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Boston to Foxwoods or Mohegan Sun - which is closer, better?

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Boston to Foxwoods or Mohegan Sun - which is closer, better?

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Old Mar 12th, 2002, 08:52 AM
  #1  
gambler
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Boston to Foxwoods or Mohegan Sun - which is closer, better?

Hi, I'm interested in making a day trip to either Foxwoods or Mohegan Sun from Boston. I would have gone to Foxwoods so that my girlfriend could enjoy the spa, but the spa is 1) quite expensive and 2) totally booked except for a few undesireable times. Thus, we're open to going to either casino. To help me make my decision, I'd like to know a few things:

* Which casino is closer to Boston, and which route should I take to get there?

* Which casino has the better sports book?

* Which casino has the better activities for the non-gambler (my girlfriend), who will likely get sick of watching me gamble after about 1 hour? Arcades, movies, shopping are all attractive options.

* Which casino offers more favorable blackjack tables? Lower minimum bets (I prefer low stakes $5/10 BJ tables, and typically don't like to play $25 hands)

* Which casino has the best slots?

* Which casino has a great romantic restaurant in the $20-25 entre range that we can enjoy, that takes reservations?

Anything else to help me make my decision would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks!
 
Old Mar 12th, 2002, 10:57 AM
  #2  
Leslie
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Both casinos are very close to each other. I'm not a gambler, so I can't comment on most of your other questions. But, I do have a friend that plays blackjack, and the stakes you mentioned are available at both casinos. I haven't been to Mohegan Sun, but I can tell you that Foxwoods, does have shopping, but there isn't a lot of it, nor is there a movie theatre. There are shows, but you need to check in advance to find out which stars are performing. There are some nice restaurants but nothing spectacular.

I guess what I am saying is that if you're looking for something like Atlantic City or Las Vegas, you won't find it at either Foxwoods or Mohegan Sun.

 
Old Mar 12th, 2002, 11:40 AM
  #3  
gambler
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Thanks. I had read elsewhere on this forum that Mohegan and Foxwoods are about 20 miles apart. Since I definitely am going to CT from Boston, I am thinking that I will go to the closest one unless one of them is significantly better according to my questions above.

For the record, I've been to LV, AC, and Foxwoods - although Foxwoods was YEARS ago. We're a couple in mid-late 20s.
 
Old Mar 12th, 2002, 11:43 AM
  #4  
Pamela
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I haven't been to Mohegan Sun, but I have been to Foxwoods. From what I understand, Foxwoods has a lot more, but it is more crowded than Mohegan Sun.

By the way, the blackjack tables at Foxwoods raise their minimums as the day goes on. You can find $5/$10 tables early in the day, but come late afternoon/early evening, you'd be hard pressed to find anything under a $25 minimum.

Foxwoods is cool, but it doesn't compare to Vegas. The thing with Vegas is that there is so much competition that everything is resonably priced. At Foxwoods, even the fast food is outrageously priced.

Still, it's a fun, short trip. Have a great time no matter which casino you go to.
Good luck!
 
Old Mar 12th, 2002, 03:34 PM
  #5  
Postal
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I went to both places back in September (hard to believe they're 20 miles apart, seems a lot closer) and wasn't pleased with the slots at either. After barely breaking even at both casinos, I went back to Newport, RI, where I was staying on business, played a few video slots at the local jai-alai place, and won $300 right away! I guess I wasted my money driving to Connecticut.
 
Old Mar 12th, 2002, 04:14 PM
  #6  
Jason
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I made the same day trip when I was in Boston in January. We stopped at Foxwoods first. It is a huge place (I think it is the largest casino in the world). There are actually two or three separate casinos within the resort. We were there MLK weekend, so it was very crowded. We could not find any blackjack under $25, so we went to Mohegan Sun (which is only 5 or 10 minutes away, not 20 miles). Mohegan sun was very nice too. It was not as crowded as Foxwoods, so I liked it better. Mohegan Sun had two separate casinos and many restaurants. I suggest you stop at Foxwoods and check it out. If it doesn't have what you want, continue the 5 or so minutes down the road to Mohegan Sun.
 
Old Mar 12th, 2002, 05:22 PM
  #7  
gamblin
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Hi, I have been to both.Foxwoods has a beautiful hotel , the rooms are very nice,the gambling is awful.
Mohegan Sun is a little more fun, the slots are iffy, Bingo can be fun.
NOne of the restaurants are very good, and the shopping is awful.
AC is better if you want to drive, nothing is as good as Las Vegas.
 
Old Apr 9th, 2002, 12:07 PM
  #8  
Jenny
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Foxwoods may be a bit closer, but Mohegan is my fav...they have just finished a billion dollar expansion which features a whole new wing of the casino - just like shopping in Vegas...some really great nostalgic shops/jewelry/music/clothes, etc... In addition, they have added a slew of great restaurants including Michael Jordan's restaurant, Tuscany (Todd English - famous Boston chef), Jasper WHite's Summer SHack and a new BBQ restaurant called Big Bubbas...can't go wrong. Foxwoods is also impressive, but Mohegan has a lot more to offer than just gambling...Have a drink at the bar under the waterfall - very refreshing! enjoy...

- Jenny
 
Old Apr 9th, 2002, 12:08 PM
  #9  
Jenny
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Foxwoods may be a bit closer, but Mohegan is my fav...they have just finished a billion dollar expansion which features a whole new wing of the casino - just like shopping in Vegas...some really great nostalgic shops/jewelry/music/clothes, etc... In addition, they have added a slew of great restaurants including Michael Jordan's restaurant, Tuscany (Todd English - famous Boston chef), Jasper WHite's Summer SHack and a new BBQ restaurant called Big Bubbas...can't go wrong. Foxwoods is also impressive, but Mohegan has a lot more to offer than just gambling...Have a drink at the bar under the waterfall - very refreshing! enjoy...

Hey - for your girlfriend - the new hotel should be open next month with a brand new spa - Elemis!

- Jenny
 
Old Apr 9th, 2002, 12:52 PM
  #10  
Geoff
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There are several things that need to be cleared up here. Since I have done work at both casinos, the distance, casino to casino is 16.4 miles. Anyone that thinks it's 5 minutes between them on back road like Route 2 is not realistic. It takes about 20 minutes give or take depending on the lights. However, if you were coming from Boston and compared to whether you kept going on 395 to going down Route 2, then there is only probably a 10 min. difference in drive time. (which assumes you're going to one casino, not stopping at one and going to the other)

Sorry for who ever was trying to say one slot was better than the other. The CT gaming commission mandates the exact pay out. The casinos pay out at the same rates.

That said, MS is definitely less crowded than FW. Reserve your time slot if you want to play the table games, the big business at both is their slots.

MS is just catching up to FW in terms of restaurants. They are expensive at FW as mentioned, but not inordinately so. (a couple of lunches you might expect at $15-18 might be $20-22) MS is not going to be much better. Don't go for what looks like it's cheap - it's really the same food as other places. Go for the in between restaurants and they will be little more than the cafeteria style food. The one place that sounds like your romantic restaurant is Cedars Steak House at FW. It's the priceiest of the lot, it's very nice, but I think the food is not worth the money. They do take reservations, and I think you're right at the edge of the price range. (might be more like $30 than $25) I like Italian downstairs from the Grand Pequot at FW personally. Just stay well away from the buffet at FW.

For shopping the best bet is actually for you to gamble at FW and send the girlfriend to Mystic, south of there. Arcades are about the same, FW does actually show movies but kiddie stuff to keep them occupied at special times. (weekends, summers, etc) The theater is mostly for shows as stated, but they use it for other things.
 
Old Apr 12th, 2002, 09:35 AM
  #11  
Greggism
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For a great SPA in the area of the casinos, try the Marriott Hotel and Spa in Groton. It's about 15 minutes from either casino and the Spa is really nice.
 
Old Apr 12th, 2002, 12:25 PM
  #12  
Ann
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If your girlfriend would be at all interested, Foxwoods has a wonderful museum of Native American history. It's on the property but there is a shuttle bus from the casino as it's not attached. It's first rate and she could spend many hours there.
 
Old May 27th, 2002, 02:03 PM
  #13  
ttt
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Any updates?
 
Old May 28th, 2002, 02:34 PM
  #14  
Jesse
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Hi,
Just returned from one week at Conn. Shore. Tons of things to do and see in the area. My wife went out on excursions everyday. Foxwoods is crowded, the slot were breaking all day, people getting into shoving matches and at night fights. The gaming tables kept raising the minimums as the crowds increased. After 3:00pm they were all up to mini. $25.00. Go into the smoke free casino, it is not so crowded or out of control. Also it was hot in the casino. We stayed at Mohegan Sun for 3 nights the room was wonderful. They have buttons to notify housekeeping if you want the room cleaned or turn down service. Room service for breakfast was non existent. We waited and it never came, so we called and canceled. The woman thanked us, they were understaffed and overbooked. The bellman were great any time we got lost thye directed us. Security did not know there were more than one casino or a Michael Jordan restaurant. My wife loved the shopping and restaurants here. Again gamble early before the crowds and craziness take over. Neither hotel had any name entertainment. Foxwoods' restaurants were over priced. $4.00 for a single scoop ice cream cone. Mohegan Sun has a better range of restaurant selection and prices. We ate at the BBQ and seafood restaurants twice. We spent 4 days at the Marriott(the franchise is owned by the same corporation that manages Mohegan Sun). Marriott just has to get their act together. The spa is run by Elizabeth Arden. I wanted a massage and they acted, like a man had never requested a massage before. It was suppose to be one hour, she left the room for twenty minutes for an "emergency phone call" and came back and told me it was done. The spa did nothing but the front desk rebooked another masssage for one hour for free. The rooms were nice. The housekeeping staff needs training, one day our room was never cleaned. We called up and the woman insisted it was cleaned. She came up with attitude then kept complaining about the "lazy day staff." Another night we came back and everything was cleaned except the bed had been stripped of sheets and never remade. The breakfast buffet is excellent. Dinner room service was again a mistake. My wife did not get her steak, she got someone else's fish. When she finally got "her steak" it had been cut and doused with catsup. We cancelled and went out. They gave us a free dinner at the Octagon it was very good. Kids are a problem. The hotel is beautiful, yet these families with kids have them running in the hall screamming at all hours. The hotel has a shuttle to the Mohegan Sun, so they leave the kids at the hotel and tell them to stay in the room. Or tell them to go down to the pool, so they can sleep. A couple at dinner told us they threatened to call the police before the hotel tracked the parents down at the casino and told them to return. The kids were having Chair races in the hall. I've seen these casinos, I'll stick to Las Vegas or Atlantic City
 
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