How to Plan the Perfect Casino Vacation

Organizing a casino vacation to a resort casino is highly exciting, but it can be dangerously expensive. A mega-resort is a massive, sensory-overload environment, engineered to distract you and take your cash as fast as possible. If you arrive without a solid plan, without proper preparation, your fun trip will become into a stressful, exhausting, and financially ruinous nightmare. However, with a little bit of strategic preparation, you can have the time of your life that a casino resort has to offer while protecting your cash. Follow these steps to build the ultimate Vegas itinerary.

The Financial Foundation: The Envelope System

Long before you book a flight, you have to determine your budget. This must be entertainment money from your real-life expenses. The absolute best strategy for a Vegas vacation is the envelope trick. If your total gambling bankroll for a three-day trip is $900, you divide the cash equally into three separate physical envelopes, for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. You leave the other envelopes locked in the room vault. If you lose that day’s money, you are done betting for the day. You do not borrow money from Day 2’s envelope, and you never visit an ATM. This foolproof method means that you will have action on the final day of your vacation, stopping you from ruining the whole trip instantly.

Booking the Right Resort: Where to Stay

Not all casino resorts are created equal, and choosing the right property will make or break your entire vacation. If you are a low-stakes player and want a party atmosphere, booking a 5-star mega-resort like the Wynn or the Bellagio will be incredibly frustrating, as the table minimums will be $50 and the food will blow your budget. If you want pure luxury, staying at a budget property will be too loud. Look up the casino’s vibe online prior to paying. Check the geography; staying in the middle of the action allows you to casino-hop easily, saving you money on transportation.

• Always get rated. The second you arrive, get your loyalty card. Use it constantly every single time you play to ensure you earn comps, free food, and future room discounts.
• Do not get blackout drunk. Casinos offer free drinks for a very specific, mathematical reason: alcohol heavily impairs your judgment, making you bet recklessly and ignore basic strategy. Stay hydrated.
• Book a show or dinner. If you sit at a table all day, you will eventually lose. Break up the day by doing something else.
• Wear good sneakers. Mega-resorts are the size of small cities, and your feet will hurt going from casino to casino.

The Casino Vacation Checklist: What to Do Before You Leave

To guarantee a perfect vacation, we have compiled the ultimate pre-trip checklist. Complete these steps prior to leaving to guarantee a smooth, stress-free casino experience.

Ultimately, a Vegas trip should be fun. It is a chance to relax and have thrills, not a job. By utilizing the daily envelope system, playing the comp game, and remembering to actually step away from the tables to experience the whole resort, you will return home happy. When you view your betting money as an entertainment fee instead of a stressful investment, you are already a winner.