Pechanga Resort & Casino (temecula, Ca)

[Potsie P 0]

Looking to do a SoCal getaway and was curious how it compares to the other 30-some-odd casinos between L.A. and Mexico. It seems, as far as Indian casinos go, Pechanga would be a good one in terms of full resort offerings (yes, the wife will be in tow), but I've never been. If you wouldn't recommend Pechanga but have another area fave, I'd appreciate those rec's, as well.Thanks in advance.

[MDBLakers 0]

Looking to do a SoCal getaway and was curious how it compares to the other 30-some-odd casinos between L.A. and Mexico. It seems, as far as Indian casinos go, Pechanga would be a good one in terms of full resort offerings (yes, the wife will be in tow), but I've never been. If you wouldn't recommend Pechanga but have another area fave, I'd appreciate those rec's, as well.Thanks in advance.

Pechanga is actually pretty nice now that they renovated it. They just redid the whole casino and made it a resort and it's a good place to take the wife. The poker room is great. Lost of side games, morning and evening tournaments. Flat screen plasmas throughout. Pretty good club too. They have a day spa and nice restaurants in and around the casino. They also host comedians, singers, and boxing events there too. There is also Pala Casino very nearby but I don't believe they have a poker room and it's not a resort with hotel rooms.There is also a Harris in San Diego.Some other Indian Casinos in San Diego are Barona, Sycuan, and Viejas. All pretty decent.Best poker card room would be Ocean's 11 in Oceanside. But I would go with Pechanga, you'll like it. Also it very hot in Temecula.

[pocket_change 0]

It's the nicest casino that I've been to in SoCal, which includes all the dirty L.A. casinos, Morong, Viejas and Ocean's 11. Pechanga is the most "vegas" style casino. Morongo is nice because it's near Palm Springs and the outlets, but there is also an outlet mall 20 minutes from Pechanga as well as San Diego. Good luck.

[socalpoker_j 1]

Looking to do a SoCal getaway and was curious how it compares to the other 30-some-odd casinos between L.A. and Mexico. It seems, as far as Indian casinos go, Pechanga would be a good one in terms of full resort offerings (yes, the wife will be in tow), but I've never been. If you wouldn't recommend Pechanga but have another area fave, I'd appreciate those rec's, as well.Thanks in advance.

I play there infrequently, as there are better choices closer to where I'm located, but as far as environment, service, and other poker room intangibles, Pechanga ranks right up there with the best in southern California. They have a closed off poker room on the second level across from their night club "Silk" (which is actually a good thing) that is pretty spacious and has a wide variety of games. I was there recently and they ran a good 5-5 300 min- 1k max game (2 tables), 2-3 (100-300 max), and some even lower limit NLHE games. The 5-5 game was the biggest they spread in the room. As far as LHE, I saw multiple tables of 3-6, 4-8, and 8-16. They also run a 3-6 1/2 Kill O8. Most of the players there want to play NLHE, which is good because I haven't encountered very many decent players there at all. The floor does a good job of getting you into games and making sure you're not waiting around too long. As far as other card rooms/casino's in the area, I'll do a quick rundown of the ones I frequent (Not in any order):1. The Village Club Card Room- Located in the South Bay, spread a 2k max NL buy-in game mostly on Fridays and Saturdays. It's a no frills card club with some other Asian table games. 2. The Palomar Club- Also a no frills card room in not that great of an area. They claim to have the biggest 10-20 NL game in action. They don't have nearly as many tables as the bigger rooms, but the action is loose and fast with plenty of old, grumpy Middle Easterners.3. Barona- As far as an all-inclusive resort in San Diego (golf, dining, poker, relaxing) this is the best one. They run a very very clean poker room that is separated off near the sports book and some fast food places/buffet. It's basically an all hold em room and they have the standard 3-6, 4-8, and 6-12 (more towards Fri/weekend LHE games going, with 1-1, 2-3, and 5-5 1K max (Fri and Saturday and super soft) NLHE. The wait can be a bit long on Friday past 6 pm, and they run little crapshooty NLHE tournaments as well.4. Harrah's Rincon in Valley Center- This is also a "resort" but I use that term loosely. It's basically in the middle of nowhere and they have past their prime R&B crooners perform out there. They run a pretty small poker room, with 3-6 LHE the most predominant game running. However, they get a bigger game going there on Friday's and Saturday's with very loose/aggro/rich older players and its well worth the drive. It's a 5-5 1k max, that plays very frequently with straddles depending on who's in the games. 5. Oceans 11- This is basically the best pure card room in San Diego and relatively close enough to other attractions for the wife to keep busy (shopping outlet in Carlsbad about 20 mins away). They run every limit from 1-1 NL to 10-25 NL w/a 2k min and uncapped buy-in. LHE ranges from 3-6 to 75/150 (which is always running short-handed and usually on Fridays). They have two different rooms for poker. The main room is devoted to 4/8 O8 w/ a half kill that has the oldest, grossest players in the lineup, 4/8 LHE, 8/16 LHE, 20/40 LHE, 40/80 LHE, 2/3 NLHE, 5-5 NLHE, 10-25 NLHE, while the other room is used for tournaments and smaller stakes games like 2-4 O8 and 40 max NLHE. The food is excellent and the cheapest you'll find. I really like the floor here as they have always been very accomodating and go out of their way to make you feel comfortable. This is the main card room that I play in. 6. Viejas- More towards AZ with lots of outlet shopping for the wife to do. I HATE playing here, as it's always felt dirty and poorly run. I'm also cursed there so I wont even comment on the poker room or incompetent staff 7. Sycuan- They try to get a resort feel out there as well, and used to run really juicy 2/4 NL and 5/10 NL games, but as far as I'm concerned the action has pretty much dried up and they are trying like crazy to get their clientele back from Barona, the Palomar Club, and Oceans. You're going to find mostly old-timers that don't know that it's not appropriate to poop on themselves at the tables, begging crackhead railbirds, and angry Chaldeans here. They are the only room in San Diego that I know that spreads Stud Hi/Lo (1-3). Not worth the trip though.8. The Lucky Lady- It's near (relatively) the Palomar Club, but it feels like you're playing in an underground poker game at a Chinese restaurant. They spread a ton of limit games, with a very good 8/16 game. I haven't been there in ages, because there are better overall games and rooms elsewhere.If you need any advice about restaurants, sites to see, hotels, etc while in/near San Diego let me know. FWIW Pechanga is actually outside of San Diego about 40 minutes (wedged between SD and Riverside) in Temecula, which has some pretty decent vineyards and golf out there, but not much else. Good luck on the trip.

[Flushgarden 0]

Pechanga is my home casino and I can't complain about it at all. The poker room is bigger and better than most rooms in Vegas. I think they said it has 54 tables, and they use their ballroom for bigger tournaments.The tournaments are a crapshoot like most small buy in tourneys are, but they're still fun and usually have between 200-400 people on any given day. Cash games are soft. The lowest buyins - 1/2 $80 max NL and 2/4 LHE - have a rake that is tough to beat, but the play is so bad that they are still profitable. The last time I went there I bought in for the $80 max on 1/2 NL and I seriously busted at the table. So fun.

[Fluffdog87 2]

I play there infrequently, as there are better choices closer to where I'm located, but as far as environment, service, and other poker room intangibles, Pechanga ranks right up there with the best in southern California. They have a closed off poker room on the second level across from their night club "Silk" (which is actually a good thing) that is pretty spacious and has a wide variety of games. I was there recently and they ran a good 5-5 300 min- 1k max game (2 tables), 2-3 (100-300 max), and some even lower limit NLHE games. The 5-5 game was the biggest they spread in the room. As far as LHE, I saw multiple tables of 3-6, 4-8, and 8-16. They also run a 3-6 1/2 Kill O8. Most of the players there want to play NLHE, which is good because I haven't encountered very many decent players there at all. The floor does a good job of getting you into games and making sure you're not waiting around too long. As far as other card rooms/casino's in the area, I'll do a quick rundown of the ones I frequent (Not in any order):1. The Village Club Card Room- Located in the South Bay, spread a 2k max NL buy-in game mostly on Fridays and Saturdays. It's a no frills card club with some other Asian table games. 2. The Palomar Club- Also a no frills card room in not that great of an area. They claim to have the biggest 10-20 NL game in action. They don't have nearly as many tables as the bigger rooms, but the action is loose and fast with plenty of old, grumpy Middle Easterners.3. Barona- As far as an all-inclusive resort in San Diego (golf, dining, poker, relaxing) this is the best one. They run a very very clean poker room that is separated off near the sports book and some fast food places/buffet. It's basically an all hold em room and they have the standard 3-6, 4-8, and 6-12 (more towards Fri/weekend LHE games going, with 1-1, 2-3, and 5-5 1K max (Fri and Saturday and super soft) NLHE. The wait can be a bit long on Friday past 6 pm, and they run little crapshooty NLHE tournaments as well.4. Harrah's Rincon in Valley Center- This is also a "resort" but I use that term loosely. It's basically in the middle of nowhere and they have past their prime R&B crooners perform out there. They run a pretty small poker room, with 3-6 LHE the most predominant game running. However, they get a bigger game going there on Friday's and Saturday's with very loose/aggro/rich older players and its well worth the drive. It's a 5-5 1k max, that plays very frequently with straddles depending on who's in the games. 5. Oceans 11- This is basically the best pure card room in San Diego and relatively close enough to other attractions for the wife to keep busy (shopping outlet in Carlsbad about 20 mins away). They run every limit from 1-1 NL to 10-25 NL w/a 2k min and uncapped buy-in. LHE ranges from 3-6 to 75/150 (which is always running short-handed and usually on Fridays). They have two different rooms for poker. The main room is devoted to 4/8 O8 w/ a half kill that has the oldest, grossest players in the lineup, 4/8 LHE, 8/16 LHE, 20/40 LHE, 40/80 LHE, 2/3 NLHE, 5-5 NLHE, 10-25 NLHE, while the other room is used for tournaments and smaller stakes games like 2-4 O8 and 40 max NLHE. The food is excellent and the cheapest you'll find. I really like the floor here as they have always been very accomodating and go out of their way to make you feel comfortable. This is the main card room that I play in. 6. Viejas- More towards AZ with lots of outlet shopping for the wife to do. I HATE playing here, as it's always felt dirty and poorly run. I'm also cursed there so I wont even comment on the poker room or incompetent staff 7. Sycuan- They try to get a resort feel out there as well, and used to run really juicy 2/4 NL and 5/10 NL games, but as far as I'm concerned the action has pretty much dried up and they are trying like crazy to get their clientele back from Barona, the Palomar Club, and Oceans. You're going to find mostly old-timers that don't know that it's not appropriate to poop on themselves at the tables, begging crackhead railbirds, and angry Chaldeans here. They are the only room in San Diego that I know that spreads Stud Hi/Lo (1-3). Not worth the trip though.8. The Lucky Lady- It's near (relatively) the Palomar Club, but it feels like you're playing in an underground poker game at a Chinese restaurant. They spread a ton of limit games, with a very good 8/16 game. I haven't been there in ages, because there are better overall games and rooms elsewhere.If you need any advice about restaurants, sites to see, hotels, etc while in/near San Diego let me know. FWIW Pechanga is actually outside of San Diego about 40 minutes (wedged between SD and Riverside) in Temecula, which has some pretty decent vineyards and golf out there, but not much else. Good luck on the trip.

Out of these 8 which are 18+ or 21+?

[socalpoker_j 1]

Out of these 8 which are 18+ or 21+?

1,2,4,5= 21+3,6,7,8= 18+

[Tiltinagain 973]

Stayed at Pechanga for a work conference about a year ago. I was really impressed with the look and feel of the place. Good restaurants (Italian place, don't remember the name, was VERY good).I heard it's one of the largest indian casinos in the US. Either way it was definately one of the nicest, rooms included.And a guy I work with and I made a killing at the BJ tables...crazy but true! I would have no reservations about taking my wife there at all.Have fun and good luck.

[Bencoast1138 0]

I like Pechanga, it is very clean:) I have been there many times, and I used to work in the hotel. I live 30 miles north of the Resort. Very friendly people. I will be attending the tourney on the 14th of this month. My club the IMPC(Inland Empire Poker Club) will be there.

[Flushgarden 0]

My club the IMPC(Inland Empire Poker Club) will be there.

Tell me more about this club. I am in the Inland Empire, and I play poker.

[Bencoast1138 0]

Tell me more about this club. I am in the Inland Empire, and I play poker.

We have games on fridays and saturday nights. $10 Buy-in. Heres my email so we can talk more and for anyone else who wants to know. bencoast1138@sbcglobal.net

[scram 1]

Very, very soft NLHE regulars.

[Potsie P 0]

Thanks to all for your responses and to SoCal for the comparison of alternatives. You've been a big help. Sounds like Pechanga is the place. I was really impressed with the stuff I read on it--lots of restaurants, several nightlife options, big card room, even a "feng shiu"-ed high limit room (not that I'll be frequenting that, lol). I guess for golf enthusiasts, they are completing a championship golf course there at the end of this year for an opening in early 2008. Should be sweet. Anyway, glad to hear Pechanga is nice and sort of upscale, as we were thinking Temecula area anyway for the golf/wine country aspects, too.Again, thanks to all--you've just helped me prove to the wife the value of spending so much time on this "lame poker forum thing." And good luck to those playing the Poker Championships at Pechanga in a couple weeks.

[Bencoast1138 0]

Any time bud, have a great vacation and thanks for the good luck