SOUTH POINT CASINO AND HOTEL IN LAS VEGAS:
A GREAT PLACE FOR GAMBLERS TO VACATION!
A GREAT PLACE FOR GAMBLERS TO VACATION!
Few places cause me to exhale and smile as much as the South Point Casino and Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. Why? It's a splendid feeling of full relaxation.
Is it grand? No. Is it exclusive? No. Is it in a trendy location? No, it is not any of those things.
So why do I find myself so excited about going to South Point Casino year after year?
I suppose after all these years as a gambler, I'm old enough and experienced enough to know what truly makes me happy and comfortable. Sure, I love the finery of life. And yes, I enjoy all the glitz and glam on the main strip in Las Vegas. But at this age, I just want to vacation in a place where I can have fun playing bingo; trying an array of slot machines; and drinking my favorite beverages while consuming my preferred foods all in a clean, low-key and convenient environment at an affordable price.
I have no need for the crowded and loud atmosphere of the Las Vegas Strip anymore. Like most of the young hipsters on the Strip nowadays, I too, started gambling at the tender age of 21. In fact, I couldn't wait until I turned 21 so I could go to Vegas!
Granting my wish, my mother and her sister coordinated my first gambling trip. Las Vegas was called "Sin City" back then, but for me, it was an adult playground. Once I turned 21--a legal adult--there was no stopping me. I wanted to know first-hand and see everything I'd heard about Vegas! I wanted to see the shows, eat the foods and try my luck. Believe me, I did!!
For two decades, my game of choice was roulette. I had an obsessive liking to that table game. Until after my 50th birthday did I finally move on to playing penny slots almost exclusively. Initially, my interest was in playing nickel slots, then quarter slots. For a few decades, I was even focused on playing dollar and five-dollar slots.
During those years of high-roller sessions and taking junkets to various cities in the nation just to visit and play in casinos like Foxwoods and Mohegun Sun casinos in Connecticut or The Atlantis casino in the Bahamas, I had seen and been lavishly treated to the best of times in fancy high-limit rooms with my mother and her high-roller friends in tow. There was little I had not done in a casino, been offered or seen.
I had lived the exhilirating casino life and experience for over 20 years. Yet, it was the mundane game of bingo that finally tamed me.
Every now and then you have to "check" yourself as a gambler. You can easily slip off the slope if you are not careful and aware. Getting caught up in the high life on high-rolling on slot machines is a fast and furious way to lose sight of the real goal. The goal of making money and relaxing. The loud group yelling and celebrating at table games is contagious and intoxicating...even mesmerizing. Although, I'm not sure that it is profitable for the average Joe.
Playing slow and easy bingo is a better way to gamble without losing your focus and cool.
At almost 40 years in the gambling hobby, I am most content with staying at a casino hotel that offers me not only slot machines, but the inexpensive game of bingo. For me, South Point Casino and Hotel, on the other end of the Las Vegas strip near residences and grocery stores, offers me the best vacation for the buck.
I usually rent a car in Las Vegas. South Point valet is johnny-on-the-spot ready! I don't recall ever having to wait long for parking my car or picking it up. The rooms are simply decorated but clean and comfortable. However, the walk from the registration area to the room elevator area is the longest and worst on the planet. As a person who suffers with arthritis, that LONG walk kills my knees every time.
Once I'm settled in the room, my adventure begins immediately. My usual daily schedule includes the following routine:
The day starts with espresso at Seattle's Best coffee near the main entrance.
Running upstairs afterward to grab my free donut at the 11 a.m. bingo session is a sight to behold. Sadly, the coffee place is near the registration area in the front of the casino while bingo is located all the way towards the back of the casino by the room elevators. Actually, the walk is even longer because you then have to take the escalator upstairs to the bingo parlor. I always make it on time...for the free donuts!
Bingo sessions last 1 hour, so it's easy to take the escalator back down to the floor and play a quick slot machine game or two between bingo sessions.
After the 1 p.m. bingo session (ending at 2 p.m.), I tend to walk across the casino floor to the left and take the elevator upstairs to one of my favorite Mexican restaurants--Baja Miquel's.
After lunch I tend to make a few bets on the horse races. Yes, I'm an avid thorough-breed race horse fan. I love horse racing (see my blog on the Kentucky Derby)!! I lived in Louisville, Kentucky for 4 years. I have been to Churchill Downs countless times. Having the convenience of a sports book betting and viewing area at South Point Casino is another draw for me. You can even watch the sports event of the day on larger viewing screens in the adjacent area. And if you don't want a Mexican lunch, you can settle for other foods near the sports book, such as deli salads and sandwiches, a GOOD hot dog, Japanese fusion food or Steak and Shake hamburgers.
By the time I have watched the ponies and screamed for number "3" to win, I am usually ready to sit at a slot machine to slow the action back down. Knowing the 7 p.m. bingo session is the most popular session, I usually head upstairs to the Bingo parlor to get a good seat. The 7 p.m. is packed with locals because it allows them to come after work. The prize structure also includes three $1,000 coveralls so even the tourists are there. Watching until the crowd thins a bit downstairs, I stay for the 9 p.m. bingo session as well.
On vacation, I tend to eat a late dinner. Around 10 p.m., I'm starved for a meal. There are two high end restaurants and a 24-hour cafe. My money is reserved for gambling so the cafe is fine for me. Depending on the day, I would have eaten lunch at the buffet and filled my belly pretty well to last the day. A late meal of something lite is my usual fare.
It's around 11:00 p.m. now. Time to do what I came to do. I try to play two solid hours of slots until almost 1 a.m. I've found that the money falls more freely during those hours. It's the best fun!
Of course, if I'm running low on moola, I can also take advantage of their 24-hour bowling alley or their inexpensive movie theater.
I'm rarely sleepy around 1 a.m. from the excitement. Good ole' bingo has a 1 a.m. session to make me drowsy. I love South Point Casino! It has everything to offer me a fantastic vacation.
Yet, I don't give all the credit to South Point. After all, I'm in Las Vegas.
My routine changes a bit each day. When I'm in Las Vegas for at least 3 days or more (my longest vacation was for 9 days there), I have to do the following:
1. SHOP--There are three malls near the main strip so with a car I can easily check-out each one.
2. EAT--The Wynn casino has a buffet that is out of this world fantastic!! They have also revamped their sports book so it's the largest in Las Vegas.
Additionally, I lived in southern California for a few years and there's a chain of broiled chicken places called "El Pollo Loco" that I have to visit while in town.
3. PLAY--There are several properties owned by Caesar's in Las Vegas. To build up my main player's card, which is under Total Rewards (Caesar's player's card), I stop in to gamble at a few of their casinos.
Lastly, the skyline of Las Vegas changes yearly. While in town I usually visit new casinos or casinos that I didn't visit on my last trips. I always find thrills in Las Vegas casinos.
So now that you know why I love South Point Casino and Hotel plus why I love Las Vegas, I should also reveal a secret. When traveling to Las Vegas make sure you take the late night flights home. I take the 11:30 p.m. flights. I have the entire day in town plus I sleep soundly on the plane ride home. When I arrive home, it's morning in my city. Breakfast at Waffle House let's me unwind and recall all the fun of my vacation. Once I'm at the house, my real life is always waiting for me.
Viva Las Vegas!!!
At almost 40 years in the gambling hobby, I am most content with staying at a casino hotel that offers me not only slot machines, but the inexpensive game of bingo. For me, South Point Casino and Hotel, on the other end of the Las Vegas strip near residences and grocery stores, offers me the best vacation for the buck.
I usually rent a car in Las Vegas. South Point valet is johnny-on-the-spot ready! I don't recall ever having to wait long for parking my car or picking it up. The rooms are simply decorated but clean and comfortable. However, the walk from the registration area to the room elevator area is the longest and worst on the planet. As a person who suffers with arthritis, that LONG walk kills my knees every time.
Once I'm settled in the room, my adventure begins immediately. My usual daily schedule includes the following routine:
The day starts with espresso at Seattle's Best coffee near the main entrance.
Running upstairs afterward to grab my free donut at the 11 a.m. bingo session is a sight to behold. Sadly, the coffee place is near the registration area in the front of the casino while bingo is located all the way towards the back of the casino by the room elevators. Actually, the walk is even longer because you then have to take the escalator upstairs to the bingo parlor. I always make it on time...for the free donuts!
Bingo sessions last 1 hour, so it's easy to take the escalator back down to the floor and play a quick slot machine game or two between bingo sessions.
After the 1 p.m. bingo session (ending at 2 p.m.), I tend to walk across the casino floor to the left and take the elevator upstairs to one of my favorite Mexican restaurants--Baja Miquel's.
After lunch I tend to make a few bets on the horse races. Yes, I'm an avid thorough-breed race horse fan. I love horse racing (see my blog on the Kentucky Derby)!! I lived in Louisville, Kentucky for 4 years. I have been to Churchill Downs countless times. Having the convenience of a sports book betting and viewing area at South Point Casino is another draw for me. You can even watch the sports event of the day on larger viewing screens in the adjacent area. And if you don't want a Mexican lunch, you can settle for other foods near the sports book, such as deli salads and sandwiches, a GOOD hot dog, Japanese fusion food or Steak and Shake hamburgers.
By the time I have watched the ponies and screamed for number "3" to win, I am usually ready to sit at a slot machine to slow the action back down. Knowing the 7 p.m. bingo session is the most popular session, I usually head upstairs to the Bingo parlor to get a good seat. The 7 p.m. is packed with locals because it allows them to come after work. The prize structure also includes three $1,000 coveralls so even the tourists are there. Watching until the crowd thins a bit downstairs, I stay for the 9 p.m. bingo session as well.
On vacation, I tend to eat a late dinner. Around 10 p.m., I'm starved for a meal. There are two high end restaurants and a 24-hour cafe. My money is reserved for gambling so the cafe is fine for me. Depending on the day, I would have eaten lunch at the buffet and filled my belly pretty well to last the day. A late meal of something lite is my usual fare.
It's around 11:00 p.m. now. Time to do what I came to do. I try to play two solid hours of slots until almost 1 a.m. I've found that the money falls more freely during those hours. It's the best fun!
Of course, if I'm running low on moola, I can also take advantage of their 24-hour bowling alley or their inexpensive movie theater.
I'm rarely sleepy around 1 a.m. from the excitement. Good ole' bingo has a 1 a.m. session to make me drowsy. I love South Point Casino! It has everything to offer me a fantastic vacation.
Yet, I don't give all the credit to South Point. After all, I'm in Las Vegas.
My routine changes a bit each day. When I'm in Las Vegas for at least 3 days or more (my longest vacation was for 9 days there), I have to do the following:
1. SHOP--There are three malls near the main strip so with a car I can easily check-out each one.
2. EAT--The Wynn casino has a buffet that is out of this world fantastic!! They have also revamped their sports book so it's the largest in Las Vegas.
Additionally, I lived in southern California for a few years and there's a chain of broiled chicken places called "El Pollo Loco" that I have to visit while in town.
3. PLAY--There are several properties owned by Caesar's in Las Vegas. To build up my main player's card, which is under Total Rewards (Caesar's player's card), I stop in to gamble at a few of their casinos.
Lastly, the skyline of Las Vegas changes yearly. While in town I usually visit new casinos or casinos that I didn't visit on my last trips. I always find thrills in Las Vegas casinos.
So now that you know why I love South Point Casino and Hotel plus why I love Las Vegas, I should also reveal a secret. When traveling to Las Vegas make sure you take the late night flights home. I take the 11:30 p.m. flights. I have the entire day in town plus I sleep soundly on the plane ride home. When I arrive home, it's morning in my city. Breakfast at Waffle House let's me unwind and recall all the fun of my vacation. Once I'm at the house, my real life is always waiting for me.
Viva Las Vegas!!!
