St. Kitts Royal Beach Casino - trip report

I know there was a Canadian event down there last year (CPT?), and another one coming up soon, so I'm sure many forum memebers have been down already, but here is my take.

I found this is casino to be a great place to play poker, since it was a very soft game. They only had 2 tables of 1/2 NL going between 8 pm and 4ish which isn't great, but nobody goes to St. Kitts for the poker, myself included.

It was never really busy, but why would you want it to be? With so many tired, sunburned, drunk tourists in the mix as well as a few locals who are pretty new to the game (casino is only three-years old), it was easy pickings. I doubled my money in both sessions and enjoyed a really friendly table with free booze, and cigars (if you are playing enough). I smoked four Montecristo number 2's over the trip which was delightful. For guys who love cigars, it's rare to be able to sit at a poker table these days and enjoy a nice long smoke with some whisky or cognac on the side. I know it sucks for non-smokers (and I don't smoke cigarettes) but I don't care. This is too good to pass up for a guy like me. I did get up and walk away often while smoking, or let it go out, and just chomped on it for intervals, so nobody complained.

The casino is really nice, with a small sports and race book and all kinds of table games. I hit trip aces playing three-card my first night and a straight flush my second (first time ever!), so I was pretty stoked to say the least. I had a very tasty roll with which I pampered the wife and myself all weekend, while playing with house money too. How on earth does it get better than that on vacation?

I also went a lights-out 9 for 10 in the book, with my only loss coming on the tail end of a three-teamer as the philly flyers (on the 2nd night of a back-to-back) roared back from 2 down against the Kings with 10 minutes to play, to score 3 straight goals in 5 minutes to kill my ticket. Bad beat for sure. I was even a little depressed about it, which is a sin, because you know you are in the islands, and up large, and getting steamed over a sportsbet in paradise makes you feel a little bit like Harvey Keitel in Bad Leiutenant, but that's gambling I guess.

Michigan getting a back-door cover and GSP destroying Hughes on Saturday was the cream on top of a great trip. Watching Hughes (who had previously called Canadians pussies and said "We never fought in wars" like a complete and total hick ignoramus from Iowa) get totally dominated in every way was the highlight of my MMA-watching life. With the book packed with Canadians watching the fight on four screens, and everyone going crazy, it was the perfect cap to one of the most memorable runs of my life.

The island is unreal, a total undiscovered gem. My wife and I just loved every second of it. If you like isolated beaches and cool, relaxed local flavour, its a wicked place for a getaway with gambling "on the side" (or when my wife was passed out). Unlike Vegas, the casino is only a side attraction here, unless you are a degenerate type, in which case, you can still give'r.

The resort is pretty sweet - although it's very shopping-mall like. I hate when big hotels come in and destroy the aesthetics of a tiny island, but what can you do. The rooms were top notch and the resort facilities were too. Getting off the resort and exploring the island was where it was at. We went to two local beach bars which had great lobster and live music. We even went over to Nevis on a catamaran (open bar) and checked it out. That place is so cool, think a huge volcano with homes, resorts and beaches smattered around the edges. It's a lot like I picture Hawaii. There are also some great spots at the southern tip of St. Kitts.

I highly recommend this spot for a married couple or family getaway. I'm not sure if there is enough "action" in St. Kitts to appease drunken single guys, as it's really chilled. But seriously fun times in the sun.

Comments

  • Thanks for a great trip report, AK*1. I have been thinking of family vacation spots with poker action.
  • damn wish I woulda been on the lookout for this tourny. Seems like a nice spot an would be a sweet vaction. Poker, sports betting, sun, beach, cigar, free booze. Sounds like heaven to me.
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