Hello htty

Sorry, but I can't compare the two cities.

However, if you decide on Biloxi, I can at least give a positive review of the Hard Rock Casino Hotel. We stayed there twice in December, on our way to and from Orlando.

The room was really lovely. Ours had a king bed (so many pillows!) flat screen TV, easy chair, nice view of the gulf (we were upgraded), huge shower, and coffee maker in the room.

We had dinner at their buffet, only $10, but halfprice when you fill out one of their casino club cards. There were crab legs, roast beef, lots of fish, Asian dishes, cajun, soups (delicious gumbo), and of course salads and desserts.

There's several other places to eat (Hard Rock Cafe, an upscale restaurant, smaller cafe, as well as a Starbuck's and Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream).

Lots of Rock 'n Roll memorobilia around the hotel, and the casino was -- well, I'm not a gambler but it seemed busy enough. Smokey as heck, but I guess they all are.

Lots of rebuilding going on in the area, but still quite a number of empty lots. The beach looked nice and large, and there was a boardwalk you could use. It was freezing rain when we were there, so we didn't go to the beach.

Happy travels!

You don't say when you are going, so this may be too late . . .

but Biloxi has more going on for the typical tourist. There are 8 casinos in Biloxi, all with multiple restaurants attached. Gulfport has one casino, which does have a good restaurant (Emeril's), but it's not that far of a drive even if you stay in Biloxi.

Thanks for the suggestions.

We will be driving from Tallahassee to New Orleans and we are thinking that rather than do it as a straight shot on Highway 10 it would be fun to drive as close as the Gulf as possible through Carrabelle, Eastpoint, Apalachicola, Panama City, Miramar Beach, and Forth Walton Beach to Pensacola. What do you think? We have been to Tallahassee and New Orleans before but never to any of the places between these two cities.

It would take awhile (possibly a long while if you are talking about summertime), but you could take 98 through FL to 90 through AL and MS all the way into New Orleans. 98 meets 90 just before Mobile Bay.

When highway 90 goes through MS it is right along the beach almost the whole way. It would be an interesting (and possibly eye-opening) trip through MS and LA.

PS - If you do spend the night in Biloxi, I second the recommendation for the Hard Rock hotel. It's next door to the (supposedly fancier) Beau Rivage, but I prefer the HR. The bed is super comfortable and I love the deluxe spa shower.

If you are over 50, you might prefer the BR though, because the Hard Rock casino does blast thumping rock music 24/7 (the rooms are quiet of course, but the music fills the rest of the property, along with the rock memorabilia).

Going to Biloxi in mid-March, staying at Grand Biloxi and have a few questions.

Any good restaurant suggestions? My friend already picked a seafood place called Old Schooner.

Also, has anyone been to the Prospect Lounge? It looks like just the kind of local "dive" bar I like.

And, of course, any thoughts on casinos with good slots?

jayne1973 - I assume you are referring to the Ole Biloxi Schooner, and that's basically a diner, with good poboys and stuff like that. I like it for what it is, but don't expect an upscale place.

If you want to get out of the casinos, local favorites you might want to check out are the Blowfly Inn and Lookout 49 (both in Gulfport) and The Shed in Ocean Springs (great BBQ, very much a "dive" sort of place).

I've never heard of Prospect Lounge, so I can't help you on that one.

For slots, the Beau will offer the largest selection. I also like the Hard Rock next door. The Grand is ok, but small.

Thanks, cheryllj. This is great information. I am going to check out the Blowfly and Lookout 49.

Another place you might want to try is the High Cotton Grill, which serves big plates of seafood at decent prices.

It has two locations, one in Gulfport, but the D'Iberville location is much closer to the casinos. It's in a shopping center at the Biloxi exit off I-10. It's across from a Wal-mart but don't hold that it against it.

www.highcottongrill.com

High Cotton Grill also looks good-- thanks.

Biloxi is not a place that I would volunteer to go again. However if I did I would have to eat at Mary Mahoney's. Mmmmmm.

Yes I saw Mary Mahoney's on Tripadvisor. I have never been to Biloxi-- what didn't you like about it, parmettoprincess?

I was looking for a nice restuarant in or near Biloxi to purchase a gift certificate as a Christmas Gift. At first Mary Mahoney's was looing good, but the more recent reviews are looking pretty bad. OAny other sugestions?

No one?

I suggest 32 Restaurant at I P Casino in Biloxi. It's the finest restaurant in Biloxi.

32 Restaurant @ 850 Bayview Ave., Biloxi, MS 228 - 432 - 3232.
http://www.ipbiloxi.com/dine/THIRTYTWO/OVERVIEW/tabid/119/Default.aspx

I P Casino Resort and Spa @ 850 Bayview Avenue, Biloxi, MS 228 - 436 - 3000.
http://www.ipbiloxi.com/

You could also buy a gift certificate at the spa.

Thank you for the sugestions, but unfortunately I P Casino will no longer sell gift certificates over the phone.

I ABSOLUTELY love Biloxi. And Mary Mahoney's is an experience for breakfast, lunch or dinner. All different too. That is hard to describe.

We LOVED it. And will to return to Biloxi for 3 or 4 reasons. But the first one is Mary Mahoney's.

We had breakfast one day with the locals at a regular's birthday party. The history of that place is considerable.