Planning a first trip to Laughlin, need some input please!

My mother and stepfather are insisting on going to Laughlin instead of Vegas this summer for vacation. They don%26#39;t want the ';hustle and bustle'; and expense and feel like Laughlin would be more relaxing but include the gambling. So, as a Vegas freak myself, I have a few questions:

How do the casino floors hold up to Vegas? Are there as many slots/denominations/varieties?

Are the Blackjack rules better or same? Limits lower?

Can you walk with an open alcoholic container between casinos?

Which casino has the best beach?

I can get comp rooms at Harrahs, but would it be worth it to pay for a more conveniently located casino?

And lastly, my parents (and some friends) would be coming in from Pittsburgh which doesn%26#39;t fly direct to Bullhead, AZ. Should they fly into Vegas and get a small charter flight into Bullhead? Or would it be cheaper to rent a car in Vegas and drive in? I would be meeting them in Laughlin with my car.

Thank you all very much in advance!!

Planning a first trip to Laughlin, need some input please!

I can address one of your questions.

The distance from Harrah%26#39;s (the hotel farthest south) to Riverside (the hotel farthest north) is less than two miles. With a car (maybe two of them), the location just isn%26#39;t much of a factor in choosing a hotel. Without a car, it might be a factor if anybody in your party has difficulty walking uphill in hot weather.

Planning a first trip to Laughlin, need some input please!

Thank you for your response!

We liked Laughlin, unlike so many other Vegas junkies. It was a nice couple days away from the crowds of LV. And we loved the slots- we are VP players and there were 9/6 NICKLE machines, and actually a lot of full-pay VP machines in all denominations. Good drink service, inexpensive restaurants/buffets, maybe the way Vegas used to be... You%26#39;ll need a car if you stay at Harrahs, which is where we stayed, and Harrahs has the best beach of the casinos, I think(this was a couple years ago). I%26#39;m sure it will definitely be more relaxing... we are older so we kind of liked that. But very hot in the summer; don%26#39;t underestimate the heat in Laughlin- I don%26#39;t think we would go there in the summer for a vacation. Although you might get very good rates...!!! Good Luck, have fun!

Rent a car in vegas and drive out.....i think a charter flight would cost an arm and leg.

Lots of slots of all denominations.

Although BJ games are all becoming 6-5, you will find a far higher percentage of 3-2 remaining in Laughlin than Las Vegas.

No problem walking with alcohol on the River Walk.

The Avi has the best beach, followed by Harrahs.

As far as whether or not to stay at Harrahs, it depends upon how your mother and stepfather deal with walking. It is quite a steep walk for some older folks to get up the hill to Harrahs.

And as Polka said, they will want to rent a car in LV.