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Hard Rock Hollywood Day Trip

Discussion in 'Non-Vegas Trip Reports' started by UKFanatic, Feb 22, 2016.

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  1. Travel Fanatic

    Travel Fanatic The Arbiter of Taste Caviar Kid

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    My Trip Report

    So I am in South Florida for part of this week and decided to stop in at the Hard Rock Hollywood casino for a few hours earlier today. So I don’t really have a “trip” to report, but I thought I would at least post some observations and thoughts from my experience there earlier today.

    I flew into FLL this morning and drove my rental car the few miles from the airport to the casino. Driving in, my expectations bottomed out. In the few blocks leading up to the Hard Rock, I passed multiple boarded up shops, pawn stores, and title lenders. Actually, I guess that is pretty typical for most gambling areas outside Vegas. Not quite blighted, but not exactly a place you would want to hang out late at night. So my expectations were lowered and I thought I would encounter a typical regional casino that is not very well kept. I was completely wrong!

    This resort is better than probably half the resorts on the Vegas strip. It was clean, spacious, good air quality (which is important to me), and decent gambling and dining options. As far as the gambling, the bulk of the casino floor is slots. There is also a high limit slot room. The slots also include electronic roulette and bubble craps. I think State law does not permit live roulette or craps (although some of the people I talked to indicated they are trying to get those in the casino in the near future). Card based table games are, however, permitted.

    I saw all the usual carny games starting at $10 a hand. The main floor also had mini bac and BJ starting at $25 a hand. The high limit room (which was very nice) had midi bac and BJ. The difference between BJ in the high limit versus the main floor (besides a $100 minimum in the HL) was that the shoe is eight decks on the main floor and six in the HL. The HL also stands on 17, while the main floor hits. No surrender and you can only split aces once, even though it is a shoe game. I played BJ in the HL for a couple hours and the dealers and other staff were great (drink service was quick and roaming massage persons approached my table every thirty minutes or so).

    Not many of the restaurants were open for lunch on Monday, but I checked out the menus and it looks like there are some good options. I also walked past the pool deck and it looks fantastic (which I guess one would expect in south Florida). Nice looking spa as well.

    I talked to a host before I left and she is already setting me up for a return visit in a couple months. Its no Vegas (what is), but definitely worth checking out if you are in Florida.
     
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  2. Taking

    Taking Tourist

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    Totally agree! I was underwhelmed when pulled up outside about 18 months ago but inside.. WOW! It's def comparable to the better mid-strip casinos on the strip (Mandalay Bay-ish). There was some talk about losing their ability to deal cards about 10 months back, I guess that got resolved. There rooms are smaller but very nice as well. It's my favorite casino outside of Las Vegas. The big draw back I've found is they won't comp drinks while playing VP at the bar, but will in the high limit area.
     
  3. Travel Fanatic

    Travel Fanatic The Arbiter of Taste Caviar Kid

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    Mandalay Bay is an excellent comparison. I didn't play any VP because I was a bit surprised by the ay tables. Normally, that stuff doesn't matter much to me because I am usually playing VP to kill a little time and have some fun. But out of curiosity, I checked the pay table for a JoB game in the high limit. If you bet $100 per coin, you can get 8/5. 8/5!!! At that level! I was surprised by that.

    Someone alerted me to the comp drink situation before I arrived, so I knew the drink policy was not the best. But I am a light drinker and they took care of me in the HL (nice bar, very friendly bartender and servers)
     
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  4. vegasmeister

    vegasmeister Tourist

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    Most importantly, how did you fare at the tables?
     
  5. Travel Fanatic

    Travel Fanatic The Arbiter of Taste Caviar Kid

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    Played a black chip a hand and left up $2100. I am flying home tomorrow and considering stopping back in on my way to the airport. Hope I don't give it back
     
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  6. vegasmeister

    vegasmeister Tourist

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    What were the max table limits for BJ and Bacc?
     
  7. vegasmeister

    vegasmeister Tourist

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    Nice!
     
  8. Travel Fanatic

    Travel Fanatic The Arbiter of Taste Caviar Kid

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    5k for BJ and 10k for bac
     
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  9. Taking

    Taking Tourist

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    You can find some 99.6% JOB at he $1 level if you look around. I haven't hit anything with their slots though. I know they host went with the ole' $100 a hand for 4 hours" for a comp'ed room when I asked. So a suite should be easy for your level of play

    Their outdoor area that is connect to the resort at night if really cool. A lot of restaurants that open up to the outside and some live music places. It is for sure something to check out.
     
  10. Travel Fanatic

    Travel Fanatic The Arbiter of Taste Caviar Kid

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    Yeah, I didn't really look around at much of the VP. Maybe tomorrow if I have time.

    The host I met seemed very excited when I told her the credit line I wanted and told me to call her in advance of my next trip so she could take care of everything. I just checked their website and the hotel rooms don't look like anything special (even the suites). Still, free is free.

    I walked through the outdoor area. It does look cool and I can imagine a lot of people and fun out there at night
     
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  11. vegasmeister

    vegasmeister Tourist

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    Tell your host you want the "Anna Nichole Smith" suite
     
  12. tringlomane

    tringlomane STP Addicted Beer Snob

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    Hope you did well for the rest of the trip if you went back! I finally stopped writing my own TR...now I can go back to "normal" for a few days...haha
     
  13. DW54RN

    DW54RN Tourist

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    I live right near the casino in tampa, i use to go at least three times a week, but in the past yr ,they have tightened the slot machines, i mean really tight so i stopped going, but i do agree the casino is very nice.
     
  14. Travel Fanatic

    Travel Fanatic The Arbiter of Taste Caviar Kid

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    Thanks, I did. Stopped in for two hours yesterday before going to the airport. Host had my CL set up, so played an hour of BJ and came out a few K ahead. Then I found the better VP machines someone else mentioned in this thread and won fifty bucks playing JoB. Grabbed a quick lunch at Blue Plate (their diner) and took off. Will definitely go back.

    And looking forward to reading your TR. Just saw it!
     
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  15. morga251

    morga251 MIA

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    I was at this place two summers ago... went on a Saturday night. It was crazy there with so many people walking around outside and inside and not gambling. Presumably there were there for the nightlife vibe.... not really my kind of place though. I liked the Isle at Pompano much better for a gambling trip.
     
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