Staycation at the Sands Casino's New Hotel

This weekend you won’t have to travel far to feel like you're on vacation. The Sands Casino-Resort Bethlehem has opened its hotel and is taking reservations.

What would make you want to spend a weekend at a hotel in Bethlehem? Lots of fun things to do, of course!

Your weekend full of events will begin with Emeril Lagasse’s Gala Dinner on Saturday and end with the Grand Tasting at the Second Annual Lehigh Valley Food & Wine Festival. The glitz and glamour of the Sands casino's slots, table games, entertainment and will complement your staycation, of course.

On Saturday, start your day by meeting renowned chef, restaurateur, TV personality and author Emeril Lagasse, as he promotes his book “Farm to Fork” and signs copies for guests at the Sands.

Since 2009, Emeril has been 'kicking it up a notch' at the Bethlehem casino with two fashionable restaurants: Emeril’s Chop House and Burgers And More by Emeril. 

The book signing will be held from 11am to 2pm. The $24.99 ticket price includes a copy of the book for signing.

After taking some time to check out the casino's table games, slot machines and your luxurious room, hopefully you will be ready for the Gala Dinner with Emeril at 7:30pm. Although it is a bit pricy at $225 per person, the 4-course dinner promises to be spectacular, featuring dishes prepared with local produce and regional ingredients, such as New Jersey pan-seared quail and grass-fed ribeye steak. Proceeds will benefit the Northampton Community College Foundation.

After you eat and drink your fill, enjoy some live entertainment at the resort. Shorty Long and the Jersey Horns, the ultimate party band, will perform at Molten Lounge, and the Hooligans Trio will play Irish reels at St. James Gate Pub. Stay out as late as you want, as your room will be waiting when you're done living it up and the Grand Tasting--part of the food and wine festival--doesn’t kick off until noon on Sunday.

If you're looking for a home away from home or at least a retreat from the gambling floor, the Deluxe Queen or Deluxe King rooms in the Sands' new hotel are beautiful, spacious, and fully loaded, featuring 42-inch flatscreen LCD HDTVs, media hubs and Wi-Fi access. Included with a night's stay at the resort are complimentary continental breakfast, usage of the indoor pool and access to the fitness room. Rates start at $149 per night.

If you really want to live it up, upgrade your stay by booking a weekend in either an Executive Suite (800 square feet, with a separate living area) or a Presidential Suite (1200 square feet, with a full entertaining area and dining space for eight). Both suites include a full-sized queen sofabed and adjoining guest room. The rooms also have separate dining areas, refrigerators, powder rooms and enormous bathrooms with his and hers sinks and soaking tubs. These suites are more like weekend apartments! To reserve one, call 1-877-762-3777.

The Grand Tasting is part of the Second Annual Lehigh Valley Food and Wine Festival, which will feature samplings of food from 27 of the Valley’s finest restaurants and 40 of the best wines from around the world. Among the restaurants whose cuisine will be part of the festival are , , Blue, , Cosmopolitan, , , ,  and .

Outside, under a tented area where the tasty samples of food and wine will be served, you will be entertained by the Craig Thatcher Band. The festivities will last until 4pm. Tickets to the Grand Tasting are $75. 

If you have not yet had a chance to visit the Sands Casino-Resort Bethlehem, this weekend would be a great time to check it out, and maybe check in to the hotel.