Trip Report: River Palms 9/4. A good experience

[billbehlert1]

I read all sorts of mixed reviews about this hotel prior to booking,
but have nothing but satisfaction to report for this property. We
are quarter VP players, Seniors from NJ. I made the choice based
mostly on the VP inventory I had read about, and secondarily on
price/hotel expectations. We arrived for a two night stay, 9/4 and
9/5 at an internet rate of $22. The Room: Decent size, with no
view, as expected, and totally OK. Two queens, comfortable
bedding. Immaculate clean room with new looking furnishings,
carpets etc. No cigarette or sanitizing smells. Big bath. Good AC
system. OK TV with not many channels. No coffee maker, blow dryer
or such extras.
WE were in 105, which was first floor, just a couple rooms off the
lower level casino, and just a few steps from the pool. Could not
have been more convenient...I would reserve this room specially
unless I wanted a view. The Pool: terrific. Good size, with view
of Colorado River. O/S temp 105F, pool about 80 F. Plenty of
towels. Hot tub.
VP: River Palms has full pay VP in quarters on the
downstairs level, back right side. Perhaps 3 or 4 DB (10-7), DDB (9-
6-4), a bunch of BP, JOB. 3 or 4 FPDW. White Hot ACes may be a
good play. Nickels are short pay, but better than some other
Laughlin casinos. For diversion, found some 1c slots that were
entertaining and playable.
Food: We joined the slot club and had
no problem achieving the 50 pts to get 2fer to the buffet every day
(wife and I play on the same card). Buffet is very simple with few
choices, but the food that is there is good...hot, well made,
tasty. No prime rib, but the dinner buffet had a cut that I believe
was a select grade rib, sliced thick. Tender and delicious, but not
a prime rib. Little in the way of appetizer items...desserts were
good. Very Good blue cheese salad. For us, the buffet was well
worthwhile at 2fer at $10, but we would have been unhappy at $10.
each. We had the All American breakfast twice ($1.22 with 50 points,
2.22 o/w). This is a cooked to order meal at the Cafe: eggs, meat
choice, potatoes, toast. Very good.

Colorado Belle: checked this casino to find a bank of new VP
machines with signs overhead posting 100% payback. Had 25c full pay
DB, DDB, DW, BP and others. About 8 multigame machines total.

Harrahs: VP wasteland. Used an American Casino Value buffet
2fer. The dinner buffet was $15 and only OK. Several different
cooking/theme stations. Prime Rib was advertised as Angus, but was
only OK...not a juicy and satisfying slice of beef. Buffet had
Upeel shrimp, but no unusual items.

Overall, for the money, the River Palms was a great bargain. Cost
notwithstanding, we would happily pay more to stay again in the nice,
clean, big rooms.

[haaljo_haaljo]

Bill,
Nice report and that's the nice thing about Laughlin for those of us
that are easy to please. I remember getting treated that way as a
quarter player in Vegas. Wasn't that long ago when $10K action/day
made Vegas casino folks happy. So, as you both play on the same card
say 500 hands/hour x 10 hours x 2 people = 10000 hands/day total =
about $10K/day and you got treated well at RP. Sweet!
Grinding away for 10 hours/day in Laughlin with a sunrise ride to
Grapevine Canyon and a sunset ride to Golden Valley is my kind of
vacation. But as a Northeasterner, you have to learn to respect the
110 plus temperatures.
By the way, unless you are a pool fanatic, RP will probably "upgrade"
you to the Tower with a river view. It doesn't matter to me but my
wife likes "the better" rooms.
David in Boston

--- In vpFREE_Laughlin@yahoogroups.com, "billbehlert"
<billbehlert@...> wrote:

I read all sorts of mixed reviews about this hotel prior to

booking,

but have nothing but satisfaction to report for this property. We
are quarter VP players, Seniors from NJ. I made the choice based
mostly on the VP inventory I had read about, and secondarily on
price/hotel expectations. We arrived for a two night stay, 9/4 and
9/5 at an internet rate of $22. The Room: Decent size, with no
view, as expected, and totally OK. Two queens, comfortable
bedding. Immaculate clean room with new looking furnishings,
carpets etc. No cigarette or sanitizing smells. Big bath. Good AC
system. OK TV with not many channels. No coffee maker, blow

dryer

or such extras.
WE were in 105, which was first floor, just a couple rooms off the
lower level casino, and just a few steps from the pool. Could not
have been more convenient...I would reserve this room specially
unless I wanted a view. The Pool: terrific. Good size, with

view

of Colorado River. O/S temp 105F, pool about 80 F. Plenty of
towels. Hot tub.
VP: River Palms has full pay VP in quarters on the
downstairs level, back right side. Perhaps 3 or 4 DB (10-7), DDB

(9-

6-4), a bunch of BP, JOB. 3 or 4 FPDW. White Hot ACes may be a
good play. Nickels are short pay, but better than some other
Laughlin casinos. For diversion, found some 1c slots that were
entertaining and playable.
Food: We joined the slot club and had
no problem achieving the 50 pts to get 2fer to the buffet every day
(wife and I play on the same card). Buffet is very simple with few
choices, but the food that is there is good...hot, well made,
tasty. No prime rib, but the dinner buffet had a cut that I

believe

was a select grade rib, sliced thick. Tender and delicious, but

not

a prime rib. Little in the way of appetizer items...desserts were
good. Very Good blue cheese salad. For us, the buffet was well
worthwhile at 2fer at $10, but we would have been unhappy at $10.
each. We had the All American breakfast twice ($1.22 with 50

points,

2.22 o/w). This is a cooked to order meal at the Cafe: eggs, meat
choice, potatoes, toast. Very good.

Colorado Belle: checked this casino to find a bank of new VP
machines with signs overhead posting 100% payback. Had 25c full

pay

DB, DDB, DW, BP and others. About 8 multigame machines total.

Harrahs: VP wasteland. Used an American Casino Value buffet
2fer. The dinner buffet was $15 and only OK. Several different
cooking/theme stations. Prime Rib was advertised as Angus, but

was

only OK...not a juicy and satisfying slice of beef. Buffet had
Upeel shrimp, but no unusual items.

Overall, for the money, the River Palms was a great bargain. Cost
notwithstanding, we would happily pay more to stay again in the

nice,

···

clean, big rooms.

[Bob2]

Bill thanks for your report, and I'm glad you enjoyed your stay at RP.

With respect to the food, the RP is also the only casino in Laughlin that offers a late night
buffet (10:00 p.m.), and reasonably priced. If I remember right, if I showed my RP card it
was something like $4 (+ or -). As you say, the food offerings at the late night buffet are
simple, but they do make omelettes which almost makes the trip worthwhile by itself. But
they also have other entrees, veggies, salad and dessert bars.

My only complaint about RP is so few BJ tables. Right now I think maybe Aquarius and
Riverside have the best BJ opportunities on the river. Maybe the Trop. also. Hard to find a
variety of BJ tables anymore without suffering the $6/5 BJ payout instead of the normal
$3/2.

···

--- In vpFREE_Laughlin@yahoogroups.com, "haaljo" <haaljo@...> wrote:

Bill,
Nice report and that's the nice thing about Laughlin for those of us
that are easy to please. I remember getting treated that way as a
quarter player in Vegas. Wasn't that long ago when $10K action/day
made Vegas casino folks happy. So, as you both play on the same card
say 500 hands/hour x 10 hours x 2 people = 10000 hands/day total =
about $10K/day and you got treated well at RP. Sweet!
Grinding away for 10 hours/day in Laughlin with a sunrise ride to
Grapevine Canyon and a sunset ride to Golden Valley is my kind of
vacation. But as a Northeasterner, you have to learn to respect the
110 plus temperatures.
By the way, unless you are a pool fanatic, RP will probably "upgrade"
you to the Tower with a river view. It doesn't matter to me but my
wife likes "the better" rooms.
David in Boston

--- In vpFREE_Laughlin@yahoogroups.com, "billbehlert"
<billbehlert@> wrote:
>
> I read all sorts of mixed reviews about this hotel prior to
booking,
> but have nothing but satisfaction to report for this property. We
> are quarter VP players, Seniors from NJ. I made the choice based
> mostly on the VP inventory I had read about, and secondarily on
> price/hotel expectations. We arrived for a two night stay, 9/4 and
> 9/5 at an internet rate of $22. The Room: Decent size, with no
> view, as expected, and totally OK. Two queens, comfortable
> bedding. Immaculate clean room with new looking furnishings,
> carpets etc. No cigarette or sanitizing smells. Big bath. Good AC
> system. OK TV with not many channels. No coffee maker, blow
dryer
> or such extras.
> WE were in 105, which was first floor, just a couple rooms off the
> lower level casino, and just a few steps from the pool. Could not
> have been more convenient...I would reserve this room specially
> unless I wanted a view. The Pool: terrific. Good size, with
view
> of Colorado River. O/S temp 105F, pool about 80 F. Plenty of
> towels. Hot tub.
> VP: River Palms has full pay VP in quarters on the
> downstairs level, back right side. Perhaps 3 or 4 DB (10-7), DDB
(9-
> 6-4), a bunch of BP, JOB. 3 or 4 FPDW. White Hot ACes may be a
> good play. Nickels are short pay, but better than some other
> Laughlin casinos. For diversion, found some 1c slots that were
> entertaining and playable.
> Food: We joined the slot club and had
> no problem achieving the 50 pts to get 2fer to the buffet every day
> (wife and I play on the same card). Buffet is very simple with few
> choices, but the food that is there is good...hot, well made,
> tasty. No prime rib, but the dinner buffet had a cut that I
believe
> was a select grade rib, sliced thick. Tender and delicious, but
not
> a prime rib. Little in the way of appetizer items...desserts were
> good. Very Good blue cheese salad. For us, the buffet was well
> worthwhile at 2fer at $10, but we would have been unhappy at $10.
> each. We had the All American breakfast twice ($1.22 with 50
points,
> 2.22 o/w). This is a cooked to order meal at the Cafe: eggs, meat
> choice, potatoes, toast. Very good.
>
> Colorado Belle: checked this casino to find a bank of new VP
> machines with signs overhead posting 100% payback. Had 25c full
pay
> DB, DDB, DW, BP and others. About 8 multigame machines total.
>
> Harrahs: VP wasteland. Used an American Casino Value buffet
> 2fer. The dinner buffet was $15 and only OK. Several different
> cooking/theme stations. Prime Rib was advertised as Angus, but
was
> only OK...not a juicy and satisfying slice of beef. Buffet had
> Upeel shrimp, but no unusual items.
>
> Overall, for the money, the River Palms was a great bargain. Cost
> notwithstanding, we would happily pay more to stay again in the
nice,
> clean, big rooms.
>