I have taken many trips to Reno to play poker, and clearly the best place to stay is the Atlantis. Here's why:

Vegas-Like

Of all the casinos in Reno, the Atlantis is most like the Vegas strip hotels. In its scope, customer service, design, and amenities, you won't find better in Reno. You'll find better in Vegas, but you won't get it for the price you'll get from the Atlantis.

The Rooms

The rooms are very nice -- and not at all "western-themed" like they are down the street.

They all have 42" Hi-Def TVs, WiFi, and great views. The Concierge Tower adds free breakfast and hors d'oeuvres, a fridge, mini-bar, and personalized butler service on request.

The Price

Normal prices for the Atlantis run from $70 a night in the cheaper rooms on week days to $230 a night in the Concierge Tower on a weekend. If you've ever booked a Vegas trip, you know that already these prices are amazing. But you can almost always find a deal from their web site, especially if you're a member of their player's club, Club Paradise. When I fly in for the All In Series every March, I pay $30 a night. Not that I ever end up paying much of that out of pocket, because I gamble and am a Club Paradise member.

Club Paradise

Club Paradise is definitely one of the better player's clubs I belong to. There are no restrictions on where you spend your bonus dollars in the property, and converting your unspent dollars to pay for your stay can be done right at the front desk when you check out. On my last trip out, I never spent a dime of my own money on meals and when I checked out, most of my stay was covered by what was left over.

The Action

I go mostly to play tournaments, so I have no trouble getting my hours of poker in. Unfortunately, the poker room is not as big or as active as the Grand Sierra's poker room, but the comp schedule and bonuses are very good. Luckily, the Grand Sierra is not far if you want to hike over and play there. During tournament series, there's enough action to satisfy, but all of the No Limit Holdem variety. During tournies, the last thing I want to do after twelve hours of poker is play more poker. Instead, I play the $3 craps for a very good comp schedule and some fun giveaways for long rolls.

The Staff

The staff I've interacted with at the Atlantis -- from floor people to dealers to the main desk and housekeeping -- have all been professional, personable, helpful, and kind. They all seem to understand the fundamental principle of casino management: customer service is everything. To put it another way, a casino is set up to just plain take your money. All they offer in return is customer service. If they screw that up, you're getting absolutely nothing from the experience. The Atlantis doesn't screw it up.

Other Amenities

I haven't taken the family to the Atlantis yet, but if I did, there is a quite large kid's arcade that I'm sure they'd have a blast in. There's indoor and outdoor pools, a spa, shows, as well as golf and skiing right nearby.

Recommendation

The city of Reno itself is not the greatest place to visit. But the surroundings are gorgeous and there are numerous outdoor activities you can enjoy. Book a trip to Reno and stay at the Atlantis. You'll be shocked by how cheap it is to be treated so well.