How to Prepare for a Vacation to the Casino

Vacations to gambling cities, or even your nearby casinos, are among the best forms of getaways for gambling fanatics. Today, traveling for a gambling trip has never been cheaper, with hotel rooms and flights seeing steep discounts.

If you and your friends or family are thinking about making a trip to Las Vegas, Reno, Atlantic City, or any other hub around the country, make sure everyone is prepared.

The best vacations are the ones where the planning falls somewhere between half-baked and mapping out every minute. You don’t want to go into a vacation blind, of course, but there’s also such a thing as over-planning.

To make sure you’re toeing that line to ensure a great time, here are seven ways to prepare for a gambling vacation.

1 ‒ Pick Out the Best Spot

The location you hand-select comes down to a variety of factors contingent on personal preferences, such as cost, ease of travel, and purpose of the trip. These variables will obviously vary based on what you and your party hope to get out of the vacation. At the root of the decision is a straightforward question—what do you want to do on vacation?

Now, if you intend to gamble for a majority of your vacation, it’s ideal to select a city known for its casinos. The three cities I mentioned earlier are all prime destinations for people looking to hunker down at a table for hours on end.

The benefit of picking one of those cities is that there are also a variety of entertainment options for your vacation squad members who don’t prefer to gamble.

However, if your group is going to gamble for the majority of the vacation, consider traveling to the spot with the most gambling options. If you have never gambled at a casino before, you should limit your options to cities like Vegas or Reno because either one is filled with casinos that match your skillset.

2 ‒ Set Your Bankroll and Budget

Your budget and your future destination go hand in hand. If you’re trying to keep costs low, then you should opt for a trip that’s somewhat close to home. Just because you’re not gambling at one of the casinos in Las Vegas doesn’t mean you won’t have a good time.

Budgeting a gambling trip is incredibly crucial because gambling itself requires you to be mindful of your bankroll. This point bears repeating. Even if you’re planning a casual trip to a casino, be sure to set a bankroll. When you’re budgeting for your trip, you should factor in the amount you intend to gamble with.

If you plan to spend a majority of your vacation at the tables, then most of your entertainment budget can be set aside for your bankroll. However, if you’re planning to do some sightseeing or are seeking other forms of entertainment, then do your research on pricing for each activity. Once you create an itemized budget, you will have a reliable indication of some of the destinations you can afford.

3 ‒ Find a Hotel that Fits Your Budget

As I said earlier, traveling around the country is relatively inexpensive. That goes for airfare and lodging at popular tourist destinations. Finding a hotel that fits your budget shouldn’t be too complicated, especially if you plan to travel to a spot like Reno or Vegas. Cities whose main draw is their casinos are home to a variety of hotels at different price points.

When shopping around for hotels, remember to do your due diligence and consult multiple websites and databases. Prices can vary, and specific hotel booking sites are known to offer discounts for a multitude of reasons. It’s also worth noting that you most likely won’t spend a great deal of time in your room, so don’t break the bank on an expensive hotel.

Tourists and gamblers who are new to the casino scene might feel inclined to splurge a little bit on their hotel, hoping to capture the essence of the city or stay at a popular resort they’ve seen in movies. The great thing about cities known for their casinos is you can always visit them during the day without having to waste a majority of your budget.

4 ‒ Make a Soft Itinerary

Planning a vacation requires you to put in a little effort to make sure you’re getting the best value and maximizing your budget. On this line of thinking, you can easily find yourself making a meticulous schedule to make sure you can pack everything into your trip.

If it’s your first time going to a city like Vegas, you need to understand one thing—you’re not going to do everything you want. When you over plan for a trip, you’re going to set your expectations too high and just be disappointed. This rule applies to any type of vacation, really, but it’s especially true when gambling is involved.

I suggest making a fluid plan before your trip. This involves picking out restaurants you want to visit, casinos you want to gamble at, and tourist attractions you want to see.

If you make a list of these things, you won’t feel pressured to stop what you’re doing for the sake of the itinerary. You’re vacationing to have fun, so don’t mortgage your pleasure on promises to yourself that you might not be able to keep.

5 ‒ Prepare Your Body and Mind

Even if you’re planning a shorter weekend trip to your local casino, you still need to prepare. This point is more for first-time casino-goers who think they might spend a good deal of time gambling.

In certain cities, casinos will stay open well past your usual bedtime. While your body might start crashing on vacation, there’s a good chance you’re going to want to keep gambling.

The night before my first big gambling vacation, my roommate and I stayed up well past midnight even though our flight was scheduled to depart early in the morning. We figured we could sleep on the plane and take a nap upon arrival.

What ended up happening was we were so excited about the trip that we couldn’t sleep on the plane or in our hotel room.

Fast forward a few days, and we were flying back, completely drained, and utterly exhausted. The vacation was a blast, but it ruined the weeks that followed. Don’t be like me. Before your trip, make sure you’re well-rested and caught up on sleep. Your future self will appreciate it.

6 ‒ Select Your Favorite Casinos

Most gambling cities have a variety of casinos within their city limits. Each casino has something different and unique to offer to potential clients, and it’s on you to find out which one fits your personality. When gambling in a casino, the more comfortable you feel, the more fun you’ll have.

In the age of the internet, you have several different sites to consult where you can read reviews and get a feel of each casino. On these sites, you’ll find the types of games each casino is known for, table minimums and maximums, and the stereotypical client each serves.

It’s a good idea to have several casinos selected upon arrival because it will make it easier to find the spot where you can get into the zone and potentially win some money.

7 ‒ Don’t Overthink It

The purpose of a vacation is simple, yet essential. It’s to enjoy yourself and take a break from real life. I’m a classic, Type-A over-planner.

I always put too much thought into even the most aspects of my day to day life. When I went on my first trip to Vegas, I was naturally selected to make all the plans because my friends understand I prefer it.

I spent hours researching the best spots, casinos, and restaurants we HAD to visit. In my mind, if we didn’t hit every single one, our vacation was going to be a failure.

The thing is, though, when you’re gambling, plans can be thrown out the window in the blink of an eye. You never know when you’re going to go on a heater or find a casino you enjoy.

Initially, I was a little disappointed because we weren’t sticking to our plans until I had an important realization. If you’re having a good time and you’re winning money, do you have to do everything you planned to do?

The best parts of vacation are the times where you throw caution to the wind, let loose, and relinquish all the stress and anxiety you brought with you on the trip. Don’t overthink it, and let yourself enjoy it.

Conclusion

For those of you planning a weekend getaway to the casinos, or a week-long trip to Vegas or a similar city, make sure to follow these tips, so you’re prepared. Pick the best spot for your party and do your research to make sure you’re getting the best deals. Once you set a budget, pick a hotel that you can afford, and leave some money for gambling.

In preparation for the trip, make sure to rest up so you can re-enter your regular life without missing a beat. Find the attractions you want to visit before you leave, but don’t over plan. You’re going on vacation to have some fun, so don’t be a stick in the mud; let yourself relax a little.