Where should I go?

I usually take a gambling trip twice a year, in between when I finish one set of obligations and before I have to start up another. The last few times, I have gone to Las Vegas. I certainly enjoyed it, but I'm thinking I might be nice to try something different. I have two Southwest flight vouchers, so I can go wherever Southwest flies, and I am also a Harrah's Diamond member, so I can get hotel comps in most markets where they have properties. Keep in mind that my budget is _extremely_ limited. The trip would be this May. Therefore, I've narrowed it down to the following destinations. I list the pros and cons of each:

New Orleans
Pros: Been once, but only for 24 hours. Really enjoyed the city. Was before I was into gambling so didn't really experience Harrah's casino, which I've heard good things about. Tons of other stuff to do in the city. Can get a hotel comp on weekdays at Harrah's. Warmish weather. Can rent a car and visit Biloxi if I so choose.
Cons: Will probably have to rent a car if I want to visit Biloxi. Not sure if I can get a hotel comp for NO and Biloxi back-to-back.

Tunica
Pros: Might be able to get a weekend comp.
Cons: Been before. Not much else to do besides gamble. Will definitely have to rent a car. Not sure if SWA even flies to Memphis. Can probably eliminate this.

Atlantic City
Pros: Comp available at Caesars. Can pick up $100 worth of free play and a free buffet. Possibility of weather being good. Ocean is nice.
Con: Been everywhere, seen everything. Hard to get to transportation-wise. Would probably have to fly into PHL or BWI, and rent a car/bus/train it. Harrah's charges $13/night for a comped room.

Las Vegas
Pros: Always a good choice. Probably the largest selection of comps available. Might not have to rent a car.
Cons: Been so many times. Desire to try something new.

Edit: Include Laughlin in here somewhere

Reno
Pros: Never been. Attractive choice because flights are usually expensive to get there. Can get a comp at Reno or Tahoe. Tahoe is supposedly amazing. Plenty of new casinos to check out.
Cons: Not a warm weather destination. Would have to rent a car.

San Diego
Pros: Never been. Extremely nice weather. Can get a comp at Rincon. Can explore the city.
Cons: Almost certainly have to rent a car. (Not sure if there is bus service to Rincon.) Otherwise would be limited to Rincon as other casinos are far apart.

Teddys - Not sure where you are located, but why not consider St. Louis?

Pros: Six Casinos in metro areas to choose from, including Harrah's. Lots of other attractions to see - top rated museums & zoo, the Arch, the Anheuser-Busch brewery tour, etc. Growing music scene with Blues & Jazz. Lots of microbreweries if you're into that. Weather will be nice (avg high = 77 in May)

Cons: You will need to rent a car. Potential for Thunderstorms & Tornados (although we're going through our yearly allotment real fast in April!) The strip clubs (with very liberal rules) are all located in Illinois, so you'll have to drive 15 minutes to get to them!

Laughlin's worth a trip once if you want a quiet, gentle, relaxed time with cheap gambling and nice view of the river.

Quote: Altut

Why did you leave Laughlin out?.

Geez, you MUST be Jerry/Singer, they love Laughlin. You give yourself away every time you sneak back.

Quote: Toes14

Teddys - Not sure where you are located, but why not consider St. Louis?

Pros: Six Casinos in metro areas to choose from, including Harrah's. Lots of other attractions to see - top rated museums & zoo, the Arch, the Anheuser-Busch brewery tour, etc. Growing music scene with Blues & Jazz. Lots of microbreweries if you're into that. Weather will be nice (avg high = 77 in May)

Cons: You will need to rent a car. Potential for Thunderstorms & Tornados (although we're going through our yearly allotment real fast in April!) The strip clubs (with very liberal rules) are all located in Illinois, so you'll have to drive 15 minutes to get to them!

Yeah St Louis is a great city. Catch at Cardinals game while you're there!

New Orleans
Sounds like you will really enjoy New Orleans. Biloxi is not mandatory despite all its casinos in and just north of it. Only a few of them are notable. Comped room in Biloxi is not difficult to get.

Tunica
Cottonfields and soybean fields and casinos. That's it. Fly a Harrah's junket to Tunica not Memphis. (Con: your luggage takes forever).

Atlantic City
Nothing new for you there at all.

Las Vegas
New names on the various clubs is the only "new".

Edit: Include Laughlin in here somewhere
Is this a retirement trip?

Reno
I hear bankruptcies are increasing there as are vagrants.

San Diego
If you are not going to be getting out and about what is the use of the nice weather.
Some of those casinos are on rugged roads and are DRY.

Quote: teddys

Las Vegas
Pros: Always a good choice. Probably the largest selection of comps available. Might not have to rent a car.

There you go. Anyplace else pales by comparison. You answered your own question. I've been going to Vegas since '76, it would never even occur to me to ask what you're asking.

I vote Reno/Tahoe. I had to cancel my trip there, but it seemed like a real nice place. It won't be cold in May, just not warm. And, I think you should be able to get by without a rental car. Harrah's does offer some sort of transportation service from the airport to Tahoe, it might be free for Diamond members...

I voted for Reno, but you should consider Niagara Falls if you have a passport. Three casinos and lots to see nearby, see the Falls for free, nearby Canadian Army Fort of some kind (saw it as a kid, know no more details.) If you like clean air the casino manager is Mr Nosmo King on the Canadian Side.

Now for the contest, who can name where the name of the Canadian Casino Manager came from?

I voted for Nawlins. Harrah's is a block away from the French Quarter which is always worthy of a visit.

You know, Southwest is partnered with Voalris in Mexico. If you want to forgo gambling, you should inquire about the possibility of using your vouchers for Los Cabos, Puerto Vallarta, Cancun or some other place.

Quote: Nareed

You know, Southwest is partnered with Voalris in Mexico. If you want to forgo gambling, you should inquire about the possibility of using your vouchers for Los Cabos, Puerto Vallarta, Cancun or some other place.

Unfortunately, I lost my passport last summer and haven't bothered to get a new one :(

St. Louis is a great city, and I like a lot of things about it -- but the point is to get away from the Midwest grind. Also why I didn't mention Omaha :)

Quote: teddys

Unfortunately, I lost my passport last summer and haven't bothered to get a new one :(

How long to get a new one? In Mexico you can get one in one to three days depending on where you apply.

Anyway, if you go to San Diego you can also visit Tijuana (it's right accross the border at San Ysidro). You don't need a passport to go there if you stay within the free port area. For sure there's a race track and a sports book, plus who knows what other kinds of gaming Caliente has going on there. It's also a cheap place to buy souvenirs and spirits, as the sales tax doesn't apply.

Oh, and as I recall, and it was a long time ago, San Diego's beaches were quite nice.

Personally, I'd lean towards New Orleans, Reno, or San Diego. Never been to Reno, so I can't comment on it.

Been to SD once for a few days & loved it. Need to go back soon.

Haven't been to New Orleans in 20+ years. I liked it, but wouldn't go back now with my family. (It's not my wife's kind of place, and my kids are too young to allow me to do the more adult stuff I'd want to do there).

I love The San Diego casino scene, I go probably twice a month. If you are going to go to San Diego I highly recomend getting a car. Keep in mind that while the casino's are in San Diego county, they are really pretty far inland and you would not get much of a San Diego experience unless you got a car and went to the beach and explored the city for a day, which would be fun. On the Pro side, there are 5 casinos within a 10 mile radius and they all compete, so the Harrah's actually has the most liberal rules at BJ... double deck, surrender, resplit aces, DAS, 3:2, etc. Another benefit is you can go to the other 4 casinos in the area and pick up about $50 in free play plus some food comps for signing up at the players clubs. If you have any Questions about the area let me know, I don't often post but I do lurk around here most days.