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Travel Feature
By Rebecca
Johnson, SmarterTravel.com
Staff
--- Date Posted: 09/30/04
Casinos royale: Our guide to planning your next gaming vacation
This
fall, the most popular domestic vacation is Las Vegas according to a recent
survey of actual bookings. Caribbean cruises topped the list for international
vacation destinations. And both destinations, among several others, have made
our list of the top casino hotspots worldwide. While proximity is usually the
deciding factor when planning a casino vacation, entertainment options away from
the gaming action should also be considered. Whether you're looking for casino
action only or a beach vacation on the side, this guide will help you sort out
the details for planning your next gaming experience.
Las Vegas
Many hotels in Las Vegas have become one-stop vacation resorts with
everything from casinos and headliner entertainment to dining, shopping, spas,
and even amusement park rides all under one roof. One of the most recognized
streetscapes in America, the Strip, has casino resorts resembling Paris, New
York, Venice, an Egyptian pyramid, a Polynesian island, and the Roman Coliseum.
Seventeen of the 20 largest hotel properties in the United States are in Las
Vegas, the largest of which is the MGM Grand with 5,034 rooms.
Before you book, it’s important to know what type of hotel you’re looking for
(budget or luxury) and whether or not you want to stay on the Strip. Also, look
for extras like free meals or entertainment that could significantly lower the
overall cost of your vacation. In general, the best deals to Las Vegas that we
have found are through America West Vacations, Liberty Travel, and United Vacations.
Reno
Situated 340 miles northwest of Las Vegas, families may enjoy a different
gaming atmosphere in Reno, Nevada. The “Biggest Little City in the World” has
roughly 40 casinos and, like Las Vegas, the legal gambling age is 21 years.
Aside from its 24-hour gaming atmosphere with casinos, fine dining, and headline
entertainments, Reno also offers options for children and nature lovers. Top
attractions in the Reno vicinity include whitewater rafting, hiking, skiing, and
golfing.
Most major airlines service the Reno/Tahoe International Airport, and Southwest Vacations often has some of the best rates on
air-and-hotel-packages. Reno-Sparks Convention & Visitors Authority’s website also
lists many of the Reno properties with links for booking accommodations or
hotel-and-activity packages.
Atlantic City
The number-two gaming city in the United States (based on gross revenue) is
Atlantic City. Although smaller than Las Vegas, with only 12 casino hotels, this
East Coast alternative has a similar atmosphere with headline entertainment,
gourmet dining, and shopping. Boasting the world's first boardwalk and miles of
sandy beaches, Atlantic City is famous for more than just its gaming activity.
Street names here may sound familiar to you as many were used as namesakes in
the game of Monopoly, and the Miss America pageant has been hosted in Atlantic
City for more than 80 years. The majority of Atlantic City’s tourists come from the Mid-Atlantic and
Northeast states. Greyhound and other bus services offer transportation to
Atlantic City from many of the neighboring cities, making Atlantic City
particularly appealing as a day trip. Casino-sponsored buses will often give
away vouchers for cash or free meals to entice visitors, but do not oblige the
rider to stay at the hotel. Go to the Atlantic
City Conventions and Visitors Authority's website for a list of casinos and
individual properties’ websites for more information. The Atlantic City
Party shuttle offers daily service from New York City and the Atlantic City CVA has information about travel options from
other areas. The Atlantic City airport is serviced by only two airlines: Delta
and Spirit. Both airlines offer air-and-hotel vacations. Since the majority of
Atlantic City’s visitors drive or ride to their destination, packages often
include hotel-plus-activity. This varies from breakfast or spa treatment to
tickets to a headline act. You can often find packages on the individual hotel's
website, or go to the Atlantic City CVA and view their discount
selection.
Mississippi Gulf Coast
Biloxi, Mississippi, is becoming one of the new casino vacations hotspots.
Like Reno, this gaming destination offers more than just Vegas-style
entertainment. The Mississippi Gulf Coast offers visitors a variety of
family-oriented outdoor activities ranging from golf to water sports and
fishing. Biloxi, Mississippi, which hosts several of the area’s 12 casinos, was
once home to the Biloxi Indians. Later colonized by the French and Spanish and
now pocketed with antebellum and Victorian architecture, history buffs will have
plenty to do outside of the casinos as well. For more information about tourism
in this area, visit Mississippi's Gulf Coast website. If you plan on visiting the
casinos, keep in mind that the legal gaming age in Mississippi is 21
years.
The majority of Biloxi visitors drive to the Mississippi Gulf Coast, which
means hotel
packages are quite common. Located on the Gulf of Mexico, Biloxi is about an
hour east of New Orleans. However Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport is
serviced by AirTran, Delta, Continental, and Northwest airlines, some of which
will package air-and-hotel vacations for you. Biloxi is 2004's most affordable
large metropolitan area as ranked by Business Travel News based on daily
accommodation, meal, and rental car costs.
Caribbean
Between cruise ships and island-based casinos, the Caribbean is among the top
international gaming hotspots. The area even has a casino game named after it:
Caribbean Stud Poker originated in Aruba in the late 1980s. While many islands
in the Caribbean have at least one casino, Aruba, Curacao, the Dominican
Republic, and Puerto Rico have 10 or more casinos choices each. Most cruise
lines and many islands, including Aruba and Puerto Rico have a legal gaming age
of 18; other islands, like Curacao, regulate 21 as the minimum gaming age. The
U.S. dollar may be used in many casinos; however some islands have strict rules
on the import and export of currency that high rollers should be aware of before
entering the Caribbean. Send comments to advice@smartertravel.com.
©
2001-2005 Smarter Living, Inc.
Reprinted here with permission from Smarter
Living, Inc. |
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