BACKROADS

WHETHER FOR A HOLIDAY of just a three-day-get-away, a stayover away from home at a hotel can be a total stress break. The LUMIERE HOTEL and CASINO in downtown St. Louis, Missouri was the perfect escape which doubled as a holiday gift for seniors who "wanted nothing." A room booked months in advance and a starter cash gift bag set up with bonbons, peppermints and a fanny pack for each was the beginning note to the surprise gift. With the "ditty bag" gift handed to each in the parking garage before setting foot inside, eyes were wide and jaws dropped lower with each step along the trail in the well laid out hotel side of the casino so that one can enter and not realize it's morning without wandering the floor in search of good coffee. Beautifully decorated and cost effective, a two night stay in a queen suite plus meals for three, plus the ditty bag treats and $50 each spending money set me back less than six hundred dollars. The player token card issued at registration was free with a provisional option for winning additional money or meals during the stay at their facility. Registration allowed them to direct any winnings to the name and number encoded on the card issued upon arrival. The room looked out over the pavilion of seats and greenery while also providing an awesome view of the arch and the Lumiere hotel spa next door.

We arrived early enough to check into room and get out onto the floor in the casino, take dinner at the indoor steak house and get back out to the game rooms. The gaming area was expansive enough that you could play the one-armed bandits in one area of the building and roullete or blackjack in a separate section in a round robin manner and never come up for air before morning. It was amazing to watch the half filled room of tireless "crank yankers" dropping coins and picking up dollars amid flashing lights and sirens for hours upon hours. The Lumiere Hotel was built for those who take casino life as a sport.

Comfortable beds for use in down time or when the game purpose has depleted itself... there is no more ready cash. The rooms are equipped with a minifridge stocked with waters, juices, champagne, sodas, and ice trays. There are unlimited cable and internet channels for defrocking one's brain from the casino jitters. There is a safe in the room for securing valuables in the event of a return to the casino floor.

The Spa is offered at an extra charge and can be reserved as a packaged plan alternate to entertainment by invariable music or vocal groups. We did not separate ourselves for the massage or sauna sessions I planned for but they feature every amenity in massage including aromatherapies.

The Coffeehouse was a joy to find once anxiety slowed enough to allow time to discover a Starbucks quality beverage pick me up some call "love." Once the others reached a potentially penniless state, I was free to roam around beyond constant beckoning to "come look" and "come see." With my contribution of starter money long gone into the arrival night, they were on their own docket. They became seniors once again like so many other leaving the game floor, and turned in for a few hours nap. I went in search of coffee. Morning early hours and breakfast done found them back downstairs making one last pitch at striking it rich or break even.

SAINT LOUIS, MISSOURI is a boone for anyone with a wunderlust and strong forearms; and while the city has so much more to offer there just was not enough interest or enough time to take it all in. We left the sports and nighclubs for... next time.