Reno

I am planning a trip there for mid Dec and was wondering if you guys can recommend a few casinos to play at and a decent place to stay for spreading 50-200. I was thinking of the Atlantis but I read somewhere that there is too much heat there. Before I go I will learn composition dependant basic strategy but I was wondering if I should switch to UBZ from Hi-lo when I go because the true count is always higher than the running count. I know it is the same until you reach 1/4 deck played then it is a little higher until you hit a rc of +3 at 1/4 deck played then I know I should put my top bet out. Should I switch counts or do you think I am OK estimating it this way?

the atlantis is about as good as it gets - that doesn't mean you're going to win, though :)
laotse

Try playing the following stores:

Nugget - 2D & 6D
Silver Club - 1D
Western Villiage - 1D
Hilton - 6D
Peppermill - 1D, 2D & 6D
Atlantis - 6D
Boomtown - 1D
Sienna - 1D
Silver Legacy - 2D & 6D
Golden P. - 1D & 2D

Move around. Don't stay to long during same shift.

Pay special attention to the crowd you will be playing with. Most of the downtown area plays silvers the way Vegas ploppies play reds. Have a good story for why you are there. And as Stealth said, keep moving.

HJ

I'm a bit surprised that you include Silver Club and Western Village. A $50 bet will stick out like a sore thumb at both of these places and a $200 bet will bring immediate heat. Of course, I'm the same guy who spreads $10-$100 at Baldini's and Alamo, so I don't mind living dangerously.

Like Stealth said, don't stick around too long. I try to limit my green sessions in Reno to 30 minutes, with a hard stop at 45 minutes. Make sure you have a car and plan to lose quite a bit of time to driving. Fortunately, most of the decent places are in little clusters (Boomtown and Atlantis being two exceptions).

Last time I was there, max bet was $50.

As for Western Villiage, as long as the 50 year old curley going bald PC isn't there, you can spend some more time grinding out some Ben Franklins.

It was a while back. 2003 or so. Table max was $200.