Resort Review: Margaritaville Resort Biloxi, Mississippi

 Welcome to the first of what I plan to be several resort reviews!

One of the best parts of being a travel agent is, of course, traveling! Being from Baton Rouge, the Osters LOVE Biloxi. It's just a short drive from home, but delivers a full beach-town experience without having to spend the entire day in the car.

One of the more interesting facets of Biloxi, MS is that it's one part beach town, one part Vegas strip. That's right, some of Vegas' biggest names, including Bally's, Harrah's, and Hard Rock have casino resorts right on the beach!

While the casino resorts offer some of the area's best cuisine and entertainment, some families are off-put by the adult-oriented atmosphere that they promote.

Enter Margaritaville Resort, a family-friendly, full-service resort hotel designed to take you away from the hustle of daily life while sitting back and relaxing with your family.

Instead of a casino, Margaritaville Resort Biloxi features a large-scale arcade and water park for you and your kids to spend quality time together.

With all of that said, let's take a closer look at everything Margaritaville Resort Biloxi has to offer!

Checking In

The check-in process was painless and efficient. Upon arriving at the resort you're given the option to valet park in the parking garage or utilize free-parking outside. When we visited in April, the parking lot was undergoing construction, but still useable. One of my only critiques of the resort is that for those who opt not to valet their vehicles, the walk from the parking lot to the entrance can feel a bit long, especially when carrying luggage and a toddler with you.

Once unloaded it was a quick elevator ride up to the 10th floor to check in. There were no surprises on our bill, and the hospitality staff was friendly and helpful.

The Rooms

There's nothing better to me than a hotel that smells nice. Upon exiting the elevators we were treated to what is honestly the cleanest and beachiest smelling hotels that we have ever stayed in.

The decor in the lobbies and room were updated, modern and chic. My little Rooster even sat quietly and lounged as we unpacked and got ready for the day.

The Food

What I was most impressed with at this resort was just the sheer amount of food options available to guests. Margaritaville Resort Biloxi is set up to be completely self-sufficient and providing guests with a one-stop vacation experience.

In addition to the obligatory Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville restaurant, Margaritaville Resort Biloxi also houses Landshark Bar & Grill, a coffeehouse serving up all of your favorite brews, a full room-service menu and an on-site location of Doe's Eat Place, one of the premiere southern steak houses and a must-eat for any visitors to the area.

Another perk is that the Lava Bar at Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville restaurant has pool access, so you can sip on a Bahama Mama while soaking up the sun and watching your kids play!

While many resorts of this nature really stick it to you with the cost of their food, everything here was reasonable and affordable. The three of us even ate on the Volcano Nachos for lunch and STILL had leftovers!

The Pool & Arcade

This is really the main attraction to this resort and pictures will speak louder than words.

We were there on opening weekend and the water was still a bit chilly, but that didn't stop Robin from wanting to wade in the water. The pool features a water slide, wading area, splash park, lazy river and a swim-up bar!

While Robin was a bit young for the arcade, she still got to have some fun there too!

The Location

Located along US Hwy 90, Margaritaville Resort Biloxi is in the center of everything and just a short drive to area attractions including public beaches, local restaurants, and shopping including the Gulfport Premium Outlets, the Gulfcoast Coliseum, and one of our favorite local eateries, Shaggy's on the Beach!

The Verdict

Considering the price, location, amenities, and overall strong-production value of the resort, I give Margaritaville Resort Biloxi a 4.7 out of 5 star rating!

The only areas that prevented this from being a 5  star included lack of direct beach access, the slightly-longer than expected walk to the entrance from the parking lot, and the possibility of the resort getting a big hectic when in full-swing.

I highly recommend visiting Margaritaville Resort Biloxi on your next trip to the coast. As always, don't forget to check in with me for great deals on your next family vacation!