Tunica Talk

I found out while in Tunica this past week that the paid shuttle service between the various Tunica casinos is no longer running. Most casino employees appear to be unaware of this. A couple I was traveling with on this trip were told by three separate casino employees that the shuttle stop is in this location keep waiting and it will eventually come. So they kept waiting but it never came. While I don’t have an answer as to why the shuttle service is no longer running, I suspect it had to do with high gas prices. This leaves as the only regular shuttle service in Tunica the courtesy shuttle that Harrah’s runs to take guests between their three properties in the Tunica area: Harrah’s, the Sheraton, and the Horseshoe. I no longer think it is realistic to visit Tunica without some sort of automobile be it a vehicle you own or rent.

If you’re arriving at Memphis International Airport, Blues City Tours offers shuttle service from the airport to any of the Tunica Casinos for $47 per-person ($82 roundtrip) or $37 each ($62 roundtrip) for two people. If you prefer not to use a shuttle, you can always rent a car at the airport. Numerous car rental companies service the Memphis International Airport.

The short answer is you should avoid taking your children if at all possible. Tunica is a pure gambling destination so there isn’t going to be a lot to keep your kids entertained. However, if you are planning a short trip depending on their age you might be able to keep them occupied for a couple of days. In February of 2007 I had business in Memphis so rather than pay for rooms in Mempis I used my comps to stay in Tunica. My teenagers were on break from school, and they decided they wanted to go with me rather than sit at home. So I took my 17 year old and 18 year old year girls with me. We spent one night at the Hollywood and two nights at the Grand. The girls hated it as there was absolutely nothing for them to do but sit in the room watch the TV and surf the Internet. I think the only other thing they found to do was play pool in the Veranda’s lobby as they had a couple of pool tables set up there. To this day whenever I mention I am going to Tunica, the girls are sure to remind me of how much they hated that place. My 17 year old had been to Biloxi with myself and my wife when she was 15 and she thought Biloxi was ok because it is basically a beach town. I also took both the girls with me to Las Vegas in the summer of 2007. They were 18 and 19 at the time and they absolutely loved it. To this day they keep asking me when they can go back Las Vegas with me. So as far as gaming destinations go Tunica is probably one of the worst for kids.

If you kids are a bit younger than my two teenagers were at the time of their trip to Tunica, you might be able to keep them occupied during the day at the Kid’s Quest on the grounds of Harrah’s (formally the Grand). In the summer you have the swimming pools, but keep in mind in most cases the kids have to be 18 or accompanied by someone who is before they are allowed at the pool. So you really don’t have a lot of kid friendly options in Tunica, and I think as my girls will attest three days in Tunica is three days too many for most kids.

If you’re looking for commercial flights into the Tunica area, the Memphis International Airport is only about 30 minutes from Tunica. Some people tell me that they have better luck getting commercial flights in to the Little Rock National Airport which is approximately 150 miles from Tunica, and it takes about two hours and fifteen minutes to make the drive. I would say if you’re going to fly in use the Memphis International Airport as your first option, but if your unable to find a suitable flight into that airport try looking for a flight into the Little Rock National Airport.

Also worth mentioning is that, Tunica actually has a very small airport. You can’t book a commercial flight into this airport as it services charters and private planes only. If you are arriving to Tunica on a charter flight provided by a casino there is a good chance you will be flying into this airport. I flew into this airport on a 737, and once the plane unloaded the entire airport was arm to arm while we waited for our ground transportation. When catching your departing flight prepare yourself becase it will take a long time to get through security. Because of the smallness of the airport most baggage screening is done by hand. Once you make it through security, the gate area is a commercial double wide trailer. At this airport you board and deplane directly outside in the elements. If the weather is adverse dress appropriately, and if the forcast calls for rain you might want to carry on an umbrella.

No you don’t, but I think this question needs a very long explanation. Tunica is unlike any gaming destination with more than one casino you may have visited in the past. The distance between some of the casinos is a 15-25 minute drive in a car, and in between these casinos there is nothing but cotton fields. There are two main clusters of casinos. One cluster is what is known as Casino Center. That cluster contains The Horseshoe, The Sheraton and The Gold Strike. All three casinos in this cluster are within very easy walking distance of each other. You literally walk out the door of one casino and then into another. The second cluster contains The Resorts, Hollywood and Sam’s Town. Within that cluster The Resorts and Hollywood are within easy walking distance of each other via a canopy covered walkway, but Sam’s Town is a much longer walk across the street. The walk is made more difficult by the lack of sidewalks and a crosswalk. There is also a fence that borders the Sam’s Town RV Park that you have to walk around. It is still a manageable walk as long as your health and weather conditions permit. Keep in mind in the summer Mississippi is very humid so you don’t necessarily want to be taking a long walk during this time of year, or you will arrive at your destination drenched in sweat. If you aren’t going to have your own transportation in Tunica, I highly recommend staying at one of these six properties to maximize your enjoyment. If you stay at the Grand, Bally’s or Fitzgerald’s, and you don’t have your own transportation your only option is to use the Shuttle Service to get to the other properties.

Shuttle Service
There is a shuttle service that runs between all nine Tunica Casinos. This shuttle service costs $1 per-person for each trip you take. So a two way trip for a couple would be $4. The shuttles run regular schedules so if you are at the Hollywood, and want to go to the Grand keep in mind that depending on what part of that particular shuttle’s route you are on you could be stopping at every other hotel along the way dropping off and picking up other passengers. I find that the security people at the various casinos are very helpful in pointing out where their casino’s shuttle stop is. Here is a printable shuttle schedule. The only thing you need to keep in mind is that these shuttles quit running fairly early on the weekdays (11:00 PM). So if you stay at one of the hotels that are not next to anything else all of your late night gambling will have to be done at that hotel. Caesars runs a free shuttle to and from Harrah’s (formally known as the Grand) to their two properties located in casino center (the Sheraton and the Horseshoe). There is no cab service in the Tunica area. So if you miss the last shuttle pickup you’re stranded.

I have stayed at this hotel probably four to five times over the last couple of years. When I think about it Sam’s Town doesn’t really excel at any one thing it just consistently offers an all around good value. The rooms have what I would describe as a budget hotel look with a western flair. On the last trip I noted they upgraded the bedding in their rooms which is now comparable to what you will find at the various Harrah’s properties in town, but overall the rooms are still basic budget style rooms. The hotel buffet is the 2nd or 3rd best in the area. During lunch and dinner they offer a huge selection of Corky’s BBQ items which sets this buffet apart from the other buffets in Tunica.

Like the Hollywood it seems to be very easy to get weekday room comps and free slot play for future visits with a low level of play. I think this is very important to keep in mind if you’re looking to set-up future trips to Tunica. One of my favorite features at Sam’s Town is the poker room. Their tournaments always seem to have a good turnout which means more people get paid at the conclusion of the tournament. They also have lot of low domination slots, and the second best video poker in Tunica. Almost all of their video poker machines offer 9/6 Jacks or Better. This hotel is located across the street from The Hollywood and The Resorts. The walk is doable provided you’re in good health and the weather is decent. There isn’t a sidewalk or crosswalk and a fence that surrounds the Sam’s Town RV Park makes the walk more difficult than it would have to be. All in all Sam’s town offers an outstanding value.

Pros: Easy Comps, Good Buffet, Location, Poker Room, Good Video Poker

Cons: Rooms have a budget flavor, It is a long walk to cross the street

This hotel was originally developed by Benny Binion’s son Jack. It is currently owned by Caesars (formerly known as Harrah’s). I have stayed here twice within the last year and played here on numerous occasions. The hotel is known for attracting high rollers so if you are a high roller this is place for you in Tunica. For the rest of us this hotel offers an excellent location, reasonable room rates, an excellent buffet and the nicest Diamond Lounge I have ever laid eyes on.

On the past two occasions I have stayed here I selected a Luxury room which is a larger room (650 Square Feet) than a standard room. It features a sitting area that has a large couch next to the windows, and the bathroom in this type of room is oversized. The drawback to the Luxury room is that it is a bit dated, and has not been remolded and modernized like the standard rooms in this hotel. I have been told by other people that the standard rooms at the Horseshoe are a little bit smaller than the usual hotel room so if you want space make sure you book a luxury room. The Village Square Buffet is one of the better buffets in Tunica in terms of selection and freshness, but it is also one of the more expensive. It is open 24 hours a day so whenever you get the urge to eat the Buffet is open. Low denomination slot players and video poker players of all denomination are much better off taking the short walk next door to the Sheraton. Both properties are part of the Harrah’s Total Rewards system so you don’t get penalized for playing next door. High limit table game players and poker room players will love the action they get at this property. The poker room hosts a World Series of Poker circuit event.

If you’re a Total Rewards Diamond Card holder this property has the nicest and most extravagant Diamond Lounge I have ever been in. That includes the numerous Diamond Lounges I have been in while in Las Vegas. This hotel is located in the middle of Casino Center. The Sheraton is out one side door of this property and the Gold Strike it out the opposite side door of this property so you cannot beat the location it is the best in Tunica. Overall this I give this property the highest marks in Tunica.

Pros: Location, Favorable Odds on High Limit Table Games, Huge Selection of High Denomination Slots, Extravagant Diamond Lounge, Good Buffet, Good Video Poker and Low Limit Slots Next Door at the Sheraton.

Cons: None

I have never stayed at this hotel so I cannot comment on the rooms. I have played here on numerous occasions. It is worth mentioning that this property is owned by MGM, and is currently their only property in the Tunica Area. The hotel is 31 stories tall, and at the time of its completion in 1997 was the tallest structure in the state of Mississippi. The hotel has 1,200 rooms so it is a large property. The hotel has an excellent location in the Casino Center which makes for an easy walk to the Horseshoe or Sheraton. The Gold Strike has just about any type or coin in of casino game you might like to play. It also features one of the larger poker rooms in the Tunica area and hosts a WPT event. I put size as both a pro and con in this case because it all depends on your preference. I have found that some people like staying in a high rise type structure and other people don’t.

Pros: Location, Size, Indoor Pool

Cons: Size, Tight Video Poker

I have never stayed here and only played here once so I don’t have a whole lot to say about this place. The main negative to report about this property is that it is not within walking distance to any other casino in the Tunica area. The thing that stands out in my mind about this place was how many employees were in engaged in cleaning something in and outside the casino the day I was there. The rates for the rooms are reasonable, and they have a lot of low limit slots. People that do stay here seem to like it even more so than frequent visitors other properties in the Tunica area. So I would say it is definitely a place worth checking out if you don’t mind driving from location to location.

Pros: Low Limit Games, Clean

Cons: Location

I have never stayed here, but I have played here on two separate occasions. The Hotel itself is nothing special in fact it was an old motor court hotel that was redone to make it a little more modern. The hotel isn’t directly next to or attached to the casino so Bally’s runs a shuttle from the hotel to the casino for the hotel guests. The main appeal of this casino would be the low limit table games and low limit slots. I have had the buffet on one occasion and would rate it on the lower end of buffets in Tunica. The location of the hotel and casino is probably only a quarter of a mile or less to the Casino Center and the three hotel/casinos there as the crow flies, but actually taking a road is roughly a 2 mile trip. One person mentioned to me there is a “trail” from Bally’s Casino to Casino Center, but it isn’t easily visible and any trail in that area would have to cross the steep earthen river levees, and a thickly wooded area. Personally this is something I would try and avoid myself. Bally’s is owned by the same company that owns the Resorts so you use the same player’s card at both properties.

Pros: Low Limit Games

Cons: Location, Hotel