Left Harrisburg airport at 7am Friday for Reno, on American Airlines, with a change of plane in Chicago. Flights went ok, but the Chicago to Reno leg was a long one.
Arrived 11am Reno airport, Hertz rental, asked for a Mustang, got a sable...so inside I went to see if anything could be done. I'm a Hertz #1 Gold member and this was supposed to be simple! They found a Mustang and I was off for the weekend in a fun car.
Next stop The Hilton. Check in was smooth. I got an end room with a large bathroom, tub and seprate shower, 2 sinks each with there own counter, king bed, and large room area with a desk, table & 2 upolsterd chairs, TV. Nice room, but no safe. So down to the security boxes at the main casino cage. We played some short pay deuces machines, at the Garage bar. I got deuces twice! Nice tidy $500 profit for the day so far. Daisy checked in and had us paged. She came down later and played.
Daisy drove us around this day as we listened to some sort of Cajun/zydeco/swing mix, which was actually pretty cool sounding.
Lunch out at the Atlantis was great. I ordered the pepper poppers, that's fried cheese with hot peppers inside. Well after the first one, the roof of my mouth was one big peice of burnt skin. Played here for awhile and broke even on the tables. Return to the Hilton and lost a little on the VP machines, but finished up for the day $400.
Saturday, we get up early and head for the hilton casino. I play some BlackJack and Sue gets beat-up by the machines. We meet Daisy and off we go on our whirlwind tour of Reno. Peppermill for breakfast, and I donate at the tables while Sue losses on the VP.
Then Siena is next. I like this place. The woods and general feel of this place is nice, then the bus people come. This place seems to have some class, but it's quickly shatters with all the coupon toting bus people, that make the cashier line 50 people long. Here I had some luck and a very nice dealer who was quite mean to the other players. Never had this happen before, but she wanted me and one other player at her table, anyone else she'd seem to try to run off. Now don't get me wrong here, the other players that would come up to the table where doing the "money plays" thing with wadded up $1 bills. A real PITA type for a dealer. When her time was up at our table, she pointed to me and instructed her to be nice to me. Then on her way out of the pit she rubbed my back and thanked me for being so nice. Somehow I get the feeling they don't do a great business with the $25 & $50 BJ beter here.
Next is our walking tour of downtown Reno. Lots of closed properties, we settle for Harrah's and Sue & I loose our butts here. Daisy gets comped tickets to a comedy Magic show, which I enjoyed.
Walk back to the car which was valeted at the Eldorado.
Out to the Bonanza for Dinner. When we pulled into the lot, I knew this wan't a high roller joint. I wanted a nice meal for our Saturday night, and while entering the place I was beginning to have my doubts. The smell of stale cigerette smoke hit me like a wall when we entered. We walk back to the restaurant, and I was suprised. The menu wasn't high priced, but the food was extremly good and as we ordered. I had the prime rib, and felt I got a heck of a bargin. The restaurant didn't smell of look like the Bonanza did at all. Southwest theme, with a Mexican waiter we all had trouble understanding, but he didn't have any trouble understanding us! Which in the long run is what mattered anyway. Played here a little. Lost a hundred, but I'm still up slightly for the trip. Sue lost again.
Back to the Hilton for a couple of single malts at the bar. Nice selection available to quarter VP players. I had the Scapa, Sue had the Glennlivitt, and Daisy had something that began with the letter L! LOL We parted company and said our goodbys. I moved to the BJ tables, Sue looked and found every loosing machine in the joint. Bed at 4am, I'm out for the trip, but not a lot. Sue said it was a horrible gambling trip for her. When asked how much she lost, she said alot, and that she has whole Vegas trips and doesn't loose what she lost in Reno. OUCH!
Sunday we get packed and head out the door for the airport. We see Daisy getting coffee, but we can't stay and chat for too long. One group hug and we are airport bound. Car return was smooth, and flights home went well. In my own bed by midnight Sunday! Ahhhh.
Closing thoughts....
Would I do it again (Reno weekend) YES, but not real soon. It's a long way to travel for just a weekend. But seeing and spending time with Aunt Daisy was worth it. I had a wonderful time, I wish it could have been longer.
Does Reno compare with Las vegas...NO, there is no place like Las Vegas. But this was my second trip to Reno, and I enjoyed it more because I was better prepared for Reno. Reno is not a mini Las Vegas, it's Reno. It was a pleasent change, from all the glitter and fast pace of LV. And guess what, there are a heck of a lot of nice people in Reno too.
end

Lee,
Thanks for the report, I enjoyed it. Been wanting to try Reno.
"Daisy drove us around this day as we listened to some sort of Cajun/zydeco/swing mix." Daisy must be hanging around with the Cajun (Ralph) too much.

Lee - Just curious - why did you hit Reno instead of heading back to Vegas? (Sorry Sue lost so much!) --Mike

Mike my goal was to meet with each of the charter members of Talkvegas and just get to spend some time with each of them. Daisy suggested we meet in Reno, and that was that!(They are all great people)
I got to spend time with all of them, one way or another, except John. We couldn't match up on dates of travel. But I'm still hoping to spend a weekend with him in the near future!
I'm sort of lucky because 2 of the charter members live right down the road from us (30 miles?) and those visits are easy! LOL
Vegas there would have been way too many distractions. Reno was a good choice. I think Lake Tahoe might be a good choice for the next time we do a aunt Daisy meet too!

Larry,
I'm playing the music as I type, but it really belongs in my car. It's nice listening to something that has such a upbeat sound!
If you would ever get a glimps of my CD collection, you'd find that I like all sorts of music. Yes, I even have some rap CD's! LOL Sometimes, I buy a CD, because of the jewel case cover only. I've gotten some very strange sounds this way, but then I was always the one that pushed the "guess what" button on the candy bar machine too!
I don't know what Ralph listens to, my guess he's sick of it, growing up in that area. But to me it's uplifting!
Thanks for reading!

Thanks for the report Lee. I can't see anyone having anything but a good time when you, Sue & Daisy get together.

Never been to Reno but hope to see it someday. Hopefully I can get a good guide to show me around.

Is the back rub all you got from your dealer friend?

daisy--no don ho for lee??

Jeff,
Shame on you.....yes a back rub was it!

Go to Reno with an open mind, as it may be only a hour flight from Vegas, but it's a whole other world.

Daisy was an excellent hostess & guide.
Oh and those monte cristo sandwiches we've heard so much about where pretty darn good too! <VBG>

D.A.G.,
I don't own a Don Ho anything.
Lee-PA

LOL ...Don Ho coming up for DAG and Lee.

I just received a nice note from the Reno Hilton. They thanked me for my visit & play. Also included was a contact host's phone number, and a note about my next visit being free.
Guess, I really did loose a lot this trip! LOL

Lee, I figured my offer had to be in the mail<g> ...and it was ..$29/$49 a night :rolleyes:
However, they will give me $10 in free slot play or a match play coupon .. I guess they don't know those coupons are dangerous in my hands.