Lake Tahoe mini trip report

Wife and i visited Stateline, NV/ South Lake Tahoe, CA from 9//19-9/22...

Trip was for my 30th birthday which was friday. We gambled before our trip even began by trying to fly standby on southwest airlines. I figured Thursday was not a high volume day and e could make the 11:55 flight. Wrong. Everything was sold out and overbooked so we had no options but to buy the last two tickets on the 4:55 flight. This wasn't even non stop. Phx to san diego to reno.... total cost $655. Ughhh. So after 6.5rs at the airport in phx and another 4 hours in travel we get to reno at 9pm. Go to baggage claim. Wifes bag is nowhere to be found. Customer service says that the bag got left in san diego and cant be delivered until friday afternoon. Shitty. Pregnant wife is crying... great start to our trip. Picked up the rental car and drove the 60last miles to the hotel. We stayed at marriot grand residences. Very nice place. Highly recommended. Our room was very nice and even had a fully supplied kitchen with stove, fridge, microwave, crock pot, & silverware. Only downside was the $26 a day parking fee. We got in late and called it a day.

Friday i woke up early and decided to hit the tables before the wife woke up. Walked over to Harvey's and played some craps. Table was pretty dead and i played for about an hour playing $5 passline and 2 come bets with 3 times odds. 3/4/5 odds offered but my bankroll isnt big enough to take the hit of things go bad. One guy rolls decent and hits 3 points and some come bets but everything else was bad. Made a $2 two way yo bet that hit and dealers were appreciative. Cash out down $110. Walk over to blackjack and start playing. Up and down and then i hit blackjack. Dealer pays me $30 on my $25 bet. Crap i didn't even notice.its 6/5. Guess i should expect that at CET. Played a few more hands and decided to call it quits on a 6/5 table and cash out down $70. Went and played pai gow. I dont bet the fortune bonus and take grief from dealers and players. This becomes a common theme on the trip. Ridiculed for not playing the bonus. One dealer even told me that harveys thanks me for not playing the bonus because that is how the players win. Anyway i ignore everyone and play the way i want. Nothing exciting on pai gow and cash out even. Left harveys and meet the wife for lunch at stateline brewery. Average meal...pricey beer. I should mention my wife is actually wearing the same clothes as the day before since her bag has not arrived. Get a call after lunch around 12:30 that her bag is delivered. Went to the hotel so she could shower etc... went over to harrahs when she gets ready and play more pai gow. Get scolded for not playing fortune bonus... nothing exciting for me but guy in seat 1 hits 4 oak twice in about 45 minutes. I cashed out even and wife loses some money in the penny slots. Went to dinner at basecamp. Pizza. Good pizza. Good service too. Wife goes to bed and i go back to harrahs. Play pai gow and lose about $130to which was all the cash i had on me. Go to atm and get out $200. $5.99 atm fee. Absurdly high but i dont have a choice. Play more pai gow. Get 5 pai gows in a row to start and manage 1 push and 4 losses. Things looking bad. I made a comeback and got it up to $250 and cash out. No exciting hands. Bed time.

Saturday and sunday to come this evening

Edit... apologize for grammar. Typing this on my phone which is way too hard. Will finish tonight

I'm looking forward to reading more as I'll be in Reno/Tahoe in a couple of weeks and the up-to-date reviews are much appreciated.

Lost bags and a crying pregnant wife, shitty? probably worse...lol

$26 a day to park a car, wtf?

I sure hope Saturday and Sunday were better than Thursday/Friday.

Quote: Beardgoat

I dont bet the fortune bonus and take grief from dealers and players. This becomes a common theme on the trip. Ridiculed for not playing the bonus. One dealer even told me that harveys thanks me for not playing the bonus because that is how the players win. Anyway i ignore everyone and play the way i want.

Thanks for the report.

I always thought I needed to play blackjack to maximize my unsolicited abuse, but it's reassuring to know that the idiots are active at the other table games as well.

Quote: Alan

$26 a day to park a car, wtf?
.

Our hotel had no free parking. You HAD to valet so on top of the $26 a day just to park, i spent a few more dollars on tipping the valet guys also. Harvey's has a parking garage with free parking but it is about 1/2 of a mile away. Its an easy walk and i would have done it but pregnant wife wouldnt go for it.

Question. Was the 6-5 blackjack at a $25 minimum table or were you wagering $25 at a lesser minimum table? I ask because 6-5 blackjack is more prevelant at the lower limit tables. I have seen few $25 tables, but hope not to see that trend.

It was a $10 min table. I was just betting $25... that was the only time i played bj though at harveys or harrahs so i dont know if the $25 limit tables were any better

Quote: kewlj

Question. Was the 6-5 blackjack at a $25 minimum table or were you wagering $25 at a lesser minimum table? I ask because 6-5 blackjack is more prevelant at the lower limit tables. I have seen few $25 tables, but hope not to see that trend.

Harveys and Harrah's have an $25 minimum single deck blackjack table at each casino with blackjacks paying 3:2. You'll love this short video Kewlj I took at Harveys with a sign stating, "Bet with your head, not over it" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yH9nOF8vPxs

Quote: seattledice

I'm looking forward to reading more as I'll be in Reno/Tahoe in a couple of weeks and the up-to-date reviews are much appreciated.

Here is a video I took a couple of weeks ago of South Lake Tahoe and Downtown Reno casinos, enjoy! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=embwaFjRy1U

Quote: Alan

$26 a day to park a car, wtf?
.

I would have spent the $26 on gas and driven
to another casino. Seriously.

Quote: JSTAT

Harveys and Harrah's have an $25 minimum single deck blackjack table at each casino with blackjacks paying 3:2. You'll love this short video Kewlj I took at Harveys with a sign stating, "Bet with your head, not over it" [linkhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yH9nOF8vPxs/link]

I can't seem to get either of these links to work, JSTAT. I suspect it is an issue with my tablet computer. Will have to try on my other computer later.

Time to get into the rickshaw service business..park at Harvey's and we'll rickshaw you to the Marriott and vice versa for $10 each way and your bags for free.

The link works on my laptop (Windows), but not on my Galaxy smartphone Kewlj. Weird. Maybe the Wizard needs to upgrade V Bulletin or something. You can always go to my Moviemakerjjcasino YouTube Channel to see the South Lake Tahoe/Downtown Reno video which shows the "Bet with your head, not over it" clip along with my narration of these two gambling meccas.

Quote: JSTAT

The link works on my laptop (Windows), but not on my Galaxy smartphone Kewlj. Weird. Maybe the Wizard needs to upgrade V Bulletin or something.

The problem was how the link was entered. See the formatting codes page for more info. You can also just enter the plain URL such as http://www.example.com/ and the forum will make it a clickable link for you.

Sorry to hear you hit some difficulties. My wife and I just checked in at Harveys -- nice room on the 18th floor with a view of the lake.

Quote: JB

The problem was how the link was entered. See the formatting codes page for more info. You can also just enter the plain URL such as http://www.example.com/ and the forum will make it a clickable link for you.

Done, thank you. I should have put the links straight in without the formatting codes.

Here are the videos again:

"Bet with your head, not over it" sign at Harveys (short clip) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yH9nOF8vPxs

South Lake Tahoe/Downtown Reno casinos video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=embwaFjRy1U

Saturday morning I woke up at 8 am and walked to Harvey's to play some more pai gow. It was myself and two other guys at the table. The dealer was from Mexico and didn't really speak English that great. It was tough for me to understand what she was saying sometimes. I point this out because at one point there were a few poor hands in a row and she says that somebody should try banking. I played about 5 hours Friday and didn't see 1 person try banking. So I said why not ill try it. I am from phx and Arizona casinos do not allow banking so I have never tried it before. As I am about to bank 2 more players buy in and each put up $25 bets. So I ask the dealer if I have to cover all bets at the table, or can I wager up to a certain amount only? She tells me no not to worry and she'll take care of it. Sure enough I get a pai gow. I lose 4 hands and push 1 when the guy has a straight and a low top. So the dealer takes my chips and pays everybody. I said I just asked if I had to cover all bets and you said no not to worry you'll take care of it. She replies that she knew I had enough behind me to cover all bets so I didnt need to play all my chips in the betting circle. She meant she would figure out the pays after the hand. Well that was clearly not what I asked her. So my $140 is now down to $40. I know it's my fault and I should know the rules, but I had never banked before and I CLEARLY asked if I had to cover all bets and she said no. So now I'm pissed off. I would have never wagered 80% of my buyin on one hand if I had known the rules. Oh well lesson learned I guess. I ended up actually making a come back and cashed out like $50 ahead.

So it's now 10 am and my wife and I booked a lunch cruise on the lake. We had actually made reservations to do it on Friday, but since my wife didn't have any clean clothes she called and rescheduled. The Bleu Wave cruise group was nice enough to let us on the next day instead with no problems. Basically it's a 2 hour yacht ride on the lake. $55 a person and you get 2 free drinks and a lunch of sub sandwiches. I bit overpriced if you ask me. On top of this just being a 2 hour ride to emerald bay and back, it rained the whole time. So we didn't even get to go outside on the yacht. We stayed and sat at the little bar inside and just chit chatted with the crew. They were nice and gave us some good history lessons on the lake and some good restaurant options, but it was just another disappointment. I felt bad for my wife as she was really looking forward to this.

After the cruise we get dropped off at Harvey's. She plays some slots and I play pai gow again. Not playing the bonus again and get expected comments from dealer about not playing the bonus. Literally about 6 hands in a got a 4 of a kind and don't win anything on the bonus of course. I really heard it from the table then.... No problem though I cashed out ahead $100 and went back to the hotel to watch some football.

I'm and Arizona State football fan so I turn the game on in the room. It turns ugly fast. Asu down to Stanford 27-0 barely into the 2nd quarter. Screw this. I tell my wife it's time for more pai she decides to nap.

I go to Harvey's and buy in again. Not playing the bonus. I start hitting strong hands. Full houses... 4 to a royal twice... 4 to a straight flush another. I decided to cave and start betting $1 on the bonus. Nothing comes of it and and I cash out about even. I pick the wife up for dinner and we go to 19 something at the top of Harvey's. Great view of the lake so I hear but it was dark and we couldn't see it. We ordered the shrimp scampi flat bread. It is more of a pizza... And man was it amazing, best thing I ate all trip. I can't even describe how good it is. I highly recommend that place.

After dinner go back to Harvey's. Wife plays more penny slots. Play more pai gow. Played for about 2 hours with a table full of guys on a bachelor party trip. They all tel me I need to play the bonus. But I refuse... Good times were had with alot of jokes and laughter and I was even winning. I got some good hands and decided what the hell and play the bonus again. 4 hands later I pick up the straight flush 9-king of spades. Barely missed the royal. When I saw the straight flush I excitedly exclaimed " F#*% yeah!" dealer was not amused and tells me to watch my mouth. Sorry lady I was excited. Only paid out $50 but it was the only straight flush I saw at any table of all players in about 15 hours of play. I played like 20 more minutes and when lost 4 hands in a row I left about even again. Decided to call it a night and head home

Sunday.

Wake up at 7am to get some gambling in. Head to Harvey's and lose $150 pretty fast. I will give the suit at Harvey's a thumbs up as i accidentally set my hand wrong and the suit approved to pay me. I had A K 10 10 5 5 7... I meant to play the A K up top but for some reason grabbed the cards on the other side of the hand and played 5 7 up top. It was an obvious mistake and suit agreed to pay my bet. I didn't expect it and know I was wrong but I really appreciated the gesture. Anyway I lose my $150 and walked through the tunnel to Harrahs. I play for about an hour and win my money back and leave to meet the wife for breakfast. First we checked out of the hotel. $78 plus tax for parking..... ...... .... Anyway we ate at the Drfitwood cafe and it was good. Nothing special just regular food but large enough portions for a decent price. I'd recommend it.

After breakfast we buy tickets for the Heavenly Gondola. Most people think of the little canal boats when I say Gondola but it is actually like an enclosed ski lift that goes up to the top of the mountain. $38 a person for a 2 1/2 mile ride to the top. 9100 ft up. Fantastic view of the city and the lake. Takes about 10 to 15 minutes to get to the viewing platform up top but you can take pictures and relax and enjoy the view up there. Again I thought $76 for the both of us was a little expensive but the wife loved it. Happy wife happy life I've heard.

It's around 1:30 now so we get our bags from the bell man. We decide to make a quick stop at lakeside inn. It's a small locals casino. I wanted to check it out and get a chip for my collection. Awful idea. Only 2 bj tables open and one is empty. No craps tables open. No other carnival type games. So I sit at the empty table and lose my $99 in 9 hands. Lost 8 hands and won 1. At least the blackjack paid out 3/2... I take my $1 chip and get my wife who had found a Michael Jackson penny slot. No bonus or anything for her and her $20 is gone. We left literally within 10 minutes of getting there. My wife and I joked about me buying a $1 chip for $100 bucks. We left and headed to the airport

Random notes
- Aplogies to mission as I forgot to submit my weekly football picks. I didn't even check the site until Monday morning.
- harrahs and Harvey had just about every table game. Craps, bj, pai gow, roulette, 3 card poker, 4 card poker, ultimate Texas hold me, Mississippi stud... Nice selection.
- never saw anyone else bank playing pai gow and I had to have played about 15 hours at least
- the dealers were fantastic. Never tip hustled all of them were very friendly. I was amazed how many of them said they had been working at harrahs or Harvey's for over 20 years. Quite an experienced crew.
- my wife didn't win anything on slots. Lost about $100 and about $60 of that was mine lol.
- I got 635 tier points in the 2 1/2 days of play average bet $20-$25 bucks of mostly pai gow. I estimate I played 15-18 hours probably. I'm hoping to get some decent offers to go back. What do you guys think?
- even though we had some speed bumps along the way my wife and I LOVED Tahoe. I can't wait to go back. I think I even like it better than Las Vegas. Certainly not the variety of casinos but It was more laid back and the dealers were a lot better in my opinion. And the weather was great. It was 103 in Phoenix on Saturday. High of 57 in Tahoe!
- spent about $450 between gambling and everything else.

Anyway I thought this would be pretty short but I guess I rambled a little bit. I had fun and can't wait to give you all the sequal to my not so mini Tahoe report.

great trip report , I know what you mean about keeping the wife happy. We drag our dogs along and it cost more for the dogs to stay than it does for us but its worth it.