The Perpetual Tourist

I started my six day stay in Reno with a great day both at the bridge table and the blackjack table. Between sessions of bridge (for fun, not money), I’d sit at the $5 blackjack table and slowly work my way up from the $100 that I started with. I did quite well and, of course, was hooked. That’s how they get you, of course.

I thought I had it all figured out when I was up nearly a thousand bucks after a couple of days in the casino, playing only blackjack, but with just one day left in my stay here, I’ve lost most of what I won, so I guess I really don’t have all the answers. After all, these places would never make money if there was a guaranteed way to beat the house. But I have had a great time, and regardless of what I know about blackjack, I’ve gained some experience and do have some casino tips for anyone who wants to go gambling on their next vacation.

• Never gamble more than you’re willing to lose. Set a limit and stick to it. If you don’t want it to go fast, play the low-limit games.
• Having good company at the table is almost as important as playing your cards well. I’ve met a lot of people sitting around the blackjack table this week. Win or lose, I always have a good time when the people are friendly and into the game. Players who sit back and just stare at their own cards without talking make the atmosphere tense.
• Same goes for dealers. Having a jovial dealer makes the table fun. Talk to your dealers. The cards won’t change, but you’ll enjoy yourself more.
• Be polite. Tip your dealer. Don’t heckle other players. Tip your dealer. If you’re a smoker, don’t blow smoke into the faces of the non-smoking players at your table. Tip your dealer.
• Quit while you’re ahead. I know this one from experience. Being up $150 is nice, but it sucks to know that if you’d bailed a little sooner, you could’ve finished plus $800 instead. Set an upper limit as well as a lower limit before you sit down to gamble. If you hit either, it’s time to leave the table.
• Sign up for the free comp card. Most casinos have free programs where you earn free stuff while you gamble. You can use the rewards for any bills within the hotel/casino, and it’s free to sign up, so why not?

I’ve had a good time here in Reno. We’ve been staying at the Grand Sierra Resort, which is actually a little outside of the city. It’s a large hotel and casino complex, with several floors of time share condos as well. This is definitely one of the nicer hotel stays I had in 2007, and the employees here have been great. I can almost always find something to complain about, but this place really has been wonderful. I don’t have any other Reno experience to compare it to, but I’d still recommend the Grand Sierra to anyone looking to vacation here.

Reno is not a big city, and it’s relatively easy to get around. The best food in town, as far as I can tell, is at the Black Bear Diner, where the portions are huge, the prices are low, and you can get breakfast all day. The menu doesn’t have many vegetarian options, and I don’t think anything vegan, but as long as you like breakfast fare, you can find plenty of good food without meat.

Today is a day for driving. We’re likely heading back to Oregon, which will take most of the day. Luckily, there’s a lot of good football on the radio today. One of my favorite things about the west coast is being able to wake up and catch a game before lunch. It’s definitely the right coast for a morning person.

Happy New Year!