Travel FanboyAs I lay on the bathroom floor, looking for relief in the form of a cold compress from the tile floor, I thought to myself, “Thank God I’m staying at Beau.” My Midwest constitution can’t handle a late-night Waffle House run. It’s a mistake I’ll likely make again.
Beau Rivage is Biloxi’s gem. The more time I spent there, the more I wish Vegas had its own mini-Bellagio. It’s not a perfect replica, but that’s what makes it great.
The buffet was inexpensive, had virtually no wait, and was a solid value. The casino floor had all my favorites and was easy to navigate. And the rooms were recently renovated and comfortable, which was good fortune for me as I spent the remaining two days of my trip sheltered there with a nasty stomach bug.
Beau Rivage doesn’t have all the bells and whistles its big sister has, but its smaller footprint allows guests to benefit from streamlined service paired with southern charm.
Gulf View King Room
When booking, not knowing if I’d be back in Biloxi anytime soon, I preselected the gulf-view room. It made for a beautiful scene as I enjoyed overpriced room service the first morning of my visit. Though the chairs and table match in design, they weren’t tested for functionality. The chairs were far too short and I felt like a toddler giving it a first go at the adult table.
Though updated at Beau Rivage, the yellow/gold palette reminded me of the previous version of the Bellagio Suites, an aesthetic I quite liked. The same goes for the molding that extends over the bed.
The furnishings provide hints that you’re in a Bellagio facsimile. The color scheme is different, but the quality and positioning of the furniture are Bellagio-esque, especially the oval entertainment hutch.
The only oddity is the shower. It’s a jarring, semi-opaque phone booth in the corner of the bathroom. The quality doesn’t match the rest of the room. I also have a small quibble with the unbalanced foliage. There is one large, unique wall-mounted leaf lamp to the left of the TV. The other is on the right side of the window. It became more of a mental nuisance the longer I hunkered down in bed.
Beyond minor imperfections, it’s a lovely room. The space is adequately filled, the wall art is purposeful and complements the design, and there’s even a small, empty fridge in the closet. I also quite like the gray honeycomb design on the nightstands and entertainment headboard.
Because I had never visited the area before, I had no local offers to help offset my costs. My room averaged $226 per night, not including tax and the $20 resort fee.
Beau Rivage: Worth the premium
Beau Rivage is the priciest casino resort in Biloxi for a reason, but it trumps its peers from top to bottom. The pool is lovely, with views of the Gulf. The fitness center has plenty of clean, modern equipment. The steakhouse, BR Prime, was excellent.
And I’ve barely touched on the casino. Table minimums are what you’d expect, but the dealers were pleasant and professional. However, the cocktail service was slower than I’d like. The sportsbook was an unexpected treasure. Some in our group were lucky enough to find bar-top video poker machines beside each other. At the same time, we took in some NBA playoff games and, inexplicably, a simultaneously running dueling pianos show.
Many Biloxi visitors use it as a destination to experience Vegas-like gambling and lodging at a discount. If your budget allows, it’s worth a splurge to stay at Beau Rivage and take advantage of the low-rolling gambling options around town. I hope I can again make the trip down south to give Beau another go. This time without any gastro issues.
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