I think I’ve written several times over the years that our favorite spot on this earth is at Lake Tahoe and its surrounding area. I have of course driven the mesmerizing drive from Phoenix to Reno/Lake Tahoe many, many times since 1999, and I’ve even written the majority of one of my books about that particular trip. But anytime I get the opportunity to take my wife up there regardless of the method, I jump at the chance.

The opportunity came in one of the many, many casino offers that have been filling up my mail box (and I’m sure yours also) since the economy began its slide. Harrah’s Reno offered 3 nights plus free airfare for two – but there was a small catch that turned out to be a very pleasant surprise. This flight was on Allegiant Air, which was an airline I’ve not heard of. And instead of taking off from the usual, super busy (and super annoying) Sky Harbor Airport, it departed and returned from & to the old Williams Air Force Base which is now called Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport.

At first I wasn’t going to book this trip because I just didn’t feel like becoming a pawn of the airport and some odd airline. I’ve spent my working career on airplanes and absorbing the hassles of airports everywhere, and I’ve committed to only going on very few select flights after quitting Corporate America in late 1999. But when I learned of it being routed from a tiny airport that I’ve never been to before, I changed my mind. What I was really looking for, I guess, was a GOOD experience for a change. And that’s exactly what I found.

We left on Friday around 11am for a 2pm departure. Phoenix-Mesa Gateway is about 55 miles from where we live, and the route goes directly through all the busiest highways in the city. But luckily, when we hit the road all the yuppies were at work and all the power drinkers were off the roads. The ride was enjoyable and incident-free and the airport, just as I thought, was in a wide open space dotted by huge farms.

Parking was a breeze, and since our flight was the only flight for that time of day, there was no crowd at all. The small, unaesthetic terminal made me think it was either temporary or in some kind of transition phase. When it was time to board the plane it reminded me of many past trips to Laos or Cambodia: A walk from the waiting area into the warm sunshine and out to the plane to a waiting loader that shook with every step. I commented to Cindy that the only thing seemingly different between here and the Southeast Asian airfields was that we had no police with machine guns walking around in pairs.

The ride up North was normal and the plane was full of anxious gamblers chatting loudly about their wild expectations. This was no commercial flight – it was a Harrah’s junket loaded with people who have obviously played a lot in the past and will again during the next three days. I, however, had my own plans, and it follows right along with my advice to all video poker players who want to learn to win and how to do it on their own terms. The main point here was simple: If you do as the casino expects you to do, you will almost always lose.

My plan was similar to what I do when I go to Laughlin or Las Vegas. Friday night we were to stay at Harrah’s and we did, but first we walked over to one of my favorite Brew Pubs at the Eldorado for dinner and one of their very tasty brews. When we returned we found our room had been changed to a big suite for some reason. One look at it and we both said “Why stay at the other places we’re checking into?” which was my original plan. I had booked the Peppermill for Saturday night that came with $100 in free-play, and Sunday night I had the Hyatt at Incline village set up for a stay.

Saturday morning we took the Harrah’s shuttle to the airport to get a rental car. Around noon we went out to our favorite Thai restaurant for lunch: Thai Chili. It’s a modest little place on Virginia about halfway between Harrah’s and the Peppermill, but it’s still the best Thai food that we’ve found outside Thailand. Then it was up to Atlantis to play off my $100 in free-play I had there. Once through on 25c Bonus Poker turned it into an $85 profit. Afterwards we went over to the Peppermill, checked in, then went down to the casino to get and play my $100 in free-play.

Every trip seems to have a highlight of some sort, and here’s where this trip’s occurred. We didn’t go on the trip to play and, in fact, my wife rarely does. So after getting my slot card loaded with the free-play, we just sat down at the first video poker machine we saw that had dollars on it because I chose to play 20 hands on bonus Poker and take whatever it gave us.

I asked my wife to play 5 credits so she hit “max bet” – like most people would. But because I really didn’t look at the thing, when she hit the button it went through some funny gyration up top before dealing the cards. Turns out this was a 1-25 credit machine, and she just bet $25. It really didn’t matter – other than being a slight positive so we could get out of there faster.

The hand ended up being a loser so I hit it again for 25 credits. If we had tied or won the first hand I would’ve gone back to betting just five. The second hand was a push so I played another $25. This time two 4’s were dealt and two more were drawn, for a $1000 hit. The fourth hand was a loser but we were not. We got up, cashed out our ticket for $1025, and left. It is so simple when you’re lucky, and being lucky is the ONLY way anyone anywhere wins any session on any type machine at video poker.

We went back to the Eldorado for a brew before walking back over to Harrah’s for a very enjoyable meal at Andreotti’s. The next morning we drove up to Lake Tahoe where we finally walked through some snow at the Hyatt. The reason I checked in there was we were invited in for their Super Bowl party, and it was a blast. Not only that – my name was picked as one of the $100 winners. After the game – and what a game it was even for folks from Phoenix – we went back to Harrah’s.

The only gambling we did on this trip was my $200 in free-play. Not what casinos expect from people on such a trip, but it is exactly how I wanted to do it. If the casinos don’t appreciate that then they won’t invite me back. It’s as simple as that. When winning money directly from the machines is your only concern, what you get on the side means it is only an extra. If it doesn't come then it is of little concern.

Final tally: Two free round-trip flights for two between Phoenix and Reno; Three great nights in a beautiful suite; $34 in food, bartender & valet tips; $182 in food & beer; $62 for the rental car; $10 in gas to & from the Phoenix airport; $18 in parking at the airport; $11 in gas driving around Reno & Lake Tahoe; $71 for some Bvulgari perfume for Cindy; +85 from Atlantis/+$1025 from Peppermill/+$100 from the Hyatt. We had a great time, did some of our favorite things, and came home with exactly $822 more than we left with. I’d call that doing it on my own terms.