I’d like to do some poker trips where I fly into a city, stay in a centrally located area where I can do touristy stuff in the city, but also have a poker room close by (with steady 2/5 NL running) preferably accessible by public transit. Short Uber rides are also ok. What cities/poker rooms would be good for trips like this? Thanks!

Apologies if this is not the right forum for this question…

In the US, Vegas obviously. The Horseshoe in New Orleans is in the middle of its downtown area so thats a potential tourist spot with a lot of culture, not sure what of action it gets. Most US casinos are more in the suburbs/rural areas that are near cities, or on Indian Reservations, mostly due to gaming laws in different states.

I won a MTT package to Lima, Peru once and that casino was in the middle of a nicer tourist area in the city. Haven't been anywhere else outside the US.

NOLA is a Harrah's that is rebranding to Ceasar's IIRC. But yes, it meets the criteria. On the edge of the French Quarter, easy to get to (not walk though) Superdome (now the Ceasar's Superdome). Can walk to riverfront, dining from 1 star to 5 star. Many hotel options other than just Harrah's.

Poker is not LV or SFla level but is good. Deep stack 2/5 NL runs often. So grinding for a living is possible.

Some other possible cities might include:
Houston (though ubering required)
Los Angelis (maybe, not my region of expertise, but this one easier if you have a car for sure but Uber might be doable)
Boston (but poker may not qualify)
Atlantic City (but prolly only during summer season)
Reno (but nowadays both poker and the city would struggle to rise to meh levels)
There are several midwest cities where poker is located in town. Neither the poker nor towns are LV levels of attraction but some would be hidden gems. Which ones depend on your interests.
San Juan, Puerto Rico works. Haven't been there for several years but the poker downtown (Hyatt IIRC, not the Marriot in Condondo) was plenty of action and very soft. The city has plenty of tourist things to do. Like many similar Caribbean cities, the poker and even casino are only night only but plenty to do during the days.

SFla is much like LA. It meets every desire except car is really necessary for best. Can do it with uber but will run up the costs as things are spread out. You could go with HR Hollywood and spend long weekend without leaving the casino but still have plenty to do. But you are nearly captive w/o a car.

Thanks guys, NOLA sounds like the top contender, checking out Puerto Rico would be cool too. I’m not really interested in Vegas though, been there enough. How about DC or Philly, are those casinos somewhat accessible?

Philly has 3 casinos with poker. Rivers Casino is in fishtown, Live! Casino is in South Philly, and Parx is in way northeast philly (actually Bensalem).

Rivers is closest to being near the center city. Live is in the far south, it's in kinda an industrial area but also near (as in, in the middle of) all the sports stadiums. But both of these rooms are a bit smaller. I don't know if they get 2/5 round the clock, but now on a Friday night they have 1 and 2 2/5 tables going, so I doubt it.

Parx has the most action. 9 2/5 tables going right now. But it is in the far northeast, you're about 30 minutes drive away from center city.

Philadelphia has a lot of excellent historical stuff to do, especially if you like Ben Franklin, colonial times, and the revolutionary war. But doing it and casinos without a car would be probably slightly too much trouble to be worth it.

Real estate near city centers is very expensive. Casinos are very large. This is why casinos are almost always out in the suburbs. I’m sure there are a few exceptions but your target list is going to be short.

I love poker in Vegas. I go once a year for the WSOP and basically walk to all casinos I play in (Aria, Wynn, Venetian, Bally's/Paris, etc.) or in some cases like the Orleans take a bus just past the Rio and walk the remaining mile. But you don't like Vegas... Sadly Planet Hollywood isn't on the list anymore (sadly because I stayed there for part of my last trip).

Oddly my wife is taking a job in Prague (Czech Republic) and when I checked there seemed to be 6 casinos located in the center of town and another 5 on the outskirts. Having never been there I don't know what the poker is like but I'm going to find out...

Have fun!

Cincy and maybe Cleveland

Boston. Very historic and good tourist things to do. Encore Boston Harbor is accessible by public transportation + shuttle or short Uber. They used to have a water shuttle from Boston Harbor to the casino, not sure whether that is back. The drawback is high rake (10% up to $10) and potentially long wait times, especially for 2/5+.

MGM National Harbor is technically right on the border of DC, but that part of DC isn't one where you would want to stay (for interest or safety).

It would be about 10 miles, or an hour via public transit from the downtown Washington area.

It is actually very close to the interesting and nice touristy area of old town Alexandria, but it's across a very long bridge. There is a bus which would take about 15 minutes from the King Street-Old Town metro station, but that's either a bus ride or a long walk from the main part of old town, along the river. There is also a ferry, but that probably wouldn't go very often and I don't know anything about it.

Prague is roughly 90 minutes East of Kings Casino in Rozvadov, right at the German boarder.

Spielbank Berlin at Potsdamer Platz is very much in the center of Berlin, Germany if that counts.

I grew up in NOLA and still have friends there. You might not want to carry a lot of cash around. In decades past NO had high crime but plenty of police to protect tourists as much as possible. Now not so much.

Mod: Please leave the politics (and links to obviously political diatribe) out of CCP.

Thanks for the helpful responses! I know most casinos are well outside the urban centers which is kinda why I made this thread so I could narrow it down a bit. Boston, Alexandria, and Cincy are all places that seem doable

Did not think of Philly. One could likely stay near Parx and then use SEPTA into center city for touristee stuff. Long ago took train from Bucks county to do touristee stuff just before moving away. And that was with a 1month old infant along. Historic district is mass transit accessible and then walkable.

Yea if I did Philly I think I’d just stay near Parx and then use public transit to get to the city center

Nice comments so far for sure .. How long of a trip are you looking at?

A much better place/area than years gone by, but MGM Detroit is a 2/5 haven with 2x Player points as well. Still time for baseball and football games. Two other casinos nearby as well for choices if you wanted. Fox Theatre will have some sort of show going.

Very small sample size over Labor Day, but I found NL in Cincy to be some of the tightest games I've ever seen and I'm not sure how consistent they would be during the week. PLO is amazing there ..

Heard very good things about Cleveland, never been. Had a great experience at Rivers Pittsburgh where it was mainly 'very deep' 1/3.

Boston, Philly and DC are on wish lists for sure but agree that transportation could be cumbersome.

Not sure where the poker rooms are, but San Antonio seems to be a hidden destination that folks come back happy about.

If you watch Dan Beach's vlogs from Reno you'll see that there's some very impressive games spreading there .. but I'd rent a car and drive around Lake Tahoe and see the Olympic Village on a day trip if in that area.

Hope you find something and let us know .. GL

If Bally's Kansas City ever opens another poker room, that venue is at the river front next to downtown KCMO.

I’m thinking like a 10-11 day stay, get in two solid weekends of grinding and have the midweek to do the touristy city stuff. I’ve heard Detroit does have good 2/5 and I haven’t been there in about 15 years, so also a great option, thanks.

I’ve never been to Reno but in my head I’ve always thought of it as a dying gambling town, I’m kinda surprised they have decent games, I’ll look into it!

hows california scene? would like to go on vacation id be playing cards most of the time preferably 20/40 40/80 50/100 limit, but wouldnt be opposed to low NL games if higher limit games dont run. would be with someone that doesnt play cards so would need to be around a semi touristy area.

There are lots of mid and high stakes limit games, probably more than anywhere else in the world, but you absolutely need a car (or a big uber budget) to move around in LA or pretty much anywhere else in CA. And then you will want to kill yourself unless you love traffic.

I agree 100 Percent with LA. No way to do it without a car. Same with San Diego, too spread out, but San Diego is much easier to drive a car and lots of great places to eat, beach and stuff.

I could see flying to SFO and playing lucky chances / Artichoke Joes via uber or BART, or to fly into San Jose and you have the matrix and bay101(?). Sacramento has a lot of card rooms, somewhat close together and the temp is cooling down. Close enough to rent a car and head to the Bay area for touristy stuff, much cheaper lodging there. Just don't play in games when a player is looking down at their phone in their lap on the river.