Review

I stayed at the Tuscany 12/23-25. I pretty much knew what to expect, and it lived up to my expectations. The property is what I would call "Middle America nice." They do not go for the whole Vegas glitz-and-glamour sort of thing. Sometimes I felt like I was in a nice, well-run resort in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. That said, there is a market for that kind of product, and I think they serve that particular segment very well.

Check-in was quick and easy. It was nice to come to the Tuscany after spending the day on the strip and other places; it felt very relaxing. The room is big and nice. Everything is clean and well-landscaped. The pool was open in the winter, and heated, and there was a hot tub. The casino is very understated. It kind of reminds me of a Dotty's. There are none of the design elements that compel you to "gamble, gamble, gamble," like you would find at other properties. It is more like, "Hello, Sir, here is a casino. It exists, and you may play if you want to, but no pressure. Take your time." That said, while a relaxing aesthetic, it does make the casino feel dead at times. There is nobody whooping it up at the craps table or shouting at slot machines. It is certainly a different experience, but I wouldn't want to do much of my gambling there.

I was there on a three nights free offer with $25 in free play. The freeplay was already loaded into my card, so I played it off on 8/5 Bonus Poker (their best game) and made $23.50. My own gambling consisted of some play at $0.25 BP, some $10 single-deck blackjack, and $5 craps with 3x4x5x odds on every throw. I noticed that the craps game went down to $3 on day shifts and the odds changed to 5x. Pretty good gambling deal. The single-deck game was not open at all hours of the day. The dealers were adequate. On the last day, I switched to $.50 Bonus Poker and hit three quads, including two quad 4's, for a nice score and to make up most of my loses. On the weekends they have 10x points which actually makes the video poker positive for the player (albeit by a small 0.17% edge).

I was able to get a $12 comp to the Beachfront Cafe, and $20 in cashback. The booth also said I had $10 in comps which I had yet to redeem, but I saved them for next trip.

All-in-all, I think the Tuscany is a terrific value and is way underrated as a property. However, it is just too boring to spend a lot of time in. I would stay there again, but would make the effort to get out and visit other places.

I feel the same way about Tuscany as you do. I'm impressed at your ability to play the freeplay and apparently quit when you are ahead. Whenever I have freeplay, and it is quite large at times, I rarely end up with anything and in fact dump even more into the machine even when I promise myself I'm not going to do that.

Quote: JerryLogan

... Whenever I have freeplay, and it is quite large at times, I rarely end up with anything and in fact dump even more into the machine even when I promise myself I'm not going to do that.

Jerry! You surprised me here. Just last night, in another thread, you said to me:

Quote: JerryLogan

I agree that I do Doc, and I believe it's because I am a much stronger-willed person than most people who go into a casino.

Let's apply some of that strong will to preserving your free-play and turning it into cash the next time you get the chance! As Yogi Berra said in that AFLAC commercial, "Cash is just as good as money."
;-)

Quote: teddys

The casino is very understated. It kind of reminds me of a Dotty's. There are none of the design elements that compel you to "gamble, gamble, gamble," like you would find at other properties. It is more like, "Hello, Sir, here is a casino. It exists, and you may play if you want to, but no pressure. Take your time." That said, while a relaxing aesthetic, it does make the casino feel dead at times. There is nobody whooping it up at the craps table or shouting at slot machines. It is certainly a different experience, but I wouldn't want to do much of my gambling there.
All-in-all, I think the Tuscany is a terrific value and is way underrated as a property. However, it is just too boring to spend a lot of time in. I would stay there again, but would make the effort to get out and visit other places.

So I guess its more of an upscale and full-service Dotty's. A Dottys that has table games, a pool, a gift shop and a coffee shop.

Well, I guess that can be a welcome break at times. If I wanted Frat Rats, Sports Figures and Hollywood Starlets, I'd be at the Palms or Planet Hollywood. I think I'd look forward to a nice quiet sedate place where if you are drunk and obnoxious you get booted out. Oh maybe its too much of a morgue without some sort of vibrant activity but as you said: there is an elsewhere if you want it... and its not that long a walk to get there. Sometimes I can really enjoy a break from the loud music and loud drunks.

Stopped by Tuscany on Friday for 10x points. We took the Centennial Express bus from downtown which has a stop right near there. I played $1 Bonus Poker for a few hours and earned $100 cash back AND 100+ in comps. WHAT A DEAL!

We ate at Tuscany Gardens. My girlfriend had clam pasta and I had veal (I lust for baby cow flesh). The meal was great and the wine was good. We will definitely be going back.

For 2 and a half years, until I moved earlier this year, I lived in a highrise condo 50 yards away from Tuscany. Anytime I was out late at night, I would stop there for their $3.99 all-you-can-eat pancakes special from midnight til 6am. I love me some pancakes and Tuscany's are outstanding. Nothing better to soak up excess alcohol to avoid a morning hangover. :)

Quote: RogerKint

Stopped by Tuscany on Friday for 10x points. We took the Centennial Express bus from downtown which has a stop right near there. I played $1 Bonus Poker for a few hours and earned $100 cash back AND 100+ in comps. WHAT A DEAL!

We ate at Tuscany Gardens. My girlfriend had clam pasta and I had veal (I lust for baby cow flesh). The meal was great and the wine was good. We will definitely be going back.

Welcome to the wonder that is Tuscany. Try the Mexican restaurant and (as kewlj said) the excellent coffee shop.

Another good place to use your comp dollars is the gift shop where you can get premium cigars, some OK booze, and a surprisingly good clothes selection (as well as all the other normal gift shop stuff).

Quote: teddys

and a surprisingly good clothes selection

I've officially moved up from rocking thrift store gear to Tuscany gift shop gear!

Quote: kewlj

For 2 and a half years, until I moved earlier this year, I lived in a highrise condo 50 yards away from Tuscany.

Kewlj, did you live in the Platinum?

That is my go to place.

I also forgot to say that the Tuscany is my go to place to gamble, can stumble home to the Platinum, and as others have said, great comps, they do both comp dollars for food, booze, clothes and they do a seperate tally for free play. Spending one doesnt effect the other.

AS for the food, my favorite is the cantina, I have not had one bad dish there. Marilyns is the place for cheap hangover breakfast and a drunken snack before eating.

As for the Tuscany Gardens I had it once a few years ago and it was horrible. After seeing the last couple of reviews I may have to try it again.

Quote: JW17

As for the Tuscany Gardens I had it once a few years ago and it was horrible. After seeing the last couple of reviews I may have to try it again.

Please take my "review" with a grain of salt. I'm generally happy and thankful for any food in front of me.

Teddys and I were politely informed that our complimentary cigars could not be enjoyed inside the Tuscany casino. They have a zero tolerance policy on D-baggery.

Yes they stopped all cigar and pipe smoking in the casino, I found this out early this year playing keno in the corner as to not bother others with my cigars. I was told politely to put it out which I did.

Quote: JW17

Kewlj, did you live in the Platinum?

That is my go to place.

Sorry, I didn't see this question until this thread got bumped. lol

I did live at Platinum until I sold earlier this year. I bought a foreclosed property in late 2009 for 88 grand. A unit that sold for 300 grand in 2006 when the building was new. :) Platinum is a condo hotel, meaning people own the units but treat it more a a timeshare and many place their units back into the hotel 'pool' when they are not using them. There is a residency stipulation, that says you can only reside there 60 nights per year. That restriction was lifted when I purchased as they had so many units on the market and in foreclosure at the time and about a dozen of us took advantage and lived there full time. Pluses: very convenient to the strip. Many hotel amenities such as room service dry-cleaning etc. Also, I privately rented out my unit for 3 long holiday-type weekends each year, New Years, Superbowl, March madness, (plus one year Valentines day) while I moved into comped rooms at a nearby casino. The profit from these long weekends paid my condo fee for the whole year. :) Negative: It was more like a hotel with many strangers in and out of the building.

I loved my time at Platinum. Ideal location for a full-time BJ player, nice unit, nice and new building with many amenities, BUT last year management changed at the property and they insisted on enforcing the no residency clause, even though we had written agreement from previous management. They sued. We counter-sued. We all reached agreement the day before litigation began which include a financial benefit. I then sold for a pretty decent profit, not great, but decent, considering the times. But, I would have preferred to have stayed there a while more.

Quote: kewlj

There is a residency stipulation, that says you can only reside there 60 nights per year. That restriction was lifted when I purchased as they had so many units on the market and in foreclosure at the time and about a dozen of us took advantage and lived there full time.

BUT last year management changed at the property and they insisted on enforcing the no residency clause, even though we had written agreement from previous management. They sued. We counter-sued. We all reached agreement the day before litigation began which include a financial benefit. I then sold for a pretty decent profit, not great, but decent, considering the times. But, I would have preferred to have stayed there a while more.

I'm not sure I understand why they would care if you
lived there or not, since you owned the unit. I guess they made
some money on every night booked as a hotel ? ? ? ?

Usually the premium units get booked, clerks often upgrade people to the higher floor units.

Anyone get any weird mail from here lately?

All I know is Tuscany is a sweat shop with blackjack. I feel so uncomfortable there while playing. Pit bosses hawk the game. Mid shoe entry at $200 says all you need to know. Probably won't go there again.

Quote: ZenKinG

All I know is Tuscany is a sweat shop with blackjack. I feel so uncomfortable there while playing. Pit bosses hawk the game. Mid shoe entry at $200 says all you need to know. Probably won't go there again.

I would keep checking back or keep your eyes and ears open, they sometimes run a BJ promo, I can't remember all the details but basically, get x number of BJ's and receive x amount.

Personally, I don't care for the food there, but lots of people like it and its cheap, I do believe it's easy to get comps.

I think they got rid of their DD blackjack game. And a couple of years ago they had a $20 gets you $30 Xtra play promo on Thursdays. But this is no longer around either.