Thanks everyone for the helpful info and advice.
As for the penny slots, I played them a few trips ago and realized it was the greatest marketing gimmick I've seen in a long time. Before you realized it you were betting $5+ a spin, one penny at time.
tvelinsk: Thanks for the details - will certainly use the 2 coin advice.
PTravel: I PM'd you. Thanks.
Hopefully all will go well in a few weeks, but regardless I'll report back... ^