TRAVEL: Trains

Vacations should be learning situations. Here is what I learned on our recent vacation:

1. If you are in a hurry, do not go by train.
2. If you want to relax, visit with other people, and be treated royally, go by train.

Our first trip west was in 1992 with my brother and his wife in their RV. Since then we have flown several times, but more recently we have been taking our van. For two or three years it was out route 40 and back Interstate 80. We really got to see the beauty and range of terrain of the United States. The last five trips have been just 40 (Old Route 66) both ways. When we got home last year, Jim said that he did not think that he wanted to drive that far again. I was terribly disappointed, but, being the good wife that I am, I told him that I understood.

Again my brother came to our rescue. He is a regular train buff and so his solution was that the four of us take the train across the country. After weeks of planning…..an old family trait, we left Bellefonte at 1:00 to catch a 5:06 train out of Altoona. That allowed time to eat in Altoona, another old family trait.

Going around the Horseshoe Curve is still a thrill. It seemed much shorter to these adult eyes than it did to my childhood eyes back in the 1940’s, but it still made me aware of the history involved.

We had ridden in coach from Altoona to Pittsburgh, and after a short wait we boarded our sleeper to Chicago. I suffer from a slight case of claustrophobia and my expression must have given me away. The sight of the two bunks in that tiny space was intimidating. I got very little sleep that first night.

We arrived in Chicago at 8:45 A.M…a good time to appreciate their beautiful skyline… and spent a seven hour layover in a very well planned waiting area with free drinks, free snacks, large upholstered furniture, televisions everywhere, and strangers to get to know. By the time we were on our way again, not only had I adjusted to my snug bedroom, but I had learned to appreciate the privacy and coziness of my own space. It was great to be able to walk to the observation car and talk to people and then go back “home” and read.

On this trip not only could I watch the scenery unfold, but Jim could relax and look for wildlife. Side note: on our train trip in Alaska the only “wild life” that we saw were two young boys who mooned us as we went by. I kept watching for them through Kansas. No luck.

To me one of the most beautiful drives in our country is the trip from Kingman, Arizona to Laughlin, Nevada. I was excited for Jim to really get to see it. The trouble was that we left Kingman at midnight and there was little to see until the lights of Laughlin filled the front window.

The arrival times were a little inconvenient but we slept well in our tiny bedroom. Other than the two layovers, it was a very relaxing way to go. I did get several books read.

The food was much better than I expected. In fact, two of the best meals I had the whole three weeks were in the dining car. Our car attendant saw that we had water, coffee, and juice at all times. Our room came equipped with most of the amenities that would be found in a hotel room, including towel and washcloth.

Will I do it again? You bet I will. I learned some of the tricks, comfy slippers and easy on/off nightwear for example, and will be ready to go as soon as the gang says, “We leave next week”!

Oh, and the price was a little less than driving, a fact that my husband liked very much.

BOOK REVIEW: American Casino Guide 2011

The 2011 version of AMERICAN CASINO GUIDE by Steve Bourie is now available. If you are traveling anywhere in the United States and enjoy visiting the local gambling establishments, you need this book.

Although the guide is full of good advice, the biggest section is a state by state breakdown of the gambling laws and traditions as well as the location and facts on each casino in that particular state.  Besides explaining the types of gaming and the size of the casino floor, the guide lists how many rooms are available and their price range. It provides information on RV parking, restaurants, prices at the buffet, minimum age, and if liquor is served. The phone number and web site are also included.

The first quarter of the book is a collection of articles written by gambling experts. Covering a large range of subjects such as including the best bets in a casino (craps and blackjack, if played properly), how to take advantage of the comp system and how to pick a machine, you'll get the inside scoop directly from those in-the-know. There are also chapters explaining how to play various games and how to tell if your gambling is becoming a problem.

The chapter that shocked me was the one on the Las Vegas resort fees. Casino hotels in Vegas now charge an extra fee to cover the use of things that were once included like the swimming pool, parking, free wifi, etc. This was a heads-up as a reminder to ask questions, because the fees can come as a surprise after reservations are made.

The last quarter of the book is full of coupons. That's right—coupons! These coupons are good for everything from a free day of car rental to free drinks or appetizers. To be honest, most of the “freebies” already come with membership in the casino's slot club, but I did find several that I will be using.

To those of you who rarely go to a casino, let me get a word in about slot clubs. This is a club with no fee for joining or dues once you are a member. All that is required of you is to stop by the promotion booth in any casino, show ID, and sign up. The casino then can follow your playing and reward you. It is the only way to get treated to the free rooms, meals, and cash that are offered as promotions (also known as "comps").

AMERICAN CASINO GUIDE is a good resource for the occasional gambler as well as the seasoned one.  I get one about every five years, but so many states are now adding facilities, that it is hard to keep up. I would hate to be driving through Oklahoma and miss a fun place just off the highway! Now, thanks to the handy Guide, I won't miss a thing!

BOOK REVIEW: The Frugal Gambler AND More Frugal Gambling

Now that Pennsylvania has opened table games in its casinos, it is time to talk about my third vice.

If you combine my number one vice with my number three vice you get books on gambling. The number of books on how to win in a casino is astronomical. Texas Hold-em has become extremely popular and I feel that more money is being made on publications than is being made at the tables.

What players like me need to know is how to stay in the casino for long periods of time without spending a lot of money. In other words, I enjoy casinos but am very cheap. Jean Scott has come to my rescue with her books, THE FRUGAL GAMBLER and MORE FRUGAL GAMBLING. Believe me, she speaks with authority.

If you follow the Travel Channel, you may recognize her name. She is also known as the "Queen of Comps” and the "Gambling Grandma”.  Her books are packed with information on how to get in on the casinos’ "give aways“.  This is advice for frugal, recreational gamblers who want to cash in on the freebies that the high rollers enjoy--- on a more realistic level. You may not eat at the up-scale restaurants or stay in the penthouse suite, but you will get the occasional free room and meal.

Jean tells the low-level player how to make use of slot clubs, cash-backs, bounce-backs, and comps. To translate -- cash-back is the money the casino will pay you back for gambling, not par with what you spend but it helps. Bounce-backs are the offers that the promotion office sends to you to get you to return to their location. Comps are the complimentary offers that should keep you from going to the casino across the street. These vary greatly from casino to casino and require some research.

Slot clubs are the secret to it all. Think of it as joining Sam’s Club except with no fee. (I recommend joining even if you are walking through the casino to catch a bus and not spending a dime.) The membership card then tracks your play and tells them how important you are to them. Believe me, the small gambler is important.

In MORE FRUGAL GAMBLING, Jean’s daughter speaks for the beginner or casual player. I found the second book to be very informative. It covers tipping, how to ask for your comps, and how to pick a casino. Most people know when they are in a place that feels out of their financial league, but it doesn’t hurt to be reminded.

So far my experiences in Pennsylvania have been so -so.  Hollywood Casino, at Penn National, charges for things that out of state places provide for free. I also avoid the big flashy casinos. I figure somebody has to be paying for all the electricity to keep those light going and I do not want it to be me.

My husband and I have played from coast to coast and met some interesting people, had some fantastic meals, stayed in some very nice rooms, and generally have had some great times. Authors like Jean Scott have helped make this a “frugal” vice.