Grand Casino Veranda: "Thank you and have a grand day!"
Written: Feb 17 '02 (Updated Feb 18 '02)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Comfortable rooms, free shuttle to the casino, can often get comped
Cons: No restaurant in the hotel, often full on Friday and Saturday
The Bottom Line: Great -- or should I say grand -- weekend escape. Good service, nice rooms, plenty of gambling, golf and entertainment opportunities nearby. Gamble enough and you can get comps.
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This hotel is part of the Grand Casino complex in Tunica, MS, and my second favorite of the three hotel towers. Set in the midst of a huge parking area, adjacent to the Convention Center,overlooking the Cottonwoods Golf Course, the Grand Veranda is a nice hotel with 586 rooms and suites. The hotel staff is friendly and helpful, with bell service readily offered upon your arrival. "Thank you and have a grand day!" is a phrase you will hear quite often during your visit.
I have stayed here many times. Once on business (we had a large sales meeting here) and many times for my gambling pleasure. Often I have been lucky enough to have these rooms comped. Perhaps I should say unlucky enough... since I got the free rooms based on how much money I lost, I mean gambled, at the Grand Casino. It is a very large casino with lots of slots, tables, and several restaurants.
Lobby
The lobby area is very open, with the registration area to the right and concierge to the left. Valet parking is available and highly encouraged (by me)... they have a huge parking lot.
There is a large fireplace in the lobby, adjacent to the bar. It almost has the feel of a ski lodge without the snow.
You will also find a gift shop with Grand-related souvenirs and miscellaneous items and toiletries, as well a small snack bar where you can buy beverages,sandwiches, salads, and breakfast pastries. We usually buy a couple of the poppyseed muffins to have for breakfast -- they are delicious and huge!
There is not a restaurant in the hotel. The restaurants are located in the casino, which is w-a-a-a-y across the street. There is a shuttle running regularly between the hotel and the casino.
Rooms
The rooms are a nice size, some larger than others. I have stayed in a room with two queen beds, as well as some with king size beds. They are decorated in blue stripes and florals and the washed look furniture contributes to the airy feel. There is an armoire, with television (includes HBO and pay movies), a desk and chair, as well as side chairs. The rooms are always very clean and fresh.
The bathrooms are nice enough, with very basic Grand-labeled toiletries included. There are plenty of towels (not great ones, but they're okay). Just beware that the water in Tunica/Robinsonville is very soft. I just never feel really clean, like the soap has been washed away.
Extras
There is an exercise room, Jacuzzi, and sauna. The hotel also has a large outdoor pool. It looks great from the room, but I never gone swimming. Those slots are just too tempting. The only thing that can lure me away from them in the Bellissimo Spa (located in the Grand Terrace hotel).
Cottonwoods Golf Course
This is a very pretty course with three lakes and lots of rolling greens. You can see much of the course as you drive through the Grand complex. For his birthday I treated my husband to a day of golf lessons here and a round of golf the next day. I joined him for lunch at the clubhouse (yes, I tore myself away from the slots). He thoroughly enjoyed playing this challenging course.
The course is 7,200 yards long and is a par 72. Green fees for hotel guests are $79 (weekdays) and $93 (weekends). This is considerably less than you will pay if you are not a hotel guest. (About $30-35 more for non-guests.)
Kids Quest & Grand Arcade
If you decide to bring your children, the Kids Quest is an activity center for children from 6 weeks to 12 years. I've had friends who brought their children and they were impressed at the supervision/security and the facilities.
There is also an arcade to entertain the teens.
This complex is located between the Grand Veranda and Grand Terrace hotels. The shuttle will stop here for you, as well.
Convention Center
The convention center is right next door to the Veranda. It has several meeting rooms, as well as a large auditorium area that can accommodate meetings, concerts and events (up to 2500 people). They will sometimes have well-known entertainers performing here and there are quite a few conferences held here, as well.
Definitely Recommended
I do recommend this hotel as a fun weekend getaway. You will find very comfortable rooms, good service, free shuttle to the casino and other Grand facilities, and maybe have the opportunity to take in a show.
The best deals can be found on Sunday-Thursday nights. The rooms are normally $59 during the week and $99 on the weekends. They are usually completely full on the weekends, so you need to plan in advance and make your reservations early. Check-in time is 4pm and it can be quite busy during that time frame.
Have a Grand stay and good luck at the casino!
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
diverpam
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Member: Pam
Location: Collierville, TN
Reviews written: 263
Trusted by: 351 members
About Me:
~~~~So many oceans...so little time!~~~~
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