| mystery
tourist |
Big
Easy Bargains
The Orleans offers Mardi Gras style with classic
Vegas value |
Often
in the pages of Casino Player, we tell you of the great values to
be found off the Strip, in what are known as the “locals”
casinos. Many are only minutes from the megaresorts, but offer far
more bang for your buck.
The Orleans,
just a couple of miles from the Strip on Tropicana Ave., is a perfect
example.
Owned
by Coast Resorts, which also operates the Gold Coast and Barbary
Coast casinos in Las Vegas, The Orleans is a high-energy heaven
for low- to mid-rollers looking for great slots, video poker, and
a variety of entertainment.
I checked
into a standard room mid-week for just $44. What I received for
that $44 bowled me over.
First,
they gave me a funbook filled with some pretty decent coupons: 1,000
free slot club bonus points for signing up; $5 in free coin for
buying $15 worth; $1 match play on a six-spot keno ticket; plus
several discounts and coupons redeemable at the Gold Coast and Barbary
Coast.
As a whole,
the property is a blast of Cajun color. Bright Mardi Gras hues and
a New Orleans street façade adorn the casino. It works well
on the gaming floor, but I was concerned the rooms would be just
as loud.
I needn’t
have worried. These rooms are a testament to good design. The décor
is French Country, and the layout is both expansive and well planned.
Normally, when you walk into a hotel room, the first thing you encounter
is the bathroom. Not here. This room opens directly into a large,
airy space. Honey oak furniture, a brass headboard and a lovely
floral bedspread and window treatment cheerfully greet you. Beyond
the bed, tucked into a separate nook near the window, is a seating
area, complete with a rolled-armed couch, oversized chair and coffee
table. On the wall above the desk, two brass and glass, three-armed
sconces flank a scrolled wooden mirror. Each arm is capped by a
little fabric shade.
The bathroom
and closet are partitioned from the room by a sliding wood door.
The sink and vanity are separate from the toilet and shower. Here,
you’ll find an unexpected detail—a great little decorative
window in the shower. It fills the small space with natural light,
keeping it from feeling claustrophobic.
Details,
in fact, are everywhere. On another wall, rather than a standard
full-length mirror, The Orleans opted for a large oval mirror framed
in a bronze tone. The wallpaper is a neutral beige, with a dark
golden fleur de lis pattern, which is repeated in the carpeting.
Prints depicting different aspects of turn-of-the-century New Orleans
tie the theme together.
I’d
easily rank these rooms above many of those found on the Strip.
And here, you’re sure to pay substantially less. But enough
about the room. This is a great place to gamble, and I was anxious
to get to it.
Around
town, The Orleans is known for two things: video poker and live
poker. I decided to hit the live poker first. The 22 tables spread
low-limit Hold ‘Em, Stud and Omaha Hi-Lo in a sparsely decorated
but large room. You’ll find a lot of locals here, who come
for the bad beat jackpots (a beat four of a kind) and two daily
tournaments (starting as low as a $20 buy in). These are players
who know the game; they’re regulars, who are on a first-name
basis with each other and with most of the dealers. But don’t
let that intimidate you. This is a very friendly room, and novices
are given the attention they need to feel right at home. I bought
into a $1-$5 Stud game and spent several happy hours at the table.
Unlike many Stud games comprised mostly of locals, this game was
loose enough to make for some pretty healthy pots. It was clear,
these guys were here to have some fun.
After
pulling myself away from the game, it was off to the video poker.
It’s everywhere at The Orleans, with plenty of full pay machines
in all varieties. Quarter players, especially, will be in heaven.
If slots
are more your style, you won’t be disappointed. The casino
offers all the latest multilines from the top manufacturers. Many
of the newest games sport signage to make spotting them from across
the casino a breeze.
In terms
of dining, I had plenty to choose from. The Orleans has eight restaurants,
including the elegant Canal Street Grille. Cajun cuisine can be
found at La Louisiana (try the Bayou Barbecued Shrimp), and Creole
cooking is available at Big Al’s Oyster Bar. In addition, there’s
Don Miguel’s Mexican restaurant (complete with margarita bar),
the French Market Buffet, Terrible Mike’s for quick snacks,
and Kate’s Korner, an old-fashioned ice-cream parlor. During
my many Vegas ventures, I’ve had several opportunities to dine
at The Orleans, and can attest to the quality of each of the restaurants.
But on that night, I was in the mood for something fast and simple,
and headed for the Courtyard Café, one of my favorite coffee
shops in town.
Priced
with value in mind, the coffee shop offers hearty portions of all
the standard coffee shop fare. But the menu also features several
Louisiana dishes (including Jambalaya, Shrimp Étouffée,
and deep-fried catfish) and an extensive Chinese menu. You just
can’t go wrong here.
After
dinner, I was ready for more gambling. In the pit, I knew I’d
find $5 blackjack and low-limit craps.
But The
Orleans offers several great non-gaming entertainment options worth
mentioning. Headliners such as The Righteous Brothers, Melissa Manchester
and The Smothers Brothers are regularly booked into the intimate
showroom. In the main casino, quality live entertainment plays nightly
(except Mondays) in the Bourbon Street Cabaret. If you’re in
the mood for a movie, the newest releases are shown in the state-of-the-art
Century Orleans 12-Plex. Then there’s the 70-lane bowling alley.
Or, during the summer, the “Fat Tuesday Poolside Party,”
held every Tuesday night through September 5.
If you
want a short breather from the action, stop in at one of the three
themed bars. The Mardi Gras is the largest, with separate table
seating and plenty of neon. Here’s where you’ll find that
infamous New Orleans brew, the Hurricane. The Crawfish Bar and the
Alligator Bar (look for “Big Al,” the property’s
mascot, protruding from the front) are both casual places for some
video poker over cocktails.
I didn’t
make it back to my charming room until hours of the morning, so
when the steaming pot of coffee and fluffy stack of pancakes arrived
at my door in under 30 minutes the next morning, I was more than
grateful.
As I mentioned,
I had visited The Orleans many times in the past. But this was the
first time I had actually stayed at the property. I don’t think
you can fully appreciate it without devoting some serious time to
all it offers. Guaranteed, you’ll have a tough time beating
the bargain.
