How to Get From DEN Airport to Blackhawk Casinos

[Midwest Player]

I like to plan blackjack trips, however I don't always take them. Anyway, I never been to the Black Hawk casinos, but I would like to see the scenery and the area. I don't want to rent a car so is there anyway to get to Black Hawk for a reasonable cost and in a reasonable amount of time with a suitcase without renting a car.

Here is what I found so far. It appears the cheapest way would be to take the train to union station and then the Tram to Federal Central Station and then catch the casino shuttle for $25. It appears you can get $20 of the $25 back playing at the casinos. Anyway, I would be concerned about hauling a suitcase along and safety in general. It appears Federal Central Station is just a drop off in the middle of no where. Anybody have any experience getting to Black Hawk by public transportation.
http://www.casinoshuttle.com/schedul...own-denver.asp

https://www.rome2rio.com/s/Denver-Ai...SAAEgJnt_D_BwE

[21forme]

I can't help you with specifics, but don't be penny wise pound foolish. Rent a car, especially if you "want to see the sights."

As car rentals are more expensive at airports, take public transportation to an off-airport car rental site and go from there. Also, suggest you consider late Spring to Fall, as rental prices will be higher during ski season. Unless, of course, you want to make a few bucks by shoveling a roof or two.

[Freightman]

Unless, of course, you want to make a few bucks by shoveling a roof or two.

MWP should take the new retractable Snow Peeler with him. It would certainly justify the car rental, even during peak season.

https://youtu.be/c9kgjqygtN0

[ZeeBabar]

I can't help you with specifics, but don't be penny wise pound foolish. Rent a car, especially if you "want to see the sights."

As car rentals are more expensive at airports, take public transportation to an off-airport car rental site and go from there. Also, suggest you consider late Spring to Fall, as rental prices will be higher during ski season. Unless, of course, you want to make a few bucks by shoveling a roof or two.

Totally agree with this. Denver airport is the most expensive for car rentals in the USA (or close to it) but took train downtown, walked to a car rental place and saved $$. Colorado is a spectacular state that is best enjoyed by car. Thought, perhaps not in winter.

[Freightman]

Totally agree with this. Denver airport is the most expensive for car rentals in the USA (or close to it) but took train downtown, walked to a car rental place and saved $$. Colorado is a spectacular state that is best enjoyed by car. Thought, perhaps not in winter.

Colorado winters can certainly give you a warped perspective.

https://youtu.be/AWKQSDRekBM
https://youtu.be/WDpipB4yehk

[ZeeBabar]

Colorado winters can certainly give you a warped perspective.

https://youtu.be/AWKQSDRekBM
https://youtu.be/WDpipB4yehk

Enjoyed those!!!

[Midwest Player]

Okay, I just figured out probably the cheapest way to get from Denver airport to Isle of Capri casino in Black Hawk for a senior citizen. So here is how to do it. The train fare from the airport is $10.50 starting in 2019, but a senior citizen gets half fare or $5.25. So you would take the train to Federal Center Station and then catch the casino shuttle to Black Hawk. The casino shuttle costs $20 round trip if you buy your ticket online, but if you can rack up 350 points you get $23 cash back from the casino.

Here are the costs. $5.25 train + $20 casino shuttle - $23 cash back = Net cost to get to Black Hawk $2.25

http://www.casinoshuttle.com/casino-...y-colorado.asp

[21forme]

but if you can rack up 350 points you get $23 cash back from the casino.

Did you look at CBJN?

A center cut H17 DD game with 25-100 min/max limits and a H17 shoe game ($10-100) with 66% pen. Sounds like a great AP plan!

In another thread you said you've been playing for ~30 years. How is it possible you come up with inane ideas like this, and how is it possible you're still a red chipper?

This is NOT a good example of thinking outside the box.

[Midwest Player]

Did you look at CBJN?

A center cut H17 DD game with 25-100 min/max limits and a H17 shoe game ($10-100) with 66% pen. Sounds like a great AP plan!

Yes, I looked at CBJN and between Black Hawk and Central City CBJN lists 13 casinos with 8 of them offering double deck games (my specialty). Three of those casinos offering DD has pen listed as .8 or better with some offering a 10 to 100 spread. Again right down my alley. The casino with the bad pen (1.1) has great rules listing S17 DD with house edge of only .19 (hope the S17 is not an error as rest are H17) There is nothing foolish about this plan. By the way, the majority of my play this year has been at 50% pen double deck games.

In another thread you said you've been playing for ~30 years. How is it possible you come up with inane ideas like this, and how is it possible you're still a red chipper?

Most of the casinos in my area are red chip only so it is pretty hard to play green chip when there are no min green chip tables. I've been able to play for over 30 years because I play red chip. I would have received the boot long ago if I didn't fit in with the average player. And to top matters off I can handle a $1,000 to $1,500 loss without feeling sick. Racking up a $5,000 to $6,000 loss would pretty much ruin my day. I don't need that. Besides at the red chip level you can often win over a thousand in a day. Out of my 36 winning days this year 3 of them netted over a thousand, and my best 3 day trip this year netted almost $2,300. So yes I could make this trip and see some new scenery and have a good chance of having a break even trip or even winning a little.

[21forme]

By the way, the majority of my play this year has been at 50% pen double deck games.

This is the real reason you're still a red chipper.

Back to your travel plans - You still need to get the points at Isle, at their shit game, to get reimbursement for your $20 bus fare. If you're there for 3 days, maybe it's $100 for a car rental. Do you have any idea how many hours of play (aka, lost EV) that will take? I can't believe any rationale AP would consider such a foolhardy, penny-pinching plan. And then there's the fact you're going to one of the most scenic states in the country and you'll have no way to see any of it. Have you made arrangements with Zee to see the pictures he took while he was there?

[Midwest Player]

And then there's the fact you're going to one of the most scenic states in the country and you'll have no way to see any of it.

I have been to Colorado about 40 years ago. We visited Rocky Mountain National Park in early June and snow banks were still 10 feet tall up in the mountains. Yes, it is a beautiful state.

However, if I don't have a car I can look out the window and don't have to have my eyes glued to the road. I'm told traffic is terrible in Denver and that I-70 often backs up. I have no idea if that is true. A country boy like me (I should say old man) is not use to big city driving. Where I come from most of the time nothing is coming down the road in either direction once you get out of town.

Once you get to Black Hawk, I believe there is a free tram that runs to all the casinos so a car would not be necessary.
https://www.cityofblackhawk.org/visi...uttle-service/

If I made a trip to Black Hawk it surely wouldn't be for only 3 days. There wouldn't be enough time to recover all the expenses. I would make it for at least a week. The unknown is how much heat the town has and if they flyer to the other casinos. However with only $100 max bet and some places offering only 1 to 4 spread I would think they wouldn't care much about counters.

The biggest expense for a trip there would be hotel expenses. There are not many hotels there and they are expensive compared to what I'm use to. However, a new hotel is scheduled to open in mid 2019, maybe prices will come down then.
http://www.cpr.org/news/story/lookin...e-on-expansion

[ZeeBabar]

This is the real reason you're still a red chipper.

Back to your travel plans - You still need to get the points at Isle, at their shit game, to get reimbursement for your $20 bus fare. If you're there for 3 days, maybe it's $100 for a car rental. Do you have any idea how many hours of play (aka, lost EV) that will take? I can't believe any rationale AP would consider such a foolhardy, penny-pinching plan. And then there's the fact you're going to one of the most scenic states in the country and you'll have no way to see any of it. Have you made arrangements with Zee to see the pictures he took while he was there?

Please don't bring my name into the thread. It's crap like this, unrelated to thread or bJ that resulted in us getting banned. I don't start it but I have to respond.

[MrPartyATL]

Want to echo sentiments of several already posted re: renting a car from DEN to Black Hawk/Central City. First there is the shuttle option with departure from Aurora/SE Denver and Lakewood/west Dever (the airport is in suburban Fargo, ND). Mass transit or rideshare is a viable option to either shuttle "depots" and is the route my bride and I will be using on arrival Sat, 4/20. My experience from doing this in Sept. 2018 was renting. Do not rent at DEN!!!! There are numerous neighborhood locations/store fronts throughout Denver (Avis, Hertz, Budget, Enterprise). Rates are half of those at DEN. One last tip, several of these locations are in Aurora in Hotels that have free airport shuttles (wink-wink; nudge, nudge). BTW the drive is easy. sans treacherous turns, etc.. BTW (x2) Black Hawk ranges between 8000-8500 feet in elevation. Highly suggest boning up on the subject if going for the first time (personally, Denver is nothing at 5000'; 8500 can be a whole different ball park).