Patrick McKendry stayed in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, to watch the boxing bouts of Kiwis Joseph Parker and Robert Berridge.
Getting there: We travelled to Bethlehem, a former steel town now dominated by its hotel/casino, by hire car from Philadelphia airport. It's a 90-minute drive from Philly. Allentown, which is only about a 20-minute drive away from Bethlehem, also has an airport. And yes, that's the Allentown Billy Joel sang about.
Check-in experience: Not promising. We were told there was only a smoking room available, our first taste of what was to be a recurring theme here. I assumed it was illegal to smoke indoors in the US. Not here, it isn't. In the casino itself, a huge room dominated by poker machines and people of, ahem, an older age demographic, most gambling areas allowed smoking. We also needed to work and our room wasn't ready. We were shown to a conference room, which was ideal.
Room: Fine. There was a hint of a smell of tobacco, but I noticed it only after visiting non-smoking rooms. Our room was quite large, as was the TV. Free Wi-Fi.
Price: Ranges from US$159 ($197) during the week to US$299 at weekends.
What's so good about this place? It was the venue of the boxing bouts for New Zealanders Joseph Parker, who won, and Robert Berridge, who didn't. Nothing beats the convenience of staying at a boxing fight venue - the ring was set up on the ground floor in a large area next to a nightclub, which could hold about 2500 people.
And the bad? The smoking and the isolation of the place. The casino is out on its own.
What's in the neighbourhood? Old steel factories, some of which are a feature of the hotel and surrounding area. They're silent now but the noise must have been something else. There was also a music festival going on at the time, featuring Steely Dan, the Moody Blues and Sheryl Crowe. Sal's Pizza was entertaining and valuable. Sal knew Larry Holmes and helped us meet the champ the next day.
Toiletries: Standard.
Food and drink: The hotel/casino complex comes with several bars and restaurants, but also a mall whose food court was excellent. Beware the portions. As light heavyweight Berridge said: "A salad could feed a family of four."
The bed: Comfortable.
A room with a view? Yes, a great view of the Lehigh River and an old steel mill.
Bathroom: Large.
Noise: None that I can remember.
Room service: A top European lager cost US$6.
Value for money: I wasn't paying, so great for me (we were hosted by the fight organisers, Duco). If you are into playing the pokies on an industrial scale with an older set, then probably.
Exercise facilities: Small indoor pool and small gym.
Perfect for: Busloads of grey-haired pokies fans travelling from New York City (only about 90 minutes away).
Would I return? Not unless it was on work time.
CHECKLIST
Sands Casino Resort is at 77 Sands Boulevard, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
Phone: +1 877 726 3777.