Tunica report

If the Mods wish to move this to "non-Vegas", feel free. You won't hurt my feelings at all. I just thought this would go here.

Well, it's not a Vegas trip report, but I hope you all will indulge me for what I hope will be a short report on a short trip to Tunica. Our trip to Vegas was postponed until October, so we did this to hold us until then. Hunny and I drove from Nashville to Tunica on Sunday (7/5) for an overnight stay. We left to head back home the following afternoon. This is me writing. This is Hunny.

HOTEL

We aren't big players and had no comps, so we booked a room at Harrahs Terrace hotel for $40. We arrived at noon and were able to check in early. Our 3rd floor "west wing" room was nice...it was clean, very comfy king bed, nice large bathroom and a view of the casino. Very comfortable bed .. Headrest roll pillow is great, dont have to ask for extra pillows to prop behind your head to watch tv or read.

We utilized the shuttle to the casino, which left every 10 minutes or so. That was quite convenient. From Harrahs casino, there is a free shuttle that takes you to their sister properties (Horseshoe & Sheraton) every half hour.

FOOD

We ate at two buffets...Sunday night at Paula Deen's at Harrahs and breakfast Monday morning at the buffet at the Hollywood Casino. Pauls Deen's buffet was nice. The food was quite good, as you'd expect, and there was a wide selection of choices. Sunday dinner was $17.99. I thought this to be a very fair price for what was offered. Paula Deen buffet was very good, no complaints. Lots of different kinds of southern foods to choose from. Service was fast and friendly. The pre pay kiosk was a nice plus too, dont have to wait in line at the counter. Funny thing...when we were leaving, there was a pretty good line at the cashier station. Just to the left were two self-pay kiosks not being used.

Hunny signed up for a new players card at Hollywood and I gave her an ACG coupon for 2-for-1 buffet (for new players only) to present to the player's desk. Apparently you have to redeem a coupon to get a coupon. Breakfast was $7.99/person. With both of us having breakfast for that price using the coupon, I still believe we overpaid. Since we had a buy one get one free coupon - got our money's worth I guess . I wouldnt pay $8 for a breakfast that was mostly pre-packaged, warm up and eat food. Eggs were badly watered, bacon was good - hard to mess that up. Service was poor, didnt get a coffee refill - no one even bothered to ask. Would not recommend this at all. I would rank this buffet right up there with the buffet at the Sahara , Circus Circus or Palace Station (the last time I had it). It is sad that the best item on the Hollywood buffet (in my opinion) was the fried bologna. Hunny liked the watermelon too.

GAMING

For once, I did not play a single table game. There was $5 3/2 BJ to be found, if you looked hard enough...though you couldn't find it at Harrahs, Horseshoe or Gold Strike. Most of the Roulette I saw was a $10 minimum. I saw a $5 minimum somewhere, but I apologize that I can't remember where.

Normally, poker is what carries me through, but this time it was my downfall. Played for about 30-40 minutes at Harrahs on Sunday night...$1-3 NLHE. I was dealt in 22 hands, 2+ times around the table. Only once did I have anything to play with. BRUTAL. This is the only word I can use to describe this short session. I finished $31 down.

We both entered a NLHE tourney at the Gold Strike Monday morning. The buy-in was $70. They paid the top 5. Hunny busted out in 8th. I busted out in 7th. I moved in with the best hand pre-flop, on the flop, and turn...and got rivered.

I hardly ever play slots or VP. This trip, when I played anything at all, I played almost only penny slots. After losing the $31 playing poker while basically not playing, we left Harrahs and hopped the shuttle to Horsehoe, where within 30 minutes I had re-cooped and was back to even. I like penny slots. I have found that the penny slots were the best bet for our enjoyment. $20 goes a long way. Played at Harrah's for an 1 1\2 hours on just $20. Doubled my money in less than 10 min time. Would have cashed out then but b/f had just gone to poker room, so figured he would be a little while, so stayed at the same machine, was still there on the same $20 when he returned. Needless to say, I did better than he did for a lot less. (maybe because I suck at poker?)

RANDOM THOUGHTS

I was disappointed that the casinos carried mostly Pepsi products. I am a Coke guy and just don't care for Pepsi.

Mosquito capitol of the world !!!

I found the hotel valets VERY lacadasical about their work. I had the valet park my car at the hotel but first had to look for someone to take my car. When I found someone, there were several of them just standing around and chit-chatting. You don't see this in Vegas. My first thought was that they just don't care. In these times, they should be thankful to have a job at all. If I were their superior, based on what I saw, they wouldn't.

I like Tunica. It's not Vegas, but if I can't get to Nevada, Tunica will do.

Enjoyed the trip, very much so. Can hardly wait for Vegas now.

 

mmmmmm that buffet of Paulas sounds good

where abouts is Tunica , near Nashville? how long of a drive is it?

sounds like a nice quick overnight getaway

 

It is about 20 minutes south of Memphis. I am going to stay at the Gold Strike this weekend. I am playing in a craps tourney and going to see Larry the Cable Guy.

 

Nice TR!


"Mississippi, isn't that where games go to die" Willie Bank

 

I have been to Tunica three times. Stayed at Sams, Horseshoe, and Hollywood. The Hollywood is the only one in Tunica with an indoor pool and incredibly has free wife internet access in all rooms. Rooms at the Shoe were the nicest. Sams is ok. It is about 30 miles south of Memphis and the nine casinos are spread apart. It is not like Laughlin. The Hollywood and Resorts are right next to each other, and you can walk across a fairly busy road to Sams. North of that all alone is Ballys and then the group of three right next to each other, the Gold Strike, Sheraton, and Horseshoe. Then the Fitz sits all alone and then furthest north is Harrahs all by itself. If you can't get to Vegas, Tunica suffices, but don't expect to stay at any of the hotels on a Friday or Saturday night and pay anything approaching reasonable.

 

ty I wasn't sure where abouts it was , had heard of Tunica before however

checked out flights from Calgary to Memphis , would have to fly to Chicago via Air Canada then over to Memphis ..... rather pricey tho $718.52 CAD with taxes

will have to keep that in mind perhaps one day I can try it out if I can find a good seat sale!!
always wanted to visit that area for the lovely bluesy music

 

Hey VegasDiva,

Check airfares from Calgary to Nashville. Nashville is about a 3 hour drive from Memphis and if it's much less, it may be worthwile to fly here and rent a car. Maybe you could even time it just right for a Flames/Predators game.

 

Thanks for the post.

later, GVJ

 

Grand Total - Canadian dollars $534.56 CAD

its a little bit cheaper probably the car rental would be the difference lol

go thru Toronto thru to Nashville on this one


wouldn't mind seeing Nashville too

don't want to get too off topic but heck I'd love to have a motor home n just travel across Canada and down into the USA lol don't ask for much do I?

 

FYI

You really need a car in Tunica. the casinos are far apart, and there isn't much to do other than gamble. With a car you can drive into Memphis and see all they have to offer. We live withing driving distance (about 5hrs)
but, I would rather save up and fly to Vegas!