| My wife and I live just north of Houston Texas. We | | | | probably won't happen to you but I have to wonder if |
| have been going to Louisiana casinos about twice a | | | | the Pines has an effective manager? Wouldn't |
| year for many years. | | | | management 101 be to service the ac units, especially |
| The closest casinos are the "riverboats" in the Lake | | | | in a southern climate? And maybe do something to |
| Charles area. These are nice but we usually go to | | | | control the odor for smoking rooms (think sleeping in a |
| Coushatta in Kinder Louisiana. It takes about 30 | | | | big ashtray)? |
| minutes longer to get there but we like it much better. | | | | Other negatives for the Coushatta included the buffet. |
| (It is about a 3 hour drive from the Houston area to | | | | That may be just me, but I have been to many casino |
| Kinder.) | | | | buffets and this is one of my least favorites. There is |
| Coushatta is land based and significantly larger than | | | | a lot to choose from, but there are too many Cajun |
| the so called riverboats. It is usually not as crowded | | | | items for my taste. |
| and we think the slots are more liberal. We like to try | | | | Maintenance in the gaming area seems to be slipping, |
| new slots and they seem to update more frequently | | | | for example carpet repaired with duct tape. |
| than the Lake Charles resorts. | | | | Drink service in the gaming area is adequate and the |
| This week we went with an offer for a $29 room and | | | | staff is mostly well trained and friendly. Points from |
| $20 free slot play. There are three levels of rooms. | | | | game play are a little stingy but equal or better than |
| The most deluxe (and most expensive) is the Grand | | | | the Lake Charles area programs. |
| Hotel, mid price is the Grand Inn, and our $29 got us a | | | | All things considered this is still my favorite LA casino, |
| Monday-Thursday Pines Lodge room. If you are not | | | | and I will go back. If you go here are some |
| too particular that is good enough for a nights sleep. | | | | suggestions. |
| However our room had a broken air conditioner and | | | | - Get an advantage card. You will earn rewards and |
| the temperature was in the 90's. The clerk said there | | | | be mailed special offers. |
| were no rooms available for exchange but they would | | | | - Go to their website and look for promotions that you |
| send the repair man. The service technician said that | | | | like. This can be entertainment, tournaments, lodging |
| the Hotel had neglected cleaning the units, and wasn't | | | | offers, free slot play, or cash give aways. |
| replacing the air filters, which caused breakdowns. At | | | | - Watch out for speed traps on the road leading to the |
| about midnight he gave up on repairs and said the unit | | | | casino! These are notorious, and are usually where the |
| needed to be replaced. We called the reservations line | | | | speed is suddenly reduced for one of the tiny towns |
| for help and they found us another Pines Lodge room | | | | along the way. |
| to move to. That room had a great ac unit but it was | | | | - Don't gamble more than you can comfortably afford |
| a smoking room with an awful smell, and double beds | | | | to loose. The Indians will usually win! |
| instead of the single bed room we reserved. This | | | | |