Mississippi Gulf Coast

[iamkathi]

I was reminded last night I had promised a report from the January 20th trip to the Gulf Coast(aka Mom's birthday weekend extravaganza).

We flew into Gulfport. The airport looked like the hurricane was just last week. I mentioned this on our way out on Sunday and was told it had looked like this for over 6 years! It is a SMALL airport, but this isn't meant as a bad thing. Security was quick and there wasn't much to do except wait on your plane. There is one bar which is the only location they allow smoking inside the terminal. That means the rest of us didn't go near it.

We stayed at the Isle of Capri, Mom had some free nights so we took advantage of that! This hotel was ok. Just ok. But, for the regular room rate of $99-129 it was ok. No mini bar or fancy tubs, but it was ok. I would stay there again.

It seems there is nothing that has been rebuilt except the casinos and some of the mall. There were none of the souvenir shops that used to be every block or two. Don't plan to do much outside the hotel or casino in the Biloxi/Gulfport area.

We did drive to New Orleans on Saturday which is only an hour and a half from Biloxi to the French Quarter. You can see all the devastation that is still there and the areas that have not recovered. Sad. The French Quarter still had a random shop or two that wasn't open, but otherwise it was a Saturday in the Quarter with tourists everywhere.

We hit 5-6 different casinos( it was Mom's birthday wish) and most had some parts rebuilt. This is where they'll get the money to finish the grand places that were there before Katrina.

The Beau Rivage( part of the MGM-Mirage group) was first I was told to come back " after the storm" and is more upper scale than the rest. It was a nice place with a fantastic brunch on Sunday.

If and when I go back I will stay there.

This is my 2 cents worth. I can say the slots were paying out ok that weekend. 2 in our group did rather well... 2 didn't gamble at all and I learned not to take my ATM card to as casino.



If there is anyone else that lives in this area or would like to correct anything I said...please do. My family lives in the Mobile area and I do plan to be back the end of April.
I would love some suggestions.

[Hell Puppy]

We flew into Gulfport. The airport looked like the hurricane was just last week. I mentioned this on our way out on Sunday and was told it had looked like this for over 6 years! It is a SMALL airport, but this isn't meant as a bad thing. Security was quick and there wasn't much to do except wait on your plane. There is one bar which is the only location they allow smoking inside the terminal. That means the rest of us didn't go near it.

Not much changed there then. Last time I flew in, I'm pretty sure I remember them having to scare farm animals off the runway before we could land.

Ok, that might be an exaggeration, but this is not...

Being the high maintenance bitches that we are, myself and mr. dickinbush of course wanted "luxury" rental cars since we had a carload of folks with us and a ton of gear and luggage. They had to bring in a caddy sedan deville, and all the girls at all the rental counters had hovered around waiting to see who showed up to claim the cadillac.

It seems there is nothing that has been rebuilt except the casinos and some of the mall. There were none of the souvenir shops that used to be every block or two. Don't plan to do much outside the hotel or casino in the Biloxi/Gulfport area.

Again, not much different than before. Even before the storm, I always considered going to Beau Rivage like going to Jamaica....STAY ON THE RESORT! There's no good reason to leave it.

The Tunica casinos are much the same, other than the casinos there's not much unless you go a half hour north to Memphis.


The Beau Rivage( part of the MGM-Mirage group) was first I was told to come back " after the storm" and is more upper scale than the rest. It was a nice place with a fantastic brunch on Sunday.

We've had whatever they call the mondo-suite there up on the top floor dead center with the view of the gulf. Nice property. You definitely want a VIP room there though just so you get the VIP elevators. They only have like 4 regular elevators, and they're filled with old people and stop on every floor.

And where there's a buffet, trust me, you dont wanna be trapped on an elevator with old people for a prolonged period of time.



This is my 2 cents worth. I can say the slots were paying out ok that weekend. 2 in our group did rather well... 2 didn't gamble at all and I learned not to take my ATM card to as casino.

You need some FFN gambling lessons, we can teach you how to lose your money slowly......so long as you dont play Baccarat with the cure.