Tell me about Biloxi, MS

Hello Everyone,

My husband and I are going to Biloxi, MS in Aug. and we have never been there before.

We will be staying at the Beau Rivage, courtesy of Myvegas.

What I would like to know about are as follows: Local restaurants that have good steaks, seafood, etc. and are priced under 30.00 per entree. Attractions that might be fun to check out, such as the gator ranch, and any other attractions that would be fun. Any idea's or in put on golf courses in the area? Shopping?

And let's not forget, the casino's. Please tell me any favorites that come to mind. Favorite Buffet's, etc. in the casino's? Coupons anywhere to be found?

Thanks again and I look forward to suggestions and advice.

K-9treatbaker

 

The Beau is by far the premium property in Biloxi. Great food choices with a primo buffet. The Hard Rock, which IMHO is the second nicest resort in Biloxi, is about a five minute walk. All the other casinos are spread out in clusters. They have a shuttle for a small fee that runs to all the casinos and is surprisingly efficient. There is a Ruth's Chris Steakhouse at The Hard Rock. The beaches are nice but your trip in August is smack-dab in the middle of hurricane season so definitely pay attention to the weather reports as your departure nears. The weather will be in the 90s with humidity around 90%. You'll love the Beau; think of it as a smaller version of The Bellagio. Have a great trip. I don't know a lot about the golf there but I do know that there are several courses that get very good reviews.

 

I have stayed at Beau Rivage about 12 times and it is my favorite casino/hotel overall. With the exception of the Hard Rock, which is next door, I never leave the property so I am not much help on local restaurants. I eat most of my meals at Terrace Café (24 hours) or Coast. There is also a buffet which I do not like, along with a steak house and a couple other restaurants. If you are there on Friday or Saturday you may want to check out the entertainment, they usually have a headliner on the weekends.

Oh yes, the casino. The casino just recently had new carpet installed. The casino has a very good variety of games. You can 3 reel slots as well as the newer video slots. Lots of video poker. I usually do well there even though the pay tables are not the best. I gamble about 12 hours per day and have been very lucky at Beau Rivage. I have had many winning trips but of course there have been losing trips as well. They have lots of table games and a poker room.

You should find the whole property clean and well maintained and the employees are friendly. It's hard for me to imagine anyone not liking this place. I hope you will post a trip report.

 

Thank you both for your input and reviews of the Beau and Biloxi in general.

I definitely will post a trip report when we get back. It won't be until Sept. 5th but I love to write and a trip report will definitely be posted. Be warned, it may be a long trip report, I'm chatty as my husband says. LOL

K-9treatbaker

 

This may help some too.
https://www.vegasmessageboard.com/forums/showthread.php?107465-Biloxi-11-14-May-2014

It appears you may have your own car so do take advantage of the local area offerings. Their visitors web site has some good info.
http://www.gulfcoast.org/visitors/

As for local dining, we like Mary Mahoney's across the street from the Beau as well as the Half Shell Oyster House across from the Hard Rock. Both have entrees under $30 fro lunch as you can tell from their menus. (Google them as they both have websites). There is also The Shed (BBQ) just north of Ocean Springs. This place has been featured on TV and has entertainment most weekend evenings. (They have a website too)

To get pretty gulf water you really have to visit Ship Island which can be reached from a ferry at Gulfport just west of Biloxi. The water near the Beau is more like back bay and more dirty looking as you can tell from the photos in my TR.

As far as the Beau I and my wife have been many times and the rooms are very nice. Very good water pressure and almost instant hot water.
Many options for food. They have a website too and have many promotions/drawings on the weekend. The place has some nice high end stores within.

A new casino has been opened built on the ruins of one destroyed by Hurricane Katrina named the Golden Nugget. It is down the same road the Beau sits on and is the Golden Nugget with some interesting food choices.

I suggest you check Jackpot Magazine for specials/promotions around town. You can access it on line or pick up a paper copy just to the right of the MLife slot desk in the Beau. The maids deliver two small water bottles each day to the rooms and as a guest you can pick up a free paper at the Bell Desk each morning until they run out.

I think you will enjoy the area as there are many options for things to do including a boat ride out to the Gulf.

Should you have any other questions just ask.

 

I will start by seconding Flyguy's recs for Mary Mahoney's and Half Shell Oyster House. Their lunch prices are about 50% of their dinner prices for pretty much the same food. There is a nice little neighborhood bar (Adventures) across from the Half Shell that I like. For local seafood, I always recommend McElroy's. They have two locations. One is just past the entrance to the Hard Rock parking garage. It should be easy to spot since it was elevated 20 ft when they rebuilt after Katrina. The other location is just across the bridge that goes over to Ocean Springs. I prefer the Ocean Springs location. Be sure and go out back and check out their decks that go down to the back bay. You mentioned shopping so if you do go to the OS McElroys, I would check out their arts/shopping district that has a lot cool things done by local artists. Lots of folks make a trip to the Coast just to go there and shop for some unique pieces. Another shopping opportunity is the big outlet mall over in Gulfport. It is just South of the I-10 Gulfport exit. Probably the best known casino golf course is Golden Bear that is owned by Caesars. If you have any history with CET, you might can get a deal thru the Harrah's Gulf Coast (formerly The Grand) casino which is the only CET property on the Coast. The course was designed by Jack Nickalus. OTOH- the MS Gulf Coast is covered up with golf courses. The Beau has one but I can't remember the name of it.

There are several art museums on the coast. The easiest to get to is just down Beach Blvd from Harrah's Gulf Coast. If you are a space buff, the Stennis Space Center is a little west of Biloxi in Bay St. Louis. They test all off our rocket engines there (they used to do all the shuttle engine tests there too) and have a nice NASA collection. There is Hurricane Katrina memorial in the grassy area just across the street from the Hard Rock that we often visit. There is also a Hurricane Camille memorial a little further down the highway to the East but I can't think of a landmark to tell you to look for. It is sort of off by itself. If you see a flagpole bent at a 45 degree angle but still flying the US flag, that is the Camille memorial. Katrina bent the flagpole but the memorial committee decided to leave it bent to illustrate the power of hurricanes.

Back on the food topic, you might consider 32 over at the IP casino. It takes it's name from being on the thirty second floor and has a good reputation to go along with it's great views of the back bay. Since you will be on the Coast during football season, you might consider the sports bar at IP. It is a great place watch a game. If you like Asian cusine, Tien at the IP is highly thought of. The Golden Nugget people just spent 150 million to remodel their place. Among the new additions down there is a Morton's Steakhouse (great food but likely to go over that $30 target) and a Bubba Gump Shrimp Company that just opened. Gump's is a chain so bear that in mind. The Beau has several well thought of eating options but I expect you will get plenty of information on them by staying at the property.

The weather will be very conducive to pool activities in September and the Beau has a beautiful pool complex. There are plenty of beach activites and things such as sea-doo's to rent but you have to get out beyond the barrier islands to get the really pretty blue water that places like Destin feature. If you have kids with you, there are a couple of water parks that they will enjoy.

Have fun.

 

I'm going this week and using the pool chair reward via myVegas. Already had a room comp via MLife and I've been to Biloxi a few times before. Haven't been since the minor Beau renovations (casino carpet and wifi) nor have I seen the new Golden Nugget.

If there's anything you want me to look out for, I'll check it out

 

Hi Texan,

I would love to hear about the pool chair and your general opinion on anything. Sounds like the Beau is a good place and lots of fun. Thanks... K-9

 

Will do. We also have the two dinner buffets...concerned because I've read a bunch about the decline of the food quality.

 

K9, You'll love the Beau! I go there on comp'd junkets out of Savannah ~ in fact, I'm going next week for the 3 nights. Steve Wynn built it & actually the Bellagio originally was going to be named Beau Rivage. Casino is Vegas-Like but be prepared for the Smoke! Food on site is very reasonably priced plus try ask to upper gulf view. The Tom Fazio golf course (only for Beau Rivage occupants) is closed until Labor Day ~ it's called Fallen Oak ~ play it if you have a chance on your next visit.
ENJOY!

 

Mansam what days are you are going to be there? We are going to be there June 13 thru 16th
You are right about the smoke odor I don't really notice it until I smell my clothes in the morning

 

I get there Thursday night, the 12th & leave Sunday morning the 15th

 

Definitely try Mary Mahoney's for a nice dinner. We love the Hard Rock casino and the Nugget is great too.

 

I am usually at the craps or crapless table with a red or gray razorback cap. I look a little like my avatar.

Joe K

 

We went this past weekend for the first time. The Jefferson Davis house was pretty interesting to visit, if you're into history at all. Also, keep an eye out on the medians on beach road. The Scluptures carved from the hurricane damaged trees were pretty cool.

 

Hello everyone,

I sure appreciate all of the suggestions and input about Biloxi.

I have the Beau booked for three nights and my husband and I are really excited about visiting Biloxi and staying at the Beau.

We are going to check out the Jefferson Davis house/cemetary and as for golf, I think my husband is going to play the course associated with the Hollywood Casino. They have no shortage of golf courses, so even with Fallen Oak being closed, he can find a course. LOL

Thanks again to all. I really appreciate it.

K-9treatbaker

 

We'll be there next week too!! I received an offer to take their fishing charter (Friday, 13th)...really looking forward to that!

 

Just returned from the Beau for two nights and NOLA for one night...roadtripped it from/to Houston.

We had a GREAT time at the Beau. I ended up losing about $200 of my $600 bankroll that went through some violent swings. At one time down to my last $20 and hit for $620 on a Wild Moon something or other machine...I was giddy.

Besides that. Had a nice 5th floor room near the elevator (as we like) with just a perfect view of the pool and Gulf. Used our pool chair MyVegas reward and the person who booked it (Lisa?) reserved a spot on the end of the row on the east side of the pool right by the bar. GOOD WORK! We had the best servers and the drinks were wonderful. $11 for the 16 oz specialty drinks in plastic cups or $15 for the same drink in a $32 oz souvenir cup. We brought home 6 cups...ahem.

The pool chair reward is totally worth it. An attendant walks you to your chairs, which are connected by a small table that is perfect for drinks and our towels but not much else. The chairs are padded with about 3 inch pad that is just right. The attendant covers each chair with a towel that hooks over the top of the chair. Then, a terry cloth pillow is added to each chair and your towels for drying off are placed on each chair. He asked if we wanted an umbrella set up and we did. He set it up perfectly over our chairs and then informed our server we were there. Enjoyed pool time especially because of location right at the edge of the pool with access to our drinks and chairs. When we had too much sun we'd pop into the shade of our cushy umbrella-covered chairs and relax. It was a beautiful sunny day in Biloxi and really enjoyed that time. The way they do the MyVegas comp though is by charging $50 (usual fee for this service...which, to be clear, we would pay...) to the room and then comping it off at check out...which I had to remind the front desk to do...so be sure you do that if you use this reward.

As we neared 3 hours at the pool (my wife was meeting a friend who lives in Ocean Springs for coffee at The Roasted Bean at 3 pm...btw, that coffee place is good but SLOWWWW), I decided to see if a massage appointment was available. Nothing available but they could put me on the wait list. Sure enough, as I got back to our chairs, I got a call that a spot opened up at 3 pm. YES! $115 for a 50 min therapeutic massage (essentially, the firm pressure massage...the swedish is $100 --- both, much cheaper than anything in Vegas...except the 8 am Bally's deal I guess). Spa is nice with an unusually large steam room...had the entire spa to myself 95% of the time so I enjoyed that as well. The massage itself was AMAZING...I may have been drunk and slept through most of it...but I felt great when I was woken up... ahem.

The buffet was unimpressive. Flavorless. Service was nice once we talked to our server, but not enough to make it a positive experience. Too crowded. A bit messy.

The gambling, as I said was up and down but I left with a minor loss of about $200. Not my favorite set of games (only play slots and VP), but the drink service was good and I had a good time. What really turned it around was since I did not have much recent play history, I had Thurs comped on an offer and Fri was $179...host comped off Fri room and took $68 express comps AND an additional $100. So, our $500+ bill turned into a $200 bill. Totally worth it for two days/nights of fun.

Also went to the Golden Nugget for the first time as I wanted to check it out bc they are opening a GN in Lake Charles, closer to me. Didn't like it...too crowded...

 

Thank you so much for the trip report Texdan. I enjoyed reading it, and I think I will pass on the Buffet reward. Golden Nugget and Margaritaville have good buffet's from what I am told.

How did you like the beds at the Beau? I know, it is an odd question, but the last hotel I stayed in, beds were rock hard. Hopefully, they were comfy.

Thanks,
K-9treatbaker

 

Been to Beau over 12 times. Terrace cafe open 24hours Good food several specials. 1st time visitors at Hard Rock ( I walked) receive a gift or buffet for signing up for players card even if you're a Tampa card holder. NO GAMBLING REQUIRED FOR OFFER After that, YOU BELONG AT THE BEAU ! Some good value buffets and eats at Boomtown & Margaritaville casinos If you want more info ,just ask. All my trips have been roundtrip flights out of St Pete via vision airlines except 1 when I was driving through and Beau comped room for 3 nights. PS I'm by no means a high rolller but by working the comps I almost feel like 1 @ the Beau Regards