From airport - cab cost $20 to Sands Regency - via highway. It was the quickest route , but I'm convinced side streets would have cost me $5 less. Sands has a shuttle, but it was not there , and considering it had literally took me 12 hours to get from NY to Reno, I ran out of patience!
Sands is an interesting place, and I have to admit it was a fun 1 day Sunday stay. PS - if 'Dog the Bounty hunter' is reading this report, some advice...start all
your felon searches at the Sands - you will clean up !
Check-In- It was fast. Normally it takes 8000 points for a comped room - but on holiday weekends and Fri/Sat it takes 18,000 points ( that's 18K coin in ! ). Its a rip-off but , they took off $20 from my bill due to my points for a $39 cost, and you can use easy to earn "Sands dollar bucks ( SDB's ) " to cut down on the bill.
Room - standard motel style, no security , tons of rooms - 3 towers , easy check-in.
Bars - a couple. The tequila bar had a really good live band.
Food - a couple of restaurants. I only ate at Mel's Diner. This was as good , if not better than Johnny Rockets and they serve a full breakfast menu.
VP inventory - $1/25C 9/6 Jacks or better progressives at the main bar and Tequila bar. When I was there the avg quarter royal was about $1900 at the main bar and $1250 at the Tequila bar.
NSUD deuces - spin and multi-line
9/7/4 triple double bonus in 50 plays ?? I think, but only the ones near the front desk
craps - $3/$5 with 10X odds ( best in Reno )
Changes in inventory - There are NO 10/7 DB, and there is no 10/4/4/3 bonus deuces machines available. Could not find the 50C triple play NSUD.
Best low roller play - The ongoing promotion is a SDB for every quad at any level. Thus a nickle player gets the same $1 as the dollar player for a quad. These tickets are good for all restaurants including Tony Romas, up to $40 cashback, and will take off of your room bill. The other ongoing promotion is the second royal in a 24hour period AFTER you hit your first royal pays double. Please note that all quads in a multiplay pay the SDB, not just the bottom line.
By playing the best available 5C game, the 5 play 8/6 130 coin jacks or better, the 20 coin bonus brings the EV up to 99.54 ( the same as regular jacks). I know, big deal, but the best is on the second royal. The second royal is a 101.9 play, and its not that hard to hit a royal on a 5 play machine. I managed to collect 50 of these coupons while there playing the 8/5 super double bonus nickel 5 play and nsud spin poker ( 10C). This easily paid for all my meals , and I only found out later that I could have used these for cash back and lowered the room bill.
Bottom line - Although its not in the greatest neighborhood, I would stay there again cause I had a good time, played about 12K coin in ( $200 loss ) which should generate some interesting offers. I met some interesting and fun people in this lively place!.
Regards...Tom
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