Visitreno Forum Index Visitreno
Visitreno.com's message board
There's a lot of information on the
MAIN SITE
 
 FAQFAQ   SearchSearch   MemberlistMemberlist   UsergroupsUsergroups   RegisterRegister 
 ProfileProfile   Log in to check your private messagesLog in to check your private messages   Log inLog in 

MLK and Prez Weekends at Fitz's

 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Visitreno Forum Index -> Trip Reports
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
RenoLady



Joined: 23 Feb 2006
Posts: 316

PostPosted: Feb Thu 23, 2006 11:48 am    Post subject: MLK and Prez Weekends at Fitz's Reply with quote

Since we live in Davis (a few miles from Sacramento), we’re able to get up to Reno about once a month, missing only when we go to Reno’s bigger brother, Vegas, a couple of times a year. We either stay at Fitzgerald’s in downtown Reno, or at the City Center Motel in Carson City. The Nugget in Carson does not have its own hotel, but owns this one and subsidizes the rooms. $49 anytime, even Hot August Night weekends, and that includes dinner! Let me know if you have any questions about that place.

We recently decided to give Fitz’s some more play, since if you are at their Shamrock level, you receive 3 trips a year, but at the higher level, Emerald, you receive 4 trips, more freebies and every point you earn-gets you a free point. These last two trips have almost put us there, and March surely will. We like Fitz’s, the rooms are comfortable, with easy access to the casino, and now there’s no train whistle at 4-5AM (honestly, I could see the smirk on the conductor’s face as he passed under my window). However, we did notice a few differences this last trip. There seemed to be less service all around. The upstairs cage refused to cash our tickets, claiming we needed to use the machine. The machine only works about ½ the time, and when you want 100 in 5’s plus some single dollars for tipping, it’s not the best choice. They would regularly argue, and we ALWAYS tip them for giving us change. The hours of the upstairs bar has shortened, and they did close the buffet completely, instead of leaving it open like Frank in marketing had thought they might. So I’m a little worried about their future, are these employees hearing something?

Over the MLK weekend, we lost consistently for 2 days, and then won the last day, putting us back up to a losing trip, but not an “ouch” trip. The winning machine was the “Off the Charts” nickel slot machine upstairs by the bar. (Nice location). Playing a mere 6 line 2 coin put me into bonus twice with 2 handpays of $150 and $250 (old machine). We then went to Atlantis’s Oyster Bar for the seafood plate for two and while waiting to be seated, I played at a 50 play video poker machine (penny) and was immediately dealt 4 queens on DDBP. A couple of hands later, I was dealt Four 4’s with a kicker, I ended up cashing $300 out of there from my $20 and went in to dinner. Good times.

On this most recent trip, while my husband drove up the hill fighting the weather, I daydreamed of the Off the Charts machine spitting money at me. I was forced out of my daydreaming when we had to stop at Applegate (outside of Auburn) while CHP turned trucks around, and metered us down to one lane to slow the traffic. There was no chain controls, but it was wet and slick. We saw 4 single car accidents, no injuries, but one car was upside down! My husband grew up in Spokane WA, and is always amazed at the California drivers and their lack of respect for the snow/ice. The 2 ½ hour trip took 4 hours this night, but we never mind the additional time going to Reno, only leaving it.

I’m not going to do a play by play of the next day’s activities, suffice it to say, it was a slow bleed. The Off the Charts, mocked me, taking back all she had given me on my last trip, and the weird part, most of the games were doing the “almost” bonus round constantly! You know what I mean, the bing, BANG but no BONG! The ones that make you go hmmmmmmm….. then order another drink, light up another cigar, and think, well at least the room/food is cheap/free.

Like Hawk said on his last trip, we ended up spending a lot of time in the room, watching TV, to slow the losses. But who wants to do that? This is our 4th President’s Day holiday and we’ve lost badly at them all. I know there is no “switch” that the casinos can turn on and off at will, I know that it’s all random when you win, but I still believe there is a casino exec behind the little curtain (as in Oz) that is hitting that switch on all holiday hotel-filled events, and turning it off on Monday morning when we all head home. Hey! I’ve lived in Reno twice in the last 20 years, and we ALWAYS would head out Monday morning and empty the machines the California’s had filled for us.

Our next trip is the end of March, when we meet my husband’s folks (from Spokane) in Reno, and my sis and daughter join us from Davis. These are all fun people, and some good times should be had!
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
garyandsharon



Joined: 17 Dec 2005
Posts: 75

PostPosted: Feb Thu 23, 2006 5:39 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Nice Report - I know what you mean about Reno. It is the "Biggest Little CIty In the World". Who knows what draws us, there other than the feel of Large in a small arena.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Barb



Joined: 17 Dec 2005
Posts: 82
Location: Portland, Or.

PostPosted: Feb Fri 24, 2006 8:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Good report Reno Lady--We just returned from a 3 night trip to Reno staying at the Fitz. I know what you mean when you say that the Fitz might be in trouble. A pipe was broken for 2 days when we were there and that kept the casino(not our rooms thank heavens) so hot-hot that nobody but me wanted to play upstairs. I only played there because it has my favorite machines. They were very cold to me so I might have to find more favorite machines. When we came back from playing at Elldorado the escalater going up and over wasnt working.
I always like the Fitz but it seemed like they had tightened up all the machines. We did have a good prime rib dinner at Limericks with our daughter and son-in-law and had fun--just not enough play for the money.
Of course I will forget all this when we go back in April Very Happy Laughing Barb
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
RenoLady



Joined: 23 Feb 2006
Posts: 316

PostPosted: Feb Sat 25, 2006 12:40 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I really like the Fitz, so we have decided to concentrate our play there. I hope I'm not making a wrong call here with a potential closing, or worse yet, a merger of a corporate property with less concerns for the low roller!
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Visitreno Forum Index -> Trip Reports All times are GMT - 8 Hours
Page 1 of 1

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum


Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2005 phpBB Group