vacation adventure.

In the Atlantic region of Costa Rica there is a protected zone of incomparable beauty. It begins near the town of Siquirres and covers approximately 25,000 acres. It descends down the Talamanca Mountain Range. This area constitutes one of the most important protected areas in the region. High annual rainfall, along with its proximity to the lowlands combine to nuture complex life systems. The abundance make for extraordinary scenic beauty. The Cabecar Indians inhabit the area. In addition you can hike the same paths that this indigenous tribe still uses.

The Pacuare River is located within this zone. It offers some of the finest white water rafting in Costa Rica and in Latin America. In addition this officially designated Wild and Scenic River winds deep inside impressive primordial rain forest. Remote and scenic waters course through a wilderness of dense vegetation . Which the sides of steep gorges that rise above the riverbanks. Of course the thick undergrowth provides shelter to jaguars, ocelots, monkeys, and sloths. As well as numerous other species of animals and birds.

Costa Rafting Rica whitewater

The trip down this wild and scenic river offers some of the finest white water rafting in Latin America. It takes you past luxuriant rain forest, crystalline waterfalls. As well as dense vegetation covering the sides of steep gorges. It is also an environmentally sustainable adventure. As well it is carbon neutral and supports efforts to conserve the river’s ecosystems and help nearby communities.

Costa Rica rafting whitewater trips float past pristine tropical forest. The forests are populated by toucans, parrots and other birds. These birds are protected in the 637-acre (258-ha.) nature reserve. The fast-growing trees absorb more atmospheric carbon than local vehicles emit, making tours carbon-neutral.

This unforgettable river adventure combines class-II and -IV rapids with floats past breathtaking scenery that includes massive tropical trees and waterfalls that plummet into the river. Paddle through more adrenaline-pumping rapids and marvel at amazing scenery, such as the narrow canyon of Dos Montañas.

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Travel Suitcase Packing Tips

March 3rd, 2017 ernie Posted in Trip Planning No Comments »

We came across a great list of travel suitcase packing tips that will make your life easier and may even save you money as well. Take a few minutes to think about where you are going, how you will get there and what you will do when you arrive. Give some thought about the things you will need to have with you and plan accordingly. Remember most things you can buy at your final destination, if you forget something. But there are some personal items you may not be able to do without. Personally, I keep a list of things that I need to do for each trip. Going through the list one by one helps to make sure we do not forget anything that we are going to need.

Travel Suitcase Packing Tips

 

 

  • Pack light to travel light. If you can manage with only a carry-on for your trip, do it. Take half of the things you need and twice the money. Purchasing a few new items can be a fun part of the adventure.
  • Pack a sleep mask and ear plugs. These can come in handy on a plane, train or even in your hotel room.
  • Capitalize on empty suitcase space. Roll your clothes, instead of folding them. Stuff socks, underwear, and accessories in corners and inside of shoes. Leave no space unused.
  • Keep a light blanket in your carry-on. They can be used as a blanket on the plane, a sarong  can be used as a scarf if it’s cold or a shawl on an evening out.
  • Bag it. Sandwich bags can be used to hold your accessories, vacuum pack bags can be space savers, and trash bags have multiple uses (laundry bag, shoe covers).
  • Skip airport snacks and bring your own. You can save yourself  money and keep your hunger at bay in case you have a delayed flight.

Create compartments.

  • Two words: packing cube. If you are visiting more than one city during your trip, packing cubes will keep your suitcase organized and save you from having to pack and unpack.
  • Share your packing space. Traveling as a couple? Split your clothes between two suitcases on the off chance one of them gets lost during the flight.
  • Bring a multi-socket extension cord. Although newer hotels have USB ports in rooms, it’s best to have an extra outlet to charge all of your electronics at once.
  • Make photocopies before leaving home. If you’re traveling out of the country, make two photocopies of your passport. Use your smartphone to take pictures of your car in the airport’s parking garage and do the same for your luggage and its contents in case it gets lost.

 

 

 

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Betting Maximum on the Slots

February 7th, 2017 ernie Posted in Travel No Comments »

Betting Maximum on the SlotsWe have always wondered if you will do better betting maximum on the slots or whether smaller bets are more appropriate. There are several ways to look at this question. It also really depends on what slot machine you are playing and what the payouts are. These are the variables players may want to consider when selecting a machine. Keeping in mind that the casinos have spent a lot of time on making sure the odds are in their favor. The factors to consider are RNG (Random Number Generator ), Progressive Payouts (Small & Large), Ratio of payout for various sized bets, Winning Large Jackpots, Making your Money Last. We will discuss each in more detail.

Betting Maximum on the Slots

RNG – The RNG is constantly generating random numbers thousands of times per second. This does not change regardless of whether you play max or minimum bets on the slots.

Progressive Payouts – some progressives payout at a maximum level e.g. $500. As you get closer to this level there is an increasingly better chance of winning this small jackpot. Betting maximum will get you there faster. Large progressives often only payout when the maximum amount is bet. You should always bet max or not bet at all on large progressives.

Ratio of Payouts – Poker video machines often only pay the maximum for a royal flush if you are betting the maximum. e.g. 4000 credits while betting 1 credit pays much less than 1/5 the maximum payout.

Winning Large Jackpots – you will never win a large jackpot by betting minimum. While your money may not last as long during each visit to the casino, betting maximum will ensure that if you do hit, you will win a jackpot.

Making your Money Last – If your objective is to enjoy the ambiance of the casino, play for a long time and maybe win a small jackpot, betting minimum is certainly an approach to take. For machines that pay out progressives regardless of the amount bet, this is a reasonable strategy.

Bottom line is you need to decide on your own strategy based on the type of machine you are playing.

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Comped Drinks for Slot Play on the Way Out

January 7th, 2017 ernie Posted in Promotions No Comments »

Comped Drinks for Slot Play on the Way OutCasinos are tightening the noose on customers who consume more drinks than they gamble. Comped Drinks for Slot Play on the Way Out. At one time all you needed to do is stick a twenty into a slot machine and place your order for a drink. You did not even need to play on the slot machine. Over the past few years, bartenders would make sure you were playing the maximum and not just looking for a free drink.  Government run casinos and casinos on Native properties charge for every drink. In many cases the drinks are quite reasonably priced. Free drinks are about to end, at least at some of the larger casinos.

Comped Drinks for Slot Play on the Way Out

Harrahs is equipping their slot machines with red and green lights. A red light means you have not gambled enough to deserve a drink, while a green light indicates to the server that she can serve you.

It also helps the server by showing who might want a drink. They can also pass the blame along to the casino and avoid a confrontation if they refuse to server you. In most cases if you are playing the slots, there will be no problem with free drinks. The customers who play minimum or not at all are going to be upset. But then they were looking for something for free and not providing the casino with any business at all.

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Can Casinos Adapt to Millennials

December 7th, 2016 ernie Posted in Travel No Comments »

Can Casinos Adapt to MillennialsThere’s no question that millennial’s are beginning to have an impact on the world’s economy. Just as baby boomers over the last several decades influenced the economy, millennial’s are about to take over. So what does this mean for the casino industry? Many people are attempting to figure this out. From overall Casino design, entertainment, table games and slots it will have a huge impact. Can casinos adapt to millennials?

Can casinos adapt to millennials

Industry experts tell us that millennial’s are more willing to spend money on entertainment, and bottle service than they are on Slots. The slot machine designers are attempting to introduce more interaction with the video game itself. Highly skilled video games can be easily played on their phones, computers etc.. What will attract a millennial to the casino?

Many people believe the casinos have to step up their game with more interesting entertainment, for service, and venues that are attractive to millennial’s. Part of the challenge is to get them into the building in the first place. They will choose to spend their money in these areas and a very few dollars on the slots.

This is a fundamental change or shift from what Casino’s currently offer. If they do not up the ante on slots and table games, they stand to lose huge numbers of customers. Baby boomers are addicted to Slot Machines and willing to play, but not so the millennial’s.

It will be interesting to see how Casino’s who are competitive and forward thinking will up the ante in the next few years. Unfortunately bureaucratic government run casinos likely will fall behind and result in lower revenue for the local governments that operate them.

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Thousand Islands Casino Shuttle

September 21st, 2016 ernie Posted in Travel No Comments »

Thousand Islands Casino Shuttle

Thousand Islands Casino Shuttle

The thousand Islands Casino shuttle brings customers from many different locations to the casino. If you cannot get there by car this is the way to travel to the casino. It is also something to consider if you would like to have a few drinks and do not want to drive your car. Perhaps you would be over the limit or close to it. Take the shuttle instead of driving. The best thing is that the shuttles are free for riders going to the casino. You do have to abide by their schedule. If you miss the bus, it could be a long expensive ride by taxi back home unless you call a buddy to obtain a pick up.

Thousand Islands Casino Shuttle Schedule

If you would like shuttle schedules and locations, click on the shuttle link. This PDF will give you all of the locations and times that the buses pick up passengers from. Most people who are regulars will already know the schedule, however they do change from time to time so check back often.

Note that there is no food or drink allowed on the Thousand Islands Casino Shuttle, however many people will quietly bring water and sandwiches on the bus. As long as the driver does not see it and you do not leave a mess, you will be fine.

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Zombie Gambling

August 21st, 2016 ernie Posted in Travel No Comments »

Zombie GamblingHave you seen people gambling for hours at the same machine? Maybe you have even done this yourself.  Zombie gambling can be described as: losing track of time; body stiffness from sitting too long; missing out on family activities; not stopping after winning a jackpot and losing the entire amount;  etc. Most of us have found ourselves in this situation and regretted losing all of our money or wondering where the day or evening went. Perhaps our friends or family members have tried to divert us from the slot machines to no avail. If these things describe your situation, it is time to take stock of yourself and make changes.

Avoid Zombie Gambling

Take time to enjoy the other amenities, get up from your slot machine after a specific amount of time to stretch your legs, go for a drink , take a walk outside etc. Break the repetitive situation your in and enjoy all of the other things that casinos have to offer.

Spend time with family who would really like to spend time with you. See a show together, go for a drink, even just for a walk together. Quality time like this is worth it for your own health, your relationship and financial well being.

Go for dinner or a meal at least. Zombie Gambling leads to poor nutrition, too much drinking and smoking and tiredness. If you come back from a trip to the casino exhausted and all you did was sit at a slot machine, it is time to change your habits. Break up the routine and you will find that you not only enjoy the excursion much more, you will not be nearly as tired.

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Las Vegas Mirage nighttime 

May 7th, 2016 ernie Posted in Travel No Comments »

Las Vegas Mirage nighttime Las Vegas Mirage nighttime show looking at the volcano just before it erupts. Watch the show from in front of the sidewalk at night or from across the street. Both locations are excellent. You can feel the heat from the volcano in both locations. However, you can get more of a perspective of the entire volcano in front of the hotel when you are across the street. Most importantly the volcano erupts every 30 minutes with flames, spouting geysers, etc. But sometimes the show is canceled if winds are high. They do not want to risk damage to the display or danger to the people watching from the sidewalk which is actually quite close to the flames.

Las Vegas Mirage nighttime

There are lots of people standing around watching the show. Hold onto your kids, your purses, and your wallets. With the crowds of people, you never know what can happen.

Walk along the strip at night from in front of the Bellagio all of the ways down to TI. Lots of people to watch along the strip especially in front of the Flamingo and Harrahs. Some people are really weird along with others that are dressed as various characters. They want to have their picture taken with you for a price of course. Lots of buskers and impersonators who want to be paid for their picture.

Be careful, most people are average nice people but some are not.

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Las Vegas Strip at Night

April 21st, 2016 ernie Posted in Travel No Comments »

Las Vegas Strip at NightThe Las Vegas strip at night taken from the Wynn hotel on the 36th floor looking south towards Treasure Island or TI and the Mirage casino. What a picture of the strip at night with all of the lights and glitz of the Las Vegas strip. We enjoy staying at the Wynn hotel. It is clean, it is glamorous and the service is impeccable. Although it is expensive to stay there, it is definitely worth the money.

Always obtain a free slot card and use it whenever you are playing the slots or the tables. You never know when they will send you a free offer of a room, free play or a free meal.

Las Vegas Strip at Night

Great views of the volcano at the Mirage casino which erupts at night! Most nights the volcano erupts every half hour unless the winds are too high. If they are too high it is cancelled and you probably do not want to be walking on the strip anyway.

We walked past Harrahs, Imperial and Flamingo casinos. There were lots of people out strolling, checking out the sights and listening to the music from some of the casinos as well as just people watching. Lots of buskers and imitation people were also out trying to make a buck – Elvis, Michael Jackson, and more. You need to pay if you want your picture taken with them. Some are pretty good , although most are poor imitations of the famous people they are trying to copy.

Also topless girls wearing pasties are available for pictures! This is a look at the underside of Las Vegas, however it you stick with the better hotels, you can enjoy all of the glitz and high class service that Vegas has to offer. There is none of this sort of thing around the Wynn or the Bellagio for example.

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Slot Ticket Left in a Slot Machine

February 7th, 2016 ernie Posted in Casino Etiquette No Comments »

Slot Ticket Left in a Slot MachineHave you ever found a slot ticket left in a slot machine? It just sits there in the printer slot after the previous player forgot to take it out and left it there. If it is for a small amount, there really is no concern, however larger amounts present an issue for many people. Even small amounts sometimes are challenged by the previous players when the eventually realize that they forgot to collect their slot tickets.

Slot Ticket Left in a Slot Machine

Every slot ticket has a serial number. They are date stamped, time-stamped and stamped with the machine they were removed from. They contain a lot of information and are easily traceable.

It is just not worth it to keep the ticket and play it or cash it. A small amount of money is not worth the embarrassment of a public confrontation or being accosted by security.

When a ticket is forgotten and the player comes back to collect it, they have several options. They can ask for the ticket and if refused, can also call security. Security can checked the videos to confirm who removed the ticket. If necessary track them through the casino and challenge them for the ticket.

This actually happened to a friend of ours. She waited over half an hour to see if the previous player was going to come back. They did not so she put the ticket in her purse and walked away to another slot machine. Security eventually caught up with her and demanded the ticket back.

Fortunately, she still had the ticket and provided it to security. Otherwise, she would have had to come up with the cash and return it to the original player. They had tracked her through the casino and easily found her to confront her about the lost slot ticket.

The moral of the story is that you should not spend it. If it is truly a large amount, call security immediately and report the situation.

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Credits left in a Slot Machine

February 7th, 2016 ernie Posted in Casino Etiquette No Comments »

Credits left in a Slot MachineHow many times have you found credits left in a slot machine? It has happened to many of us and we all wonder what we should do. When you stop to think about it there is an answer to the question and it is really quite simple. The money is not yours and you should not spend it, take it or gamble with it. In 99% of the cases most casino patrons will realize that they have left their money in the slot machine and will come back for it. You really do not want to be embarrassed and have casino security demanding that you repay the forgetful player.

Credits left in a Slot Machine – Why?

If it is a small amount, let’s say a couple of dollars at the most, no one is going to worry too much about it. If it is more than that then you should take a few steps to protect yourself from embarrassment or worse. Why you ask? Here is what could happen and actually did happen to a friend of ours.

She found $87 in credits left in a slot machine one day. She waited for 5 or 10 minutes and when no one came to claim the credits she pressed the cash out button and received the slot ticket. Once she had the ticket, She then played her own money in that slot machine. After 30 minutes or so, she decided to move to another slot machine and wandered around the casino, in fact going to the other end, still with the $87 slot ticket in her purse.

A short while later a security guard approached her and asked if she had the ticket. The original player finally remembered, went back to the slot machine and found no credits in the machine. She then went to security who pulled up the video, saw our friend remove the money and then followed her around the casino until a security guard could physically track her down.

She naturally gave up the ticket, but what if she had spent the money or worse denied the claim. Now she would be pulled into the security offices and a possible charge levied against her. No one wants that. So the moral of the story is, do not spend the credits left in a slot machine. Someone will remember and security will track you down.

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Best Time to go to Vegas

September 21st, 2015 ernie Posted in Travel No Comments »

Best Time to go to VegasThe best time to go to Las Vegas varies a great deal for many people depending on what their interests are. For some, it is all about finding the best bargains. Many other visitors want the heat and are able to spend lots of time by the pool. Many are limited due to work schedules and must go on the weekends. While others are attending conferences and really do not have a choice re when they might be able to go. We will list some of the factors and the best time to go to Vegas. Consumers will have a general idea of when to make a trip to the most interesting city in the world.

Best Time to go to Vegas

The summertime is hot with temperatures over 100F for most of June, July, and August. If you want pool whether this is the best time to go to Vegas. Many conferences are held in the Sept to Nov period along with Jan through to April. Jan and April bring huge conferences to Las Vegas so you may want to find out when these are being held and stay away unless you like crowds and higher rates for rooms, meals, and just about everything else.

Special times such as memorial day, thanksgiving, New Years, and Easter are also busy times. Most weekends are also busier compared to during the week as well. Although it is cooler in December, this is one of the best times to go if you do not want to deal with the crowds and you want lower rates.

Many consumers will book a package deal which includes air, hotels, and transfers. This is the best way to go if it is your first time. After that, you may want to book separately to take advantage of specific deals you can find directly with the hotels using your slot card.

If you want to go to a show, book early and book your hotel room at the same time. Some of the more popular shows are sold out every night!

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Best Deals at Casinos

September 7th, 2015 ernie Posted in Promotions No Comments »

Best Deals at CasinosThe best deals at casinos really depend on how busy the casino is, your reason for travel and whether you qualify for any free complimentary items such as meals and rooms. We will discuss each of these in this post and provide a few hints regarding how to find the deals. If you can combine all three concepts, you may even get free rooms, free meals, free entertainment and free money to gamble with. All of the casino hotels participate in these programs so taking advantage of these free items is in your best interest to minimize the cost of your trip or vacation.

Best Deals at Casinos – Timing

Just as in real life, timing is everything. If the casino you are visiting is hosting a large convention or it is at the peak of the travel season, many travelers are going to find it difficult to find cheaper rates. Low travel periods and no convention business means fewer people in the hotel and the casino. This is the time they will offer better deals to anyone interested in visiting their hotel. Always ask for discounts and always check rates for different time periods if you can be flexible. Stay during the week vs. the weekend to find better rates as well.

If you are traveling on business, chances are you can obtain a business rate for the hotel you are staying at. Usually the convention will negotiate a discount rate for anyone attending their convention. If you are able and willing to walk, staying at a casino hotel next door can mean that you will receive a rate even lower if they are not busy. Check out the rates and then make your decision.

If you gamble, ask for a slot card and use it whenever you are playing the slots or the tables. On your next visit or even the current visit the casino may provide you with something based on your play. It could be free meals, free tickets or they might even write off your room. Check with the slot host before you check out to find out what you qualify for.

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Best Hotel Deals at Casinos

August 21st, 2015 ernie Posted in Deals at Casinos No Comments »

Best Hotel Deals at CasinosFinding the best hotel deals at casinos like the Bellagio in Las Vegas and others around the country takes patience, investigation, timing and even loyalty to one property over another. Over the years we have found that casinos offer deals to customers depending on how busy they are. In addition how much money you spend. Also how often you visit and even the type of machines that you play.

We will cover a few of these concepts, but first we want to share a quick story about the Bellagio. A few years ago we made a reservation at this hotel for $125 a night which was a pretty good rate at the time. When we arrived we noticed that the casino and the hotel was very busy. There was a large convention being held at the hotel and room rates had gone up. Fortunately for us we had a confirmed reservation and a locked-in rate, because walk-ins, people with out a reservation were being charged $700 a night just to obtain a room during this convention!

Best Hotel Deals at Casinos

Start by using the number on your slot card and call all of the hotels that you have slot cards for to find out their rate for the time period you will be in town. Depending on what is going at that time, you will be offered rates that reflect how busy the hotel is. Avoid major conferences and high tourist season time frames to get the best rate.

Play at hotels that you enjoy and want to stay at. Slot hosts will reward their customers with loyalty by offering discounted rooms or even free rooms. Sometimes you might even have to change your dates to get the best deal. Typically Sunday through Thursday nights are the best time to go, since this is a slower period, while weekends are busier and rates are correspondingly higher.

Get to know your slot host and let them know what you are looking for. They will call you or send you offers when the hotel is not busy in an effort to attract customers during slow periods. Take advantage of package deals and offers to reduce your overall cost for rooms, meals and entertainment. You really can save a great deal of money this way.

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How to find the casino slot host

August 10th, 2015 ernie Posted in Slot Cards No Comments »

How to find the casino slot hostAll Casinos have several ways to find the casino slot host and you really just need to know a little about their function to know which way is the best regarding how to find the casino slot host. The most obvious one is the slot card office that every casino has. They often call it the winners circle, or the slot card host or some other name. It is often near the cashier’s cage and sometimes it is even the same group of people.

They handle the day to day slot host requests such as free slot play, coupon awards etc. You can also talk to them on the phone by asking for the casino slot host. There are at least two other interfaces for those people who spend a little more money in the casino. They will actually have an office and you can usually walk in and ask for their help if you qualify.

How to find the Casino Slot Host

The first tier or lower tier is for people who qualify for a slot host but are not considered whales. They spend a lot of money and they qualify for free rooms, meals and entertainment.

You can meet the slot host in their office which is a semi-private place just off the main casino floor. If the office is not staffed 24/7, there will be a phone that you can use to be connected to a slot host or to have one paged to come and meet you.

The next level is a very plush area, usually off the casino floor, for VIP’s often set up with small snacks, drinks and comfortable couches and chairs to relax in while you wait for your personal casino host.

This host will make arrangements of all kinds for you again based on your play. They will provide upgraded free rooms, VIP seating in restaurants and shows and perhaps even transportation.

Finally there are the whales, the truly big spenders at the casino. Anything they want is offered and the host might even be assigned to them 24/7 while they are in town. Very few people qualify for this level.

For more details about slot cards and how to use them, click here.

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How to find a good slot host

July 21st, 2015 ernie Posted in Slot Cards No Comments »

good slot hostWhat are the attributes of a good slot host and how do you find one that delivers the services that you are looking for? Most people are so excited to find out that they have a slot host. They forget the fact that to qualify for a slot host, they may have spent thousands of dollars in the casino. The bottom line the only way to get a slot host is to play a lot. That means time and money are spent in the casino. If you don’t do these things your not going to qualify. Or all of the comp’s that go with it. Assuming that you have qualified and have been assigned a slot host, how do you know when you have a good one?

How to find a Good Slot Host

The answer is pretty simple. If you do not like the first one, then try another or ask for a different host to be assigned. You will need some good reasons so that no one loses face in the discussion. The St Louis River casinos have an Asian slot host team. For example the cater to the visiting Asian customers and anyone else that prefers someone from that culture.

Aside from language and culture, you may also want someone with similar interests or age group. These criteria are all about bonding and nothing to do with discrimination. If your host cannot discuss sports and does not know anything about them, then what are the chances they are going to score tickets for you to a local sports activity. Same thing with entertainment etc. Older people like to bond with someone their own age. Finally, if personalities click then you may feel that you have a better chance to receiving the comp’s that you enjoy. A host who is a stickler for following the rules may not be the best choice for you.

If you feel that you qualify for a host, visit the VIP casino slot office, and meet with a host. Find out what is needed to be assigned a host and if you qualify. You may have already qualified or about to. They may be able to provide you with some comp’s such as free meals, free tickets, and rooms as well as transportation. You do not know until you ask!!!

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Two Slot Cards on One Account

June 21st, 2015 ernie Posted in Casino Bonuses No Comments »

Two Slot Cards on One AccountAll casinos offer slot cards and they all suggest that each person have their own card to track their play separately. There are several reasons why you really should follow this approach. For example when it comes to cashing in your comp’s, especially free play most people want to play their own free play and not share with their spouse or partner. Also if you win a large jackpot you may need to pay tax on it. The tax slip must be issued to the person that won the jackpot and not necessarily the slot card player. If you need a win loss statement it will only be issued to the person registered on the slot card. A win loss statement can mean that you get a refund on your taxes! Two Slot Cards on One Account is not always the best approach.

Two Slot Cards on One Account

Many couples will ask for two cards in the same name figuring that their points will add up faster. They will receive comp’s faster. While this is true in many casinos, some have decided that this approach is not following their rules. As a result they will discontinue a card if it is not being played in a machine beside the first card. Points are lost and the player loses out on comp’s as a result. If players playing on the same card, are playing adjacent to each other, the casino will usually let this go. If they play on machines that are far apart, the casino may decide that this is really not the same person. They may disallow one or both cards until the player comes to the casino host to discuss the issue.

We suggest that each player have their own card for these reasons. Many casinos will combine two cards if requested to determine comp’s for things like free rooms. Free play and meals are awarded on a card basis only at most casinos.

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Ask for Senior Discounts While Dining

May 5th, 2015 ernie Posted in Reduce Travel Costs No Comments »

This is not a complete list of discounts that are available to seniors, however as you can see we should always Ask for Senior Discounts While Dining. The worst they can say is no there is not a discount available. You might save money more often than you think.

Applebee’s: 10-15% off senior discounts (varies by location)

Arby’s: 10% off (55+)

A&W All American Food: 10% Senior discount varies by location

Backyard Burger: free drink with purchase

Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream – Yum! Ben & Jerry’s: 10% off for seniors (60+)

Bennigan’s: discount varies by location (60+)

Bob’s Big Boy: discount varies by location (60+)

Boston Market: 10% off (65+)

Burger King: 10% off (60+) plus additional discounts on coffee and soft drinks

Bubba Gump Shrimp Co: 10% off for AARP Members

Captain D’s Seafood – Senior Discount Wednesdays Happy Wednesday Offer choice of 8 meals + drink for $4.99 or less- varies by loc. (62+)

Carrabba’s Italian Grill: 20% off on Wednesdays to AARP Members

Golden 55 Menu at Carrows Restaurants Carrows Restaurants: Golden 55 Menu offers discounted bfast, lunch & dinner (55+)

Chick-Fil-A: 10% off or free small drink or coffee (55+)

Chili’s: 10% off (55+)

CiCi’s Pizza: 10% off (60+)

Country Kitchen Senior Discount Menu Country Kitchen: Great Senior Menu (55+)

Culvers: 10% off senior discount (60+)

Ask for Senior Discounts While Dining

Senior Discounts at Dairy Queen Dairy Queen: 10% off for seniors (15% for coaches) varies by location (free small drink at some locations)

Denny’s: 10% off, 20% off for AARP members (55+)

Dunkin’ Donuts:  AARP members receive a free donut with the purchase of a large hot coffee (at participating restaurants)

Einstein’s Bagels: 10% off baker’s dozen of bagels (60+)

Ask about senior discounts at El Pollo Loco El Pollo Loco: 10% off senior discounts varies by location (55+)

Friendly’s Restaurants: Breakfast discount varies by location (60+) Senior List readers to confirm

Fuddrucker’s: 10% off any senior platter (55+)

Gatti’s Pizza: 10% off (60+)

Golden Corral: 10% off (60+)

Hardee’s: $0.33 beverages everyday (65+)
55+ Menu at IHOP Restaurants IHOP: Great discounts on senior menu items (55+)

Jack in the Box: up to 20% off (55+)

Kagle’s Barbecue: 10% off (50+)

KFC: Free small drink with any meal (55+)

Krispy Kreme: 10% off (50+)

Long John Silver’s: Various discounts at locations (55+)

McDonald’s: discounts on coffee everyday (55+)

Mrs. Fields: 10% off at participating locations (60+)

Outback Steakhouse 15% off AARP members for meals Monday through Thursday (alcohol excluded)

Daily Senior Discounts at Old Country Buffet restaurantsOld Country Buffet: Daily discounts for seniors (55+)

More Ask for Senior Discounts While Dining

Papa John’s: 25% off (55+) for online orders. Enter the code “AARP25″ when placing your order

Senior Discount Menu at Ponderosa Steak Houses Ponderosa Steak

Houses: Senior Discounts Vary- Senior menu available (60+)

Shoney’s: 10% off Sonic: 10% off or free beverage (60+)

Sonic: 10% off or free beverage (60+) varies by location

Steak ‘n Shake: 10% off every Monday & Tuesday (50+)

Subway: 10% off (60+)

Sweet Tomatoes: 10% off (60+)

Taco Bell: 5% off; free beverages for seniors (65+)

TCBY: 10% off (55+)

Tea Room Cafe: 10% off for seniors (50+)

Traditions Restaurant in E. Texas offers a Great Senior

DiscountTraditions Restaurant (East TX): Senior platter meal for $4.71 (50+)

Village Inn: 10% off (60+)

Waffle House: 10% off every Monday (60+)

Wendy’s: 10% off (55+)

Whataburger: Free drink w/ purchase of a meal- varies by loc. (55+)

White Castle: 10% off (62+)

Readers, providers and publishers: Feel free to share our list with attribution, and a link to this updated post. OK- Your turn to add to the list!  Shout Out in the comments below.

For more travel related discounts and savings, click here.

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Avoiding Travel Resort Fees

March 21st, 2015 ernie Posted in Resort Fees No Comments »

Travel Resort FeesMany hotels are now charging travel resort fees to cover increased services and expenses. This goes directly to the bottom line and can greatly improve profit levels. These fees cover such services as the morning newspaper. Also free WiFi, access to the gym, and access to the business center. When you add this $10 to $35 cost to the cost of the room, plus a tourist tax, city tax and state tax, your $80 room suddenly costs $120 or more. That is for a relatively inexpensive room. The fees and taxes are much higher at major more expensive hotels in major cities. With many hotels adding these fees and the cost of the fees, it is to everyone’s benefit to figure out how to avoid these extra charges!

Avoiding Travel Resort Fees – Vote With Your Wallet

If you are a frequent traveler let the hotel chain know that you are upset and considering moving to another chain. Staying at hotels that do not charge these fees is another way to vote with your wallet. You can often obtain a hotel room without the travel resort fees, a free breakfast and free parking if you stay on the outskirts of a city instead of downtown. You may still need to pay a tourist tax, city tax and state tax, but at least you escape the dreaded resort fee tax.

Avoiding Travel Resort Fees – Frequent Travelers

These people who stay in hotels over 100 days a year can sometimes turn their patronage into discounts of various types in addition to receiving free rooms. By the way free rooms should not include any taxes, including travel resort fees.

Casino hotels routinely add resort fees to the cost of a room, unless you complain and negotiate the cost of a room and fees ahead of time. Always ask about the fees, what are included and if you do not need these services, ask for the services to be removed. You may not always be successful, but it does send a message especially if you do not plan to return.

Here are eight approaches to avoiding a surprise when you check out and / or eliminating the travel resort fee:

  • Read the fine print before booking.
  • Use hotel search engines that include all fees in their price comparisons.
  • Be creative.
  • Scrutinize your proposed hotel bill when checking in.
  • Review your hotel bill before checking out.
  • Be nice.
  • Dispute any fee you weren’t told about in advance.
  • Finally, complain to the corporation levying the fee.

 

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When Can I Get the Best Casino Comp’s

March 7th, 2015 ernie Posted in Casino Bonuses No Comments »

When Can I Get the Best Casino Comp'sWhen can I get the best casino comp’s? The answer is pretty straight forward and only requires a little flexibility in terms of when you travel and a little effort on your part. First and foremost you must be a casino slot card member. Inserting this card into the slot machine when you are playing will ensure that the casino knows you are playing, how long you are playing and how much money you actually gamble with. Based on these statistics, they will offer you a variety of casino comp’s which can include free meals, free rooms, free play and even transportation if you are a high roller. Once you have accumulated points etc, the trick is to know when to use them to maximize your return in terms of casino comp’s.

When Can I Get the Best Casino Comp’s

the absolute best time to maximize your casino comp’s is when they are not too busy. For example, one casino with a hotel attached to it is experiencing a slow period right now. A combination of the weather, the fact that there are no meetings or conferences going on all contribute to a low occupancy rate in the hotel and not many people in the casino. This is the best time to score a free room, maybe a couple of free meals etc, because they want to get people coming to the casino and gambling.

The worst time to go to a casino in terms of comp’s is when the hotel is full of convention attendees. One time we tried to book a room during a major conference and not only were we not comp’d for the room, they wanted to charge us $700 a night because they only had a few rooms left. This is for a room that normally sold for $100 a night and was normally comp’d during slower periods. It really pays to time your visit with the slower periods if you want to maximize your comp’s and save money for what you really like to do and that is gambling.

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Video poker slot machines

January 27th, 2015 ernie Posted in Travel No Comments »

Video poker slot machinesThere are many different kinds of Video poker slot machines, however one I enjoy playing is deuces wild, multi hand poker. You are dealt one hand and then you decide which cards you want to keep for all of the other hands. Once you have selected the cards that you wish to keep, you press deal to draw new cards for those positions you did not hold.

Video poker slot machines

The picture above shows a real, if not unusual hand where I was dealt four deuces! Obviously I held the deuces which is shown on this picture and was paid 1000 credits per hand. This was a very jackpot even if I was only betting nickels! Note that for 10 hands the total bet is $2.50, which is not a shabby bet.

Video poker can be a lot of fun however like most games sometimes you win and sometimes you don’t. This particular hand paid for our trip. It is one of the reasons I enjoy playing this game so much. When you do win a nice hand the payout is fairly large.

In this case you are playing 10 hands so you are betting ten times the normal amount, but when it pays it really pays well. The obvious trick is to get a really good paying hand dealt to you in the beginning which you then hold! Deuces wild ten handed video poker paid 10,000 credits !

A variation on this game is when there is a random multiplier that appears on the screen. In addition to winning whatever comes up on the screen the random multiplier will multiply the amount. This amount can vary from two times to as much as ten times your winnings. I have yet to win a large hand with a multiplier. One of these days there will be a large jackpot in my future!

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Best Time to Visit Casino Hotels

January 21st, 2015 ernie Posted in Casino Bonuses 1 Comment »

Best Time to Visit Casino HotelsIf you have any flexibility in planning your vacation, the best time to visit casino hotels is whenever they are not busy. This is usually between conventions, off season time frames, and during weather events. If you are looking for an inexpensive vacation and have the flexibility in terms of when you go to Vegas, Biloxi, Laughlin, Tunica, or Atlantic City, this is the best time to get a deal. Combine timing with your slot or table play and you can most likely be comp’d for rooms, meals, and even be provided free play to gamble with. Casinos without hotels attached to them are at a bit of a disadvantage in this regard since they can only provide meal comp’s, free play, and sometimes free tickets to shows if they have that kind of venue.

Best Time to Visit Casino Hotels – Play where you Want to Stay

My wife and I have this discussion a great deal. There are some casinos where she feels that she is luckier or likes the ambiance of the casino better. She would rather spend time at these casinos compared to some others. Sometimes they have hotels associated with them and sometimes it is just a casino and a couple of restaurants.

The basic message is that if you like to stay at a particular casino with a hotel and want to receive comp’s for free rooms at this hotel then you had better spend some time playing the slots or the tables at this casino. They will notice this amount of play through their tracking system and aim to get you coming back again and again. If you are wondering how casinos make these decisions, there are a number of factors that go into the analysis. Each casino will attach more or less importance to some areas than others to make their final ranking, however, the bottom line is to spend time in the casino you want to stay at.

Some of the factors that the casino marketing people look at when making these decisions are as follows:

  • Time spent playing at slot machines and tables
  • Amount of average bet per hour
  • Speed of betting
  • Win loss ratio
  • How often do you come to the casino
  • Do you live far away  from the casino
  • How much do you play in terms of time and money each visit
  • What games do you play
  • Comp’s already received and used.

There may be other factors, but these are the main areas that are assessed.

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Texas Roadhouse Knoxville

January 19th, 2015 ernie Posted in Travel No Comments »

We visited the Texas Roadhouse Knoxville at 11001 Turkey Dr, Knoxville, TN, and found it to be another excellent restaurant in the chain of steak houses made famous in Texas. We sat at the bar and enjoyed a couple of draft beers, salad, and a combo steak and ribs. Both were done to perfection and the service was excellent.

If there is anything to complain about at this restaurant is that the portion sizes are huge. We often split meals while traveling and since the portion sizes are so large. The food was excellent and so was the service.

Texas Roadhouse Knoxville – Happy Hour?

The only complaint that we would have is that there is no happy hour, but other than that, it is an excellent place to eat. The packed restaurant on a Sunday night is tantamount to the fact that they have great food.

Contrary to what we expected, not all Texas Roadhouses have happy hour every night. It seems it really depends on the location as well as on the day of the week. You only save a couple of dollars if there is a happy hour. It all counts and maybe you will just have one more beer if you are buying cheap drinks.

For many more posts about travel through the US and interesting places to visit, click here.

 

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Travel tips

January 14th, 2015 ernie Posted in Trip Planning No Comments »

Travel tipsWe can all use travel tips to help us plan a successful trip. If you plan to be driving to your next destination vacation, plan your route in advance. Make sure to travel with a fully charged cell phone for emergencies. Or make sure that you have a charger in your car.

Road trips provide families with a chance to spend quality time together,. You will also be in close quarters for the duration of your travels. It helps to keep arguments at bay and everyone content by packing a variety of games, etc that will appeal to everyone’s interest.

You may not need your passport if you’re staying inside the country. Ensuring that all of your passengers have adequate identification in the case of an emergency is important. For those who are planning a vacation outside the country, remember that everyone traveling with you must have a valid passport. This includes your travels to Canada, to the US and Mexico. Just in case make sure that everyone is passport is valid well beyond the expected date of your return to Canada or to the US depending in which country you live in.

Travel Tips can Ensure a Successful Trip

No one likes to think about it, But planning for the unexpected is an important aspect of traveling. Take copies of your passport identification. Itinerary and insurance policy with a friend or family member who you can contact while in your travels if need be.

Make sure to take care of any health needs before you leave. Include necessary vaccinations and obtain sufficient supply of your prescription medications.

Always remember that weather with an adult or traveling alone all children traveling outside the country must have a valid passport. Other documentation may be required to allow the child entry into another country, such as a birth certificate, legal forms pertaining to custody agreement and a parental letter of consent if a child is traveling with one parent, neither parents or alone.

Always obtain health insurance, and travel insurance prior to leaving on vacation. Once you travel outside your province, or state, or country your existing health insurance may not provide the coverage that you require. In emergency you don’t want to be worried about who’s going to pay the expensive cost of medical coverage. Always travel with Health and travel insurance.

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Avoiding Casino Resort Fees

January 7th, 2015 ernie Posted in Resort Fees No Comments »

Casino Resort FeesResort fees are being added by more and more hotels and the Las Vegas Casino’s are adding casino resort fees at all of the major hotels. These casino resort fees typically include free WiFi access, free paper, and access to the gym. In some cases, they will also include access to the business center. Guests can print off boarding passes and other documents that they may need. It is pretty tough to avoid these fees. Although it is possible at casino hotels in Las Vegas as well as the other major resort cities such as Atlantic City, Tunica and Biloxi. This is a major revenue generator for the hotels. However, if you do not use these services, then it is just another addition to the city tourist tax. As well as the other taxes such as the state tax and other taxes that are charged.

Avoiding Casino Resort Fees – Ask Before You Book

The first step is to always ask what the fees are, how much will your total room cost including all fees and taxes. Note that tax is always charged on the resort fees as well, which makes it even worse.

If you or your company is paying for the room, there is not a lot that can be done. You can try complaining to the hotel management behind the check-in counter, however, most will not give you a break on the casino resort fees. If you do not use any of the services, there is a small chance that you can have them waived.

Conference organizers should negotiate these fees ahead of time. The hotels certainly want to be competitive and will sometimes waive the fees depending on the number of people attending and the final room rate negotiated.

Avoiding Casino Resort Fees – Always Negotiate

Visitors staying at the Vegas hotels on casino comps will not need to pay the fee at most hotels. You will need to confirm this at the time of booking. If they still want to charge the fee, try another hotel, or threaten to go to another hotel. If they are busy, chances are they will not waive the fee. However, if the hotel is on a slow week, there is a really good chance they will waive the fee.

If you are staying for a few days, the $0 to $35 casino resort fee can add up in a hurry. It is definitely worth attempting to negotiate a lower fee or have it removed altogether.

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Online Casino News

September 21st, 2014 ernie Posted in Travel No Comments »

Online Casino GuideEvery month I receive an online casino news letter. It has been sent to me for many years. It has lots of links in it that take you to a variety of articles that discuss what is going on in the casino business. Like most news papers, whether they are  online or traditional, they try to cater to many people who have a variety of interests. We read this online casino news letter just about every month and scan the headlines. They are interesting for the most part. But really do not have anything of interest to us that we can use as we visit various casinos around the country. There is the possible exception of the latest one which talked about what is going on in Atlantic city.

Online Casino News – Atlantic city

Three if not four casinos in Atlantic city have or are closing their doors as of Sept 1st. . These are casino hotels that are along the boardwalk in Atlantic city. They have been part of the casino scene for many years. In fact we have spent many summers visiting this area primarily because of the total package that is available in Atlantic city. For example in addition to top notch hotels and restaurants, there was also the beach along the Atlantic ocean. There is the boardwalk that runs for over ten miles. Off course there are the casinos where you can try your luck at the slot machines or the tables.

Online Casino News – Competition From Surrounding Casinos

The primary reason these hotel casinos are in trouble is that there are more and more casinos being built in surrounding states. People are spending their money at these upstate casinos instead of making the trek to Atlantic city. One of the irritants about going to Atlantic city for us was the amount of tolls that had to be paid just getting there. We paid at least $20 in tolls each way. This adds to your trip in addition to having to pay for parking at the casino parking lots. While we are not talking about a lot of money, it was seen as a money grab. It is also an irritant which combined with other casinos to go to is keeping people away.

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Mirage Casino on the strip

August 21st, 2014 ernie Posted in Travel No Comments »

Mirage Casino The Mirage casino is owned by MGM Grand group of companies. The mirage casino is located on the strip in a central location. Which gives you access to many of the major hotels in the area. Next-door is Caesar’s Casino and down the street is the Bellagio. On the other side of the hotel on the same side of the street is treasure Island hotel and casino. Which is no longer owned by the MGM group of companies.

Across the street from the Mirage casino and hotel is the Venetian Casino Hotel as well as Harrahs Casino. All of these hotels contain approximately 5000 rooms. As a result there are probably 20 to 40,000 rooms within the immediate area of where your staying. All of these hotels offer fantastic restaurants, entertainment, and free shows .

Mirage Casino – Sight Seeing

Most people will spend a lot of their time sightseeing going in and out of the hotels. For example the Mirage has a volcano that erupts every 30 minutes during the evening hours. Across the street at the Venetian we have the Canal shops. There are gondolas being guided through waterways in front of all of the shops. At Caesar’s hotel there’s a street of shops with a sky like ceiling and statues that come alive with a laser show every 30 minutes. There are many restaurants to dine in from the very inexpensive to some of the most expensive in the world.

We suggest that you spend three days maximum in Vegas every once in a while. Take in all of the sights and sounds, the glitter, the noise, the casinos and the shows. After about three days you need a break from all the action since it goes 24 hours a day.

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