Going to Tunica in May... any suggestions?

[Pocket10sMedic]

I'm taking a road trip with my girlfriend down to Tunica the first week in May. We'll be staying Mon - Thurs

My question is, does anyone have any suggestions about hotels (i.e. Poker Room Rates, etc.), food, entertainment...

We plan on having a night in Memphis on Beale Street and etc..

Any other ideas or tips?

TIA

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[James Boston]

Horseshoe or Goldstrike (they're side by side)

[Dentist]

i'm doing this exact trip in 2 weeks.

I'll make sure to post my trip report

[RunDownHouse]

Echoing Goldstrike or Shoe, and the Sheraton is ok since its next to those two. Do a search on this forum for more details, but everything is super spread out there, so those three being together is huge.

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Any other ideas or tips?

[/ QUOTE ]
Don't try hitch-hiking between casinos, no matter how adamant you are that you won't wait for the shuttle.

[Overdrive]

[ QUOTE ]
I'm taking a road trip with my girlfriend down to Tunica the first week in May. We'll be staying Mon - Thurs

My question is, does anyone have any suggestions about hotels (i.e. Poker Room Rates, etc.), food, entertainment...

We plan on having a night in Memphis on Beale Street and etc..

Any other ideas or tips?

TIA

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In the latest issue of Bluff magazine Doyle Brunson said the Horeshoe buffet in Tunica was the best buffet he has ever eaten anywhere. And we all know Doyle likes food as much as he likes poker.

[MicroBob]

I took my GF to Tunica for the first time ever last week (we live in Memphis).
She doesn't know how to play any of the games and doesn't really care. We just hung out and drank while playing BJ or roulette and stayed at the Gold Strike.

We hit the Horseshoe Buffet at around 12p or so and she couldn't believe it. She has plans of bringing her grandfather there just fo rthe buffet because evidently he's a big buffet guy.

Had no idea that Doyle had rated it so highly. Always thought there's no way it could ever possibly compete with the awesome Vegas buffets you hear about.


The steak-houses at Horseshoe and Gold strike are both worthwhile.


Gold Strike hotel rooms are pretty good (not spectacular...but pretty nice for the money) and if you get the poker-rate you'll be rockin'.


There are about a zillion threads on here the past few months on Tunica and Memphis. Most of them include extended commentaries from yours-truly. Do a search. Shouldn't be too hard to find.


Beale St is generally REALLY dead from Monday through Wednesday and might have a slightly better pulse on Thursday.
However...this might be different when you come down because the Memphis in May music festival will be starting up that Friday i believe (not sure which weekend it falls on this year). Lots of rock and blues bands on 4 or 5 stages on Mud Island (kind of near Beale Street....but the partying and drinking spills over to Beale to be sure).

If you are interested...you may want to look into staying for the fesitval Friday or Saturday ...although I'm not sure what acts they have coming this year.
It typically ranges from Jon Maier to Journey to Watermelon Slim to George Clinton etc etc and probably is bigger than all other memphis music events combined.

not sure if that means Beale will be more busy the Thurs you are there or not because the festival will not have officially started yet.


Obviously Graceland and Sun Studios are popular attractions. Neither are walking distance from Beale though.

for poker...Horseshoe and GoldStrike ahve the best games.


I recommend the 'wet' ribs at Blues City Cafe over the 'dry' ribs at the Rendezvous. Many swear by the Rendezvous but I don't like it as much.

[Chipr777]

When you get into town I'm the swing shift floorperson at Horseshoe (4:30pm-12:30am) on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Sat, Sun, and Mon I deal. Look me up when you get to town. My names Todd. We spread 1-5 stud, 4-8, 10-20, 20-40 hold 'em, 4-8 Omaha H/L, and 10-25 PLO on a regular basis. We also have a 7pm tourney on Mondays and Thursdays. $65 buy in with $40 re-buys. 1st place is always around $5000. Sign-ups start at 5pm for players that are in live games. It ALWAYS fills up from the players in live games so if you want to play I recomend getting in a live game around 4 or so. I can help with with whatever you need in Tunica. Our Buffet is one of the best in the country hands down. If your playing any poker, and I'm sure you will be, don't pay for the buffet! We comp everyone that plays.

[wray]

I'd consider making the hotel reservations now. I believe that is the music fest weekend. I havn't been to music fest in two years but it is always an awesome time IMHO. I've seen Incubus, Willie Nelson, Creed, Green Day and many other very popular bands.

Beale Street is going to be hopping every night during that time. So if you're into loud bars and a bunch of drunk people head that way. There's a "Peabody Pleace mall" about 1 block north of Beale St. There's some decent places to eat and a Jillians there. Jillians has bowling, a bunch of TV's with all the sports on em and many video games. Kinda like a big boys arcade.(oh ya a 22 screen theatre with an IMAX one too)

As far as Tunica itself the Horseshoe and Gold Strike are great. As you can see from Todd the people at the Shoe are excellent. The Monday and Thursday tournaments are great.

GL

[pokerswami]

Take note that the only things mentioned re. Tunica so far in this thread are casinos and the 'shoe buffet.

That's because the only things in and around the casino area of Tunica County, Miss. are casinos and cotton fields. Each of the major casinos has entertainment venue(s). However, they are not always in use, especially weekdays.

In other words, you may luck out and find something for your girlfriend to do in Miss. without you, but don't bet on it. If you plan to play poker for a long period there won't be much of anything for her to do except gamble. If you're looking for entertainment that doesn't involve casinos, it will have to be in Memphis or your bedroom. /images/graemlins/smirk.gif

[steamboatin]

When we go to Tunica, we bring one of my wife's buddies, they go do whatever and I play poker undisturbed.

[tylerdurden]

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the only things in and around the casino area of Tunica County, Miss. are casinos and cotton fields.

[/ QUOTE ]

You forgot the Kudzu. Also there's a gas station and a pawn shop.

[RacersEdge]

How about the golf courses in Tunica? Anyone have any experience playing them? Can your poker play comp you a greens fee?

[Pocket10sMedic]

The sad thing about it is, we both play... both of us play Low/Mid Limit at Caesars in Indiana.

So she wants nothing more than to play.... she's actually the one who brought up the trip.

I love it

Thanks for all the responses so far... any other ideas, keep 'em coming!

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[Pocket10sMedic]

Todd,

Any clue on the qualifications to get a Poker Rate? We both play Low/Mid Limit and that's really all we do... LOL

I appreciate your hospitality and will definitely look you up when we head down.

Ben /images/graemlins/diamond.gif

[tylerdurden]

It's either 5 or 6 hours of play (at any limit) on the weekends to get the poker rate at grand, horseshoe, and goldstrike. It might even be less during the week. They're not very anal about it, either. Just tell the floor that you're in the hotel when you arrive in the poker room.

[wray]

[ QUOTE ]
How about the golf courses in Tunica? Anyone have any experience playing them? Can your poker play comp you a greens fee?

[/ QUOTE ]

Green fee's at the Grand are about 125 I believe. I don't think they comp that out unless you're high limit. There's not a course at the Shoe but they may have connections to get it for you.

[steamboatin]

Hey, I play at Caesar's IN, let me know next time you play and if I am around, I'll stop and say hello.

[Chipr777]

Give Carol Lambert a call. 800-303-7463. Tell her when your coming in and that your intersted in a poker rate. When you get to the poker room give your card to the floorman and make sure you tell him that your playing for a poker rate. This is the ONLY reason we rate play. If your not in the hotel there's no reason to ever check in. See you when you get to town.

[tylerdurden]

[ QUOTE ]
This is the ONLY reason we rate play. If your not in the hotel there's no reason to ever check in. See you when you get to town.

[/ QUOTE ]

Every time I've ordered a burger from the snack bar at the horseshoe when I'm not staying in the hotel, I've had to give the floor my player's card. This is probably for corporate bureaucratic reasons, though... they don't care if I am playing untracked for 12 hours then check in to get a sandwich then leave.

[wray]

I've NEVER checked in at the Shoe and every time I ask for a comp they ask for my card.

[MicroBob]

I agree with most everything in this thread...

except I don't think there's going to be much going on during the Memphis in May music-festival Mon-Thu.

The festival pretty much is Fri-Sun.

I could be wrong on this though....last 2 years I have had plans on going and didn't get around to it....so I have actually never been.

Last year was because it was raining and I saw some of the stories on the TV news and it was a freaking Woodstock-type mud-fest. My GF and I said "no thanks."

Anyway....even with my lack of experience there...I was pretty sure that nothing is really happening Mon-Thu and that the misuc-fest is Fri-Sun only.


Some radio station was announcing last week that the line-up was coming out LAST Thursday. I didn't happen to catch what bands were on the line-up....but since it's been officially announced now I know that info has to be out there somewhere.

[Pocket10sMedic]

I am up there almost every off night... and sometimes during the day.

Just look for the big young guy with the Colts hat.

You can't miss me ;-)

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[MicroBob]

Okay - I was looking it up and evidently the Memphis in May line-up isn't going to be officially announced until THIS thursday (thought it was LAST Thurs).

http://www.thebealestreetmusicfestival.com/

also memphisinmay.com


here's some random info


Apr 29 - May 1
Three magical days. Four big stages on thirty-three acres. One outrageous party.

May 6 - 7
The whole family will love this cultural celebration honoring Ireland.

May 12 - 14
Three stuffed days of smoked heaven. It's the Super Bowl of Swine.

May 28
Memphis Symphony Orchestra on the river bank: an all-time family favorite.




Over 60 acts on 4 stages in scenic Tom Lee Park

Past performers include these legends: B.B. King, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Ray Charles, Beck, Van Morrison, ZZ Top, Al Green, Dave Matthew's Band, John Lee Hooker, Sammy Haggar, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Styx, Charlie Daniels, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Kansas, Cheap Trick, Creed, Collective Soul, Peter Frampton, Sheryl Crow, Booker T & the MG's, Ablert King, Widespread Panic, Etta James, Bob Dylan, James Brown, Bonnie Raitt, Wilson Pickett, Hootie and the Blowfish, James Cotton, Blues Traveler, Bobby Blue Bland, Black Crowes, Ziggy Marley, the Allman Brothers Band, The Offspring, Saliva, Puddle Of Mud, and many more.
The festival celebrates Memphis Music and in '99 offered a tribute to Stax Records performers - Eddie Floyd, the Bar-Kays, Wilson Pickett and Booker T and the MG's. There was also a salute to Sun Records with performers Billy Lee Riley and the Sun Allstars!

Yet even as The Beale Street Music Festival centers around music there certainly is much much more to this microcosm on the Mississippi. Everywhere you look there is much to see, taste, smell, hear and DO! Street venders offer some of the finest varieties of worldly and ethnic cuisines from grilled corn on the cob to gyros, from pronto pups to authentic Italian sausages to "deep fried" hamburgers at Dyer's to the best Cajun crab cakes this writer has ever experienced at the King's Palace cafe! Then there's the BBQ, mmmm.... Memphis is home to the World championship BBQ cookoff, so to say Memphis knows it's BBQ is an understatement! THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS AUTHENTIC BBQ OUTSIDE OF MEMPHIS!

[trainslayer]

[ QUOTE ]
Last year was because it was raining and I saw some of the stories on the TV news and it was a freaking Woodstock-type mud-fest. My GF and I said "no thanks."



[/ QUOTE ]

Best friggin show I ever saw was Beale St. festival -- Stevie Ray and Ray Charles -- in the rain. /images/graemlins/cool.gif

I like the Grand poker room, like playin BJ at Hollywood (always seem to do good there), if you smoke, Sam's town poker room is smoking.

[youtalkfunny]

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Last year...it was raining...

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It rains on this festival EVERY year! It's like the Pebble Beach Pro-Am--one year in ten, sunny weather!

[Jim Kuhn]

The GoldStrike has a great indoor pool, hot tub, sauna and fitness center. There is also a very nice mall within two miles of the GoldStrike Horseshoe Casinos. The Horseshoe has never asked for my players card for the Deli. I think you just order from the 'runner' in the poker room (don't forget to tip her).

Thank you,

Jim Kuhn
Catfish4u
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