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Planning a vacation to Louisiana in the
future? When you are choosing a hotel consider staying at a
casino. You say you don't gamble. Still casinos are a good
choice for several reasons even for family vacations. They offer
reasonable prices and all the advantages of a resort.
There are always restaurants for every taste and budget.
Shops and entertainment abound in casino. The ever important
swimming pool is usually offered in several versions. For those
who do wish to indulge in the gaming the opportunities are
limitless. You will have a confortable visit, you can bet on it.
One good idea is to make a reservation.
Some of the casinos get filled especially on heavy travel days.
I'm giving an overview list of amenities and rates. Low rates
are based on what I could book October midweek. They may differ
at other times. Many of the casinos offer specials at slow times
so if you are flexible you can get a better deal. For me the
only negatives I found at most of the casinos hotels were the
lack of a real lobby where you could sit and wait in a peaceful
place and many have no business centers with computers and the
ability to print out your boarding pass.
The history of casinos in Louisiana is a
story in itself. As one tour operator pointed out, "You
can't gamble in Louisiana. It's forbidden by the
State Constitution."
That being the case, how to explain all the
casinos in the state? LLouisiana
politicians have always been inventive. Governor Edwin Edwards
was a match for the best wordsmiths when it served his
interests. He dearly loved his cards so he decreed that what had
previously been called "gambling" was now known as "gaming" as
long as it was done in a tax paying casino. You are still
subject to arrest if you start up a friendly poker game with
some coins on the table at home. That's gambling.
Our guide told us that in Louisiana,
"Casino floors must be sitting on 3 to 6 inches of water." You
don't notice that when you walk from the hotel section to the
actual casino. That creates another interesting fact: since
casinos are technically boats, they must have a captain. We all
agreed that would be a plush job.
The casinos never actually leave the moorings so the
captain would have little to do. The above view is of the casino
section taken from high up in the hotel section of Horseshoe
Casino.
L'auberge Casino in Lake Charles
This was the first Louisiana casino I
stayed at and I loved it. I was on the 25sup>th floor and
it was so peaceful. My room looked out over the pool which is
worth a stay just for that. It's one of the biggest and
prettiest pools ever. Actually it's a group of pools and spas.
The winding Lazy River is perfect of family fun and the heated
adult's only pool with its poolside bar is a perfect
lounging spot.
The rooms are spacious and comfy.
span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> Unlike some of the
casinos, this one had a lot of lobby area where you can just
chill out and relax. There are tons of shops on site and around
the hallway, there are many museum type displays.
My favorite restaurant there is Favorites
Southern Kitchen. See more
Le Beaucoup Buffet is the
most economical dining and perfect for families as they have
almost endless choices to please everyone. For adult
nightlife, Jack Daniels Bar and Grill provides nightly
entertainment as well as food and plenty of Jack's
favorite sipping
whiskey.
Rooms: 636 Price Range: $129-$330
Suites: 99 Price Range: $550-$850
Restaurants: 8 Valet
Parking: Free
Buffet: B- $10.99/$12.99 (Saturday/Sunday)
L- $14.99/$21.99 (Saturday/Sunday)
Casino Size: 27,000 Square
Feet
Games Offered: Slots, Video Poker, Blackjack, Craps,
Roulette, Mini-Baccarat, Baccarat, Pai Gow Poker, Let It Ride,
Three Card Poker, Four Card Poker, Texas Hold 'Em Bonus
Overnight RV Parking: Free/RV Dump: No
Special Features:
18-hole golf course. Spa. Pool with lazy river ride. 1,500-seat
event center.
hhttp://www.llakecharles.com/
Golden Nugget Casino in Lake Charles
I stayed here just after it opened. Talk
about the lap of luxury. My "average" room was one of the best I
have ever had. It boggles the mind to think of what the upscale
rooms and suites are like.
When you visit the Golden Nugget, be sure
to pack your swim suit. I forgot mine and regretted it when I
saw that fantastic pool.
While there I had the privilege of dining
at Vic and Anthony's. This is the same restaurant that won so
many awards at their different locations that I would run out
of space if I listed them all. Let me assure you the one
at the Golden Nugget in Lake Charles lives up top the
reputation the older ones have earned. I had the smallest of the
Fillet Minion steaks with a baked potato and some while
mushrooms and just barely had room for dessert. Luckily I forced
myself. Their bread pudding has also won awards.
Rooms: 736 Price
Range: $129-$229
Suites: 3 Price Range: Casino use only
Restaurants: 8
Buffets: B- $11.99/$15.99 (Saturday/Sunday)
L-$15.99 D- $25.99/$29.99 (Thursday-Saturday)
Games Offered:
Slots, Video Poker, Blackjack, Craps, Roulette, Poker, Three
Card Poker, Baccarat, Mississippi Stud, Pai Gow Poker, Let it
Ride, Four Card Poker
Special Features: 18 hole championship
course, Starbucks.
http://www.goldennuggetlc.com/
Margaritaville Casino in Shreveport
Margaretville, as the name suggest, is owned
by Jimmy buffet and succeeds in creating an island atmosphere in
the heart of Shreveport. We dined at both the Margaretville
Restaurant and Jimmy's here.
Margaritaville Restaurant, where we
sampled some world class Margaritas and snacks, is great fun for
the entertainment. The entertainers are on stilts so you can see
them form any point int he restaurant. It's all set to Jimmy Buffet music and the
highpoint is when the very realistic volcano erupts.
Jimmy's is the spot to visit for steaks and
seafood and very upscale dining. It is much more sedately
decorated than the rest of the resort and there are no erupting
volcanoes here but the food is wonderful./p>
Rooms: 354 Price Range: $79-$219
Suites:
36 Price Range: $319-$589
Restaurants: 5 Liquor: Yes
Buffets: B- $9.95
L- $14.99/$25.95 (Saturday-Sunday) D-
$25.95
Casino Size: 26,624
Games Offered: Slots, Video
Poker, Video keno, Blackjack, Craps, Roulette, Mini-Baccarat,
Four Card Poker, Three Card Poker, Let It Ride, Mississippi Stud
Overnight RV Parking: Yes/RV Dump: No
http://www.margaritavillebossiercity.com/
Horseshoe Casino in Bossier City
When we visited the Horseshoe Casino, Dee,
one of the managers, took us around for a tour. She told us that
the hotel usually has 100% occupancy.
She also told me that
room rates have run as low as $35 a night.
You couldn't beat that
price at a low level chain motel.
The 26 floor is penthouse and used for
special guest (translate High Rollers). This floor has its own
butler service. For those who do play, a reward card helps cut
rates. However, Dee said, "We do get a lot of people who are not
players at all. We have a very family friendly atmosphere. We
have shopping. We have a buffet and the Outlet Mall is right
next door."
They offer a separate pool for adults, The
Dare Pool. If you crave more nightlife, there are two
nightspots, The Whiskey Roadhouse for bar atmosphere and a band.
Riverdome proudly presents intimate concert performances. The
Riverdome is one of the top concert venues not only for the
casino but all of Shreveport/Bossier city. It brings in some of
the biggest names in country, blues and rock.
Suites: 606 Price Range: $69-$555br>
Restaurants: 3 Valet Parking: Freebr>Buffets: L- $16.50/$24.50
(Friday)
D- $21.50/$26.50 (Friday)
Casino Size: 28,095
Square Feet
Games Offered: Slots, Video Poker, Blackjack,
Craps, Roulette, Mini-Baccarat, Baccarat, Poker, Caribbean Stud
Poker, Three Card Poker, Four Card Poker, Let it Ride
Overnight RV Parking: Free/RV Dump: No
Senior Discount: 10%
buffet discount if 55+
Special Features: 2,930-passenger
paddle wheeler on the Red River. Affiliated with Harrah's.
http://www.horseshoebossiercity.com
Sam's Town Casino in
Shreveport
Sam's gives the feeling of being outdoors
even inside. It is beautifully lit. i>Southern Gaming and
Destinations awarded this casino "Best of Readers' Choice
Awards" for Best Dealers & Slot Attendants, as well as BBest
Players Club.
Like the other casinos, the food choices range from the International
Buffet to William B's Steakhouse. Their Sam's Town Live
offers local bands mainly. It's not the newest casino around but
the rooms are spacious and reasonable, the food is good and the
fu n is non-stop..
Sams has a nice variety of shops onsite andspan style="mso-bidi-font-style:
italic"> they are close to downtown and all that Shreveport has to offer.
Rooms: 514 Price Range: $61-$180
Restaurants: 4 Valet Parking: Freebr>Buffet: B/L- $14.99
(Saturday-Sunday only)
D-$16.99/$22.99 (Friday/Saturday)
Casino Size: 29,194 Square Feet
Games Offered: Slots, Video
Poker, Blackjack, Craps, Roulette, Mini-Baccarat, Let It Ride,
Three Card Poker
Overnight RV Parking: No
Special
Features: 1,650-passenger paddle wheeler on the Red River.
http://www.samstownshreveport.com
Harrah's Louisiana Downs
in Bossier City
Louisiana Down's is unique in that it is a
"Racino" or combination casino and racetrack. It has no hotel
itself but Springhill Suites is located on the grounds.
Surprisingly their rates seem a bit higher than most of the
casinos nearby with rooms at $89 and suites at $99. Restaurants: 5 br>Valet Parking: Free
Casino Size: 11,967 Square Feet
Games Offered: Slots only, no
video poker offered
Overnight RV Parking: Free/RV Dump: No
Senior Discount: Various Tuesdays if 50 or older
Special
Features: Live thoroughbred racing (Thursday-Sunday) May through
early October.
Live quarter-horse racing (Saturday-Wednesday) late October through mid-September. Daily
simulcasting of horse racing.
https://www.caesars.com/harrahs-louisiana-downs/
Harrah's Casino in New Orleans
For some obscure political reason, Harrah's
in New Orleans is exempt from the "be on the water" rule. It is
a huge facility located near the Mississippi River on Canal
Street. It provides wonderful access without having to drive and
deal with parking. (That is no fun in New Orleans) You can walk
to the French Quarter; catch a streetcar to the Garden District,
Irish Channel or Audubon Park; or take a public bus to anywhere
else in town at an extremely reasonable rate.
This place is huge; you could fit two or
even three of any of the other casinos in this one and have room
left over. The hotel is in a separate building. I was there with
my brother and sister-in-law, Jerry and Mae Lin. Mae Lin led me
thorough the casino and into the hotel through a beautiful
little courtyard called Musical Legend's Park with statures of
Al Hirt, Fats Domino and Pete Fountain. Suites: 450 Price Range: $180-$335br>
Restaurants: 4
Buffet: B/L- $15.99/$33.99 (Saturday-Sunday)
D- $21.99/$33.99 (Thursday-Saturday)/$23.99 (Sunday)
Valet
Parking: $10 first two hours/$5 for each additional two
hours/$25 maximum (Free for Diamond and Platinum members)
Casino Size: 125,119 Square Feet
Games Offered: Slots, Video
Poker, Blackjack, Craps, Roulette, Mini-Baccarat, Pai Gow Poker,
Caribbean Stud Poker, Let it Ride, Three Card Poker, Four Card
Poker, Big Six Wheel, Baccarat, Ultimate Texas Hold 'Em
Overnight RV Parking: No
Special Features: Land based casino.
Five themed gaming areas. Fast food court. Daily live jazz
music. Self-parking costs $5 to $25 depending on length of stay.
Slot club members playing for minimum of 30 minutes can get
validated for up to 24 hours of free parking.
https://www.caesars.com/harrahs-new-orleans/casino
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