Do you love to travel? Well, travelling and playing poker can go hand-in-hand if you enjoy doing both. Some people enjoy playing poker online and from the comfort of home, but for many of us the appeal of travelling to new places is an opportunity too exciting to turn down.
No matter your level of poker expertise, you’re going to want to make the most of your trip. Do you prioritise gambling and poker, or is the experience of being in a new and exciting place what matters most?
I’ve picked up some tips and pointers, during my years travelling the poker circuit, I think you’ll find quite handy. If nothing else, you’ll be able to avoid some commonly made mistakes.
Don’t schedule flights at miserable times
It sounds obvious, but people still continually make this rookie mistake. Unless you’re a morning person, waking up at 5am to make an 8am flight is going to feel like being in an unending nightmare. If it’s marginally more to get the afternoon or evening flight, just do it. You won’t regret it.
Hotel check-out times aren’t a real thing
What time did reception say check-out is? 10am? No it’s not. As many of you know, you can call down and ask for a late check-out, and they’ll typically give you one around noon, sometimes later. If that doesn’t work, go downstairs and ask in person as you’ll often get different answer depending on who you ask. Hotel employees are inclined to accommodate most requests. If you do linger in your room after the agreed upon check-out time, you should have an additional 30 to 60 minutes before a member of the cleaning staff shows up. Even then, they’ll most likely assume a mistake’s been made and come back only after you’ve chucked your stuff in a bag and left the building.
Get some exercise
Poker players have really taken to exercise in the last few years and many of the top players have vested interest in fitness and health. Sometimes it can be hard to a get a session in, especially when there are so many interesting things to keep you busy, but it’s worth the effort.
Jet lag sucks
Mike Sexton is convinced otherwise, but jet lag for most of us, is inevitable. If you’re travelling across several time zones, you’ll want to arrive a few days before the tournament to acclimatize. Most people, however, don’t have the time or budget to arrive early and plan on playing upon arrival. You should consider packing medication that will help relieve jet-lag effects: melatonin for sleep, ibuprofen (Advil) for headaches, loperamide (Imodium) for upset stomachs. Fortunately, late registration has become common, so if more rest is required before a main event, skip the early entry levels and snooze to your heart’s content. Don’t, however, forget to set a bloody alarm.
See the sights…maybe
There’s nothing wrong with making your trip poker-centric if that is the primary reason for your visit. But if you’re in an interesting city for the first time, don’t miss the chance to enjoy it. Arrive just before the tournament and prolong your stay so you can explore and make the most of your sojourn. By then you’ll have met an array of people who can recommend the best places to go, so you don’t miss out on any hidden gems or must-sees.
Do you agree with these travel tips or am I way off-base?
I’d love to hear your thoughts and comments.
Let us know in the comments box below.
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1 Comment
My dreams come true :)