Nothing substitutes a life game
1 month of practicing can do if you invest 30-60 minutes every day or more than 1 hour every other day. A cheap software like superblackjack, available at $ 19 for the full version at
http://www.crazyhermit.com/superblackjack.htm
helps a lot. You can try the free version prior to the purchase. Of course Casino Verite is better if you want to do the businees seriously and not only once or twice a year.
When you first sit down at a real table you will discover that it is pretty different than in front of your PC. I started at full tables, cause all the action there is very slow. If counting at a full table is really comfortabel and not strenous anymore, you should try less crowded tables. But this will probably not happen in this vacation.
The best relation of power and simplicity in my eyes is the KO count. The book to study it is Knock-Out Blackjack by Olaf Vancura and Ken Fuchs. It will decrease the rate of mistakes compared to balanced or higher level counts.
Though it may fit you best, the Excalibur is not a good place for BJ (I don�t know what it is a good place for at all), but almost everything nearby is ok for 6D games. If you�d like to play Single Deck BJ, go Downtown. DD is generally ok somewhere inbetween (North Strip). Don�t play at any BJ pays 6:5 tables.
The 12 dollars for a single issue of Current Blackjack News is a good investment and shows you the rules of (I guess) all casinos in the US and Canada. You can download a free version prior to purchase. I wish BJTraveller would publish something similar for the rest of the world. No, actually this is one of the things that I fear most.
If you want to find out, whether you are good enough to get barred, play 6D at Mandalay Bay or DD at the Riviera.
Good luck
