Biloxi Trip 3/14-17 (casino property report)

Let's start with the most important part, it was a losing trip. I had some cash from my $27K win on the local casino boat, wanted a weekend off after bike week, so went to Biloxi


Stayed at Harrah's Grand Biloxi, visited Beau Rivage, IP and the new Golden Nugget (formerly Isle of Capri)

I'll go property by property

Harrah's is undergoing a makeover, and it is needed. They're also tearing down the bones of the uncompleted and abandoned original Margaritaville that was to be part of it and on the beach. Internally, you see signs and curtains all over about the makeover. It's not totally annoying or problematic, but you can't see a clear picture of the final product. Seems to me, if they were smart, they'd have some artist renderings of what to expect upon completion. My room was supposed to be a Jr Suite or something, but was changed at last minute (without my knowledge) because of room renovations (felt "bait & switch"), so I got a standard king with partial view. Nothing spectacular.
The casino is smaller and unimpressive. Their HL slot blow goats. The lower limit games play fair, but you really have to go on a seek and destroy mission to find the good ones. You take a lot of losses before you find the slots that pay. This was the first time I had seen or played "crapless craps" where you can place or be on every number but 7. Not sure how I feel about it.
Overall, I give it a "fair" rating, but really should wait for the new renovations to be done.

If you've been to the Beau, nothing's changed. It is starting to look a little worn and dated, but overall, it's a nice place. Big floor and far more Vegas-like.

The IP, in my opinion, is really starting to look worn. Looks like Boyd doesn't want to put a dime into upkeep. The clientele also seemed a bit, how do I say, less upscale. Just less classy. The HL slot room was reduced in size at some point over the last few years (My last time there was like 4 yrs ago), and for the most part, not as "loose" as it was before Boyd took over, though I found a couple machines that I could get some money out of, but higher risk/lower reward, $1 multilines. I just wan't as impressed this time as I was last time.

Golden Nugget - I never saw a room, but based on the casino....stellar property. Absolutely nothing like it was when it was Isle of Capri. Very hip and modern feel. HL area was "friendly" and there are nice food choices from Starbucks, fast food stuff to Morton's Steak and their asian restaurant, Lillies, where I had a Pad Thai that was awesome. From what it was to what it is, it's night and day and they spent millions on the renovation and there is no property in Biloxi as hip and cool looking as The Nugget. Overall, the gaming (slots) seemed fair. Looking back, I don't remember seeing a lot of table games, so they hid them somewhere. There is a second floor that has some slots (non smoking) and banquet rooms. Funny thing is, that upstairs used to be all the gaming, now it's all reversed.

So, from my weekend visit and four property stops, The Golden Nugget IS the golden nugget of Biloxi

 

Thanks for the Biloxi report. Any info on the current status on video poker at any of those properties ? The last couple times we were down there, Harrah's surprisingly seemed to have the best selection of quarter VP.

 

Sorry, I don't VP, so I never think to look at them

 

I agree with you about the Golden Nugget but they only had one craps table and and it did not have anyone on it(early afternoon) so we left but it was nice.

My favorites are 1: Beau Rivage 2: IP 3: Hard Rock

 

We went to Biloxi last year to see Stone Temple Pilots and stayed at Golden Nugget. Got upgraded to a spa suite and the room was amazing. We could still smell the fresh paint.

 

Thanks for the report. Going to Biloxi the weekend of April 11 and staying at the Grand Biloxi. Going to a concert at the Hard Rock that weekend.