Gulf Coast Getaway and Hotel Guide

Everything Biloxi does, it does big. From its days as the Seafood Capital of the World to its presence in the military, the Mississippi city has gone all out. Now Biloxi has turned into the poor man's Vegas.

Gaming has become the lifeblood of the town. Biloxi (also referred to as Casino Coast) has generated nearly $2.5 billion in casino revenue, and since 1992, the coastal town has added 10,000 hotel rooms to its inventory. That's not all. The Mississippi Gulf Coast's room inventories rival those of Reno and Atlantic City. Not bad for an otherwise sleepy Southern town.

Unlike Vegas and Atlantic City, you can't peruse the Gulf Coast casinos on foot. There are 12 casinos that stretch from Bay St. Louis to Biloxi (roughly 26 miles), where it all ends with a boomtown bang: the Grand Casino; Casino Magic; Isle of Capri; and Palace Casino -- all clumped together at the end of Beach Blvd, or Highway 90. Biloxi alone boasts nine of the Gulf Coast's 12 casinos.

Don't let the neon signs fool you though. Outside of the cha-chings of slot machines, this honky-tonk city is still the same. It still has a beach (even though it's man-made), its main drag is still lined with old-style Southern mansions, it's still a major fishing hub and there's plenty of dust in the air. Oh, yeah, and the history is still ever present, especially in those areas of the city that are not so aesthetically pleasing (which, believe it or not, are as much a part of Biloxi's charm as its residents).

The accommodations that are scattered throughout Biloxi are as varied as its visitors. In addition to the casino hotels (which boast somewhere around 1,500 rooms each, at least), there are budget hotels, chain hotels, family-owned motels, bed and breakfasts and campgrounds.

Staying in a casino hotel is generally pretty cheap, but keep in mind that the amenities aren't always free. Sure, you might find a room for as low as $49 (sometimes even lower), but if you want to work out, you're forced to pay a fee to use the fitness center. And the food isn't cheap either, so some travelers may want to think again.

If you have the kids in tow, a casino hotel may be a great option. The Imperial Palace has a full-size movie theater on site, in addition to a game room and allotted activities for teens. Some of the casinos have clubs specifically for kids, so if you're there to gamble, you don't have to worry about who's going to keep an eye on them. Other casino hotels not mentioned above include the Beau Rivage and Treasure Bay Casino Resort.

The cool thing about Biloxi is that you can completely remove yourself from its gaming side and indulge in its quaintness. You can elect to play golf (there are more than 20 courses here), go sailing, play beach volleyball and eat seafood to your heart's content -- with nary a token in sight. And, one particular bed and breakfast that only enhances the city's charm is Green Oaks, a beachfront plantation house with a traditional veranda overlooking the barrier islands. For B&B lovers, there's also The Father Ryan House and Harbour Oaks Inn (located in Pass Christian, en route to Gulfport).

The boomtown brigade isn't the only tourist group that frequents the now family-friendly Biloxi. As you continue along Highway 90 (from Biloxi to Gulfport), you'll find a number of hotels scattered among restaurants, shops and small businesses (and a few Baptist churches). Since Biloxi isn't exactly gigantic, any of these hotels are convenient to most everything the town has to offer -- except the airport, which is in Gulfport. Ideal for budget travelers, there is the Comfort Inn, Super 8, Econo Lodge and the Biloxi Beach Resort Motor Lodge. Families hitting the beach may opt for the Best Western, Howard Johnson or the Holiday Inn, which is slightly out of the casino action.

Business travelers may opt to stay closer to Gulfport (although it's only a 20-minute drive to Biloxi). There's a Holiday Inn Express in between the two cities, so if your business is somewhere in the middle, this is the place to be. Or, if you'd like to hit a casino near Gulfport, try the Copa or Grand Casinos or the Casino Beach Resort. And, if time is on your side, you might want to take a day and drive to New Orleans. The Big Easy is only a 60-mile jaunt to the west.

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