Visitreno

[alphabeta]

FRIDAY, 6/1

I started my adventure before dawn in the rain. It was on and off all the way to Metro.

I made it to the airport safe and sound and parked in Big Blue. I did the Early Bird thing on Southwest and got A32 - fine with me. The security line was long but moved quickly until the actual screening, which bogged down a bit. It was raining harder by the time we boarded, which was routine.

The plane was about 1/3 empty. We left and arrived on time. We soared far above the clouds where there is no rain. It was a 4-hour flight to Phoenix and we had our choice of several snacks, plus pretzels, plus peanuts, and a drink. This, I guess, passes for a feast by Southwest standards.

It was quite warm in Phoenix even though it was early and I didn't get off the plane. About 10 others joined me. The flight to Reno was full. We left on time and arrived a bit early - so early we had to wait a bit for the other plane to leave our gate.

In the airport I saw what seemed like a very new slot - Elvis the King. I'm sure Priscilla and Lisa Marie won't allow any machine with his name on it to have a decent payout, so I didn't sample it.

That done, I went to Dollar to pick up my car for the day. There were no major issues with the paperwork; it would be $23 for the day (with a 1200 point bonus). My midsize car was a Chrysler 200. There were some signs of wear on the outside and it had about 6000 miles. I got in a little hassle over the car - some ladies were standing next to it in stall M-13. Their car was in N-13, which they proved when one of them was clever enough to use the remote door controller. The car was decent enough, higher revving than I'm used to if the tach is to be believed.

The Dollar desk clerk advised an overland route to Circus Circus via Plumb to Virginia. I took it. It seemed slow, but I made it. I didn't much care for the layout of the parking garage and it had seen better days. But I got used to it through the days. I went down to the lobby to check in. They gave me some coupons, but the only one I used was a $5 matchplay. More about that later.

My room on the 6th floor of the Sky Tower wasn't half bad. There were some signs of outdatedness and wear (like that 19" CRT), but I've had worse. CC has a little monorail/shuttle that runs from the Sky Tower to the casino/mezzanine area. I don't think it ever got above 10 MPH; most people could outrun it or even outwalk it if they put their minds to it. But it does save some energy for whatever. I put my stuff away and prepared for an appointment. It's NSFW, so forgive me if I leave those details out.

When I got back, I made a brief pit stop, then explored the mezzanine. It was the same as I remembered it - restaurants and the midway. Then I got to Silver Legacy, and passed through there to the Eldorado. There I finally went down and found a funky little machine that ostensibly played craps. I'd better explain this - there were about 8 betting stations surrounding a bubble with oversized dice (think Dice Game-sized from TPIR) that pop up on cue - like Trouble the board game, if you remember that one. You could play most, if not all, of your favor craps bets - including odds (limited to 2x). The bet limits were $1-500 on the line and $1-25 in the field. I would take a more thorough look at it later.

For now it was off to Harrah's to cash my winning tickets from the last trip - a useful $88 for my bankroll. I earned a point at VP but lost $5 in the attempt. I was sure I would return, but at that time there was nothing to see, so I went back through the Eldorado to Silver Legacy's Cafe Sedona. I had their steak special. Good food; I boxed up a lot of it to eat later. The total cost was about $29, no comps for this one.

The day wiped me out so I relaxed in the room and called it a night around 10.

SATURDAY, 6/2

I got up at 7. I cleaned myself off and prepped for the day to come. I took the car out for a trip to Atlantis, but first stopped at my favorite 7-11 in town for some gas. I paid about $13 for 3 1/4 gallons (93 miles). Not great fuel efficiency, but OK.

At Atlantis I parked near the skywalk and found some VP of interest. First was Double STP with their Airport Deuces schedule - not the casino's best, but workable. I found I could play just one line X 7 coins, so I did that. I hit several multipliers but it was a general grind down as I finished down $9. I went on to the standard STP game. I was quickly rewarded with quad 3s - no multiplier. I left $26.75 ahead there.

Then it was off to the craps table, which had some early activity. This was not a good choice as I left $69 behind. What did I spy? Single deck blackjack? Why not?? Anne & Patsy provided the day's entertainment. I mostly stayed near even and I took off $11 ahead. Penetration wasn't as good this time - just 6 rounds for 1 player and 3 for 3. So you can cancel those tickets.

Then I went to the sports book to place three baseball bets. No need to keep you in suspense - I won all three, for a gain of $70. Some days I'm so brilliant I surprise myself.

By the time I got back out in the sunshine, it was nearly time to return the car, so I went to Meadowwood Mall. I parked near JC Penney, which was close to where I really needed to go. I got my gift, took a quick tour of the mall and left. This is the first time I've been to a mall in at least 4 years. I don't miss them.

I drove to the airport and returned the car to Dollar. No issues. Then I went in to pick up my other car, from Alamo. The clerk there had the fun comment of this trip - when I told him where I was staying, he said, "That place is a zoo!" I have to say I agree – lots of kiddies and their parents running around - but it is cheap & convenient, and for the price I guess I can put up with a little insanity. Check-in was fast at the Alamo desk, but getting the car was not. It took about 15 minutes for it to get ready because they had to wash it. Good reason.

My compact ended up being - hey! - another Chrysler 200. This one was gray with Washington(!) plates and about 25,000 miles. But it looked good and had power seats. I'll take it! And I took it back to Circus Circus. Then I took a short walk to Silver Legacy to have a burger at Cafe Sedona. I used my comps to pay for part and cash for the rest.

After some rest I went into the busy belly of SL's casino. I played 9/6 JoB at a 100x machine for nickels. I only played 20 lines at a time because that fit my comfort level. Alas, I hit quads here too and walked away $4.50 ahead. I twisted my way into what I thought was a hot craps table, but it was just a mirage as I retired down $115. I took a look at my new comp balance -> $16.49! Wow! I was bookended by some much bigger players; perhaps they confused me with them. I'll take it.

Then it was off to the Eldorado to sample their pop-up craps game. Nobody got hot and I lost $27.60. But I made up a buck at Texas Tea. At this point I was down about $100 for the trip. I went back to the room, followed my games and rested. Lights out at 10.

SUNDAY, 6/3

I got up at 4:30 - not as bad as it sounds considering I'm a EST kind of guy. I had a taste for some pancakes, so I went down to Cafe Sedona to get some. I found a fair number of people who had partied hard. I'm sure they had stories, but I didn't ask. Didn't want to know. The order was filled efficiently and the food was good (and comped), so what else could I ask for?

I moved on to the Circus Circus casino on a fact finding mission - how much play does it take to get a point? I found a 8/5 dollar bonus machine that would test it for me. It took $7.50 per point, making that coupon (200 points for $10 in freeplay) nothing special. I hit three aces, helping me to a $10 win. I should've stopped there, but I had to play a couple of pretty slots. One was Catch a Wave, which I had previously found a reliable payer. The other was Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey, which fits this silly place like a clown's glove. Combined I lost $15. Enough of that.

I bought a Reno Sunday paper at the gift shop and retired to my room to read it. After that it was time to get moving for the rest of the day. I drove down to Atlantis again. This was 3x slots/VP day, for whatever good it would do me. I fought Cops & Donuts to a draw, then I found myself at STP. I didn't have much luck here and I gave away $25. I made up $5 playing quarter NSUD.

Time for blackjack, I guess. I whiled away 1 1/2 hours or so and for over half of that I didn't bust once. That always helps and I was able to get away with a $56 win. Then it was off to the sports book. I forgot to bring yesterday's winners; not too important since I would be back the next day. Anyway, I saw three baseball games of interest. I won two of them for +$20. Yeah I'm good. I then wandered over to Spin STP. I got a 10x multiplier and was dealt a low pair. I ended up with 2 pair on four lines, which is a little disappointing overall, but that was still 400 coins - only $20 since I was playing for nickels. I spent the rest of my time watching races and games at the book. No bets. I left because I had another appointment.

I got back to CC about 2 PM and after some rest went into the belly to use my MP. The blackjack table I chose had a weird crowd. We had several other players jumping in and out and my $100 buy-in was by far the largest I saw. Mostly they bought in for small amounts (some with MPs) or brought a few chips with them. They didn't last long. Sue was the dealer for this - followed by My. Insert legal joke here. In my 1/2 hour there I got 4 blackjacks - 2 in a row as I first sat down (one with the match; that paid $12.50). And later, 2 that were suited. I got 2 stuffed fish for those. In between blackjacks I didn't do very well, so I could only escape $4 ahead.

I got out of there and headed to Harrah's for their dinner buffet. I had some old faves (Hawaiian ribs, pineapple chunks) and added pizza and roasted chicken, among other things. It was all good. This took a small slice of my Great Race comps. I went back to the room to room to relax. I contemplated seeing "Man in the Mirror" at the Eldorado, as I had the previous two days, and on the previous trip, but I just couldn't fit it in. Its limited engagement ends in August and I won't be back before then. Oh well. Bedtime was at 11:30.

MONDAY, 6/4

I got up at 7 to a fresh day. It was off to Atlantis for some more action. But first I filled up the rental at my favorite 7-11. The gas was the same price, but it was slightly less than $13 this time to fill 'er up. Later, at the Atlantis, they had one of their table game promotions today - can double the first two cards at any blackjack table. It only helps on their single deck table, since you can double any first two any time on the other games. I sat down and it was a slow grind down. Then came Joycelyn in relief. Suddenly I started to get good hands and she started to bust. There was only one opportunity to double other than the normal 10 or 11, but it was a biggie. With a $25 bet out, I got A6 vs. her 4. She busted and the 8 I got was irrelevant. She said she preferred dealing to just one player. So do I, sometimes, but I got out while the getting was good, up $85. That put me ahead about $40 for the trip - good enough. I shut it down after that.

I went to the book to watch the early baseball game and some horse races. Then came time to return the car. No issues at Alamo. I caught the Eldorado shuttle back since that was the first one available that was heading close to where I was. I went back to the room for a brief stop, then to Harrah's for a lunch buffet - free as always. The food was decent/good, nothing too notable this time around. Then I went back to the room for keeps and retired at 10:30.

TUESDAY, 6/5

I got up at 4 to pack for my flight back. I went to Silver Legacy for the shuttle pickup because I wasn't sure if CC had a shuttle. That went smoothly enough and I got to the airport in plenty of time. TSA wasn't very busy at all, so I think I got a secondary screening just to keep them occupied. The flights were both timely and I made it back to Detroit, and then home, closing out another adventure.

I have a series of Great Race-related trips planned for next month, then another trip to Reno in October.

Thanks for reading.

[Mammothgambler]

Thanks for the awesome detailed trip report, Alphabeta, sounds like you had a blast!

Regarding the Circus, I was never able to get a straight answer regarding their comp system and how much dollar equals a point, etc. I do know that I had two consecutive visits there back in 2008, didn't use any comps or points, and recently revisited for the first time since then, where I was magically showing $14 in comps still available. It appears they do have an option where you can automatically use the comps for free slot play by converting right at the machine. I didn't know they had so many options there. Good to know. One thing I'm still finding interesting over there, besides that wicked coconut air freshener they use everywhere, is that they still appear to have a decent amount of machines that drop coins.

Regarding that craps machine at the Eldorado - it's amazing, but be careful! A couple of my friends are literally addicted to that thing, in not so good of a way. There's an identical model at the GSR. From what they tell me, you can place all of your normal craps bets and play it just like craps, but I believe there's an option where the bets can go as high as $50 per roll. It's set up in a way that's more addicting than most slot machines, I guess because of the funny way the dice "pop" and the lady's voice that's always saying, "No more bets!" I kid you not, one of my friends was up about $2800 on it and lost everything within 10 minutes. Part of his problem is that he doesn't know when to stop, but this is one of the machines that seems to be real stand-outish about "taking you in!"

Glad to hear everything was to your liking at the Harrah's buffet. Except for their prime rib being a little dry from time to time, it always seems to be surefire and consistent.

Hope your upcoming trip in October will be just as fun.

Mammothgambler

[BC Dave]

I liked your detailed report. Kinda makes me feel like I was there. One question though - what's a "Stuffed Fish"? Or are the comps really getting weird?

[alphabeta]

[BC Dave]

OK, that certainly answers my question. A little weird but hey, you've got a couple of new Reno collectables! Actually they're kinda cute. Hello Goldie and Moby! Sorry I called you weird.

[LilyJDragonfly]

Ha! Love the Stuffed Fish bonus..... guess you can't bet those so you'll at least go home with something is the idea...

So what's with the car switching?

[alphabeta]

[stan_allen]

It is taking me FOREVER to get caught up with these trip reports, only because I like to read them slowly to actually imagine the passage of the events, as opposed to the usual, quick-digestion-oriented approach.

But I've gotta stop here and there to applaud, or whatnot, and here we have a profitable trip, as well as a dealer called "Insert legal joke here", which should win an award of some kind.

Bravo!