Thank you to Harrah’s Gulf Coast for hosting us for this stay, and thank you to you for supporting the brands that make Space, Place & Southern Grace possible!
Let’s just clear the air here. Traveling this year is challenging. More, it’s an immense privilege. After the cancellation of our wedding in response to COVID-19, I knew Alan and I needed to do something to celebrate us in a time where nothing felt in our control. We cautiously planned our summer vacation in ways unfamiliar to us – including fewer stops and a lot more hand sanitizer – and had a wonderful week together to relax, reflect, and regroup about what we want out of the rest of the year.
We were lucky enough to enjoy a week’s stay at Harrah’s Gulf Coast, a hotel and casino located on the water in Biloxi, Mississippi. In college, I visited Biloxi with some friends for an affordable Spring Break trip with friends. I knew it would be a nice destination not at the forefront of people’s minds during the pandemic. Alan and I were excited about the trip immediately because Harrah’s is part of the Caesars Entertainment family, where we stayed on our favorite vacation ever in Las Vegas.
Feeling Safe Away From Home
I’ve struggled with quite a bit of anxiety since the pandemic began. There are so many unknowns, so many changes to our routines, and so many precautions in place that feel so unfamiliar. Our trip south was our first real time away from home in many months, and our first vacation in nearly a year. Upon arriving, I knew quickly that the Harrah’s staff were taking safety measures seriously on the property. Masks were required everywhere indoors, seating had been greatly reduced, and hand sanitizer was available in every hallway and public space. While it was very strange to mask up before leaving our room any time, I did feel safe and that patrons respected the precautions the hotel had in place. I sincerely hope your future visit to Harrah’s Gulf Coast is sans-pandemic, but can assure you the team onsite takes your health and safety seriously.
Time to Relax
Upon checking into our suite, we immediately observed a stunning view of the resort and the water across the street. I highly recommend upgrading from a standard room to a corner king with stunning views. Our room was complete with a decked out bathroom and jacuzzi tub. Anyone who knows me knows this was my favorite part of the whole trip! Given COVID-19 and my health, we spent a lot of time in our room and really enjoyed how clean, comfortable, and spacious it was for the week. On our second day, we had incredible weather – a day full of sunshine and a breeze from the water. We enjoyed our time by the pool in a private cabana. After spending part of the next day in the direct sun, I can definitely recommend the privacy and comfort of a cabana on hot days. There was more than enough seating for Alan and I, and would be great for families visiting the resort.
Mix & Mingle, the property’s sports bar, became a staple for us during the trip. We ate there a number of times and took advantage of indoor, outdoor, and poolside dining options. If you visit, have the loaded fries for me! Pricing at the restaurant was extremely reasonable for both lunch and dinner. We never made it up early enough to enjoy the full breakfast, but the menu also looked incredible and diverse enough to please anyone. For the days we slept late, we enjoyed a quick breakfast from Starbucks just an elevator ride away from our room.
Treat Yourself at Bellissimo
On the third day of our stay, Alan and I were able to visit the resort’s spa and salon, Bellissimo. Again, safety and comfort were the perfect descriptors of our experience. We enjoyed relaxing pedicures, fully masked and socially distanced. The staff in the spa were very kind and knowledgeable. Although their services are reduced temporarily for safety, the spa and salon also offers massages and hair services. Much of the salon area also has stunning views of the water. It totally made me want to settle into the chair for highlights just to take in the view.
Living Large at the Casino
After Alan and I were first introduced to casino gambling in Vegas, we’ve really enjoyed trying it out while we travel. We both are pretty conservative spenders, but we each took a fixed amount of cash with us we were comfortable with losing while we played for the week. While we were at Harrah’s, we visited the casino usually once per day off peak hours so we weren’t met with large groups of people. Even though I don’t have much luck, I enjoy playing slots off and on. I really enjoy progressive slots with bonus rounds and a lot of animation. A few times, I hit small jackpots and won back the money I had spent that day. After playing a little bit each day, I only spent $100 total on the week on slot play. It’s important to Know When to Stop Before You Start®. If you think you may have a gambling problem, call 1-800-522-4700.
Alan really enjoyed playing blackjack at the tables. Card games with higher buy-ins are a little too stressful for me, but he did really well this time around! When we weren’t spending time at the slots or the tables, I sat by the bar or the distanced seating area to watch the sports that had just resumed playing. We also indulged in the Steak ‘n Shake tucked inside the casino on more than one occasion.
Bring Your Tastebuds
I’ll be totally honest: I don’t always have the highest hopes for resort dining. Out of our many travels, I’ve found that many restaurants in casinos or hotels miss the mark. Magnolia House, Harrah’s Gulf Coast’s signature restaurant, completely surpassed all expectations. The restaurant is only open Thursday-Sunday, so we enjoyed the meal on the last night of our trip. It was absolutely worth the wait. Because of my aforementioned low expectations, I had a late lunch in the room while I was getting ready, and totally regretted not having a full appetite the moment we received our appetizer.
Magnolia House features southern comfort food influenced by Louisiana and gulf cuisine. While the atmosphere of the whole property is relaxed, Magnolia House truly offers a fine dining experience. We had the privilege of meeting and learning from Chef de cuisine Josh Mitchell who shared with us his experience of working at Magnolia House since its opening. He said multicultural experiences throughout his life and from his mentor inspire all his work at Magnolia House. The flavor pairings, portion sizes, and overall experience reflected just that.
To start, we enjoyed the Fried Green Tomatoes. These weren’t like the ones I grew up having at home. Topped heavily with crab and crawfish, this massive appetizer will ruin your dinner in the best of ways. Alan also had half a dozen gulf oysters on the half shell. While not my taste, he said they were delicious. For my entree, I had the Beer Braised Beef Rib. I wasn’t sure why our server called it the ‘Flintstones meal’ until it arrived at the table. Complete with a massive bone, the tender meat was so flavorful and more than I could eat in three meals. Alan had a bone-in ribeye, oscar style. When we were both very visibly full after the meal, our kind server Melissa took such good care of us and packed up our leftovers with extra rolls so we could enjoy steak sandwiches on the drive home. This meal was truly one to tell your friends about.
The Final Verdict
Do I recommend traveling in a pandemic? With great caution. Do I recommend a resort stay at Harrah’s Gulf Coast? Absolutely. Alan and I were so pleased with our getaway to Biloxi from the room to the food. We can’t wait to go back! If you are traveling in 2020, please respect all state guidelines including mask mandates, social distancing, quarantine recommendations, and testing opportunities. Where are you headed next?
