My stay at the Tropicana is over. I moved across the street to the River Palms yesterday and my room is in the west tower overlooking the Colorado River. The room is entirely comped by the poker room at the Palms, so I can't complain.

I had a problem with the the TV when I first moved in. Someone ripped out the cable connector from the back of the TV, and therefore when I turned it on I got snow and static. I called room service and it was quickly fixed. So I'm happy about that. The other issue I've had is with the bath water: it's the color of iced tea. The hot water looks rusty-brown and nasty, but when you turn the sprocket to cold water it clears up. Go figure.

The room itself is nice enough, and has a sitting area with table and plenty of room. The bed is comfortable and I haven't detected any smoke-smell or odd odors. So, I guess I'm set for a while. As long as I play in the poker room for a few hours each day, the room is free.

The only other minor issue I have with the Palms (as compared to the Tropicana), is the parking. The Palm's parking garage is detached and I have to walk outside the casino and venture next door to go to my car. It's not a bad walk for me, but for a senior adult or person with limited walking range, it would be a chore. At the Tropicana, the parking garage is attached and you have direct access to your room and the casino directly from the garage.

My opinion of the Tropicana? Very nice and I would stay there again. I like the Tropicana's cleanliness and central location on the strip. It's buffet is lousy, however, so avoid it. I like the Starbucks at the Aquarius, but there is no poker action at that casino. I like the poker room at the River Palms, and they certainly have the best comps on the strip. So, if I could build me a new casino, I'd take the Starbucks from the Aquarius, the poker room from the Palms, and the amenities of the Tropicana and put them all under one roof!

I played Omaha H/L last night with a very nice group of people in the Palms poker room. We seemed to hit it off and had a great time playing together. There were no crazies or drunks or nut-jobs playing. We all agreed to meet back today for another long session, so I'll be at the felt most of the day and early evening. With this group, there's the possibility we'll play all night.