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San Diego area casinos?

Discussion in 'Non-Vegas Casino Hotels' started by dmr, Feb 9, 2015.

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  1. dmr

    dmr Registered Abuser

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    I hope this is the correct forum in which to post this ... :)

    It appears that I'm going to be in San Diego later this month and it looks like I'll have a free weekend.

    I know that there are tons of Native American casinos around there but I'm not familiar with any of them. Maybe some of you have suggestions?

    I mainly play low-limit slots and VP. That's what I would mostly be looking for. Good variety of slots and decent VP. Something not too terribly far from downtown SD and not too difficult to drive to. I may be up for checking out a few different ones if they are not too far away and easy/safe to drive to.

    I don't smoke, but I'm not a b*tch about it, but I would prefer a place that's not a total blue haze smokescreen! I would also prefer those that serves adult beverages. :) (Free drinks for players? Fat chance, I know!) :)

    Also are there any that have decent buffets or restaurants that don't mind a single, female, middle-aged patron?

    Do any of them have a lounge with a decent band? I know I'm asking for a lot here. :) :) :) Rock/blues/R&B/etc.?

    Any suggestions are most welcome. :) TIA! :)
     
  2. JWBlue

    JWBlue VIP Whale

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    Valley View Casino in North County is worth the drive.

    Their buffet is clearly the best one in the area. It is a lobster buffet.

    They have a stage with bands that play often.

    Wednesday's are the best day to go. They have this promotion. I am not sure if they have a band on that day.

    http://www.valleyviewcasino.com/Promotions/winningwednesdays.aspx

    The slots are looser than most.

    It is not difficult to drive to. It is probably at least a 50 minute drive.
     
  3. sindustry

    sindustry VIP Whale

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    Valley View is nice, but you will have to drive some twisty mountainous roads. Barona is very nice as well, and will be a better drive. If you are willing to drive 45 minutes or so, Pechanga in Temecula has a lot of slot VP options...it is also the largest casino in SoCal.
     
  4. TIMSPEED

    TIMSPEED Money’s on the way, with CashNetUSA

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    Closest to downtown would either be Viejas or Barona...I'd choose Barona everyday.
    It's an 18+, so it doesn't have booze on the floor (no free booze in CA casinos), but it does have loose slots, good video poker, and loose table games (only place I know of with the "full pay" versions of Trips/PairPlus bets)
     
  5. sindustry

    sindustry VIP Whale

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    Tim, do you know if Barona still deals UTH face-up? Been awhile since I have been.
     
  6. JWBlue

    JWBlue VIP Whale

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    There is a more direct route. That mountainous road is dangerous.
     
  7. ken2v

    ken2v This Space For Rent

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    Man, I love those backcountry roads through the foothills and over to the desert, or up Palomar.

    I only know the casinos by those that have golf courses, so have put in a bit of time at Barona and Pechanga. Both have awesome courses, from a casino perspective both look nice. Pala has I think the best hotel of the lot but the casino feels like a, well, Indian casino. I'm not impressed with Rincon or Valley View. What's the big one east of town going up the grade on the 8?
     
  8. bucac_tau

    bucac_tau Tourist

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    Barona, Valley View, Sycuan in that order...
     
  9. TIMSPEED

    TIMSPEED Money’s on the way, with CashNetUSA

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    That's Viejas...has a Outlet Mall across the street/on property.
     
  10. ken2v

    ken2v This Space For Rent

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    Bingo. Kinda a convoluted layout to the casino, no?
     
  11. sporty8705

    sporty8705 VIP Whale

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    I love Pechanga, Pauma, Harrahs, Valley View.
    I dislike Pala a lot.. why? because i feel they screwed me on comps and made me mad..

    Long story short, i was invited to a tournament at Pala, happened to be the day i got my tax return back.. played it almost all gone, like 4k, and the day of the tournament i kept playing and lost it all.. i won 5th in the tournament and won 2,500... i got invited to nothing else after this.. i played a lost 4k and they gave me back 2,500, so i still had a loss.
     
  12. sindustry

    sindustry VIP Whale

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    I'll be at Pechanga this weekend...let's hit some handpays!
     
  13. sporty8705

    sporty8705 VIP Whale

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    i will be there sunday as well!
    for their bogus short slot tournament
     
  14. sindustry

    sindustry VIP Whale

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    I have yet to play any of their tournaments. I'll be there Friday night through Sunday afternoon. Was almost going to Vegas for the weekend, but ending up staying local.
     
  15. sporty8705

    sporty8705 VIP Whale

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    i will be there sunday afternoon for their tournament..
    i was suppposed to have plans, but baby daddy opted not to take our son!
     
  16. M_ILIS

    M_ILIS VIP Whale

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    Anyone know if Pauma, Pala, Harrah's or any of the others along Highway 76 have nickel VP? I'm headed through there this weekend and wouldn't mind stopping for a little play to break up the long drive. If they all do, any suggestions on where to go?
     
  17. sporty8705

    sporty8705 VIP Whale

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    i think pauma does..
     
  18. sindustry

    sindustry VIP Whale

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    I am pretty sure all the local SoCal casinos will have nickel VP. I played a little UltX last night and I believe that was multi-denom, up to $1. Probably too late for you, but I can check to see if the regular VP multi-denom has nickels at Pechanga.
     
  19. M_ILIS

    M_ILIS VIP Whale

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    Thanks. Not too late. Will be going through there on Monday.
     
  20. marksind

    marksind VIP Whale

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    Barona is the only one with full pay VP, I believe. We went there for the first time last year and really enjoyed it. It's big and well-ventilated. As first time visitors they treated us very well. Gave us "1st" buttons to wear. While playing video poker an attendant handed my wife $20 to play, and when I later joked that my wife gets all the attention the same woman handed me $20. Another attendant chatted with us for awhile and gave us comps to the buffet, which was large and much better than we've had at other Native American casinos. I won about $450 playing White Hot Aces max bet ($1.25) on the quarter machines. Of course my wife just about offset that with her losses, but overall it was a fun day.
     
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