At this time, The Atlantis remains my number one choice for a home based casino in wonderful Reno. As with all current casinos whom I favor with my patronage, the evaluation is subject to periodic review. This is true especially after significant inventory, earned points and comps changes have occurred.
Presently, for my purposes and intended play level, The Atlantis still offers me the best combination of nice rooms, good food, excellent VP inventory, generous comps and offers, including tournaments, parties, Free Play, Holiday banquets, drawings and entertainment.
On my recent visit I was slightly put-off initially, by some of the remodeling that is taking place in the casino. The VIP Lounge was closed for a few days. This was due to the replacement of the floor, adjoining the lounge. The work area created a hazardous pathway from the Reception Desk to all banks of elevators. It was a particularly difficult passage if a hotel guest was also dragging a wheelie.
Additionally, there was only one agent at the Reception Desk, who had been designated as the "VIP" agent. This situation resulted in a rather long line forming at the "VIP" area. Of course there were even longer lines at the non-VIP areas as well. The muttering and grumbling in the VIP line was quite amusing. Some comped players can be especially demanding if they feel that they are not being "properly appreciated".
I am somewhat spoiled myself because normally I check-in at a VIP lounge. There, if it is necessary, on a rare occasion to wait, one is seated in a nice plush seat and plied with the offer of snacks and refreshments. So, I also felt a slight annoyance at standing in line for 15 minutes. However, I don't believe that this is an excuse to take my frustration out on the hapless and overwhelmed Reception clerk, as did a "VIP" or two ahead of me in line. Unless I am met with rudeness, I try to be as nice as circumstances dictate, to service people who are ostensibly trying to help me.
Other than this minor inconveniences which, IMO, was offset by the many positives of staying and playing at there, I was quite content to be in residence at the magical, mythical kingdom of Atlantis once again.
I was told that all the rooms are in the process of being refurbished, and that the construction and remodeling was scheduled to be completed during the month of June. So, at worst, this is a short-lived inconvenience.
After checking the VP inventory, I was relieved to find that not much had changed since my last visit in February. The one game I discovered to be MIA, was a fave play; the DDW in the non-smoking Sky Terrace. The DDW game had only been available in quarters. With a lower EV than NSUD, I wouldn't have thought this to be enough of a threat to the casino's profitability, that they would remove it. However, there is so much else good to play at Atlantis, that I didn't concern myself about the one game that was gone.
I also inspected the "locals" bank , which features .25c prog. 10/7DB, NSUD, 8/5BP, 9/6DDB, and a few short pay games. While the prog. meter rarely exceeds $1,300 before the royal is cracked, it is nice to get that little bit extra on top of already nice games. This bank is usually crowded with a contingent of regular local players, many of whom are acquainted with each other. There is usually some machine to machine bantering taking place. When the prog. meter is between $1100 and $1199, it is especially difficult to score a seat at this bank.
As I perused the casino offerings, I noted that, since my last visit, quite a few more STP boxes had been added to the Atlantis inventory. All of the STP games were available as multi-line 3/5/10 play, and featured 9/6JOB and 8/5BP as the best games.
I also found a bank of machines featuring a game that I had never seen before. It is called "Super Triple Play". It was offered in a 3 or 5 play format, and featured 9/6JOB among other games. One additional coin on each line triggered a bonus payout for a SF (300 coins) 4OAK (500 coins) FH (55 coins). I have not figured out the EV as yet, but it appeared to be an interesting game to try.
I also reviewed the games on the "Optimum Bank". A large sign over the bank, proclaims "100% payback". At the .05c denom. (X 10 coins) they contain FPDW and FPKBJW. At the .25c denom. (X 10 coins) they also feature 10/7DB, 9/6/90JOB and 10/6/50DDB. The machines containing these positives games are very tall and uncomfortable uprights. It is difficult to play them for a long period of time. Since most savvy locals know that it takes a $100 to generate one point on this bank, as opposed to $40 on the other VP banks, the machines are usually available.
With the current difficulty in finding FPDW, NSUD has become my new favorite Deuces game. It is available in great abundance at The Atlantis, in all single-line denoms. of .05c, .25c, 50c, and $1.00. On some banks it is available with a 10 coin option as well, in all the above denoms. Though the variance on NSUD is higher than on 9/6JOB, so is the EV. IMO, it is a much more enjoyable and exciting game to play for prolonged periods of time, than JOB.
The Atlantis has three room towers, as well as outlying motel-like rooms. The Atrium Tower and the Dolphin Tower, contain some regular standard rooms as well as some luxury suites.
The Concierge Tower, which has a dedicated "glass" elevator is my personal choice. It can only be accessed by activating a programmed key in an elevator slot.
On this visit, my spacious Concierge Tower room sported very new furniture, as well as a huge flat screen TV facing the bed, and a miniature of that TV in the elegant black and white marble bathroom. The rest of the renovation, though not yet completed, I was told would include new accessories, draperies, bed linens. lamps and paint colors.
A great feature of the Concierge Tower is the Concierge Lounge. The lounge is open to CT guests, from 6:30am to 10:30 am for breakfast. From 3:00 to 5:00pm it is open for cocktails, pastries and fruit, and from 5:00 to 7:00pm complimentary hors doevres are also served. Surprisingly, there is a charge for alcoholic beverages. However, the drinks can be charged to your room, and later comped by a host.
A nice continental breakfast spread is served in the Concierge Lounge each morning. This consists of various breads, bagels, muffins and pastries with butter, cream cheese and jam, as well as hard boiled eggs, hot and cold cereals, an elaborate fruit tray, yogurt parfaits, juices and a variety of different coffees and teas is available, at no charge to CT guests. It is very pleasant to start the day in an elegantly appointed lounge, with floor to ceiling, wall to wall windows, overlooking most of Reno as well the beautiful, sometimes snow-capped Sierra Nevada Mountains beyond.
After breakfast each day, I was able to check my email on one of the two (rather slow) computers provided for the use of CT guests. To my knowledge, this amenity is not available at any other casino resort in Reno. Though I usually carry my laptop, this is a nice convenience for those who don't travel with a PC, or who do not wish to return to their room in order to use it.
I very much enjoy eating in the restaurants at Atlantis. From the second floor snack bar, serving hot dogs, hamburgers, sodas and a variety of fast food, to the elegant Atlantis Steak/Seafood Restaurant, or MonteVigna Italian Restaurant, I have found the food to be of high quality, well prepared, and appropriately priced.
The Atlantis buffet features a nice variety of chilled and very fresh seafood, including shrimp, crabmeat salad, Sushi, Sashimi, creamed herring, prime rib, several versions of chicken, pork, carved ham, sausage and many different kinds of composed salads and fruit platters. A server will also toss a custom salad to your specifications, on request. In addition, the buffet features a really good Chinese station, with excellent egg rolls, won-ton, and many other popular Chinese dishes. The Italian station also features good crispy-crusted pizza, and several appetizing Southern Italian dishes. The Mexican Station seemed well stocked with traditional dishes. The dessert station is particularly excellent, with many varied and delicious looking pastries and other sweets. I found the service to be pleasant and adequate. I recommend this buffet.
Cafe Alfresco is nice place to grab a fast sandwich, salad, or ice cream confection. They have a nice assortment of pizza, plus most of the popular sandwiches and salads. They also have dozens of interesting sorbet and ice cream flavors, from which to choose. The portions are large and the prices very reasonable. Service is sometimes a little lacking in polish, but I have never found it to be less than pleasant.
The seafood specials at the Oyster Bar are good to excellent. They offer a nice selection of hot and cold fish and seafood as well as an elaborate Sushi Bar. I have always found the Oyster Bar's selections to very fresh tasting and well prepared. I think that their prices, while not inexpensive, are reasonable considering the quality of the fresh seafood.
On previous trips I have eaten in both the dimly lit and romantic atmosphere of the Steak House and also enjoyed excellent pasta dishes in the Italian Restaurant. I consider both to be among the best that Reno has to offer.
On a few afternoons, I checked out the munchies provided in the Concierge Lounge at 5:00pm. One afternoon, they served Buffalo Wings with blue cheese dressing, nachos, crackers and assorted sliced cheeses, fruits and pastries. On another afternoon it was skewers of seafood and vegetables. A nice repast in the late afternoon, prior to dinner. Those with a lighter appetite, and no hesitancy to fill their plates, could make a light dinner of the spread.
I have concluded that Atlantis has provided wonderful beds. I usually toss around a bit before dropping off to sleep. On this trip I was asleep each night, almost as soon as my head hit the pillow, and slept soundly til dawn's early light.
I hope that this long report based on my impressions and opinions, will be of help to those of you who are considering a Reno trip in the near future.
~Babe~
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