Travel Blog

The Palace Casino Biloxi Mississippi is updated and modern with a smoke free environment in the casino. We really enjoyed playing at this casino. Everything was so clean and glistening. The servers were around often offering drinks. In fact if you always tip the servers, they will make sure you receive great service. What more can you ask for when playing the slots or the tables. Well wining of course and we both did that as well. My wife and I both left he casino ahead, which is increasingly rare these days.

Palace Casino Biloxi Mississippi Check In

We did not stay at the Place Casino Biloxi hotel this trip, however we did check on the rates. They seemed very reasonable for walkins and most important, no resort fee. Almost all of the other hotels charge a resort fee. The resort fee can range from $15 to $20 a night including tax in the Biloxi area. They are much higher in Las Vegas. They even charge the resort fee on nights you are bing comp’d. The Palace Casino Biloxi hotel saves you paying this fee.

We also noticed that guests checking in are offered a free glass of champagne and there are munchies to choose from. This is a treat. The decor is very modern and it looks like it has been recently updated. Although we have not seen the rooms, one guest told us they were very nice. We are definitely staying at this hotel the next time we come to Biloxi.

If you have stayed at this hotel please leave us your comments. We would really like to hear if you have the same impression. We would also like to hear comments about the rooms and what they are like.

The buffet at the Palace Casino Biloxi Mississippi

We also went to the Buffet at the Palace Casino. It was a little on the pricey side, however the food was really great. Lots of shrimp and other local sea food delicacies. If you have a Palace Casino slot card, they will provide a small discount. Of course if you are a high roller, you may be eligible for additional discounts.

We cannot wait until we return to Biloxi and try out this hotel Casino combination. You can easily walk to the Golden Nugget and also to Harrahs. We fel quite safe during the day, however I would not recommend walking at night. Both are about a 10 minute walk from the Palace Casino. A cab or Uber ride will be less than $10 including the tip

We spent four nights at Harrahs Casino Biloxi Mississippi hotel in the fall of 2018. We were pleasantly
surprised by both the casino as well as the hotel. We drove and found that it was easy to get to and we
were able to park in the hotel parking garage close to the hotel entrance. There is a relatively small
casino floor compared to some of the larger casinos. However it has all of the games and slots we look
for. There were many keno and poker slots which we enjoy playing. Harrahs allows smoking in the casino. There were several restaurants and we tried three of them including the buffet. The buffet has recently stopped serving crab legs on Friday nights and also lowered the price as well. You will have to go elsewhere if you want crab legs. There were lots of shrimp dishes available.

Harrahs Casino Biloxi Mississippi Hotel Rooms

We stayed in a room on the 12th floor facing the gulf. The view was great. We looked down on the pool
area and out to Deer island and the Gulf. It is interesting to see the fishing boats heading out at night to
fish. We could also see what we think were dolphins swimming in the inter-coastal area. There was also a coffee machine and a fridge in the room for guests to use.

The 12th floor is the top floor. The rooms are well insulated so we did not hear any other guests. There
was a coffee machine in the room along with a fridge. We found it very comfortable. The bathroom has
been updated as well, very clean and had everything we needed. The room might be considered a little
on the small side, however most people do not spend a lot of time in their rooms anyway. The rooms and hallways were looking a little tired. They could use an upgrade.

The only real complaint that we have is the resort fee charge of $16 plus tax per night. This fee was
added to our bill for all nights including those that we were comp’d for. Many hotels will waive this fee on nights you are staying for free.

The staff is friendly. They all acknowledge you as you pass, saying good morning or whatever. We
enjoyed staying at Harrahs Casino Biloxi hotel and will probably stay here again depending on the rates
we are offered compared to other hotels in the area.

The Beau Rivage Biloxi phone number to call is +1 888-567-6667 for all reservations and slot comps. Call and speak to a hotel reservation host who can help you with anything you need. Don’t forget to give them your slot number. Your slot number identifies you. The casino determines what if any comps you may be entitled to.

Many people will call and book reservations from Sunday through Thursday nights. Rooms are often priced at casino rates. They may even free for some players. Every night plus meals may be included as a comp. Some nights  are blocked out. Large events fill up the hotel quickly. On these occasions, the hotel reserves rooms for paying guests and high rollers. Always check before you book. Request various dates. Select the date and rate that matches your schedule. Flexibility will get you the best room in the house. Avoid weeks with large conferences. Rates can get expensive. Large conferences drive up rates.

Beau Rivage Biloxi Phone Number

Don’t be afraid to ask for comps. The agents will either provide you with a comp’d room or let you know what the price will be. The price will be based on market rates. Even a high casino rate is better than market rates.

Many casino players will find that the rates are much better than anything they see on travel and booking sites. If you are new to MGM or the Beau Rivage, you will pay market rates. After you arrive be sure to obtain a free slot card. Use the card when playing the slots or tables. You never know just how much you can earn in terms of points towards free rooms and meals.

Before leaving talk to the casino slot hosts. They will tell you how to use your comp’s. There may be a pleasant surprise to the end of your stay. A free room? Perhaps meals looked after? Always charge your meals to your room. This shows that you spent dollars at your hotel. If the host cannot give you a free room, perhaps they will write off some of the meal charges. Every little bit helps. Enjoy your time in Vegas.

The Beau Rivage Mississippi free Drinks are really special. My favorite is a bloody Mary with okra. The servers will mix just about any drink for you with and without alcohol and they are free as long as you are gambling. If you are just standing around watching, they probably will not serve you. You need to be sitting at a slot machine or at one of the tables and actually playing. They move quickly and if you see a server, you will need to call them or wave them over. Sometimes if your partner is with you and watching they will also bring a drink for them as well. All of the drinks are free unless you are sitting in a bar or at a restaurant. They do charge for drinks at these locations and the prices are actually pretty high.

Beau Rivage Mississippi free Drinks – Tipping

We have seen people take their drink and not tip the server. This is not only rude and cheap, but they probably will not get another drink. The servers at best are paid minimum wage. They need these tips to survive.

Another reason to tip is that it tells the server they can expect a tip each time that you order. We have often seen them come back time and again to see if we needed another drink. They know they will get a tip and they deliver based on the level of tipping they receive.

How much should you tip? We typically will tip $1.00 per drink. This seems to be the norm and it also obtains the desired response. i.e. the server coming back in 10 or 15 minutes to see if we are ready for another round. Yes the drinks are free at the Beau Rivage in Mississippi!

All casinos have buffets and we have been to a lot of them. So when we say the buffet at the Beau Rivage casino is one of the best. We can speak with experience. The price for dinner on Monday Tuesday and Wednesday is $22.99. Thursday it increases to $25.99 and they are serving smoked prime rib. On Friday and Saturday they are serving a seafood extravaganza priced at $29.99.

All of the menu items are very nicely presented. Lots of high-quality food and many more menu items than you can possibly try. This is a great buffet and even better if you are comp’d. We were lucky to have a two for one deal.

Dinner Buffet Beau Rivage casino comp’s

This is one of the benefits of always using your slot card when you’re playing the casino slots or at the tables. The casino will award you free meals, free play and even free rooms depending on your play. They keep track of how much you spend each hour. How fast you are playing, what your winnings are. Also the size of your bets and how long you have gambled in each session. Based on a complicated formula that only they know, they will award you a variety of free things all in the attempt to keep you in the casino for a longer period.

Let’s face it if you leave their building you are possibly gambling somewhere else and they want to entertain you and attract you to staying at their location. They work hard at this and this is why you receive on-site comp’s such as free meals, show tickets and free play.

You are also served unlimited soft drinks, milk, and coffee as part of the buffet overall price. There is wine and beer available for additional purchase, although when you are playing the slots on the floor or one of the table games, you can have just about any free drink that you would like. Give the waitress a small tip, at least a dollar and you will be guaranteed to have great service with as many free drinks as you can handle.

Breakfast buffet Beau Rivage casino in Biloxi Mississippi are senior days. This is the day when seniors will receive both a breakfast buffet and a lunch buffet at half price. In addition they get two times points when they’re playing any slot machine other than poker keno machines. Points add up more quickly. They can be used for free meals, free rooms and other items that may be purchased with casino points.

Meals at half-price are a good deal for just about everybody. But any senior over 50 can take advantage of these prices. The buffet is excellent. We enjoyed the breakfast buffet and there were many items on the menu, and the quality was also excellent.

Breakfast Buffet Beau Rivage casino

We can specifically mention that the omelets cooked to order, along with ham prepared so that it is juicy and tender along with pancakes and maple syrup we’re really out of this world. Of course the meal also includes juice, coffee and tea or milk as requested.

The price of breakfast is $12.99 per person and on Wednesdays for seniors two can eat for the price of one. This is a really great deal and it is better than surrounding hotels such as the hard rock Hotel next-door. We had the buffet breakfast the previous morning at the Hard Rock Hotel and found that it did not measure up or even compare to the buffet at the Beau Rivage. There were few items available and it was over priced for what you received compared to other hotels like the Beau Rivage. We definitely would not recommend the Hard Rock for meals.

There is always a tendency to over eat when you go to a buffet. There are so many great choices and even if you only take a small amount of everything, your plate will be over flowing. Be selective and only take the items that you are really going to enjoy. Try to focus on relatively low calorie items such as fruit which is always plentiful and fresh.

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By far the best place to stay at a hotel when you’re in Tunica or even Memphis is one of the cheap Tunica hotels and casinos. We found all of these hotels to be very inexpensive. If you play the casino and use a slot card quite often the hotel room will be comp’d. You can expect to pay between 45 and a hundred dollars for a hotel room. Depending on the style of the room and how busy the hotel is. We really enjoy staying at the Goldstrike Casino and Hotel. It is part of the MGM group of hotels

Cheap Tunica Hotels in Off Season

The rooms are typical of many three-star hotels, they are clean and have all of the amenities that you need when staying at a hotel. Parking is free at either surface parking or within the garage. We like to park in the garage on the same floor as the walkway into the casino to avoid having to deal with any weather situations that might be occurring. They quite often get very heavy rain in the Tunica area.

Memorial Day, special events, etc can cause the rates to go up and various times during the year. You may want to check other dates if you find that the hotel rates are not what you were expecting.

Call Ahead for Reservations for Cheap Tunica Hotels

We suggest calling ahead to make a reservation at any one of the approximately 10 casino hotels in the Tunica area. If one is having a conference or hosting a large number of people chances are the room rates will increase. On the other hand, a sister hotel or one that is very close by may have much lower rates. It always pays to shop around and compare prices. Use your slot card to negotiate the best price and watch for offers that are mailed to you by email for low rates, casino rates, and free rooms.

These offers can make a cheap Tunica Hotels really inexpensive to the point of being free. Always use your slot card to ensure that you are entitled to the best rate.

Approximately one hour south of Memphis by car, there is the small town of Tunica Mississippi. This area is home to approximately 10 casinos that are spread out over about 10 miles along the Mississippi River. The large chain casinos are there including Harrahs, MGM and several others. In fact several of these casinos are associated with Casinos in Nevada as well as California. This means you can use your slot cards in these casinos and be comp’d for rooms and meals just the same way in Las Vegas. You may find that your slot points go further in these Casinos near Memphis Tennessee because prices are lower in general than they are in Vegas. The picture above shows the Goldstrike which is a member of the MGM group. Beside it, not shown in the picture is the Horseshoe Casino which is part of the Harrah’s group of hotels.

Casinos near Memphis Tennessee

Goldstrike Casino

We enjoy staying at the Goldstrike casino run by MGM grand group. This is a modern hotel with surface parking as well as garage parking, excellent restaurants and a great casino.

In addition to the Goldstrike Casino, there’s the Horseshoe Casino and the Tunica roadhouse Casino and Hotel located right next door. This particular location is very comfortable in the sense that you can walk to any of the three casinos without having to consider getting into your car. For all of the other casinos in the area you either need to take the shuttle bus or drive your car to get to them and of course you have to be careful about how much you drink.

Location

Tunica is located about one hour south of Memphis and about five hours north of New Orleans. There’s golfing in the area and it is well-connected by major highways for easy transportation to the casinos. There is lots to do in the Memphis area, including visiting Elvis’s mansion.

There is a tour through the mansion. Fans of Elvis can also walk through his planes to get a feel for what they were like.. You can also eat at his restaurant and order one of his sandwiches.

Casinos all over the US are offering casino hotel deals to attract customers to their casinos, their restaurants, their hotels and their shows.  They do this to drive up occupancy and to attract people to the casino itself to enable more revenue. This is also really beneficial for patrons of the casinos, since receiving a free room, free play or a free meal at the buffet is like winning a small jackpot. As with most things in life, moderation is key to enjoying life and that applies to casinos as well. Enjoy the benefits but watch how much you spend. Tunica Casino Hotel Deals are part of this trend.

Tunica Casino Hotel Deals

The casino hotels in Tunica are no different and in fact they have to work pretty hard to fill their venues since they are in the middle of the country and do not have the name recognition and reputation that other places like Las Vegas and Atlantic city have. As a result they offer some pretty good hotel deals. Many patrons who use their slot cards will find that they will be offered free rooms and meals as part of the enticement to come to their hotels.

The picture above is of the Gold Strike in Tunica and is one of the hotels that we enjoy staying at once or twice a year. They recently upgraded their buffet restaurant, have nice rooms and they offer many different slot machines that are attractive to all players. We always use our slot cards which gives us free rooms at the gold strike in addition to free meals and free slot play. Sometimes they will also offer us tickets to shows that they may hosting at their casino as well. This is all part of the enticement package for their hotel deals to get more and more people to come to Tunica and the casinos in the area.

we are again staying at the Beau Rivage Casino and Hotel in Biloxi Mississippi. This is a really great place to spend a few days and enjoy the sun and sand as well as the casino and restaurants.

One of the things that we particularly enjoy is spending time at the coffee shop and having a bottomless cup of coffee. It can be Expensive if you only drink one cup of coffee, however if you hold on to your receipt and show your receipt to the coffee clerk, you can receive a free refill any time during the day. That’s right you can have as many cups of coffee as you wish. The three dollar coffee quickly becomes a one dollar coffee after having two refills.

Beau Rivage coffee shop – WiFi

Free WiFi is also provided throughout the hotel and casino as well as at the coffee shop. Many customers will bring their smart phones or iPad to read the news etc while enjoying a cup of coffee.

They also have great Sticky buns with walnuts and icing on them. While this may not be very nutritious, they are certainly delicious.

The coffee shop at the Beau Rivage casino is very comfortable. All of the tables have umbrellas, and there’s an open air feeling to the place. It is partially located in an atrium that gives natural light and the feeling that you’re almost outside.

The best part about this particular coffee shop is that it is non-smoking. You can smoke in the casino however you cannot smoke in the coffee shop or any of the restaurants. More and more casinos are getting the message that they need to control how much smoking is done in their buildings. The cost of cleaning and maintenance alone is tremendous and no one wants to deal with the continuous smell of secondhand smoke

Friday night is seafood night at the Beau Rivage casino hotel in Biloxi Mississippi. The Beau Rivage seafood buffet has a price of $30, you can have all of the seafood that you like plus several glasses of wine, dessert coffee etc. This is a really great deal for anyone who loves seafood, crab legs etc

As shown in the picture, the crab legs are included as part of this meal. You can have as many crab legs or other types of seafood as you like. The only complaint that we have about the crab legs is that they are not precut or pre-cracked. Other than that the crab legs are fantastic. Some casinos also provide crab legs that are precut and precracked. So you have to work a little harder to obtain your favorite meal, but it is all worth it to sample this mouth watering delicacy.

Beau Rivage Seafood Buffet – Even More

In addition to crab legs, they also provide oysters, tilapia, salmon, shrimp, and many other different types of seafood. This is seafood night at the Beau Rivage Casino in Biloxi Mississippi.

If you are not into seafood, there are many other different types of foods available. They include the standard fare Mexican, roast beef, turkey, mashed potatoes and Chinese food. There certainly something for everyone at this buffet and the price, while more expensive than many other casinos for seafood is pretty reasonable.

We almost forgot to mention, that $30 price includes wine or beer. You can have as many glasses of wine and although maybe not the best wine is certainly very drinkable. There are four choices of wine available for wine drinkers, including both white and red wines along with several choices of beer. Where can you go for a meal like this one for this price?

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We are not staying at the Horseshoe Casino in Tunica Mississippi this time however we were able to enjoy their dinner buffet one evening in January, 2014. We are staying at the Goldstrike casino next-door to the Horseshoe. They are within easy walking distance of each other and patrons can walk from one to the other in less than 60 seconds.

We like to play several different casinos at this location. We approached the total rewards desk to find out what comps we might have available at the Horseshoe Casino. They informed us that we had a free buffet available which we quickly took advantage of, especially since they offered it to us as a comp.

Horseshoe Casino

The Horseshoe casino is located beside the Goldstrike Casino. Harrahs runs the Horseshoe and MGM runs the Goldstrike.

Always Check with the Rewards Desk

It never hurts to ask the total rewards desk what comp’s you have available. They will also always take advantage of the opportunity to build loyalty and keep you from leaving the casino. In some cases you may also be awarded free play to use at the slot machines

We dined at the buffet. You can see from the picture above that there are many food stations. They are well spread out offering great choices and well-managed crowd control. The food was excellent and there really is something available for everyone no matter what you like or dislike. Even people who are on diets can go to the buffet and stick to a variety of salads etc,. Although it is very tempting to try many of the other dishes that are available.

We are staying at the Goldstrike Casino owned by MGM resorts in Tunica Mississippi. We travel to this area at least once a year and stay at the Goldstrike for a couple of days. It is interesting for us to see the changes that the hotel has made each year. They did not disappoint us this time and have completed several new improvements that really add to the comfort and experience of staying at this hotel.

Goldstrike Casino Buffet

The picture on this page shows the brand-new buffet, called the American buffet, which they just opened in the last few months. It is new, it is modern, it has many different food stations and they offer high-quality food with gorgeous presentation. We really did not enjoy the previous establishment that much, however this one is a huge improvement.

It was truly a pleasure to dine in this restaurant. Many people will scoff at eating at a buffet however the newer modern buffet restaurants offer fantastic food, and lots of selection, with excellent crowd control.

We enjoyed what for us ended up being brunch. However we paid for breakfast around 1030 and were able to enjoy both breakfast and lunch as they transitioned between these two meals. Although we did not plan this it worked out very much in our favor. There was a huge selection of breakfast foods and the lunchtime menu. This is a tip for anyone who does not mind eating a bit late in the morning and wanting to enjoy a selection from both meals.

If you’re ever passing through the area, we can strongly recommend the Goldstrike Casino Hotel as an excellent location to stop over. The prices for hotel rooms are reasonable, and the meals are fantastic. There are also two other casinos within walking distance of the Goldstrike Casino. We have stayed at both of them and found them to be acceptable. However we prefer this casino to the others. If we can get a room, in other words it is not sold out this is where we will stay.

There are quite a few casinos along the Mississippi river south of Memphis. Memphis is actually in Tennessee and the border with Mississippi is just a few miles south of the city. The majority of casinos are located along the river just north of Tunica and there is a number south of the town as well. Casino patrons can visit any of these casinos coming south from Memphis, north from Jackson, or across the bridges from Indiana. As far as we are aware at this time there are no casinos in Indiana along the river, however, we must say that we have not had the time to visit this area.

At one time we had an objective to visit every casino in the country, however, over the past 10 years many states have approved new casinos, large and small and it is virtually impossible to visit all of these casinos. In one state alone along route I40, we counted 15 casinos just along this highway. Many were on Indian reservations and they were actually quite small. They are sometimes even attached to gas stations and convenience stores. One of these days we will build a post that lists all of the casinos that we can find in every state, so stay tuned for that post.

Tunica Casino Locations – Major Location

With so many casinos to choose from, we are focusing on casino properties that are in the top four locations such as Vegas, Atlantic City, Laughlin, and Tunica. Other properties will be included if we have visited them or if they are notable and interesting. For example, we included the Windsor Casino and hotel in our blog. It is part of the Total Rewards Harrah’s slot program and it is a very nice place to stay for a few days.

Head south on highway 61 towards Tunica and after about 30 miles you will see the signs for the various casinos. Alternately take Interstate 25 south from Memphis, then head west along interstate 69 towards Tunica. This same route can be taken from Jackson as well coming north on Interstate 25 and then exiting onto 69 as previously mentioned. Patrons can drive to any of these casinos, take a flight into Memphis and rent a car or utilize a limo to transfer to these locations. There is ample parking on surface parking lots as well as in parking garages located on the properties. They are also monitored by roving security guards on bicycles.

Topics we will be covering in this post include the following:

• Listing of Tunica Casino Locations
• A Mini Vacation in the Tunica Area
• On the Top 10 List of Casino Locations
• Use Your Slot Cards In Tunica and Across the Country
• Competition for Your Gambling Dollar
• Smoking is Still a Problem

Listing of Tunica Casino Locations

This is a partial list of the casinos located in the Tunica area. We have visited all of these casinos over the last couple of years.

• Gold Strike Casino & Hotel
• Horseshoe Casino & Hotel
• Roadhouse Casino & Hotel
• Fitzgeralds Casino & Hotel
• Hollywood Casino & Hotel
• Harrahs Casino & Hotel

A Mini Vacation in the Tunica Area

Many people come to Tunica every month to visit one of the casinos in the area. Some will just come for the day and many others will stay at one of the casinos for several days. Most people use their slot cards when they are playing and will receive invitations, as a result, to stay for free at many of the casino hotels that they frequent.

There are lots to do while in Tunica in addition to gambling. If you looking for a few days of relaxation, some nice meals, maybe take in a show or two, and share a couple of drinks at the bar, all of the casinos and hotels in the area can meet this need.

Tunica is easy to get to by car, since it is less than half an hour from Memphis and several hours from Jackson, Mississippi. We have run into people who are making a road trip across the country or heading south on their way to their winter vacation home. Tunica becomes a great stop-over point on the way to Biloxi, Golf Port, and New Orleans as well as points east and west of these cities.

We have included another post on this website that outlines all of the activities that can be of interest to people visiting the area. These include museums, music, and even Elvis’s mansion. We have personally gone to visit this location and we can vouch that it is well worth the money to take the time and visit his home and grounds.

There are also golf courses in the area for those people who are so inclined.

On the Top 10 List of Casino Locations

Las Vegas is obviously at the top of the gambling locations in the country. Next, you have Atlantic City, which is now recovering from a devastating storm in the fall of 2012. Laughlin in Nevada and Tunica in Mississippi are the next two locations that can be considered among the top 10. Both are on opposite sides of the country and both have approximately the same number of casinos. Most other locations around the country are more isolated and do not have much competition from each other.

Windsor/ Detroit and Niagara Falls are two other locations with small numbers of co-located casinos. Tunica is obviously 3^rd or fourth on the top 10 list of locations to visit in the USA. It is easy to get to by highway as well as by air and is located in the central part of the US. There is also competition from the concentration of casinos in these top four locations.

Use Your Slot Cards In Tunica and Across the Country

One of the advantages of using slot cards from the main casino companies such as MGM and Harrahs is that their slot cards are good right across the country and in many of their properties. They do track your visits and your usage. From that, they develop offers of free room visits, free entertainment to shows, free meals and other comp’s that may be interesting to you from time to time. These offers are available online as well as they can be sent to you in regular mail.

Both Harrahs and MGM have casinos and hotels in all of the major centers and the most popular locations across the country. Tunica is no different with both companies having several casinos that they run in the Tunica area as well as in other areas of the state of Mississippi such as Biloxi on the coast. The Gold Strike Casino is part of the MGM group and accepts the MLife card. The Horseshoe, the Roadhouse, and another hotel in the area (Harrahs) are part of the Harrahs chain and accept the Total Rewards slot card.

Competition for Your Gambling Dollar

As we mentioned earlier in this post, Tunica is on the top 10 list of casino locations in the country. We feel that this is a good thing because it means that there is competition for your gambling dollar on many levels.

None of the casinos advertise their payback ratios, however, there are various ways that they compete for your dollars. These include free rooms while you are staying at their location, free meals in terms of write-offs, express comp’s, free play, and point play. Some days are better than others in terms of how many points you are allowed to collect each time you play.

These comp’s can be like mini jackpots for some people. For example, if your room is free or they write off all of your food and room costs, this is the same as winning a small jackpot and is really money that you save on your vacation. This is part of your overall compensation in terms of what you win or lose.

Payouts are Lower

Many people have mentioned to us in passing that they do not win like they used to. We have noticed this as well and even though there is lots of competition, the casinos appear to have tightened up their payouts. Large wins seem to be fewer and the cost of rooms and meals has gone up. The only way to deal with this is to make sure that you always collect all of your comp’s before you leave.

We always speak to the slot host and let her know that we are checking out. They do not always write off our expenses, but it happens often enough to make it worthwhile. The worst that can happen is that they decline and you just have to accept that decision. It is all calculated by computer anyway and they have very little discretion to go outside the guidelines that have been established by management.

Smoking is Still a Problem

In all of these casinos, smoking is still a problem. It continues to amaze the writer that they still allow smoking in the casino when there are so many issues associated with smoking from a personal level as well as a business level. They even allow people to smoke cigars inside the casino which annoys everyone including smokers since the atmosphere is polluted by some of the stronger cigars.

For the casinos, cleaning of the rugs, and the machines, and maintenance of the machines would be drastically reduced. No more ashes everywhere and no more nicotine getting on everything including the moving parts of the slot machines. The air would smell much better and more people who do not smoke would come to these casinos.

Banning Smoking

In other locations, they have banned smoking altogether inside the casinos. They have built smoking rooms for smokers to go to and take a break. Some of these rooms are actually outdoors when the weather permits. If they are inside, there is ample air circulation to accommodate the smoke. A key decision was made by the casino management which in our mind makes this work.

Patrons are allowed to place their slot machine on hold while they take a break and go for a smoke. They are allowed to do this for a short time, 5 or 10 minutes while they take a smoke break. The economics are much better in terms of less cleaning. Also less maintenance on the machines which makes up for the downtime of these slot machines during busier times in the casino. Placing a napkin or something similar over the screen is all that is generally needed. Speak to someone playing beside you to ask them to keep an eye on the machine for you. Never leave any more than two or three dollars in the machine. Patrons have lost large amounts by leaving too much in the machine while they went for a smoke break.

We have found that these casinos that do not allow smoking on the casino floor are busier than ever. People who traditionally stayed away because the smoke was too bad are now coming to these properties. They play the machines and enjoy an evening at the casino. The smokers seem to be happier and the nonsmokers are definitely happier.

This is the Hardrock hotel and casino in Biloxi Mississippi. It has been rebuilt since Katrina and totally fits the brand. It is a smaller hotel as far as casino hotels go. However, they have all of the decors of a typical Hardrock Hotel and Casino you would find anywhere in the country.  There is of course the memorabilia store. Also, many representative rock and roll items are displayed around the hotel and the casino. They have some great restaurants and there is a 50’s diner just off the casino floor which is kind of neat to dine in. We had breakfast there and enjoyed it very much.

Hardrock Casino & Hotel Biloxi

They also have the famous guitar out front! It stands maybe 100 feet high and dominates the street.  All of the Hardrock Hotels have this guitar symbol out front to make sure that you do not miss it as you drive by.

There is a nice pool at ground level. protected by barriers from the street and from the wind coming off the gulf. It is one of these pools where there is lots of cement and a few palm trees. Nothing really great to write about.

The casino is actually two floors above the ground to protect the casino from hurricane-driven waves crashing into the shore and the building. Katrina taught them this lesson and even then much of the hotel was damaged during that storm. The hotel and casino have been totally rebuilt and remodeled as a result.

This picture below is typical of the decor throughout the hotel and there are lots of things that may interest visitors and tourists spending time at the hotel. We have yet to stay at this particular hotel. However, we have visited it several times. We would like to spend a few nights there to experience the full services that they offer. One of these days we will get there. Biloxi itself is a nice place to spend some time with sunny weather and beautiful beaches to stroll along. The beaches run for many miles with wide sandy areas to spend time on and relax in the sun.

This picture is taken from about one mile away while standing on a dock. The dock goes out into the water for about a thousand feet. The Beau Rivage has located in Biloxi Mississippi along the Gulf of Mexico. The Hardrock Hotel & Casino is next door and both hotels are modern and classy. We have only stayed at the Beau Rivage which we enjoy very much. It is based on the better hotels in Vegas. Although it is a bit smaller than most Vegas hotels, it is very nice. There is lots of marble and a huge atrium in the entrance area.

Beau Rivage Casino Biloxi – Sandy Beach

Heading west from the hotel there are miles and miles of sandy beach to walk along. This was taken in the middle of January with the temperature at around 22c or maybe 70f. Beautiful sunny day with light winds!  This area was devastated by Katrina a few years ago. Many people are concerned about going barefoot in the sand. We did not see any evidence of material left from Katrina, however, if you are concerned, wear protective rubber shoes to protect your feet.

It is a shame really because the beaches go on for miles and miles with shallow water that you can wade out into. The water is warm and the sand soft. What more could you want? The Biloxi area is a nice area to spend some time in if you are looking for sun, sand, and water!

Beau Rivage Casino Biloxi – Winters can be Cool

The area of Biloxi can be cool in the wintertime. We have been there when the temperatures have been near 80 degrees. At other times the temperature has been as low as freezing with ice and even snow. If you are vacationing in Biloxi in January and February, you are taking a chance. You could up with bad or cool weather during this time of year.

We just had dinner at the seafood buffet put on by the Beau Rivage casino on Friday nights. At $29.99, it is a good deal with all the crab legs you can eat plus everything else! We enjoyed it very much , the food was great and so was the service. Most of the casino buffets are pretty good with lots of choice and really well prepared food. Some are better than others based on presentation, the decor of the buffet area and the area where you sit to enjoy your food.  The buffet at the Beau Rivage is definitely pretty good in all of these areas, however read on for more specific comments.

Beau Rivage Casino Buffet

This picture is not the best that could have been taken. However it shows the restaurant and the front of the actual Beau Rivage Casino buffet. It was a little pricey, not something you do every day, but well worth the money. We had crab legs of course, seafood gumbo, salad, various other foods from the sea and desert and coffee. There was all of the other standard foods as well that you see st these buffets. As usual we ate far too much food and although we enjoy buffets we really should stay away from them. They are just too tempting with all of that great food.

If you are staying at this hotel, a trip to the buffet is well worth the price. Try to be at the hotel when they are offering their seafood special. It will be more expensive than the buffet on other days, but it is well worth the price. the entire hotel is a really nice place to spend a few days. Take in the pool on the 3rd floor over looking the gulf. Enjoy drinks at one of the many bars and relax over a beautiful dinner.

This is the main entrance to the Beau Rivage Hotel and the casino located in Biloxi, Mississippi. Beautiful grounds that are well kept and very pleasant to walk around. The only negative about these grounds is that they are usually in the shade. Until later in the spring when the sun has moved further north and temperatures warm up. We stayed at this hotel in mid-January. We were fortunate to find sunny skies with warm temperatures. The hotel is located along the Gulf of Mexico along the shore with a 3rd-floor swimming pool on the south side looking out over the Gulf of Mexico.

The Beau Rivage is part of the MGM Resorts group and that means that your M-Life card works here as well and so do the comp’s that you may be eligible for.  We were fortunate and receive one night free and the other night at the casino rate which saved us a lot of money. The drinks are free while you are gambling as usual and they have several very nice restaurants that serve really great food in their restaurant and their buffet.

Beau Rivage Casino – Elegant

This hotel although smaller than the Las Vegas hotels has all of the elegance of these hotels. Marble floors, high ceilings, very clean and nicely decorated. We like visiting this hotel for its ambiance and for the area that it is in. We enjoy walking along the beach which has lots of sand and really is a beautiful place to spend time when the weather is great. Unfortunately, some buildings along the coast still show the effects of Hurricane Katrina. Some are being rebuilt and many still have not been reconstructed.

They still allow smoking, but at least there is lots of air movement so that you do not notice the smoke as much unless someone is smoking a cigar. Why do they still allow smoking in these casinos? Who knows? The cost of cleaning and the cost of dealing with repairs caused by the buildup of ashes and nicotine is monumental.

There are more and more nonsmoking areas. Even with these areas, the smoke drifts around especially when someone is smoking a cigar. These people are really ignorant and should never be allowed to smoke inside a building.

Save

Can you imagine being at this pool? Overlooking the Gulf of Mexico and enjoying the sun! This pool is on the third floor of the hotel at the Beau Rivage in Biloxi, Mississippi with a large gym to work out in as well. There is a bar and restaurant in the pool area. We took this particular picture in the middle of January during a time when the weather was a little colder than it normally is. In warm weather the pool would be crowded, the bar is open and music is blasting out. You can also eat on the pool level on sunny warm days, where you are protected from the wind.

Beau Rivage Hotel  – Spa

The spa and gym are also on the third floor facing out onto the pool. The treadmills in the gym even have their own personal TVs for each machine which you can tune to your channel and listen to as long as you have earbuds. If you are a guest at the hotel, hotel patrons can use the gym. The Spa will cost extra. We found that the gym and the spa were really not used that much. People just like to spend time at the pool or in the casino, rather than work out in the gym. Can’t say I blame them.

Beau Rivage Hotel – Restaurants

The service is great, the food is excellent and the portions are large. We enjoy staying at this hotel and will come back again. We ate at both the restaurant as well as the buffet. The buffet was a bit expensive for the food that was served. This was a seafood night with crab legs and the crab legs just did not measure up for us. However, all in all, this is a great place to spend a few days and be on the ocean.

It is that time of year again and we are back in Tunica, Mississippi on our annual trip to Tunica and the Tunica Casinos. This time we are staying at the Gold Strike Hotel and Casino for four nights complimentary. This is such a great deal since the rooms are very nice, clean and modern as is the hotel. If you are looking for a place to stay for the night whether you gamble or not this is one of the better hotels to stay at. Tunica is just south of Memphis. It takes about 30 minutes by car to get from Memphis to the closest Tunica Casinos.

Tunica Casinos – Rooms at the Gold Strike In Tunica

Our room at the Gold Strike hotel looks out onto the Mississippi river from the 22nd floor. It is close to the elevators which we like and the room is one of the upgraded rooms with a separate foyer and a large marble bathroom. the only thing lacking is a flat screen TV in the bathroom to match the one in the main bedroom.  This is probably a $150 to $200 room and when you consider it is complimentary, it truly is a great deal. Sure we like to gamble and sometimes we pay for it in losses, but sometimes we also make money and it is a win for us overall.

Two for One Deals at the Buffet

We ate at the buffet this morning. Today is a 2 for one deal when you pay for your meal using your express comp dollars! These are dollars that you receive as you are gambling and can be used for everything from paying for meals to paying for your room if it is not fully complimentary. Several times during the month the Gold Strike offers these two for one deals at the buffet when you use you express comp’s. All you have to do is give them your MLife card, show proper ID such as a driver’s license and they will give you two free buffets which only cost half price when you pay with express comp’s. Pretty good deal if you ask me.

Tunica Casinos – Changes at the Gold Strike

So far we have not noticed any changes at the Gold Strike from last year. There certainly have not been any major upgrades that we saw and the same machines appear to be all in the same places. Many casinos will move machines around and / or install new ones from time to time. So far it does not look like they have done this.

The same is true at the Horseshoe casino run by Harrahs. It is next door to the Gold Strike. Unfortunately the Roadhouse was closed the last time we visited the area. We also visited the Roadhouse Casino next door to the Horseshoe which is also run by Harrahs. We like this small casino. It has introduced a lot of new machines in the last year, many that we like. It kept many of the old stalwarts that we also enjoy. One of the things we like the most about the Roadhouse is that you can order your drink at the machine. all you need to do is type on the slot machine message board. No waiting to flag down a waitress. Just type in your order and your drink is delivered a few minutes later! How great is that?

Summary

Well that completes our update for this visit. Looks like the same old great value and great food, what more could you ask for? Well maybe winning at the slots would help, which we have not done yet. If you have comments about this post , feel free to leave a well written comment. We will be happy to post it to our blog. We will even include your link if it is a good comment. Too many leave junk comments wanting a link and frankly these are all caught by our spam filter.

We are visiting the Gold Strike Casino once again this fall. We are writing a brief update about this casino, as well as it’s neighbor the Horse Shoe Casino and the Roadhouse Casino. You can click on any of the links above. Review more information about all of these great vacation spots.

We checked in a bit early and were given our room key right away. The October time frame prior to thanksgiving is a slow period for the hotels in this area. There are lots of rooms available.They put us on the 31st floor with a great view of the river.

We are staying free at the hotel as part of a comp package we received in the mail from the hotel. We were offered free rooms for two nights, $25 towards meals and $55 in free play. When you combine this with the new express comps feature and points conversion for food while staying at the hotel, it turns out that this is a pretty good deal.

Gold Strike Casino Meets Expectations

The hotel as usual met all our expectations. We would recommend this hotel to anyone who wants to spend a few days gambling, playing golf in the area or taking in some of the activities in Memphis.

We noticed that the buffet is perhaps a little bit reduced from past years. However the food is just as great and the value is there.  Service was a bit slow, but then we are on vacation and not in a hurry.

The new express comp feature is a really nice add on. Your screen on the slot machine you play will show you exactly how much you have in express comp’s. You do not need to visit the M-Life desk any longer to get a comp for a meal. Just hand over your M-Life card to the cashier. They will use the comp’s on your card to pay for your meal. And the best part is that when you use your comp’s the meal will be half price! We think this is a really good deal for everyone and another reason to always use your slot card.

Gold Strike Casino Update

They have updated the slots with all of the latest multi-line penny machines while still maintaining many of the traditional reel machines as well. There are less video poker machines as well and very few keno machines. There was no damage at all due to the floods as far as we could tell to the hotel, the casino or even the grounds around the hotel.

This is a great place to visit and we will be coming back here again.

We just received news that some casinos are reopening. The Gold Strike has reopened as of May 18th,2011 . Obviously they still have a lot of work to do, and the residents have many repairs to make, but at least some of them have jobs, even if it is part of cleaning up after the flood. this was truly a devastating blow to the region, not only to the casinos and the people who worked at them, but also to the farms and towns in the area.

Many people have lost homes and businesses, equipment has been ruined and land will take months to dry out. With a flood like this it is pretty obvious that the dikes, levies or what ever they are called are simply not high enough. They are also not strong enough. Many broke allowing millions of gallons of water to pass through and flood the surrounding land.

Rebuilding

The Casinos in Tunica have been rebuilt and are in full operation again. Hopefully there will never be another flood like this one in 2011 which disrupted many persons lives. We are looking forward to going to the Tunica area once again. Also we like to support the local economy and to try our hand in the casinos once again.

We love to stay at the Gold Strike operated by the MGM Resorts group. Also the Horseshoe which is operated by the Harrahs group of companies. Both hotels are side by side and compete with each other. They seem to offer the best deals for us and we will return to this area again in 2013. Our slot cards continue to keep us receiving comp’s in terms of food, rooms and beverages. So why not take advantage of these offerings and have a little vacation.

If you need more information about why slot cards are so great, check out the several posts that we have on this subject. Slot cards provide slot players with many benefits. You are really losing out if you do not take advantage of these benefits. I like to think of it as a small jackpot each time I receive a free meal or a free room! These comp’s can add up to several hundred dollars on each trip. Which you might spend anyway on paying for your room and meals if you did not take advantage of these advantages.

Check out our posts as well on the casino reviews for all of the casinos we have visited over the years. With the exception of Texas and Utah there seems to be a casino in every state in the nation.

The water has surrounded the casinos in Tunica as well as the surrounding areas. It looks like they will be closed for another few weeks. This occurred in May 2011 and the casinos have obviously reopened since then. They re-opened about the middle of June, 2011.  Originally we were told that they would reopen sometime around May 23rd. However based on the level of the water, the damage that it is causing and the fact that it will slowly recede, these casinos were closed for sometime.

We have included a picture of Harrahs in Tunica, which we have visited several

Thanks to WMCTV Action News

times. This picture is courtesy of  WMCTV Action News. Pictures are worth a thousand words. It is certainly true in this case. Based on this picture the main lobby area, the restaurants and perhaps even the casino is flooded. Rooms at the hotel will be find. However before guests can come back to the hotel a thorough cleaning is required. In addition, repair to the building, electrical systems is needed. All furniture that could not be removed prior to the waters appearing on the scene has to be replaced.

Tunica Casinos Still Flooded (2011)

At the present time there is over 7 feet of water covering the parking lot and the hotel entrance. The casino itself is supposed to float which will protect the slot machines. The casino operations should be ok. However there is a limit to how far up they can float.

As more information is made available we will include an update on this blog regarding the rising flood waters at the casino hotels in Tunica.

While this blog focuses on casinos and information about them for our readers,  we also want to acknowledge the hardship that many people in the Mississippi delta are experiencing. We have traveled to Tunica, to Memphis and Helena many times and our hearts and prayers go out to these people.

We once had car problems in Helena and the people at the garage were extremely helpful and friendly to us. They drove us to a hotel were we stayed the night while we were waiting for parts for our car and then picked us up the next morning to bring us back to the garage. this was service that we have never experienced before and we appreciated very much. The repairs were completed on time and the price was very reasonable as well. We compared the cost of repairs with our own garage at home and found them to be less expensive at this garage in Helena. Great people, very helpful!

They sure do not deserve this huge flood and the damage it causes to land , to buildings , to families and the ability to earn a living to support your family. Our prayers are with you!

Apparently the casinos in and around Tunica will be closing from May 3rd 2011 until approximately May 22nd 2011 due to the rising flood waters  from the Mississippi. This picture shows the Gold Strike Casino with their parking lot under water and the casino itself flooded. Lots of damage to the floors and the machines. Not only that if your car was in the parking garage it was going to have to stay there until the waters receded.

We had reservations at the Gold Strike Casino in Tunica for May 5 and 6th. We received an email advising us that this casino along with all others in the area were closing. This is due to the expected rising flood waters cresting as much as 60 feet above normal. This is an unprecedented flood level! We are glad that they warned us that the casino was closed. We would not want to be there when the waters were coming into the casino! Who would not like being stuck in our rooms with nothing to do.

We wish all of the employees and the residents in the area good luck. They need to take special care that they and their families are safe during this difficult time. We have watched the weather over the past week. Although the rain has stopped, the swollen river will not crest in this area for another few days.

Tunica Casinos closed

Several articles have that we have read indicate that employees will continue to be paid during this time while the casinos are closed. Hopefully all of the casinos will do this, so that employees can meet their financial obligations. This will also ensure employee loyalty and return to their jobs when the casinos reopen. The entire area appears to be depressed from an economic perspective and they really need the money they do not need to be losing their jobs or dealing with floods like this.

We will be back to Tunica, perhaps in the fall when hopefully all repairs have been made and everyone has recovered from the Mississippi river floods.

Note that the Tunica Casinos reopened a few weeks after we wrote this post. There was little damage to the casinos and what there was, was quickly cleaned up by the staff. One of the things we really liked about this set of casinos is that they continued to pay all of their staff while they were closed to make sure they had jobs to come back to and did not go looking for new jobs.

While we could not confirm this story, we did hear it from a reliable source and felt that this was a really nice gesture on the part of the casino owners. This was in one of the online papers that we keep an eye on when we are in the area. Reading online news is a great way to stay in touch with the world as well as local news. Most of the casinos will have WiFi available for their customers.

All casinos were reopened shortly after the waters receded and the clean up was completed.

We just finished staying at the Beau Rivage Casino in Biloxi Mississippi for two nights and have to report that it is just as nice as it always has been. Unfortunately for us the weather was a bit on the cool side so we could not use the pool. However we did have a great view of the ocean from our room on the 18th floor. To look at the original review of the Beau Rivage casino, click on the link in bold.

They have rearranged some of the slot machines around as most casinos do from time to time. Of course they still had all of our favorites. There are more penny and nickel machines, however their casino floor is large enough they can accommodate slot machines of all types and denominations. We ate in the cafe and enjoyed a really nice meal as well as had our coffee in the coffee shop, called the Roasted Bean. For those of you over 50, Wednesdays are seniors day which means you get double points and you can eat at the buffet for half price for breakfast as well as lunch. Sorry dinner is the regular price.

Beau Rivage Bloody Mary’s

They still also have fantastic seasoned bloody Marys, with olives and okra in the drinks. I can only handle about two of them, but they are excellent and everyone should try them at least once.

The MGM chain, which the Beau Rivage is part of, recently updated their casino slot card membership system. It is now called “MLife”, with new cards and a couple of new benefits which we like. The card still lists all of the properties with individual phone numbers that are hard to see because they are so small and they are color coded depending on the level of play.

Express Comps at the Beau Rivage

One of the new features is the addition of express comps, which show on the screen on the slot machine so you can monitor how much you have to spend on food in the restaurants. Express comps can only be used in restaurants in any MGM family casino. You do not have to see the slot host. Just go to the cash when it is time to pay and present your MLife card and they will deduct what they need from your express comp balance. This is a nice new feature.

We also like the Roasted Bean and have included a  brief review of the Roasted Bean. Hope you enjoy it.

Coffee at the Roasted Bean

Coffee at the Roasted Bean at the Beau Rivage casino in Biloxi! Fresh coffee under a glass canopy with shrubs and trees around you, background music and free WiFi. Wait it gets better, although the first coffee is expensive, as long as you have your receipt, all of your refills are free for the rest of the day! For a large coffee you are going to pay $3.85, which is one of the most expensive around, surpassing even Starbucks. However all you need to do is show your receipt and you can get a free refill any time that day. So if you are a coffee lover, then after even a 2nd cup of coffee you are starting to get to a reasonable price for coffee.

The Roasted Bean coffee shop is better than any coffee shop we have been in, including Starbucks! Muted earth tones decor, open to the atrium above, it is an enjoyable place to sit and savor your morning coffee. It can get a bit crowded at times, especially if the hotel is full, however most people only stay for a few minutes and they are on to their conference, the pool or to the casino.

Seating Arrangements

All of the chairs are padded and they have invested in easy to clean marble tables. None of these short stay uncomfortable non cushion chairs make you want to leave. And the place is clean, which says a lot about the management.

On nice warm days in Biloxi, you can also go outside. Enjoy the warm air on the patio while you enjoy your coffee. The Roasted Bean has solid tables and chairs with umbrellas for patrons to sit and enjoy their coffee! All in all the Roasted Bean coffee shop is one that we enjoy going back to! This is one of the features that keeps us coming back to the Beau Rivage Casino and Hotel.

The only negative thing about the Roasted Bean coffee place is that there are not enough wall plugs to plug-in your computer. I could only find two. I guess they really do not want you to stay too long working on your computer.

Informative comments are appreciated especially those that will help our readers with their travel planning. If you need additional information about general travel planning, click here.

We just finished staying at the Gold Strike casino one of the Tunica Casinos,  just outside of Tunica for two nights. We enjoy staying at this hotel because it is always clean. It provides good value for our time and of course our money. We did not win any thing on this trip, however we did have our rooms comp’d as well as two dinner buffets that were worth $20 each. So in a way even though we lost money at the slots, we broke even in total when you take into account these comp’s.

The location of the Gold Strike is great because there are three casinos within walking distance. There is the Gold Strike, the Horseshoe and the Roadhouse. The last two are owned and operated by Harrahs Casinos. You can go back and forth between them if you need a change of action or you find that the machines are not paying very well at one or the other. They both honor the Harrahs slot card and you can order your drinks right from the slot machine. This is a huge advantage for Harrahs and a service for their customers. You do not have to wait for a server to randomly come by your slot machine now. Just order it on the screen and it will arrive usually within 5 minutes.

Tunica Casinos – Remember to Get Your Comp’s

While it is nice to go back and forth, you need to take into account that to continue to receive comp’s in terms of free rooms and free play along with meals you need to play were you want to stay. We really enjoy the MGM chain in general. They are usually a level above some of the other hotels in terms of service and rooms. If you are new to slot cards take the time to read one of our posts. It will help to understand why you would want to have a slot card and the benefits of having a slot card. You can click here for more information.

We did not notice a lot of change at these three hotels. In fact a great deal was the same. For a review of each take a look at our previous posts about these hotels.

What we did notice is that both chains, MGM and Harrahs, have updated their slot card systems. They are making them more convenient for the players and reducing the control that the hosts have on comps. If you are a high roller, you will still want to get to know your slot host or table host, however for the average player, you really do not have to stand in line any longer to receive your cash comps . Both systems display your cash comp balance either right on the slot machine screen above the reels or on special terminals located throughout the casino.

Ordering Beverages From the Slot Machine

In addition, Harrahs has added another feature which we really enjoyed. Now you can order beverages right from your seat without having to try and flag down a casino waitress. Place your order on the slot machine touch screen, the order is sent to the bar and the cocktail waitress delivers it 5 minutes later. Wine, mixed drinks, beer, water , coffee and specialty drinks can all be ordered in this manner.

In the mornings when there are only a few cocktail waitresses around or at night when it is really busy, patrons will really appreciate this feature. We found that at the Roadhouse Casino in the morning, there was only one cocktail waitress on duty for the entire casino. We never saw her until we ordered our coffee on this new touch screen. She was there in five minutes. Without this feature, we would never have seen her, since she would hang around the tables were  most of the players were ordering drinks and tipping of course.

We are off to Vegas next and looking forward to staying at the Mirage Casino. We have not stayed at this casino for some time, and there are rumors that there have been lots of updates to the casino and the rooms. It is also part of the MGM chain so we can use our MLife cards at this casino as well. The Mirage has already comp’d us for the rooms so we have already won before we even arrive!

Comments are welcome, especially if you have information about the Tunica Casinos that our readers will find interesting.

The Hollywood Casino and hotel is located close to Sams Town and Fitzgeralds casinos. However you will need a car to travel from one hotel to another. Or you can also wait for one of the shuttle buses to take you to the next hotel. In addition the Hollywood hotel is also located several miles from the other cluster of casinos near Tunica.

The Hollywood casino offers a 14,000-square-foot ballroom just off the main casino. Consequently it seats up to 1,200 guests. In addition it includes a catering service. Hollywood Casino offers a variety of meeting packages. Luxury accommodations and action-packed entertainment are provided In addition these packages offer special bonuses that are perfect for social organizations, corporations and charitable groups of 20 or more.

Hollywood Casino – RV Park

The property also offers an RV park for travelers looking for a spot to park their rigs and relax.  There are also nearby golf courses near by. You can make arrangements for golf by contacting the hotel. The hotel offers priority tee times at their River Bend Links golf course, just steps away from the casino.

The casino definitely has a Hollywood theme with movie memorabilia which is one of the largest authentic collections in the Mid-South. From the DeLorean car that traveled through time in Back to the Future to Elvis Presley’s race car from Spinout, the collection of authentic movie and television props is enough to thrill any Hollywood fan. Explore the  extensive collection of authentic costumes and props.

Slot Machines

There are over 1,300 slot machines for your gaming fun, whether you play pennies, nickels, quarters or dollars, Hollywood Casino Tunica has your favorite games with over . Mr. Cashman, Hot Hot Penny, and Progressive 25¢ and $1 Wheel of Fortune slots are just some of the games you can choose from.

Table Games

There are over 30 gaming tables offering Blackjack, 20X Odds Craps, Roulette, Poker and many more. New table games just added… Crapless Craps and Let It Ride Bonus!

Hollywood Casino Restaurants

Fairbanks Steakhouse – you’ll enjoy award-winning cuisine served with style and attention to detail fit for a star. Voted “Best Steakhouse” in Tunica by Casino Player magazine, Fairbanks fulfills dining expectations for those who simply want the best.

Epic Buffet – Designed to look like a movie studio backlot, this generous buffet features something to satisfy your every craving. International, continental and local fare are on the menu at this 220-seat eatery. Enjoy Filet Mignon and Crab Legs Friday and Saturday nights for only $19.99 plus enjoy Filet Mignon and Crab Legs all day on Sundays for only $19.99.

Enjoy a Buffet breakfast on Saturdays for only .77 Star Comp Dollars! Plus If you’re 55 years or older, join The Breakfast Club and enjoy a .55 Epic breakfast offer on Thursdays for only .55 Star Comp Dollars!

Hollywood Diner – is a ’50s flashback offering breakfast, lunch and dinner 24 hours a day. From waitresses in poodle skirts to bebop oldies playing on the jukebox, Hollywood Diner offers a taste of classic Americana along with delicious food. Star-themed booths with movie greats like Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe and James Dean await you.

What We Liked

• Variety of slot machines
• Free drinks while gambling
• Free entertainment at the bar located in the
• Buffet was very clean, with lots of choice at lunch time. Good Prices
• Pool area and spa free to hotel guests
• Hotel rates are very reasonable
• Easy access from all highways
• Safe environment in the casino, hotel and parking areas
• Great stopover point on your way to Biloxi or points west

What We Did Not Like

There are no real complaints about the Hollywood casino

It is a 3 star hotel in our estimation and quite adequate for our needs. The level of smoke odor was not too bad at this hotel, however we were there on a slow day.

Hollywood Casino Slot Player Card

They are part of the Hollywood Screen Test® or Marquee® Card and patrons should always use this card when playing to earn complimentary meals and hotel accommodations and more! Slot members can take advantage of benefits at the Hollywood Casino and Hotel.

If you have not taken advantage of slot player cards, there are a number of benefits that many slot players should consider. Free or discounted rooms, email mailing list of promotions, free or discounted meals, access to entertainment, and a tax report outlining your losses and wins for tax claim purposes.

Parking

There is ample parking at the Hollywood casino & hotel in a  surface parking lot in front of the hotel.

Directions: Hollywood Casino is an easy drive, just 35 miles south of Memphis, in the heart of Tunica’s Casino Strip.  The address is Hollywood Casino Tunica, 1150 Casino Strip Resort Blvd, Robinsonville, MS 38664

Fitzgeralds Casino & Hotel

This is another one of the casinos that is located in the Tunica area. You will need a car to get to this casino from any of the other casinos or take one of the shuttle buses that run. The hotels are spread out and do not facilitate walking from one to another. The picture on the left was taken on a cloudy day in the winter. Normally the hotel and casino look much brighter and the grass would be green, making it a much more picturesque looking place. Fitzgeralds Casino is shown on the picture on the left.

We have not visited this particular casino, so all of our comments are based on an internet search about the property. If anyone who has stayed there and has comments, please feel free to leave comments on our blog.

Fitzgeralds Casino – Unique Decor

The Fitxgerald casino has a unique outdoor decor as can be seen in the photo above.  With over 500 renovated rooms with views of the Mississippi river this is one of the hotels you should consider for a visit while gambling in Tunica. Although we have not personally seen these rooms they look great and will more than meet any ones expectations and requirements. Newly renovated rooms are always great and when you check in ask for a non smoking room. Of course if you smoke in the room you could be subject to a hefty bill to clean the room properly.

The pool at this hotel is also very nice and can be used by patrons staying at the hotel. With lots of light it looks like a great place to relax and enjoy while taking a break from the casino slot machines or the tables. Overall this casino has everything that one needs while taking a short vacation in Tunica.

In terms of entertainment, there is the Stage Bar which is open Tuesday through Sunday and dark on Mondays. The hours vary and of course the entertainment also.

There are 3 restaurants – Don’s B Steakhouse, the Buffet, and the Players Snack Bar.

Fitzgeralds Casino – Slot Machines

There are over 1300 slot machines at this casino in all denominations from penny to $100. The newly redesigned High Limit Area offers $5, $10, $25 and $100 slots…along with many stand alone progressives.

Fitz offers penny, nickel, quarter, fifty-cent and dollar slots throughout the casino extending across two floors. Look for the new Deal or No Deal, Monopoly, Gilligan’s Island and more of the latest hot-playing machines.

Video Poker machines in 5 cents, 25 cents, 50 cents, $1 and $5 denominations can be found at both the Stage Bar and Poker Bar…and throughout the casino.

Be sure to use the Club Fitz card whenever playing slots at Fitz. By using your card you earn points towards downloadable promo cash, complimentary meals, complimentary rooms, and discounts.

Table Games

There are

Restaurants

There are 3 restaurants –

Don’s B Steakhouse – Enjoy casual dining in an elegant atmosphere. Menu choices include steak, seafood and specialties prepared daily for you. Reservations are recommended.

the Buffet – Breakfast & Brunch;Monday-Saturday: 7am – 11am – $6.95;Sunday: 7am – 10am – $6.95;Sunday Brunch: 10am – 3pm – $13.95

Lunch – Monday-Saturday: 11am – 4pm – $8.95; Sunday: 3pm – 4pm – $8.95

Dinner – Sunday-Thursday: 4pm – 10:30pm – $14.95; Friday Seafood Buffet: 4pm – 2am – $18.95; Saturday Steak & Crab Buffet: 4pm – 2am – $16.95

the Players Snack Bar.

What We Liked

• Variety of slot machines with over 1350 machines in total
• Free drinks while gambling
• Pool area and spa for hotel guests
• Hotel rates are very reasonable with some specials at $35/ night including breakfast
• Covered garage parking
• Easy access from all highways
• Safe environment in the casino, hotel and parking areas
• Great stopover point on your way to Biloxi or points west

What We Did Not Like

There are no real complaints about Fitzgeralds hotel & casino

It is a 3 star hotel in our estimation and quite adequate for our needs. Similar to most hotels and casinos, patrons are allowed to smoke in the casino and this can become over powering at times.

Slot Player Card

They are part of the Fitz Club slot players card system. Slot members can take advantage of benefits such as cash back, dining comp’s as well as room comp’s and much more.

If you have not taken advantage of slot player cards, there are a number of benefits that many slot players should consider. Free or discounted rooms, email mailing list of promotions, free or discounted meals, access to entertainment, and a tax report outlining your losses and wins for tax claim purposes.

Parking

There is ample parking at Fitxgeralds hotel & casino in a large parking garage beside the hotel as well as  surface parking that we observed. You can access the hotel from the garage via an elevator from all levels. The parking garage is also patrolled on a regular basis and it also protects your car from the weather.

Directions: The address of the Fitzgerald Casino is 711 Lucky Ln, Robinsonville, MS 38664-9141. Patrons can get to this hotel and casino easily from Memphis and other points north by following Route 55 south to route 69 and then just follow the signs to the casino.

The Tunica Roadhouse Casino and Hotel was formally called the Sheraton Casino & Hotel. The casino was redesigned and redecorated in the last quarter of 2009 into a roadhouse format. This is a huge improvement over the previous casino which was in great need of cleaning and updating.  The roadhouse concept is reminiscent of a Texas roadhouse with lots of barn board and decorations that are reminiscent of many roadhouses across the United States.

The Tunica Roadhouse Casino and Hotel is right next door to the Horseshoe casino  and shares the parking lot and garage with the Horseshoe Hotel and casino. The Tunica Roadhouse Casino & Hotel is also part of the Harrah’s chain of casinos which means your Total Rewards card is accepted in all of their slot machines and your comp’s can be used at this hotel as well. We have stayed at this hotel before when it was still called the Sheraton hotel and casino and found the rooms to be large and quite acceptable. At the time we did not like the casino, however with the recent update, the casino is well worth the visit.

Roadhouse Casino and Hotel – Slot Machines

At the Tunica Roadhouse Casino & Hotel, they are working at having the newest and hottest slots in town! From pennies to high dollar machines, there’s something for every slot enthusiast. They have more than 1,000 slots, in every denomination!

Table Games

There are the usual table games for customers to enjoy, including blackjack, craps, roulette and poker. AS we mentioned the entire casino has been recently redesigned and decorated into a roadhouse theme. The carpets are new and the casino actually smells new. All of the tables have a roadhouse look to them that matches with the décor throughout the casino and the hotel reception area.

Restaurants

The Roadhouse Casino and Hotel has two restaurants. The Range Steakhouse features a warm, inviting decor in a fine dining setting – with friendly service and great food.

The Roadhouse Casino and Hotel is also home to Tunica’s most expansive buffet, the Big Kitchen Buffet, where chefs spin pizzas and decorate desserts right in front of your eyes! You’ll feast on home-style Southern cooking, all-American favorites — and the best seafood spread in Tunica.

What We Liked

• Variety of slot machines
• Lots of room between slot machine banks, so that you do not get that over crowed feeling.
• Free drinks while gambling and friendly service
• Buffet
• Hotel rates are very reasonable
• Covered garage parking
• Easy access from all highways
• Safe environment in the casino, hotel and parking areas
• Great stopover point on your way to Biloxi or points west

What We Did Not Like

There are no real complaints about the Tunica Roadhouse Casino & Hotel, although it is older and the rooms have not been remodeled in some time.

Although we have stayed at the Roadhouse Casino and Hotel and found the room to be quite acceptable, we did notice that there are quite a few reviews on various web sites that are negative about the cleanliness of the rooms.

The Casino has been recently been updated and looks great. We hope the rooms are next , which will return this hotel to a 1^st class location to stay at.

It is a 2 star hotel in our estimation and quite adequate for most tourist needs.

Slot Player Card

They are part of the Total Rewards slot players card system run by Harrah’s. Slot members can take advantage of benefits at many Las Vegas hotels, as well as sister hotels in Tunica, Biloxi, Laughlin and Reno as well as across the United States in various locales..

If you have not taken advantage of slot player cards, there are a number of benefits that many slot players should consider. Free or discounted rooms, email mailing list of promotions, free or discounted meals, access to entertainment, and a tax report outlining your losses and wins for tax claim purposes. Harrah’s has over 30 properties across the US and also one or two in Canada.

Parking

There is ample parking at the Tunica Roadhouse Casino & Hotel in a large surface parking lot in front of the casino. There is also a parking garage located by the Horseshoe casino which is immediately beside the Tunica Roadhouse Casino & Hotel. You can access the hotel from the garage via an elevator from all levels and then walk across the road to the casino. The parking garage is also patrolled on a regular basis and it also protects your car from the weather.

Directions:

Tunica Roadhouse Casino & Hotel, 1107 Casino Center Drive, Tunica Resorts, MS 38664

From Atlanta, GA

Take I-20 West to Birmingham, AL. Follow US 78 West to Hwy 302. Go west on Hwy 302 (Goodman Rd ) to Hwy 61 South. Take 61 South to Casino Center Dr. Then, turn right onto Casino Center Dr. Make a slight right to stay on Casino Center Dr. Tunica Roadhouse Casino will be on the right of Horseshoe Casino.

From Biloxi, MS

Take I-10 West to US Hwy 49 North. Follow Hwy 49N to I-55 North. Next, follow I-55 North to exit I-69 South. Take I-69 Sto Hwy 61 South. Turn left on Hwy 61 South to Casino Center Dr. Turn right onto Casino Center Dr. Make a slight right to stay on Casino Center Dr. Tunica Roadhouse Casino will be on the right of Horseshoe Casino.

From Birmingham, AL

Take US-78 west towards Tupelo, MS/Memphis , TN. Follow US 78 for approx. 210 miles. Take Hwy 302 (Goodman Rd ) west towards Southaven, MS. Follow Hwy 302 west for approx. 14 miles. Hwy 302 will run into US-61 South. Turn left onto US-61 to Casino Center Dr. Turn right onto Casino Center Dr. Make a slight right to stay on Casino Center Dr. Tunica Roadhouse Casino will be on the right of Horseshoe Casino.

From Central or Eastern TN

Take I-40 West to Memphis. Follow I-240 to I-55 south. Continue to follow I-55 South to the I-69 Exit. Follow I-69 to Hwy 61 S. Turn left on Hwy 61 S. Take Hwy 61 S to Casino Center Dr. Turn right onto Casino Center Dr. Make a slight right to stay on Casino Center Dr. Tunica Roadhouse Casino will be on the right of Horseshoe Casino.

From Little Rock, AR

Take I-40 east to Memphis (follow signs to I-55 South). Next, take I-55 South to Hwy 61S. Follow Hwy 61 S to Casino Center Dr. Turn right onto Casino Center Dr. Make a slight right to stay on Casino Center Dr. Tunica Roadhouse Casino will be on the right of Horseshoe Casino.

From Memphis International Airport

Exit the airport heading west on Winchester. Go west on Winchester to 3rd St. (Hwy 61). Turn left on Hwy 61. Take Hwy 61 S to Casino Center Dr. Turn right onto Casino Center Dr. Make a slight right to stay on Casino Center Dr. Tunica Roadhouse Casino will be on the right of Horseshoe Casino.

The casino hotels around Tunica are spread out within a mile of each other with the exception of the Gold Strike, The Horseshoe and the Roadhouse (formerly the Sheraton) . These three casinos and hotels share the same huge surface parking lot and are located next to each other. The Gold Strike and the Horseshoe both have their own parking garage as well. Casino patrons of the Roadhouse can use the surface parking lot or they can use the parking garage at the Horseshoe Casino.

The other casino hotels are Bally’s, Fitzgeralds, Harrahs, Hollywood, Resorts, and Sam’s Town for a total of 9 casinos in the Tunica area. A nice feature about staying at either the Roadhouse, the Goldstrike or the Horseshoe is that you can easily walk from one casino to the other. No need to get in a car. All of the other casinos are pretty much by themselves. You will need a car or take one of the shuttle buses to the other hotels.

National Chains

Harrah’s is a national casino hotel chain and owns at least 3 hotels in the Tunica area. The Horseshoe, the Roadhouse, Bally’s and Harrah’s are all members of the Harrah’s chain and part of the Total Rewards slot program. There are also shuttles that go back and forth between some of the hotels, however they do not run very often and most people come by car anyway so they can move around from one hotel to another by car. There are bus loads of people coming from nearby cities such as Memphis, St Louis, Knoxville and Cincinnati as well as other locations.

Today, Tunica County is the third largest gaming market in the nation with 9 world-class casinos featuring 24-hour gaming plus all the amenities of modern full-service vacation resorts. And since casino gaming was only legalized in Mississippi since 1990, all of the facilities are quite new, luxurious, and generally well-kept.

Tunica Casino Hotels

If you come on one of these bus tours and stay at the Goldstrike, the Horseshoe or the Roadhouse, you have a choice of 3 casinos to play at as well as try out various restaurants. There is not much in the general area of the casinos. On route 61 , that runs down from Memphis, there are a couple of small outlet malls and gas stations. Down the road a few miles is the village of Tunica. It is a small town, with all of the normal things you would expect to find. Some of the attractions in the general area of the Casinos, Tunica and Memphis  include:

Beal Street

Know as the home of the blues and the birth place of rock and roll, no other Memphis landmark has held such mystique, intrigue, fame and infamy over the years. Today you will find countless Blues joints, barbecue restaurants, live music and dance clubs to keep you up all night.

Graceland

Everything’s gone Elvis at this theme park dedicated to the life and legacy of the king of rock and roll. Get a little closer to the king with a tour through his Graceland Mansion. Explore Elvis after dark, check out the Kings wheels at the Elvis automobile museum and then jump on his private jet for a look at all of the luxury he enjoyed.

Sun Studio

If Memphis is the birthplace of rock and roll, then Sun Studio is the delivery room. Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and many more cut their first record at Sun Studio and then blazed a trail to Stardom. Visitors can visit all year round.

Peabody Place

Smack dab in the heart of Memphis on Peabody and 3^rd street, Peabody Place is a massive entertainment and retail hub featuring 22 theaters, 17 shops and 14 restaurants.

Orpheum Theater

The Orpheum theater may be more than 100 years old, but that does not stop it from hosting 10 to 12 Broadway productions a year. Many celebrities can be found in the audience as well as in some of the shows.

Fedex Forum

The Memphis Grizzlies tear up the court all year round in the middle of downtown Memphis.  Besides basketball, the Fedex forum also hosts circus events and music concerts of all tastes and conventions.

Tunica River Park and Tunic Queen

Learn about the famous Mississippi river delta at the Tunica River park. The River Park is home to a museum packed with information. Watch a film about the river, view the map room, or take in a spectacular view from the observation deck.  Enjoy a cruise down the river on the Tunica Queen River boat.

Historic Downtown Tunica

Recently revitalized and only 10 minutes away from your hotel. Historic downtown Tunica is perfect for those who want to relax and take in all of the southern hospitality Tunica has to offer. From antiques, specialty stores, banks, beauty gift shops, and restaurants, there is something for everyone.

Tunica National Golf and Tennis

This is the newest golf facility in the greater Memphis area. This magnificent course boasts an exciting 7210 yard, par 72 championship design. The course was created by PGA tour player and architect Mark McCumber. This course features rolling terrain, water hazards and bunkers that will challenge the most skilled players.

There is a lot to do in the Tunica and Memphis area. The casino hotels acting as the focal point for a relaxing and fun place to stay. All of the hotels are top notch hotels with entertainment, restaurants and of course gambling for all levels of slot and table players. All of the hotels are spread out and several miles apart. You will need to either have your car or take one of the shuttle buses that travel between the hotels 24 hours a day. Ask the front desk or the concierge for schedules and which buses run to which hotels.