My husband and I wanted to get away for a few days and we always enjoy casinos. Harrah%26#39;s comped two nights at the Veranda hotel (sister property near the casino). We left Dallas and made the long drive in approx 7.5 hours (we stopped for lunch in Benton) and we also took the longer way through what we thought might be the scenic route (49 through Helena) which was NOT worth the trip - live and learn.
So we arrived after dark and we were surprised to see how far apart everything is, even after reading about it, since we thought that maybe you could see down the road to the other casinos. Only the Gold Strike is really visible from any distance. Tunica does have the route very well marked, so as long as you pay attention, you can find your way around.
The Veranda was somewhat nice, with a few flaws that I%26#39;ll post so everyone else can know what to expect. The lobby is fine, and self parking is reasonably close by. Cars were stacked up at valet, so we just parked and walked in. Check in was fine, only three or four people in line. Room on third floor is very pretty - large with nice furnishings, 45 inch plasma TV, new linens and a view of the golf course and lake. Bathroom has new vanity but old toilet and tub. Water pressure and temp good but this water is extremely soft (slick) and slightly brown tinged. Use bottled water (not provided) for brushing your teeth. Toiletries are generic but OK. Wonderful perk - a small fridge under the TV.
Here are the nit-picks: King bed very hard (and I like firm) and only had three small pillows. We called down and they said we could only have one more due to the supply being short. No pen or paper in room (small thing, unless of course, you need a pen). Coffee/snack bar was not always manned and one morning, the coffee maker was broken. No safe.
The room was comped, so all in all, a good value. I wouldn%26#39;t come to this town without a car, though. We drove over to Harrah%26#39;s and it was very crowded. They were having a giveaway of a box of dishes and there were 100s of people in line for it. We dropped $200 in slots in about an a hour, and did not see anyone winning. We were planning to visit the Paula Deen buffet, but were not in the mood to stand in line after our long drive. Table minimums were $10 or $15, so we went to the other Casino center (Horseshoe, Sheraton and Gold Strike) about four miles down the road. Parking was better here (surprising for a Friday). Sheraton was not busy, so we played 3 card poker for 1.5 hours but lost the $200 buyin. I never found the video poker machines with a good pay table, so we moved on. We walked across the parking lot and through Horseshoe - definitely the nicest hotel and similar to the one in Shreveport. Starbucks in the hotel lobby was crowded. The best selection of slots was here, but we did not win at all.
We could not find a coffee shop in this town - not in the casinos we visited, or on the road (no Dennys, IHOP, Red Robin or similar). There are snack bars and steak houses, and of course, the buffets. We didn%26#39;t want a heavy meal, so we had to make do with a mediocre sandwich at the Horseshoe snack bar. We lost another $200 on slots and called it a night. We never made it to the Gold Strike, which is right next door.
The next morning, we drove to the casino ';resort'; area and tried Sams Town (we saw that they had a Smokey Joes Cafe in the Tunica guide). We love Sam%26#39;s Town Las Vegas but were disappointed here. Not in the casino look and feel (wonderful) but the dealers were not friendly and Smoky Joes didn%26#39;t open until 5pm, so they only had the obligatory buffet and snack bar. Jeez. No wins on slots (did see one guy win a triple/triple/red seven for $900, but that was it). I%26#39;ll bet there were less than 150 people in the casino on a Saturday morning at 11am. We lost another $200 on 3 card poker in an hour and decided to drive to Memphis for ribs. Drove by Graceland to see the Xmas decor, then ate at the Rendevouz and walked around Beale St. (deserted except for BB Kings) and watched the duck parade at the Peabody (too crowded for much of a view, but cute). The riverfront by Mud Island has beautiful views - worth a stop. It was cold, so we decided to head back and give it one more shot. We decided on the Sheraton, since it wasn%26#39;t crowded and they had $5 tables. We liked the dealers there. Everone at the Sheraton was friendly and upbeat, which we didn%26#39;t encounter anywhere else (other casinos and out hotel seemed understaffed). $200 lasted four hours this time and we had fun. We watched the FL/Alabama and OU/MO football games while we played. DH hit a 3oak for $400+ at one point, so that kept us going.
Got up Sunday and drove past Memphis before we stopped for breakfast. It was a long drive home. Since we live only three hours from Shreveport and 1.5 hours from Choctaw Durant, I wouldn%26#39;t make this trip again unless I flew to Memphis, rented a car and stayed at the Sheraton or Horseshoe.
TR Dec 4 - 7, Tunica road trip
Thanks for sharing your Tunica experience. We stayed at the Sheraton %26amp; loved it there. As you said the staff is friendly %26amp; they have a Cinnabon which DH just loves. The rooms are all suites with jacuzzi in the room %26amp; the beds were very comfy.
TR Dec 4 - 7, Tunica road trip
Hey Corgimom...glad to see you made it back home ok and wondered how you liked your trip. Tunica is definately different than Vegas, and I%26#39;m glad you also got to spend some time in Memphis!
Hi Ducky, Hope I wasn%26#39;t too much of a downer on the TR. I was just hoping for better luck, nicer weather, better food. There wasn%26#39;t really anything wrong with the Veranda, or for Tunica, for that matter, other than it didn%26#39;t have a nice vibe to it - not too many cheerful people or staff. And we had trouble finding any place decent to eat without choosing a steakhouse (our comps were later in the trip and we wanted to go to Memphis)
We should have stuck it out in the Paula D buffet line. Other than the steakhouses, it looked to be the best bet in town.
It is hard to drive that far and not win anything. At least the room was free.
It seems to me that people and hotel staff in Las Vegas are just so much friendlier and cheerful. I wonder why? Plus I may have just been in a bad mood anyway. Hormones!
I should have known to just throw in the towel when I stuck a $50 in a penny slot to kill time and it did not give me ONE bonus round. I%26#39;m not too much of a penny player, but I do like that Reels O%26#39;Dublin slot. Well! Vegas has made me quite the spoiled little gambler :)
Maybe it would have been more fun on a girls weekend, but my husband is a picky traveler and I was worried that he wouldn%26#39;t have a good time in MS. We usually get really nice rooms in Vegas and a sometimes a little VIP treatment.
When I travel by myself, I%26#39;m much easier to please.
I think you were realistic...it is just not Vegas. I really think you would have loved Paula%26#39;s buffet, but it shouldn%26#39;t be the only reason to visit Tunica I guess. LOL
We are leaving for Vegas this evening so will look for that Dublin machine and play it for you :)
Last week i took a 3 night junket from Tampa Florida to Tunica Operated by harrah%26#39;s using Aliegent Airlines. Flawless. First day i put 2 quarters in a ten X Play machine on the second pull I hit for $1000. The next day I won 900 on a triple diamond machine. Luck with the slots and the good blackjack games convinced me to drive up to Tunica again! I leave tomorrow. Dixie.
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