Travel Blog

Diet, Exercise, Energy Deficits which one should you try? Or how about all of them? Anyone wanting to lose weight must deal with the fundamental laws of energy. You cannot lose weight if you are taking in more energy than what you are burning. Energy deficits must be created every day if you want to lose weight. As we discuss the details of this theory, it will get much more complicated, however you should remember that if your energy absorbed through food is greater than the energy burned through daily activities and exercise you are going to gain weight. By burning more energy than you take in, and creating an energy deficit, only then will you lose weight.

Diet, Exercise, Energy Deficits

Fad Diets

There are lots of fad diets that are advertised on TV and the radio and in newspapers. Most of them are selling a product and that is how they make their money. They do not always deal with the larger issue of how exercise factors into the equation. Low carb diets, water melon diets, soup diets and on and on. These diets just do not deal with the need for a balanced diet with the proper vitamins that the body needs. Nor do they deal with the total number of calories that everyone needs to maintain a normal busy life style vs. what they need to take in and lose weight. Creating an energy deficit while eating properly will ensure that you lose weight.

Weight Watchers

Weight watchers appears to focus on portion control using a point system to manage your calories and intake. Consumers following the weight watchers diet must keep track of their food intake using a point system and also portion control. They can also bulk up on low calorie food to give them that full feeling that everyone wants. Consumers on weight watchers diets can even partake of deserts as long as they have not exceeded the number of points they need to consume for the day. Still for weight watchers to be successful, even weight watchers agrees that an energy deficit must be created if you are going to lose weight.

Add Exercise

If you maintain a normal daily routine i.e. going to work, household chores etc, then you will need to make sure that the calories you take in through meals and snacks is less than what you need for daily activity. As long as there is an  energy deficit, you will lose weight over time. Going for a walk, working out at the gym or exercising on your own will help you increase this energy deficit and help you lose weight. Paying attention to what you eat and how much is an important element of weight control. Exercise will burn calories and increase your energy deficit.

Energy Deficits – Building Muscle

One of the side effects of working out is that you will build muscle. You will lose fat content as well, however it is a well known fact that muscle weighs more than fat. Some consumers who are exercising regularly do not lose weight, but their body is changing, becoming more lean and less chubby. Consumers should not be concerned about this. Muscle is always better than fat, and will actually increase your metabolism which in turn burns more calories. Besides who does not want to look well toned and lean?

Eat Good Food

We all know that there are good calories and bad calories. Some dieters are even allowed to eat sweets, but there is a big difference between some sweets and others. Take a chocolate bar for example vs a piece of chocolate. A chocolate bar as a lot more in it besides chocolate. There is corn starch, trans fats and lots of sugar. This is an example of a not so good desert or snack. Eating a piece of pure chocolate does not contain all of these extra elements and is just as satisfying.

The same rule applies to many other foods. Fried foods, deep fried foods and precooked frozen foods lose much of their nutrient value during preparation, while at the same time picking up lots of trans fats and calories during the cooking and preparation processes. Stick to fresh foods that you cook yourself to avoid all of these extra calories and fats. Use low fat cooking techniques and avoid frying your food.

Read the Labels

All processed food is labeled with the number of calories and fat content. The first thing to remember is that the number of calories could be up to 20% higher than what the label says. Manufacturers are allowed to be 20% in error. If you must eat processed food , keep this fact in mind when you are planning your meals so that you do not ruin your energy deficit calculations.

If you are serious about losing weight, there are a number of steps you need to take to ensure that you lose weight. First of all you must create an energy deficit each and every day. An energy deficit can be created by dieting or exercise or a combination of both. Practice portion control to reduce the calories that you take in.

Snacks and Energy Deficits

Another huge area which can eliminate your energy deficit is snacks. Snacking by itself is not bad. It can actually be good to help increase your metabolism. The problem with snacks is that we do not have control over how much we eat while snacking. Before we realize it, the snacks we eat can eliminate our energy deficit and cause us to gain weight. If you cannot eliminate snacks, then practice portion control to manage how much food you actually take in. Secondly change to a low calorie type snack which cause you to bulk up give you that full feeling. However the best way is to avoid snacks all together.

Manage your energy deficit by managing your diet and adding exercise to increase you energy deficit.

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The Lac Leamy casino and Hilton hotel resort complex is one of the better casino complexes we have visited in Canada. It does not rival the Vegas casinos and hotels. It does measure up as being the best place in the Ottawa / Gatineau region to spend an evening. The Akwesasene Hotel and casino that has been recently updated now rivals this location.

One of the reasons we make this point is that both gamblers and non gamblers can enjoy a very nice evening at the Lac Leamy casino and Hilton Hotel. Whether you are looking for an evening out for fine dining. Or wish to take in a show or listen to the music on the weekends , there is something for everyone.

Lac Leamy Casino Resort – Hilton Hotel

The Hilton hotel next door and connected by indoor walkway to the Lac Leamy casino makes an excellent weekend retreat combined with gambling at the Lac Leamy casino.

he Hilton hotel offers all of the attributes that a Hilton hotel offers from outdoor pool with a great view, spa services, several fine dining restaurants, and a conference center to attend conferences and other formal gatherings. The Lac Leamy casino also offers a theater that brings in a variety of song and dance shows for your entertainment pleasure.

The Lac Leamy casino has over 1900 slot machines, and a large compliment of table games for your gambling pleasure. Join the Lac Leamy casino slot card membership to be comp’d for various things such as cash back, meals, and even rooms at the Hilton hotel. Note that the comps are not as lucrative at this casino due to the lack of competition. However it is still worth your while to get one of these cards if you plan on gambling at the casino. They are free to everyone.

The Lac Leamy casino is located just across the Ottawa river from Ottawa. It is less than 10 minutes from down town and is definitely worth the visit. If you are planning a conference or a company meeting the Lac Leamy casino and the Hilton Hotel are excellent venues for these sorts of get togethers. Both facilities have excellent conference centers to accommodate most needs.

Restaurants  ( Includes the casino and the Hilton Hotel)

La Baccara Gourmet restaurant – located on the 2nd floor of the Lac Leamy casino, it has been rated a five diamond restaurant since 2001. Excellent service and excellent meals!

Arome Seafood and Grill – Located in the Lac Leamy Hilton hotel overlooking Lac Leamy, this is an excellent restaurant to dine in specializing in surf and turf

La Cellier – Located in the Lac Leamy hotel beside Arome, this is the bistro section of the Arome restaurant

Banco Buffet – Located on the 2nd floor of the Lac Leamy casino, they offer an excellent buffet. The deserts are French pastries and are a must have.

Le Cafe – Located in the basement of the Lac Leamy casino, this is an excellent place to grab a sandwich  and a bowl of soup

TGV – Located pool side at the Lac Leamy Hilton hotel

La Marina – Located at the Lac Leamy casino, at the back of the casino, this bar is only open after 5pm on Fridays and Saturdays. Excellent value, atmosphere and food.

What We Liked

• Variety of slot machines and table games
• Free entertainment at the bar located in the casino
• Buffet – very nice food and the French pastries are particularly good
• La Bacara – fine dining at it’s best, great place to impress a customer, a colleague or your family.
• Pool area and spa for hotel guests at the Hilton overlooking Lac Leamy
• Hotel rates are very reasonable for Canada, they are much cheaper in the US
• Covered garage parking
• Easy access from all highways and from Ottawa
• Safe environment in the casino, hotel and parking areas
• Marina bar located at the back of the casino, only open Friday and Saturday nights
• High vaulted ceilings, very well designed, a nice place to spend an evening

It is a 5 star hotel in our estimation and quite adequate for our needs

What We Did Not Like

• There are no real complaints about the Lac Leamy casino
• Drinks are not free while gambling
• You must remain at the bar while having a drink, you cannot take them to the slots

Slot Player Card

They are part of the Quebec Loto slot players card system. Slot members can take advantage of benefits at many Quebec casinos  in Montreal and Quebec city as well.

If you have not taken advantage of slot player cards, there are a number of benefits that many slot players should consider. Free or discounted rooms, email mailing list of promotions, free or discounted meals, access to entertainment, and a tax report outlining your losses and wins for tax claim purposes.

Parking

There is ample parking at the Lac Leamy casino & hotel  in a large parking garage beside the casino and also surface parking for casino patrons. You can access the casino from the garage via an elevator from all levels. The parking garage is also patrolled on a regular basis and it also protects your car from the weather. Access to the Hilton hotel, which is beside the casino can be from inside the casino or from surface parking lots.

Directions: 1 Boulevard du Casino, Gatineau , Quebec

When you arrive by Highway 401, take Route 16 North, which becomes Highway 416 toward Ottawa. Take Highway 417 East to Exit 118 for Nicholas /Lees and go straight on Nicholas Street North. Turn right on Laurier Avenue, then left onto King Edward Avenue. Stay left to take the MacDonald-Cartier Bridge, which becomes Highway 5 North. Take Exit 3, boulevard du Casino. Turn right at the exit and you’ll find yourself at the entrance of the casino

There are a number of weight loss tips that will benefit many people. However the major tip for consideration everyone needs to think about is whether you are ready or not. Each person regardless of their weight, have to first realize that they need to lose weight to gain a healthier life style and then they need to decide that they actually are going to lose weight. It cannot be a half hearted attempt. You need to be serious about this and really be ready to make the effort. If you are not serious, then you may as well save yourself the time and the money with regards to losing weight.

Weight Loss Tips – Make a Decision and Stick With It

This statement may seem trivial, however unless you have the conviction to lose weight along with the perseverance, most people will go on a diet for a short period, lose a few pounds and then go off the diet. So the first major tip is recognize that you need to lose weight and the second is to decide with commitment that you are going to do what is needed to lose weight.

Weight Loss Tips – Change Your Life Style

Once you have decided to lose weight and are committed to losing weight the next step is to decide what attributes of your lifestyle that you need to change. Perhaps it is fast food, perhaps it is snacking in front of the TV at night, perhaps it is eating very large meals.  What ever it is you need to set up your environment so that you are not tempted to continue bad habits such as snacking.

Weight Loss Tips – Exercise Routine

Part of changing your lifestyle is to begin exercising. Even if it is a walk around the block, it is better than sitting in front of the television and snacking. If you have been a couch potato and this is the first time you decide to exercise start slowly and build up. If you are seriously unhealthy, talk to your doctor first. Even if you start by walking a short distance and build up over time this is a huge improvement.

Exercise will improve your circulation, help you lose weight when combined with a diet program, build your muscles including that of your heart, and increase your lung capacity. Exercise will also increase your metabolism which will burn more calories and help to burn off those pounds.

Fit Your Exercise into a Busy Life

Sometimes we are just so busy that we do not have time to go to the gym and exercise. There are various ways to get your daily exercise. For starters consider taking the stairs instead of the elevator. If it is only  a few floors, chances are you will save time since you can cover several floors before the elevator even arrives. Go for a walk at lunch. Park your car further away from the entrance to your office or shopping and walk the extra distance.

If you are waiting for the kids at an activity, don’t sit and wait, go for a little walk even if it is around the parking lot. There are numerous ways to get in that extra few steps every day while you are building up your endurance.

Walk 10,000 Steps a Day

You have probably seen or read about walking a minimum of 10,000 steps per day. I have personally tried this. It is quite hard to get all of the steps in. I bought a step counter and away I went walking around the mall to get my 10,000 steps in. It really gets a bit boring, so try to vary the routine, go for walks in your neighborhood or around your work place. Drive the car to a different location and walk. Before you know it you will be walking your 10,ooo steps every day.

Eating Habits

This is probably the most difficult thing to do and why we left this weight loss tip until the end. We are all used to fast food prepared quickly with lots of sauces and salt. The salt is bad for high blood pressure or hypertension and all of the fried food and sauces have thousands of calories in them.

Start cooking natural foods and make your own casseroles to be frozen. That way you manage the salt and the fat that goes into the meal and it is ready when you need it. Just a quick dethaw, heat it up and supper is ready. These are excellent meals when you are in a hurray and pressed for time.

Stay away from fast food restaurants or any restaurant were the food is cooked in oil of some kind. Try doing without all of the sauces such as ketchup, mayonnaise, salad dressing, and special sauces. Not only are they high in fat content, they are also high in calories and salt as well.

Snacking

Snacking is like a silent villain that sneaks up on you. We all love to snack, however the problem with snacking is that we lose track of how many calories we are actually eating. It is relatively easy to sit in front of the television and snack on a bowl of peanuts while watching our favorite program. Before we know it the bowl of peanuts is gone and we have consumed a thousand calories or more. While nuts are an excellent food type, we really do not need these extra calories unless you can burn them off in some way. Let’s face it most of us cannot burn them off easily.

If you must snack, have sticks of sugar free gum around to chew on. They have few calories and provide that chewing sensation that we need. Far better to chew several sticks of gum than to eat many different snacks.

In summary, make a conscience attempt to change your life style, exercise, change your eating habits and avoid snacking. You will find that the pounds will come off. The rate of losing pounds will depend on how well you do in sticking to your plan. Let us know if there are other ideas and tips that have helped you to lose weight and keep it off.

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Experienced campers will have a camping checklist of items that they know they will always want to bring along to ensure that their camping experience is enjoyable and safe. They take into account where they are going, how long they will be camping and how many people are coming with them when they assemble their camping checklist.

Camping at a state park in almost perfect conditions with facilities close by is much different from backpacking into the wilderness and camping for several days in the wild. Each requires different supplies and gear so plan your camping checklist accordingly.

Our checklist is a general camping checklist and you will want to add or subtract to it based on the location , the length of time, and number of people. Always error on the side of caution and take more than you need. If you are long way from home, or a days walk from civilization and you are missing something, there is not much you can do about it. Of course you need to balance what you take vs. the weight and how far you care carrying your camping gear. A heavy pack feels like it weighs twice as much after a days hiking.

Camping Checklist

The following is our camping checklist of camping gear you may want to add to your camping checklist:

• A light weight tent, lean-to or other shelter device
• A light weight sleeping bag for warmth
• A sleeping pad or air mattress is often placed underneath the sleeping bag for cushioning from stones and twigs as well as for insulation from the ground
• A portable stove to prepare hot meals and/or drinks where campfires are forbidden or impractical
• A lantern or flashlight, preferably the kind that do not need batteries
• A hatchet, axe or saw for cutting firewood where allowed or constructing camp gadgets
• Various types and sizes of ropes and tarp for stringing clothesline, sheltering dining areas, and other purposes.
• Rain gear such as a light weight rain coat
• A compass for direction finding
• A GPS , however you need to be aware of battery issues
• A chuck box to hold the many varied camp kitchen items for food preparation, consumption and cleanup.
• Some campers may prepare food by cooking on a campfire, sometimes using such equipment as a Dutch oven.
• Matches in a water proof container
• Much of the remaining needed camping equipment is commonly available in the home, like dishes, pots and pans.
• If you plan to hike into your camp site, you will need to consider light weight camping gear that does not take a lot of room as well.
• Emergency rations should always be considered, especially if you are hiking into a site. Dried food is light weight, small and easy to carry.

First Aid

First aid should always be considered as part of your camping checklist and can be even more important if you are hiking on wilderness trails and planning to stay out overnight. Hikers need to be able to exist on their own and look after emergencies until they can get to a location to call for help or until someone finds them. Better to error on the side of caution:

• Dressings (sterile, applied directly to wound): Pads
• Sterile eye pads, Sterile gauze pads.
• Bandages (sterility is not necessary, used to secure a dressing): Gauze Roller bandages – absorbent, breathable, and often elastic
• Elastic bandages – used for sprains, and pressure bandages, Adhesive, elastic roller bandages,Triangular bandages
• Gloves, disposable non-latex
• Torch (also known as a flashlight)
• Instant-acting chemical cold packs
• Sterile eye wash (commonly saline) Sterile saline may also be used for cleaning wounds where clean tap water is not available.
• Thermometer
• Antiseptic/anesthetic ointment or spray
• Anti-itch ointment (especially for outdoor kits)
• Painkillers / fever reducers
• Aloe vera gel – used for a wide variety of skin problems, including burns, sunburns, itching, and dry skin

Prepare for the Inevitable

Camping with the family can be a fun experience and it is an opportunity to bond with the kids and enjoy the outdoors. Unless you have camped in the wild before you cannot really appreciate what you are missing. At the same time it is not camping in your backyard or anywhere near modern facilities. You need to be prepared for the inevitable.

Camping at state parks is a nice way to start. Camp sites are all laid out and you usually have water and toilet facilities. Some will even have a small store were yu can purchase camp supplies that you forgot to bring with you. Many will be located near a lake or river so you can also enjoy swimming as well.

There is usually all types of wild life around. Depending on were you are camping, you may encounter rabbits, raccoons, deer and even bears. Regardless of were you are you should take some precautions to protect your belongings. Never store food in your tent. The bears will be joining you for a meal whether you like it or not. Also do not leave the food in your car. You do not want to be watching from your tent while a bears tears your car apart looking for food. And what do you do when he is finished?

Place your food in bundles and tie them to a tree limb far enough out on the limb so that they cannot get at the food. Always get rid of any garbage as well that might be attractive to bears around your camp site.

Please feel free to add comments about other items to bring while camping or safety issues that you feel we should include.

There are two casinos located in the Ottawa, Canada region. The one that we will review in this post is called the Rideau Carleton Raceway Casino. This is the only Ottawa casino in the area. The other casino is located across the river in Quebec and is called the Lac Leamy Casino. We will review this casino in another post. As a result there is not much competition, the casinos are small and demand is large. They are run by the Ontario and Quebec governments. As a result there is little competition and little incentive to be competitive. Hence the Lac Leamy casino is by far the superior casino offering more dining, gaming, entertainment and lodging value.

Patrons can enjoy themselves at the Carleton Raceway Casino, playing many of their favorite machines. However if you have been to any of the large US casinos, this certainly does not compare. We have seen people win large jackpots at the Carleton Raceway Casino with pictures taken etc.

Rideau Carleton Raceway- Entertainment

The entertainment is available Friday and Saturday nights and is aimed at the older crowd. Rock, country and easy listening music would best describe the music. Although there really is no dance floor, patrons have been seen dancing to a particular song they enjoyed.

There is a long list of things that we do not like about this casino run by the OLG. Carleton Raceway Casino is nothing more than a prop to keep the racetrack alive and a tax on patrons for the Ontario Government. Hence it is not a competitive casino run by private enterprise. It is typical government with all of the bureaucracy of a government. We have seen slot machines taken out of service for maintenance or upgrading. As a result the entire bank might be out for a week or more. In private industry, this is completed over night!

This is not one of our favorites. However many people do go to the Carleton Raceway Casino every day. It is open 24 hours a day except for Christmas.

Restaurants

There is one restaurant at the Carleton Raceway Casino. It overlooks the racetrack and there is a nice ambiance of racetrack betting and dinner at this restaurant. However in the writer’s opinion, it is not even close to fine dining. Even though there are 100 items in the buffet it lacks presentation, quality and taste. The staff clearly do not take pride in their restaurant and it shows. As a result I know many people, the writer included, who will not even eat there, even if they have been comp’d.

In addition customers may also order basic meals from the menu. This is a racetrack restaurant trying to look like something else and failing.

Sandwich’s, soup, hot dogs, chips and peanuts can be ordered at the bar inside the casino. Prices for beer and mixed drinks are regular price. They are the same that you would find in any restaurant or bar. The Carleton Raceway Casino does not comp any mixed drinks. soft drinks, coffee and water is free. However you should tip for this service.  Chicken wings are also known to be served at the back of the casino on Saturday nights.

They also offer group visits, however we have never utilized this service and cannot comment on it.

What We Liked

• Variety of slot machines with 1250 slot machines to choose from
• Free entertainment located in the casino on Friday and Saturday nights
• Safe environment in the casino, hotel and parking areas

What We Did Not Like

• There are no table games at the Carleton Raceway Casino
• Customers must pay for all alcoholic drinks and you can take these drinks to the slot machines
• Guards standing at single entrance scrutinizing everyone that enters
• Larger payouts are still paid by slot runners, and they expect a tip for their efforts. We suggest you save your money.
• There is no associated hotel
• Located a long way from downtown Ottawa
• Slots appear to be very tight
• Crowded on most evenings and holidays

Slot Player Card

The Carleton Raceway Casino is  part of the OLG Winners Circle slot players card system. Hence slot members can take advantage of limited benefits such as cash back and comp’s for food at the buffet. The OLG Winners Circle card can be used in all OLG casinos across Ontario , Canada.

Slot cards at the Carleton Raceway Casino are free and you should definitely obtain one. However they are not nearly as lucrative as other slot cards in the US.

Parking

There is ample parking at the Carleton Raceway Casino in a large outdoor parking lot. In addition, valet service is also available should you prefer not to walk from the outdoor parking lot.

Directions:

The OLG Carleton Raceway Casino is located at 4837 Albion Road. From downtown Ottawa , take bank street south to Albion to get to the casino. Allow a minimum of 20 minutes from down town.

Treasure Island Hotel and Casino or TI as it is now branded is a very nice hotel sitting beside the Mirage Hotel and across the street from the Venetian hotel and Casino. Next door further down the street you have the new and upgraded Fashion Show mall that is also a treat to visit with its modern and futuristic design. Also across and down the street are the Palazzo and the Wynn hotels. This hotel is in the middle of the action and a great place to stay. You can easily walk to all of these venues from TI.

The Treasure Island Hotel and Casino TI has been recently upgraded and we have stayed there several times. We find it to be very up to date, modern, clean and enjoyable. You get great value for your dollar when you stay at this casino. The outdoor pirate  show is great , free and many people enjoy seeing it. This pirate show plays every day weather permitting and it is free to watch from the sidewalk. The entire area has been updated in recent years, with a new show, restaurants and bars.

There are also restaurants and bars that you can sit in and have a drink or dinner while watching the show. The Treasure Island Casino TI and hotel also has the standard shops and games that every casino offers. One thing we liked is that the coffee shop offers wireless access so you can sit and have a coffee while checking your email.  This is one of the must hotels to see while in Las Vegas, so take a few minutes and wonder around inside to see the casino and all it has to offer. If the weather permits, watching the free pirate show is the very least you should take in during the day.

Treasure Island TI – Monorail

The Treasure Island Hotel and Casino and the Mirage hotels are connected by a short Monorail system for people who do not want to walk between the hotels. The Treasure Island Hotel and Casino is elegant with many machines and tables to take advantage of.

You can also use your MGM Mirage slot card at the Treasure Island Casino to gain comp’s towards free rooms and meals as well as shows.

Treasure Island TI – Restaurants

Upscale Restaurants

• Khotan
• Phil’s Italian Steakhouse
• Isle Mexican Kitchen

Casual Dining

• Kahunaville
• Canter’s Deli
• The Buffet
• The Coffee shop
• Pho- Vietanmese

Other Eateries

• TI Desserts

What We Liked

• Variety of slot machines
• Free drinks while gambling
• Free entertainment at the bar located in the casino
• Buffet
• Hotel rates are very reasonable
• Pool area off the lobby is very nice, although not as nice as some other hotels.
• Covered garage parking
• Easy access from all highways
• Safe environment in the casino, hotel and parking areas

Located in the middle of the action close to the Mirage, the Mall,  and across the street from Wynn, the Palazzo, the Venetian and Harrahs hotels and casinos.

What We Did Not Like

There was one complaint about the Treasure Island casino & hotel

Normally as long as you are gambling, all drinks are free. Apparently they apply these same rules to coffee at the bar in the morning. The bar tender made a big deal about the fact that we both had to be playing in order to receive a free coffee. Well we won $800 at the bar that morning and the bar tender did not get a tip!!!

It is a 5 star hotel in our estimation and quite adequate for our needs

Slot Player Card

The Treasure Island casino is part of the MGM Mirage slot players card system. Slot members can take advantage of benefits at many Las Vegas hotels,  as well as sister hotels in Tunica, Biloxi, Laughlin and Reno.

If you have not taken advantage of slot player cards, there are a number of benefits that many slot players should consider. Free or discounted rooms, email mailing list of promotions, free or discounted meals, access to entertainment, and a tax report outlining your losses and wins for tax claim purposes.

Parking

There is ample parking at the Treasure Island hotel & casino in a large parking garage behind the hotel. There is no surface parking that we observed. You can access the hotel from the garage via an elevator from all levels. It is a bit of a walk, although indoors for the most part, visitors must walk in the garage to the elevator, exit the elevator on the bridge level which takes you to the indoor bridge which takes you into the hotel. Next go down the escalator and follow the signs to check in. If you are concerned about the distance to walk, take advantage of the valet parking. The parking garage is also patrolled on a regular basis and it also protects your car from the weather.

Directions:

Treasure Island Casino and hotel is located on the south west corner of Spring Mountain road and Las Vegas Boulevard ( the Strip). Pedestrian bridges take you across the street to the Venetian and also to the Fashion Show mall. Look for W Spring Mountain road exit off of Route 15 that runs north and south through Las Vegas.

Taking a common sense approach to nutrition can significantly improve your lifestyle and overall health. This approach might even save you some money as well compared to what you are spending on fad diets etc. But what do you need to do to follow a common sense approach to nutrition instead of all of the fads and diets that are out there, advertised on TV , the radio and newspapers? This is a question asked by thousands of people every day.

Common Sense Nutrition – Fads & Diets

There are numerous fads and diets that are advertised on TV and other venue’s. Some of them work and some do not, but how can you tell. Certainly some of the stars that are making pitches appear to have lost weight and are doing very well according to the advertisement. Valerie Bertinelli is a good example. She looks fabulous and has benefited from Jenny Craig. But is that the whole story?

The first thing to remember it that everyone who is making a pitch is getting paid in some manner to pitch a program or a product. Today, people will say what ever they need to say to sell a product, knowing that there is no repercussion if they misstate  or stretch some facts. They have nothing to lose and everything to gain. There is no doubt in Valerie’s case that she has lost weight.

There are many other fads and diet programs, however most people either do not have the money to invest in these programs or they are looking for the quick fix to lose weight. Little attention is paid to the level of nutrition in these various diets. Even frozen foods such as lean cuisine have been reported to have 20% more calories in some of their meals than what is claimed on the box. In addition , look carefully at the sodium levels in each meal. Some will have as much as 30 to 40% of the sodium intake in one meal that you need all day.

Common Sense Nutrition – Read Labels for Nutrition Balance

Always read the labels when you are purchasing prepared food. Even cereal will have some elements that you may question such as sodium, fat content, and other elements that the body does not always need. Soups are notorious for high salt content. Frozen meals of all types are often high in fat content and high in sodium content. Fast food can also be a source of high fat and sodium with little nutritional value. Read the labels and make your own decision, before blindly following the advertisement on the box or on the TV. Often they conveniently forget to mention various factors that you may be interested in.

Follow the Food Guides

Both the United States and Canada have their own food guides which if followed will help to ensure that you meet your needs for the right vitamins,, minerals and other nutrients. Consumers can also reduce the risk of obesity, diabetes, some types of cancer and osteoporosis. A balance diet based on the food guide will contribute to your overall health and vitality.

Food Guide Basics for great Nutrition

Adults should eat seven to 10 servings of vegetables and fruit every day. Six to eight servings of grain products and two to three servings of milk products and two to three servings of meat products. Meeting these guidelines will generally give you all of the necessary food groups, minerals and vitamins that you need every day.

Serving sizes should be matched to your overall food intake required to maintain your ideal body weight. Over indulging in anything can have negative impacts including weight gain even if it is nutritional for you. Combine this with 6 to 8 liters of water to aid in hydration and digestion of your food. If you exercise, additional water is usually required based on the level of exercise you undergo.

If you would like more details about the food guides, search the internet for Canada’s food guide.

A Common Sense Approach to Nutrition

Take some time to really educate yourself on what is needed to provide the nutrition you need for your age and gender. Read the labels and look for low sodium content and low fat content, with a mix of minerals and vitamins. Cooked foods at home prepared from scratch are usually better than prepackaged prepared foods that have a lot of preservatives and additives included. Combine good nutritional intake with the proper amount of food and exercise. Getting one or all of these out of balance can contribute to weight gain and poor health.

Fast food restaurants are not the best place to go to get well balanced low calorie meals. Some have begun to introduce better meals. However you need to pick and chose those that provide the right nutritional value along with lower caloric intake. Many are deep fried, have lots of fat and sodium to make them taste better. Even splitting a meal is better than eating all of the meal yourself. But it is better to just not order a high calorie, high sodium high fat meal in the first place. Some of the new salad meals at fast food outlets are great until you add the salad dressing. These high calorie, high fat dressings should be used lightly.

Multi Vitamins

If you feel that you might not be getting all of the necessary vitamins from your food intake, multi vitamin pills are often a great idea. However you should talk to your pharmacist first to get a recommendation. Which vitamins to take based on your age and gender. Also if you are prone to osteoporosis, consider additional calcium tablets and vitamin D to help with the absorption of the calcium. Again your pharmacist can assist with the selection.

In summary think for yourself, ask questions, do some research and read the labels to ensure you are getting the necessary nutritional value you need from the food you eat. Talk to your pharmacist regarding vitamin and calcium supplements if needed.

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Whether you are planning a one day backpacking hike or a weeks backpacking through the wilderness, it pays to be prepared and carry all of the right backpacking gear. You never know what you will be faced with and whether you will need to spend an extra night in the wilds because of weather or some more serious problem such as getting lost. It always pays to be prepared, so we have compiled a sample list of backpacking gear that you may want to consider taking along with you.

Of course what you take will depend on were you are going, how long your trip will be and the area were you will be backpacking. Plan for emergencies and plan for extra days just in case.

Also always tell someone were you are going and if you decide to change your mind, tell your contact or somehow get a message out. If you become lost or get trapped in some manner, at least your contact will know when to expect you back and approximately were you have gone. Sometimes it can mean the difference between life and death. Even experienced back packers sometimes forget and they unfortunately pay the ultimate price.

Back Packing Gear to Take

So what backpacking gear should  you consider for your backpacking trip? The backpacking gear items you could include depending on your plans are:

Backpack – seems obvious, however you want one that is comfortable, that can carry everything you are going to need and has clear markings on it so that it can be seen at a distance easily in case you need to be found. If your backpack will be full, make sure that the straps are wide enough and comfortable for you to carry the backpack.

Quick drying towel – a lot less weight to carry than a heavy wet towel

Walking shoes – comfortable and suitable for the type of hiking you will do. Regular running shoes might not stand up to the rigors of back country hiking.

Underwear & Socks – Clean dry socks will keep your feet in good shape. Change often if you find that your feet are overly warm

Long Underwear – Depending on the season you may want to bring these along. If the nights are still cold, you may want them just in case you get stranded.

Sleeping Bag – Carry a light weight down filled bag with you. They cost a bit more, but are light and can be folded into a small package easily

Passport – If you are leaving the country to another locale this is an absolute must have

Spy Wallet – You should consider dividing up your money and travelers checks between wallets just in case.

Day Pack – These are useful for short hikes

Camera – A small pocket digital camera is always handy and they take quite good quality pictures. They are less bulky than the larger 35 MM digital cameras

Journal – As the days pass one will blur into another. A journal helps to remember those all important details

More Items to Consider

Travelers Check’s – safer than money , they can be replaced if lost or stolen

Wet Wipes – easy to carry and light as well

Laundry Detergent – in case you need to do some washing along the way.

Rain Coat – Small fold up rain coats can be invaluable in the rain and at night.

Medical Kit – A small kit with the basics is always a good idea, band aids, some disinfectant etc

Maps – a paper map is always a good idea even if you are using a GPS. Batteries do run out and that’s were the paper map comes in handy

Compass – always a good idea no matter were you are going

Personal items – toothpaste, deodorant, soap, shampoo

Clothing – for the type of backpacking you plan to do. Obviously you would pack much different clothes for the bush , desert or traveling around the country by bus

Water Proof matches – in case you need to light a fire.

Water Purification tablets – in case your water runs out and you need to drink water out of a local stream

Snacks – even if you are just going for a day hike, always pack some high energy snacks in case you get lost or cannot get back for some reason.

Other Items to consider

Our list of backpacking gear is not all-inclusive. If you think there is a major item missing please feel free to add a comment to our blog. However if you follow these basics for backpacking gear you probably will find  that you will be fine should you get lost or have an accident along the way.

Backpacking with a partner is the best approach to follow. You can always look out for each other and help each other in emergencies. Beside it is just more fun to backpack with someone than by yourself and if you have the right backpacking gear with you, you will have no worries. Don’t forget to tell people were you are going and when to be expected back.

This post is all about the approach to common sense exercise. One of the biggest concerns everyone has is how will exercise affect me? Especially when I have not exercised in some time. Will my  heart be able to handle the increased workload? Will my joints withstand the stress of carrying all of the extra weight around while we exercise? Can I withstand the pain of exercise due to sore muscles?

Common Sense Exercise – No Pain , No Gain

We have all heard this statement over and over, applied to many different topics including weight loss. If you have watched the biggest loser, it is obvious that these people are going though significant pain as they work to reduce weight. They are working out a large number of hours every day, with sore muscles, stomach cramps and pushing themselves harder and harder. Although this has great entertainment value, the concern is can their hearts withstand this additional physical stress.

The contestants on the Biggest Loser have a team of doctors monitoring their every move, monitoring the food they take in and monitoring the medications that they need to take. We have seen some people on the biggest loser actually collapse. for the first week, every muscle in their bodies must be sore, although they really do not show or refer to this, but you can be sure they are in a lot of pain.

From a common sense exercise point of view, by far the majority of people do not have this level of support when they begin to exercise. If you join a gym, you will always be asked to sign a document which absolves the gym of any blame should you have some sort of health issue while at the gym.

If you are concerned ask for a doctors assessment and recommendation regarding your exercise level. Start by walking around the block. Depending on the level of your health you may want to start slowly and build up to a more intense level of exercise. If you feel any discomfort other than sore muscles, take a break. Build up slowly and as you control your diet with the common sense diet approach and follow a common sense exercise  approach you will gradually get stronger and lose weight.

Common Sense Exercise – It Takes Time to Lose Weight

Contrary to the TV advertisements that suggest you can lose significant amounts of weight in a short time period and look like some of the hunks and beauties that advertise these products, no one can make that transition so fast. These people have practiced portion control and exercise programs all of their lives in order to look like the way they do on TV. It is just impossible to change your body to look like that in a short amount of time regardless of whether it is an exercise machine of some sort or a pill or liquid that is being advertised.

The message they are giving to you is that you should buy this product to look like the way these people do. It just will not happen, in the time frame they are suggesting. It takes hard work and focused effort on exercise as well as diet to get to look the way these people look.

Common Sense Exercise Programs

Note that we are not saying “Don’t buy these products”. We are saying that you should manage your expectations regarding these products. If you purchase some sort of weight bearing machine that slides under your bed when not in use, the machine could actually be an excellent addition to your exercise program.

Use the new exercise machine every day or at least 3 times a week and push yourself to your limit every time. Over time you will begin to see results. Add to these exercises to increase your level of fitness and as your strength builds you will be able to do more, exercise more and lift heavier weights.

Using this type of approach will vastly improve your chances of losing weight and keeping it off. One of the most important elements to keep in mind is that you must manage your own expectations. The TV advertisements build up unrealistic expectations and everyone gets disappointed when the results do not immediately come. Set some realistic guidelines and goals and then work towards achieving them over a reasonable amount of time.

Exercise is a Lifetime Challenge

For most of us, with the temptations we have, the life style we lead, exercise is becoming a lifetime activity. Whether you go to the gym, take the dog for a walk, bicycle or ski, everyone of us should know that we need to do some form of exercise all of our lives.

When we were kids, we participated in various sports and were always active. As adults we become more sedentary and burn less calories as a result. Most of us do not reduce the number of calories that we intake and as a result we tend to gain weight. Many people will gain a minimum of 10 pounds every decade, while those of us with eating problems may gain much more than that.

If you want to maintain your weight, the equation is pretty simple. Calories that you eat must be either burned off through daily activities, burned off through exercise or they will add to your bodies fat content. There is no getting around that fact. 2000 calories in less 1500 burned off by daily activities and exercise leaves 500 calories that your body will add on as fat! This is just a simple example to make a point. Individuals need to gauge your food intake with your activity level to assess how much exercise you need and how much you need to decrease your caloric intake.

In summary start slow and build up your exercise routine, stay with it, set up a program for yourself to follow and limit your caloric intake. Get a doctors assessment if you are at all concerned about your health level and your ability to exercise.

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We found the Belterra Casino Resorts hotel and Casino by accident and we are glad we did.  Driving along the interstate one day on our way to Tunica, Mississippi, we decided to stop for a coffee and a sandwich.  Once we got off the interstate, there were signs advertising the Belterra Casino Resorts hotel and Casino, so we thought that we may as well go there for lunch, since all casinos are known for their food. We were not disappointed.  This is a first class hotel with many of the amenities that you would find in any Las Vegas hotel. The casino is typical of the virtual riverboat casinos and so it is not as nice as some of the land based casinos, but it is more than sufficient for any ones needs.

An Elegant Hotel

The Belterra Casino Resorts hotel is very elegant and reminds us of the Bellagio to some degree, but on a much smaller scale. Well landscaped out front with water fountains, lots of marble inside with very nice rooms and restaurants. We were really pleased by this hotel since it seems to be in the middle of no where, yet it has all the elegance of Las Vegas style hotel and casino. We will add better pictures of the hotel and grounds next time we are there in Feb 2010.

There are numerous reviews available on some sites, that are quite positive about the Belterra Casino Resorts hotel, although we saw one negative review after it just opened. Still some construction and new paint smells that did not agree with the writer. We echo the positive reviews about this hotel and we are confident in saying that anyone visiting for a weekend or just passing through will be quite satisfied.

Slot Machines

There are 1600 slot machines of various types and denominations and 54 table games ranging from blackjack to roulette.  There is a par 71 18 hole golf course near by that is ranked in the top 20 casino golf courses inthe United States by Golfweek 2007, the pool area is very enjoyable and the shopping is like many casinos, somewhat expensive, but great variety. They have just about anything the average casino winner is looking for. Shops at the Belterra Casino Resorts hotel include B. Loved, Bling, Blush of Belterra, Studs, TEN. ETC, and Belflora.

We were very pleased with the rooms, they were clean and well appointed. The Belterra Casino Resorts Hotel is relatively new and so the rooms and the hotel in general reflect the elegance and style of a new hotel that is among the best there is to offer.

We have only stayed once at this hotel, however we plan to go back several times over the next year to enjoy what it has to offer.

Belterra Casino Resorts – Restaurants

There are some great restaurants and eateries at the Belterra Casino Resorts hotel and Casino including: Jeff Ruby’s steakhouse, The Ultimate Buffet, Aquarium Cafe, Starbucks, Casino Cafe, Ben and Jerry’s scoop andOut of Bounds Bar and Grill.

We ate at the buffet only while we were their last time. Found it to be excellent with lots of selection as well as quantity. You will not be disappointed with this restaurant. Next time we will try several of the other restaurants we have listed.

What We Liked

• Variety of slot machines
• Free drinks while gambling
• Free entertainment at the bar located in the casino
• Buffet
• Pool area is free to hotel guests with a heated outdoor pool and there is also a spa. However we do not know if this is included for room guests.
• Hotel rates are very reasonable and comparable to staying at some of the chain hotels such as Hampton inns or Holiday inn express. In fact last time we stayed we paid the going rate since we were new to this property and found it to be $10 less than the above mentioned hotels.
• Covered garage parking
• Easy access from all highways, although you do have to drive for 7 minutes from exit 55 off of interstate 71
• Safe environment in the casino, hotel and parking areas
• Great stopover point on your way to Biloxi or points west, or to spend a luxurious weekend at this casino resort hotel
• Starbucks coffee, with free WI-fi when it is working

What We Did Not Like

• There are no real complaints about the Beau Rivage hotel & casino
• Wireless Internet can be purchased for $9.99 for a 24 hour period .
• It is a 5 star hotel in our estimation and quite adequate for our needs

Belterra Casino Resorts Slot Player Card

They are part of the MyChoice slot players card system. Slot members can take advantage of benefits at this casino & hotel,  as well as sister hotels in  Reno, St Louis, Lake Charles, Harvey and Bossier. They are adding properties in Atlantic City and Baton Rouge.

If you have not taken advantage of slot player cards, there are many benefits that slot players should consider. Free or discounted rooms, email mailing list of promotions, free or discounted meals, access to entertainment. Also a tax report outlining your losses and wins for tax claim purposes.

Belterra Casino Resorts Parking

There is ample parking at the Belterra Casino Resorts hotel and Casino in a large parking garage beside the hotel as well as surface parking in front of the hotel. You can access the hotel from the garage via an elevator from all levels.

Directions:

The  Belterra Casino Resorts hotel and Casino is located off of Interstate 71 at exit 55. Just follow the signs to highway 156 east for 6 minutes. The Belterra Casino Resorts hotel and Casino is just one minute away. The Belterra Casino Resorts hotel and Casino is located approximately 1 hour from major cities such as Cincinnati and Louisville.

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If you are wondering about white water rafting, how safe is it and what services you are provided with? You have arrived at the right web site. We will be adding a great deal of information and links to various sites that provide white water rafting across the country.

Whitewater Rafting trips can be great fun and provide lots of excitement. However it is always a good idea to practice safe rafting and to choose wisely when you are about to go on a whitewater rafting trip for the first time. Always confirm the experience of the guide that will take you down the river. They should be well trained and have completed many trips successfully. The best way to know is through referrals to ensure that you go with a whitewater rafting company that you know or has been recommended.

White Water Rafting – Safety First

Always wear life jackets and pay attention to your guide. They have the experience and will tell you when to paddle when to hold on etc. Never drink alcohol prior to going on a rafting whitewater trip. Reaction time and judgment are never as good as they are once you have had a drink or two.

Almost every state in the nation offers whitewater rafting trips through many rapids. Usually they offer half day trips as well as full day trips that include lunch cooked over a fire for you to enjoy in the great outdoors. A few whitewater rafting trips also have overnight excursions. You will need to inquire what equipment you need to bring with you. Above all bring several changes of clothes, because you will get wet!

The spring whitewater rafting trips usually bring fast high water for great whitewater rafting, summer months are slower and the fall often has more rain which means again fast rolling water. Some locations are below dams which  regulate the water outflow ensuring a steady water flow all year round.All rafting on rivers is classified into categories. If this is a first time always make sure that you are going rafting on a river trip that is in line with your physical abilities.

Rafting Packages

If you are new to white water rafting and really wondering what is white water rafting and what the sport is all about, you may want to start with one of the relatively calm white water rafting packages and then progress as you find these trips interesting and exciting. Beginners can choose from camping packages and hotel packages.

Typically white water rafting trips will include, (however they do vary by location and company) :

• Buffet Breakfast before your trip.
• A great riverside lunch complete with all the trimmings
• One or Two Day full day rafting trip
• Complementary beverage after your trip
• Delicious Gourmet Dinner.
• One or 2 nights Camping Include camping and meals or
• One or 2 Nights Lodging for hotel trips

Select the Right Rafting Package

Choose a white water rafting trip that makes sense for you, your family and friends and your budget. For an exhilarating ride of a fast rapids and the comfort of a hotel room at night, book the hotel package with meals. You will have a very exciting and comfortable vacation.

Always book a trip that is aligned with the members in your group. If someone cannot swim, you will want to stay away from a trip that has a high probability of being dumped into the water.

Many people are looking for the quick fix to their weight and diet problems. They see the advertisements on TV with young in shape good looking men and women who are pushing whatever product they have. It may be some sort of exercise equipment or diet or medical treatment or some sort of concoction that they should take to improve their weight problems. For the majority of people these gimmick just do not work because they do not deal with the underlying problems or the real work it takes to reduce weight and improve your overall life style.

The main message of this post is as follows : Develop a common sense plan around the food you eat, the nutrition you get from these foods and the amount of exercise that is right for you. Without a plan that you can focus on, most people will just not be able to  lose weight or improve their situation

The bottom line is to reduce your intake and get moving, exercise more and burn of those calories.

Common Sense Diet

So what does it mean to follow a common sense diet? Without getting into how many calories you are eating or how many calories you are burning off, the common sense diet really means that you need to limit your intake of food and focus on good nutritional food.

More and more we are seeing that when we go to restaurants, that we are not satisfied unless there is a huge plate of food in front of us. Part of this satisfaction is getting value for money spent. We seem to equate the more food that we have in front of us vs. the amount we are spending is a good thing. Consumers love going to buffets were they can eat as much as they can put into their mouth or going to a restaurant where the restaurant offers large sides of vegetables, pasta’s or other high carb food.

Must Finish the Plate

Of course once we have this immense quantity of food in front of us, there is the feeling that we must consume all of this food. We ordered it and we have been taught since we were young to always finish our plate. So we order or receive large amounts of food and we consume all of it. Before we know it we are gaining weight at a rapid pace.

The message is to practice some self control and cut down on the quantity you are eating. Use whatever trick you need, but reduce the quantity of food that you take in every day. Use a smaller plate, stop snacking, snack on low calorie foods, split portions with a partner and avoid those places were you just cannot maintain your self control. It is the old adage, you cannot take a kid to a candy store and expect him or her to not ask for some of the candy in that store. Adults are exactly the same. If it is in front of us we will eat it.

Split Portions

One common sense diet approach is to split portions between you and a partner when you go out to a restaurant. We have found that most restaurants support this request and will gladly give you another plate so that you and your partner can separate the portions any way you like.

Some restaurants have a minimum order requirement. If you really like this restaurant, then just order a salad for one person and have the other person order the main course. You can split the meal after the meal is delivered and reduce the number of calories that you are taking in.

A big advantage of this approach is that you also reduce the cost of eating out!

Foods You Eat

Anything that is deep fried, regardless of what it is should be avoided. The fat content from the oil that it was cooked in will contribute to many more calories that you can believe. Focus on foods that are not deep fried such as vegetables that are steamed, meat that is not breaded and fried and stay away from desert. If you really must have desert keep your portion small and split it with your partner. That way you will both benefit from less calories, save money and reduce your weight.

Common sense diet – Snacking

Snacking is one of the most difficult things to get control of. Yet in some cases is the single biggest contributor of weight gain.

There are two problems with snacking that cause weight gain. The first one is that we lose control of how much we snack and how many calories that we actually consume. A bowl of peanuts, chips etc taste great, satisfy some inner urge. Before we know it the entire bowl is gone. Repeated daily or several times a week will definitely contribute to weight gain. It really does not matter what you snack on, unless it is just fruits and vegetables with no salad dressing, everyone loses control of how much they eat and will gain weight.

The second problem with snacking is what we snack on. Many of us like salted peanuts, chips or sweet deserts. These kinds of snacks will contribute to weight gain. As well as possibly high blood pressure from all of the salt intake. If you must snack, then cut these types of high calorie foods out of your die. Switch to other low calories types of foods. Fruits and vegetables are good examples.

Chew Gum

Another common sense diet snack reducer is to chew low calories gum. Benefits to chewing low calorie gum include the lack of calories. Also the sensation of chewing you get which will contribute to the satisfaction of chewing on something. It gives you something to do instead of snacking.

In summary for a common sense diet, reduce the amount of food you intake. Split portions, avoid snack foods and desert. Use common sense diet approach to everything you do. Use tricks such as smaller plates. Split portions. Avoid fried food and eating steamed vegetables with spice flavoring instead of salt.

We would appreciate your comments and positive contributions to this subject. For more diet information and ideas about losing weight, click here.

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The Beau Rivage in Biloxi Mississippi is another hotel and casino that we enjoy visiting. A member of the MGM group of casinos, your MGM Mirage card, Mlife, will work in the slots machines in their casino and you may also arrange for comp’s as well depending on your play level. As with all hotel reservations, always call your casino host to make arrangements for room reservations and get the best deal you can.

This hotel is the most modern of all of the hotels in the Biloxi area that we saw.  Hurricane Katrina did a lot of damage to the Beau Rivage Hotel & Casino and it was closed for almost a year while repairs were underway. The result is a brand new casino, hotel and restaurant complex. If you visited the hotel prior to Katrina, you will see the same basic structure, however everything is brand new and updated.

There is a great selection of restaurants to chose from. We particularly like the Roasted Bean with it’s great coffee , open air patio area and you can also sit outside as well to enjoy your fresh coffee. The Roasted Bean also offers free refills as long as you have your receipt within a 24 hour period. Nice way to start the day away from the hustle and bustle of the casino.

Beau Rivage Biloxi

The Beau Rivage Hotel & Casino stands by itself on the gulf coast. There are other casinos in the area and over time we will add them to our review list. The point is that if you want to make the rounds to the other casinos in the area, you will need to take your car to get to them. There is also a shuttle bus that runs to the other casinos, although we have not use it.

Along the coast you can still see the damage caused by hurricane Katrina. Vacant lots, cement slabs without houses, denuded trees ( they are growing back) and the odd building still boarded up and not yet torn down or repaired.  Inland about half a mile life returns to normal and close to I10 there are many stores and outlets that you would find in most cities.

Sandy Beach

Their is a fantastic sand beach which goes on for miles. We saw a few people along the beach and hardly anyone in the water . This is not what we expected. We talked to some locals about this. They told us no one really wants to swim here because of the memories and the material that was floating in the water, some of which is still in the sand. If you are planning to go to Biloxi for the beaches, you may want to reconsider. Enjoy the casinos and the restaurants, go deep sea fishing or take an excursion into the gulf.

The Beau Rivage Hotel & Casino is one of our favorite hotels and we intend on returning every year.

The Beau Rivage Hotel & Casino is one of our favorite hotels to stay at. We enjoy the casino, but the 3rd floor pool is special. Protected from the wind, overlooking the gulf, the pool area and spa is an excellent spot to unwind, get some sun and relax. Guests must show a room key to use the spa and the exercise area. There are lots of lounge chairs and towels are located at the entrance to the pool area. There are also tennis courts, however we did not access this area. Don’t miss the pool if you are staying at the Beau Rivage Hotel & Casino.

Beau Rivage Biloxi – Restaurants

• BR Prime – excellent restaurant and steakhouse
• Jia – Looking for Pan Asian food? Enjoy the Jia’s sophisticated exotic cuisine
• The Buffet  – excellent variety and quality. Sit along the windows and enjoy the view or find a more intimate location
• Terrace Cafe – Round the clock for breakfast, lunch, dinner or late night dining
• Memphis Q – Celebrate the blusey culture of the Mississippi river delta
• Coast Restaurant – Enjoy pizza’s and juicy burgers
• Snacks – fast and fresh just a few steps from the casino games
• Roasted bean – Gourmet coffee, teas and pastries, free refills with receipts
• Scoops – Frozen treats, ice cream and more for all ages
• Pool Bar – Enjoy mixed drinks and snacks while lounging around the pool bar
• Bars & Lounges – Enjoy Eight75, the Coast Nightclub, or the Breeze Bar

What We Liked

• Variety of slot machines
• Free drinks while gambling
• Free entertainment at the bar located in the casino
• Buffet
• Pool area and spa free to hotel guests on the 3rd level over looking the gulf
• Hotel rates are very reasonable
• Covered garage parking
• Easy access from all highways
• Safe environment in the casino, hotel and parking areas
• Great stopover point on your way to Biloxi or points west
• Coffee shop offers free refills as long as you have your receipt
• They also offer free WiFi

What We Did Not Like

There are no real complaints about the Beau Rivage hotel & casino

It is a 5 star hotel in our estimation and quite adequate for our needs

Slot Player Card

They are part of the MGM Mirage slot players card system. Slot members can take advantage of benefits at many Las Vegas hotels,  as well as sister hotels in Tunica, Biloxi, Laughlin and Reno.

If you have not taken advantage of slot player cards, there are a number of benefits that many slot players should consider. Free or discounted rooms, email mailing list of promotions, free or discounted meals, access to entertainment, and a tax report outlining your losses and wins for tax claim purposes.

Beau Rivage Biloxi Parking

There is ample parking at the Beau Rivage hotel & casino in a large parking garage beside the hotel. There is no surface parking that we observed. You can access the hotel from the garage via an elevator from all levels. The parking garage is also patrolled on a regular basis and it also protects your car from the weather.

Beau Rivage Biloxi Directions:

The Beau Rivage Hotel & Casino is located on the Mississippi gulf coast , one hour drive from New Orleans, Louisiana from the west and one hour drive from Mobile, Alabama to the east.  From route I10, head south to Biloxi and follow the signs for the Beau Rivage Hotel & Casino. It is the last exit at the end of the highway.

Diet, nutrition and exercise are such an important aspect of our lives and yet many people do not pay attention to what they eat or how much they eat. This web site is aimed at helping people understand the importance of eating a healthy well balanced diet. We believe that moderation is key. That you can eat just about everything and you do not need to starve yourself. We also believe that dealing with various medical issues contribute to diet. Also to overall weight issues. We will be discussing some of these from time to time as well.

We are bombarded with food related ads all of the time on TV, the radio, the newspaper and on billboards, yet none of these really talk about nutrition. Instead they urge your to purchase their products and to enjoy them often. There are diet schemes that promise quick results in a matter of weeks or days. None of these are real and most diets take perseverance and discipline to actually lose weight. There is no silver bullet, you just have to work hard at dieting, while eating the proper foods and exercise to build up muscle tissue while burning calories.

Diet, Nutrition and Exercise – Use the Buddy System

Many people become disillusioned and forget about losing weight and they end up shortening their lives significantly as a result of poor diet, eating too much and no exercise. Having a buddy to work with can be a huge advantage. When your down or fall off your diet or exercise routine, your buddy can help you get back on the routine. You can also help your buddy as well. When you are working in a team, things just go better. Diet, nutrition and exercise  is key to avoid these problems.

Exercise, The Added Ingredient

Although most advertisements focus on diet and nutrition along with their special products, everyone should eat moderate amounts of food, a well balanced diet and ensure that they have foods that provide their bodies with all of the essential elements and vitamins, there is one more factor.

That factor of course is exercise. We do not believe in suggesting that you run the marathon or that you run 20 miles everyday. Instead we urge consumers to get out and go for a walk every day or every second day. park the car further from the door to the shopping center, walk a block or several blocks to the corner store, work in your garden. The main thing is to do something that keeps you active everyday and provides you with a moderate amount of exercise. Exercise can be fun, especially if you do it with someone else. Burning calories and building muscle is key to increasing your metabolism over all.

Sodium & Saturated Fats

Fast food, take out food, and prepared food no matter were you purchase it is generally not good for you. They tend to be higher in saturated fats, higher in sodium and lack the necessary vitamins that you really need to support a healthy lifestyle. Focus on reading labels if you want to balance diet, nutrition and exercise.

You really have to read the labels. One big issue with me personally is the amount of sodium or salt in prepared food. I seen store bought pizza with sodium counts as high as 35% of your daily intake in one piece of pizza. Salt is one of the leading causes of high blood pressure or hypertension. Hypertension leads to heart attacks, and over a period of time harms many of the organs in the body.

Watch your salt content in all foods that you are eating and if possible add less salt to your meals over time. Personally, I stopped adding salt to meals and found that I enjoy the meal much more now, since I can taste the real taste of the food and not the salt in the food. If you really need something, add spices to give some taste to your meal and avoid that bland taste of an excellent meal.

Saturated fats are another key ingredient to watch for. The higher the saturated fats, the more damage you do to your body in terms of cholesterol and calories you add to your system. If you have high cholesterol, consumers can deal with it in a number of ways. For some people all they need to do is change their diet, moving away from  high cholesterol food. Others are genetically inclined to high cholesterol and will have to take cholesterol reducing pills. Either way it is important to get this under control so that your arteries do not get clogged with fat causing blockages, heart attacks and strokes.

Diet, Nutrition and Exercise – In Summary

So to sum up our message about diet and nutrition, eat everything in moderate amounts. Eat good food as much as possible. Make sure you are getting the proper mix of vitamins and essential minerals and exercise. Even if it means going for a walk around the block. You will enjoy your life and those around you much more when you eat well and manage your weight.

Take control of your life. You may have dependents, you may be missing out on many of life’s experiences,  and you could be significantly shortening your life due to the additional weight obesity related diseases that plague anyone who is overweight. These include diabetes, heart attacks, strokes, all types of joint problems and esteem issues. Many over weight people have low esteem due to their high weight. This also contributes to poor or limited relationships in some cases, as well as issues at work.

So it is time to do something about your life and get on a plan to beginreducing your weight, getting some exercise and eating properly!

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The Horseshoe casino & hotel is a 14 story hotel with over 500 rooms and suites to its credit, along with a large casino. Most rooms come with a flat screen TV, fridge and coffee maker. These last two items rank high with us since you can keep soft drinks and water cold for use in your room and also enjoy a cup of coffee in the morning before joining civilization!

The Horseshoe casino has over 1700 slot machines and video poker terminals. There are over 70 tables including all of the popular table games as well as a live poker room with daily tournaments.

We enjoy the Horseshoe casino & hotel every time we go to Tunica and so far we have found very reasonable rates as well as excellent service. Drinks are free as long as you are gambling, however you cannot carry them outside the casino or hotel property.

Colorful & Bright

The Horseshoe casino & hotel is one of the most colorful and bright casinos in the Tunica area as can be seen by the picture. Customers can enter at the front under the lighted signs directly to the casino or they can enter at both ends of the building.  If you enter on the right as you face the casino, patrons can be dropped off by car and enter directly into the lobby of the hotel without having to go through the Horseshoe casino.

The slots are about the same here at the Horseshoe casino , not tight but not loose either. Playing the slots here at the Horseshoe casino means you have to be careful and play with your head just like everywhere else.

There are three hotels and casinos in this particular are and you can walk safely from one to the other. The Gold Strike and the Sheraton casinos and hotels are on either side of the Horseshoe casino & hotel. This makes for great competition as well as if one casino is not working for you, you can always try another.

In addition there are 4 or 5 additional casinos in the area, however you have to drive to each one of these or you can take a shuttle. There sometimes is a long wait for the shuttle so if you came by car the easiest way is to drive over. Patrons should be mindful of the number of drinks you may have had and getting behind the wheel after several drinks at the casino.

Restaurants

Restaurants at the Horseshoe casino & hotel include Jack Binions Steak house, Magnolia: a Delta Cafe, The Village Square Buffet, and the Ace High Snack Bar as well as a Starbucks. We have eaten at the Village Square several times and have found the food and service fine. Both the quantity  and the variety is more than enough to satisfy just about anyone. We would recommend this buffet. We have also enjoyed Starbucks. This is a pretty standard Starbucks so nothing special to report. We have not tried any of the other restaurants.

What We Liked

We like the following areas:

• Nice bright and clean casino area with lots of slots machines and video poker
• Great buffet with good variety of food and excellent service
• Lots of parking which is monitored and routinely patrolled
• Entrance to lobby area from the parking garage
• Lobby area and entrance to the elevators is located next to each other
• Security guard at the elevators verifying guests
• Rooms were clean and well appointed
• Nice bar area as long as a band is not playing, then it is far too loud

What We Did Not Like

• Some rooms are located on the 2nd floor without good access to the elevators
• They were also a long walk to the casino area as well from the room
• The bar area has a band behind it that plays music far too loud

Slot Player Card

The slot player card in use is the Harrah’s Total Rewards. This slot card is good at all of the Harrah’s properties across the US. Also at the Casino in Windsor Canada. Slot players as well as table players are encouraged to always use their slot cards. They will receive benefits such as free rooms and free meals, along with cash back are earned. Any of the Harrah’s properties including the Horseshoe casino & hotel will comp you a room just to get you to come to their casino and hotel. In fact one night we were playing the slots. A slot hostess approach us, confirmed that we were the people she was looking for and handed us a free voucher to the buffet! Now that was a nice touch!

Parking

There is ample parking at the Horseshoe casino & hotel both in front of the main entrance as well as in a large parking garage behind the hotel. You can access the hotel from the garage via an elevator from all levels. The parking garage is also patrolled on a regular basis and it also protects your car from the weather. We have stayed there a few times when there has been heavy rain and threat of tornado’s. You can reach the parking garage by following the signs that lead to a short road that runs between the Horseshoe casino & hotel and the Sheraton hotel & Casino. You will see the entrance to the garage on the left.

Directions: Take route 55 from Memphis, then route 69 west to 61 and south on 61. Follow the signs to the Gold Strike hotel & casino. Mapquest and GPS systems may suggest you take highway 61 all the way from Memphis. This is the shortest route, however you drive through a rather run down and difficult looking area. The safer route is to take 55 south as mentioned before.

The Gold Strike hotel & casino is located just north of the village of Tunica in Mississippi and south of Memphis. There are two casinos located beside the Gold Strike hotel & casino and several more within 5 or 6 miles of the Gold Strike hotel & casino.

The Gold Strike hotel & casino is a modern casino with lots of glitz and gold. The foyer is marble throughout, very modern and clean. The entrance to the hotel is very nice, not exciting or memorable. Hotel guests can register, then head up to their rooms without having to go through the casino which is a big plus in our books.

The Gold Strike hotel & casino is part of the MGM Mirage casino hotel chain. Slot players who use their slot cards will be pleased to know that there slot play will be considered at the Gold Strike hotel for discounted room rates and meals. If you are not an MGM slot player member already, and you play the slots or the tables, you should get one. There are numerous benefits to having one of these memberships and they are absolutely free.

Gold Strike Hotel & Casino – Slots

We have been going to the Gold Strike hotel & casino for several years now and have never had any serious issue with the hotel and services. The slots pay relatively well since there is some competition for slot players between the various casinos in the area. Fridays and Saturdays there is lots of action in the casino and many times the hotel will be fully booked. If you plan on staying over the weekend, we recommend that you book ahead.

Weekdays, you can usually get a room at the Gold Strike hotel & casino at very reasonable rates. With your slot card you may even receive a discount or a free room. Simply call the 1-800 number and ask to speak to your casino slot host. He or she will review your previous play and offer you room rates at a level commensurate with your level of play.

The Gold Strike hotel & casino is also a riverboat casino, however you would never realize it, since they have integrated the casino and the hotel so well. Hotel guests staying on higher floors can actually see the Mississippi river from their rooms. There is actually what looks like

Rooms are modern, clean and nicely appointed. This hotel is not at the standard of the some of the Las Vegas properties that are part of the MGM Mirage chain, however you will not be disappointed with the hotel, the rooms, the casino or the restaurants.

Great Restaurants

We have eaten in the buffet several times. The variety of the food, quantity, service and value are very satisfactory. They also provide a free wine with meals on Sundays which customers can either serve themselves or request one of the servers to provide. The only negative about the buffet is that it is a bit dark and drab. We have also eaten in the coffee shop called the Atrium Cafe. Service is great as is the food. Decor is a little dark, however we really enjoyed it.

The casino has over 1400 slot machines with all of the favorites , such as video poker and reel slot machines. In addition there are 40 table games available, a poker room and high limit gaming for those more discerning players. The poker room is upstairs and there are also a number of poker machines on the 2nd floor as well.

The hotel offers a spa and pool. There is shopping and golf near by. The pool area is free for hotel guests, clean and offers a nice respite from the action of the casino floor.

Gold Strike Hotel & Casino – Restaurants

The Atrium Cafe is an attractive and relaxing spot to eat towards the rear of the casino. As its name implies, the cafe is decorated to look like an atrium outdoors, complete with fake sky, fountains, a greenhouse, and plenty of plants. The small menu includes soup, salad, appetizers, sandwiches , burgers  steak and seafood entrees , breakfast at all hours, and desserts.

Chicago Steakhouse is next to the Atrium Cafe on the first floor of the casino and serves steaks, fish, and chops in an elegant, mahogany-paneled dining room.

Courtyard Buffet> features a carving station, made to order omelets, and quite a selection of other food as well.

A food court, located near the lobby has the following to offer: Burger City has hot breakfast items (pancakes, waffles, etc.) and typical burger joint fare.

Pizzeria Fresh get a whole pie or just a slice.
Gold’s Deli serves sandwiches, Nathan’s hot dogs, baked potatoes, donuts and ice cream.

Java Hut serves Starbucks coffee and Krispy Kreme donuts (in the lobby).
What We Liked

• Variety of slot machines
• Free drinks while gambling
• Free entertainment at the bar located in the casino
• Buffet
• Pool area and spa free to hotel guests
• Hotel rates are very reasonable
• Covered garage parking
• Easy access from all highways
• Safe environment in the casino, hotel and parking areas
• Great stopover point on your way to Biloxi or points west

What We Did Not Like

• There are no real complaints about the Gold Strike hotel & casino
• Internet is provided by Cox and costs $12.99 for 24 hours. The charge is applied to your credit card and you must deal directly with Cox if you have any problems.
• It is a 4 star hotel in our estimation and quite adequate for our needs

Slot Player Card

They are part of the MGM Mirage slot players card system. Slot members can take advantage of benefits at many Las Vegas hotels,  as well as sister hotels in Tunica, Biloxi, Laughlin and Reno.

If you have not taken advantage of slot player cards, there are a number of benefits that many slot players should consider. Free or discounted rooms, email mailing list of promotions, free or discounted meals, access to entertainment, and a tax report outlining your losses and wins for tax claim purposes.

Parking

There is ample parking at the Gold Strike hotel & casino both in front of the main entrance as well as in a large parking garage beside the hotel. You can access the hotel from the garage via an elevator from all levels. The parking garage is also patrolled on a regular basis and it also protects your car from the weather. We have stayed there a few times when there has been heavy rain and threat of tornado’s

Directions: Take route 55 from Memphis, then route 69 west to 61 and south on 61. Follow the signs to the Gold Strike hotel & casino. Mapquest and GPS systems may suggest you take highway 61 all the way from Memphis, however we do not recommend this, due to the area immediately south of Memphis appearing to be somewhat run down and dangerous.

The Mirage Hotel & Casino is one of the most beautiful and elegant hotels in Las Vegas. We have stayed at the Mirage many times and can attest to this being one of the best hotels. We have found that it has declined a small amount since MGM took over the hotel from Steve Wynn. It is still one of the greats, however being longer term patrons we notice the difference. This post is our Mirage Hotel Casino Review.

As you enter the Mirage Hotel Casino property from the strip you are greeted by a beautiful lush tropical waterfall and volcano.  The volcano erupts during the evening, once it gets dark and entertains strollers along the strip. Occasionally the volcano will be out of service due to weather or maintenance.  If you are standing across the street,( 4 lanes plus a boulevard) you can actually feel the heat from the flame erupting out of the top of this man made volcano and running down the sides.

Mirage Hotel Casino Review

The senses continue to be stimulated as you enter the hotel with a huge aquarium behind the front desk and lush tropical gardens. The hotel provides excellent service and is a full service hotel with all of the services that anyone could require. This hotel is at least a 4 star if not a 5 star hotel.  These include of course the casino, restaurants, fine dining, coffee shops, gorgeous pool, shops, conference facilities, and ample parking. With the exception of the casino, which is all carpet, the hotel is marble throughout.

The Mirage hotel and casino has recently updated the casino and other parts of the hotel. In 2009 when we were there they had completed remodeling  Kokomos from a tropical environment to a more contemporary design, however the menu is the same with great food.

The bars, the high roller area and the entrance to the theater had also been changed. All of these changes are meant to attract a more hip crowd to the Mirage hotel . The rooms have also been updated, cleaned up with new furniture and flat screen TV’s.

If you have not visited Las Vegas in some time, you should  note that the former white tiger area is no longer available and has been replaced with a brand new restaurant. Siegfreed and Roy used to entertain at the Mirage and their white tigers were always the center of attraction.

It looks great, however we have not dined in this restaurant. The Mirage is beside Treasure Island and Caesars. Harrahs and the Venetian are directly across the street making this location a prime place to stay in the middle of all of the action. These four hotels alone comprise over 15,000 rooms between them. We follow with more details about our Mirage Hotel Casino Review.

Major Points of Interest

If you are just passing through the hotel, you will want to take a moment to see the following areas of the Mirage Hotel & Casino. Some are fun and the kids will enjoy them as well.

• Aquarium behind the front desk
• Lush tropical gardens
• Tropical pool and water falls
• Dolphin Habitat – small charge, but worth it
• Volcano erupts at night and is a must see item on your list
• Any of the restaurants from the coffee shop to the high end restaurants. You will not be disappointed by the quality of the food or the service.

What We Liked

These are some of the items or areas that we liked about the Mirage Hotel & Casino.

• California Pizza Kitchen is in the casino and you can also keep an eye on the sports deck or just watch folks play the slots or poker while dining. Excellent food.
• Kokomos restaurant is our favorite at the Mirage and although there are other equally great restaurants, we have always enjoyed excellent steaks and seafood at Kokomos
• The pool, with the waterfalls , lush palm trees and tropical gardens has to be seen. You can dine for breakfast or lunch outside by the pool or in the poolside restaurant. You also have to have a room key to enter the pool area that is registered with the hotel.
• Tropical Gardens are everywhere and if you enjoy botanical gardens, the Mirage maintains all of these at their best.
• Very Clean everywhere in the Hotel & Casino
• Always great service
• Coffee Shop
• Friendly service
• Security – at first it is a little annoying, however everyone must show their room key before entering the elevator banks. Anyone who is determined could get past, but at least it stops people from just wandering around.

What We Don’t Like

These are some of the items or areas that we did not like about the Mirage Hotel & Casino.

• The hotel elevators are accessed by walking through the casino. Sometimes you just want to go to your room without walking through crowds of people in the casino. Many casinos have employed this technique to wring a few more dollars out of customers.
• Pool restaurant should open at 9 am instead of 10am
• Pool music can be too loud at times.

Parking

There is lots of parking at the Mirage with a large parking garage as well as valle parking. Pull up to the front doors and drop off your keys and your luggage and everything is taken care of for you. Patrons can also park in the parking garage and roll their bags to the front desk. It is a bit of a walk, but you should get used to it since you will be walking a great deal in Vegas. There are lots of bell hops around once you enter the hotel from the garage who can help you with your bags. They will take them to your room once you check in and also pick them up for you when you check out should you need that service.

There are literally hundreds of casinos in Las Vegas, Atlantic City, Tunica, Biloxi and many other smaller cities across the US and Canada. Our site is providing information about the hotels, the casinos, the shows, the conventions, the entertainment and much, much more through our Casino Reviews.

Feel free to visit any of our pages as we add them on a weekly basis. This is the main page for the Casino Reviews Web site. We are constantly adding more pages so feel free to come back any time. If you have comments or wish to add your stories to our web site, please leave a comment at the end of this post or any of the other posts. Please note that we retain all editorial copyright for any thing appearing on this page.

If you have never visited Las Vegas, or any of the other major casino mecca’s, this site is a good site to spend some time on to learn about casinos around the country.

Casino Reviews – Las Vegas

If you have visited Las Vegas regularly, you will already know that Las Vegas is constantly changing. Every year there are new hotels opening and the existing ones are upgrading and changing their existing venues. We try to provide in a short summary form the information you will need to enjoy Las Vegas. However their are no words that can adequately describe Las Vegas. You have to visit it to believe it!

Las Vegas is the mecca for the gambling world in North America, however due to many other casinos springing up around the country as well as the smaller regional sites of Tunica, Mississippi, Biloxi, Mississippi and Atlantic City, Las Vegas has a great deal of competition.

The picture on the left shows the Eiffel tower in front of the Paris hotel and Casino. Sometimes the best deals can be found at some of these locations. This includes hotel rooms and 5 star meals as well as entertainment.

So Many Rooms

Las Vegas has over 100,000 rooms. With the new Village Center opening in December of 2009, another 5000 has been added. The competition is fierce both to get you stay in one of these fabulous hotels and spend some time in the casinos. All of the casinos employ various marketing approaches to attract visitors. Free drinks, loose slots, fabulous entertainment and some of the best restaurants in the world. Also swimming and lounging areas are just a few of the amenities available for guests. Of course if you are a high roller, then the sky is the limit for anything you might desire.

Within 5 hours drive of Las Vegas, there is lots to see. This includes the Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, Zion Canyon, Red Rock Canyon, Lake Mead, Hoover Dam as well as Los Angeles. From boating to golfing to hiking and dirt riding, there is something for everyone in the area.

Casino Reviews – Atlantic City

Atlantic city is much smaller, located in New Jersey on the coast, there are 10 or 15 casinos along the boardwalk and near the marina. There are something like 100 million people within 1 days driving of Atlantic city. People come by the busload every day from New York city, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Washington and many other cities in the area. Atlantic city has the boardwalk which extends for over 10 miles, along the ocean, many great restaurants and lately discount retail shops with all of the latest fashions to choose from. Atlantic City is not the seedy place it used to be.

Casino Reviews – Tunica

Tunica, located along the Mississippi in the state of Mississippi just south of Memphis has 7 or 8 casino hotels to choose from. All are great, not quite on the scale of Las Vegas, but certainly very nice and worth staying at for a few days. These casinos are all on the water, while the hotels attached to them are actually on the ground. They are all connected by covered walkways and you really would not even know that you were crossing onto what essentially is a barge.

Casino Reviews – Biloxi

Biloxi is coming back. Hit by hurricane Katrina a few years ago, the city and the casinos were devastated, some beyond repair. Some of the largest casinos have been rebuilt and are very attractive now. The city is also slowly rebuilding. Hopefully there will not be another hurricane in the near future.We talked to some of the residents and people who work at the casinos. They say that they would never leave the area. They really love living along the coast with its great fishing and beautiful beaches.

Today virtually every province in Canada and every state in the US with the exception of Utah and a few others have casinos. The local governments have realized that casinos can provide an excellent stream of revenue to help fill their coffers. They can avoid raising taxes on their residents. Much of the money goes into general tax revenues, however many also fund specific projects and endeavors legislated by law.

Inexpensive Vacation

A vacation at a casino hotel can be one of the least expensive vacations you will ever take. Especially if you are lucky at the slots or the tables, or you spend what you budget. It is important to have a budget when you walk into any casino. If you don’t you can lose much more than you ever planned. When you win a large amount, also leave or get someone to hold onto the money for you. If you stay, many people have found that before long their winnings have disappeared.

All of the articles have been written from personal experience and reflect our personal comments. If we have not visited a casino we will still add a review. However we will indicate that the review is based on an information search only. If you have personal comments please leave your comments.