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Harrah's New Orleans, Opening NFL Weekend

Discussion in 'Non-Vegas Trip Reports' started by UKFanatic, Sep 11, 2016.

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  1. Travel Fanatic

    Travel Fanatic The Arbiter of Taste Caviar Kid

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    My Trip Report

    So yesterday I made my first trip to New Orleans in fifteen years. Its Sunday morning as I type this from my room at Harrahs and thought I would share some observations from this trip. Not really a blow by blow TR, but here are some tidbits I observed yesterday and so far today:

    *The New Orleans airport kinda sucks. It was a quick flight from Nashvegas, at least. But Lyft and the other rideshare companies are not allowed to make pick ups and drop offs at the MSY airport. And once I got to the cab line, I saw why. Its a set fee of $36 from the airport to the city (and that only covers two people; it was an additional $36 bucks for each person in excess of two!). Suddenyl, getting loing hauled in Veas doesn't seem so bad, lol

    *Got a comped room at Harrah's New Orleans and I am impressed. I love that the casino is non-smoking. Not only can I breathe more easily, but the casino is cleaner than any CET property I have ever visited. The décor is a fun, mardi gras theme, and there was even a brass first line band walking through the casino and playing last night. Definitely fun

    *The hotel tower is across the street from the casino, but there is a tunnel that connects the two. That is helpful because the rain really poured for parts of yesterday

    *Had dinner at Besh Steak. It was ok. Nothing particularly special, but nothing bad either.

    *Was very happy with the gambling options. The casino has all the usual games, plus a couple carny games I had never heard of. I played in the high limit area. Only about a fourth of it was actually open. There were zero tables open in the separate bac room. I was a little surprised by that because the casino was really busy by last evening. Lots of Raiders fans in town and staying here. But there just wasn't much demand for higher limit games. For BJ, you could play a shoe or DD game at $50 a hand but dealer H17. For $100 a hand, you can play a shoe game where it is S17. No tables offered surreneder. I played a couple shoes of BJ and it went well. Ended the evening by winning a few hundred at high limit vid poker. This trip really isn't about the gambling for me, so doubt I will play anymore today. Already won enough to pay fopr this trip and then some. That was the goal. But the casino is definitely nice enough to make me want to come back for a more serious gambling trip.

    *New Orleans is as I remembered it, lots of fun. Walked through part of the Quarter yesterday and ate and drank. Also went to the Audubon insect museum and aquarium. They have an awesome Japanese garden where you walk in and are surrounded by butterflies zipping about everywhere. That was fun.

    That's pretty much it. Today's plan is high tea at the Windsor, watch a lot of NFL, and then Domenica and Sazerac tonight. Would recommend this town for any gamblers who want an alternative to Vegas
     
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  2. ronc

    ronc VIP Whale

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    Thanks for the report!!

    We love New Orleans, so there is usually a trip over once a year. It is about a six hour drive.

    We did a trip last November involving a friend's birthday event lasting most of the night and an early morning flight to Vegas...not sure i could handle that again; there was a lot of fun and some pain involved! Great memories!!
     
  3. 93 Octane

    93 Octane Chief Bottle Washer

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    When in NOLA eat the delicious seafood not steak!
     
  4. pphold

    pphold pp Park Place Degenerate

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    i was there earlier this week and the floor has a shoe BJ game that S17 at the $25 level

    I did well there too. I like the Hotel their if you get a corner suite.

    DL is messed up that they limit your drinks and food.
     
  5. NewOrleansSlimm

    NewOrleansSlimm VIP Whale

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    i probally seen you and didnt even notice, if you would have gave notice i would have come say hi...$25 is the lowest they go in high limit and usually what they raise all the other tables on the floor to and call it special event

    its rare that high limit is ever packed, usually the tables by baccarat room are open and a few will open near the roulette table, rarely they open the roulette table

    the back baccarat use to be packed constantly now seems only certain times


    as for the cab, lyft uber issue, they are still fighting that out right now. you should have taken a cab right off the airport property to the gas station across airline highway,then uber from there

    more rain on the way, im in the middle between the airport and new orleans and we just got hammered a lil while ago


    the corner suites are real nice, that hotel puts all the others around to shame, the 26th floor is ridiculous but extremely hard to get


    as for the DL, I still dont get limited, lol...but it does suck that they do it, exspecially when this property makes money
     
  6. Travel Fanatic

    Travel Fanatic The Arbiter of Taste Caviar Kid

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    I did (don't eat steak). Had the swordfish last night. It was ok, but nothing particularly special. Having dinner at Domenica in a few hours. Hoping that will be better
     
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  7. Travel Fanatic

    Travel Fanatic The Arbiter of Taste Caviar Kid

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    Yeah, went there last night and today and noticed. But honestly, for me its no big deal because I am not a huge eater or drinker. I tried the tomato soup today and it was very good. Wish the DL room was larger, though. Had to wait for a table both times
     
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  8. Travel Fanatic

    Travel Fanatic The Arbiter of Taste Caviar Kid

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    Thanks. I haven't sent much time in the casino, though. Probably gambled for a total of forty-five minutes last night and went back a little while ago and played one shoe of BJ before cashing out. Its nice to leave with a healthy win, especially since I will be in Vegas in a few days! Didn't want to lose big this weekend and then start a vegas trip already feeling like I am chasing
     
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  9. leo21

    leo21 VIP Whale

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    Besh is just unimpressive. Its probably worth seeking out one of his other restaurants if you want to try John Besh's food. Actually, I don't think we really liked any of the restaurants in the casino.
     
  10. NewOrleansSlimm

    NewOrleansSlimm VIP Whale

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    I hear ya, I was in the palm room thursday,friday and saturday just drinking and talking with everyone...I didnt play either as your reason, tuesday Ill be in vegas
     
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  11. NewOrleansSlimm

    NewOrleansSlimm VIP Whale

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    I always hear good and bad about besh, ive eaten there probally 10 times and never once had a bad meal...as for his other resturants, he has about 20+ all over the city so you should be able to find something good from him
     
  12. cjohnson202

    cjohnson202 VIP Whale

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    Thanks for the report, keep it coming. I am making my first trip ever to NOLA in 12 days and have no idea what to expect, other than a good time. That butterfly thing sounds cool as the does the insect place. Airport taxi stuff is good to know
     
  13. Travel Fanatic

    Travel Fanatic The Arbiter of Taste Caviar Kid

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    Not a whole lot left to report. Sitting at the airport now to fly home. Domenica was good last night. Some of the dishes reminded me of Lago at Bellagio. And Sazerac bar was fun. Gave me a chance to tell Kingfish stories that I hadn't thought about in a long, long time. And I ended up 3 for 3 on my NFL bets yesterday, so that always makes for a pleasant sunday
     
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  14. cjohnson202

    cjohnson202 VIP Whale

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    Being a local, you must know when the gambling day starts/ends at Harrahs NOLA? Would be good to know for my upcoming trip. I know CET in Vegas in 6 am.
     
  15. Richard Alpert

    Richard Alpert LOST

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    Would love to give that town a visit sometime. But, holy cow on the cab fee!
    Thanks for the report, UKFanatic!

    RICHARD
     
  16. Travel Fanatic

    Travel Fanatic The Arbiter of Taste Caviar Kid

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    Yeah, the cab fee absolutely sucked. Basically added eighty bucks to the tab for this trip. Next time, I will probably try and arrange a shuttle through the hotel
     
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  17. Flowers

    Flowers VIP Whale

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    Thanks for the report. Haven't visited NO in at least a decade and would love to visit again.
     
  18. joaks

    joaks desert tortoise

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    We do Nola almost every year. I agree about Besh. Unless you have a good credit or comps, I would seek out his other restaurants. Borgne, which isn't a bad evening walk, was great.

    Also, if seafood is your thing, GW Fins has some great dishes. The scalibut is pure awesome!

    Nola has a very competitive restaurant market, so there's a lot of good happy hours and tasting menus at the upper tier places.

    Also, we were there in May......and we took either Uber or Lyft from the airport to Harrahs..... I don't remember which one is was, but it did pick up in the airport parking garage. It was a flat fee in $30s.
     
  19. Dr Nostron

    Dr Nostron VIP Whale

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    I will 2nd GWFins - fantastic

    Also Adolfo's on Frenchmen St
     
  20. tringlomane

    tringlomane STP Addicted Beer Snob

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    This dated article says it's 5am as of 3 years ago. I doubt it's changed since though.

    http://jscott.lvablog.com/2013/09/14/what-is-a-day/

    Nice report UK! Should have been in Vegas with me this past weekend though! ;)
     
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