Aruba report

[techster]

My wife and I just got back from a wonderful weak in Aruba. All day on the most beautiful beach I've ever seen; all night at various casinos. Here is what I found:

Downtown: The casinos in Oranjestad play European no hole card, six deck, DAS, double any hand, 70% penetration. I HATE no hole card! It seems like every 10 or 11 I got was against a dealer ace or ten. I broke even downtown, while my wife (who does not count but plays basic strategy) got hot and won a couple of hundred $$.

Palm Beach--High rise hotels: There are 7 or 8 hotels in a row, and most of them have a casino. We stayed at the Holiday Inn, probably the oldest of them all, but still a decent place (and once again, an INCREDIBLE beach). Very small casino. Same rules as town except not "no hole card." Also the only one that I found that dealer stood on soft 17. Broke even here also. The largest and nicest casinos in this area are at the Hyatt and the Radisson, although don't expect anything like Vegas anywhere on the island. Most don't even start dealing blackjack until late afternoon or early evening (around 6:00). I did come out about $300 ahead, playing at $10 tables. All the rules the same as the Holiday Inn, except dealer hit S17. If you go look for local tourist magazines that have free play offers from many of the casinos.

By the way, the Radisson had one table with a wildcard. WHoever got this wildcard (only one in an 8 deck shoe) got an automatic 21 (not blackjack--pay even money). Even though this wildcard also gave the dealer an automatic win, the house was advertising "best odds on the island--one more way for you to win.) I don't see an advantage, here, so did not play long.