Puerto Rico is either a ‘lovely island’ with ‘tropical breezes’ and ‘pineapples growing’ or an ‘ugly island’ that is an island of ‘tropical diseases’ with ‘hurricanes blowing’, depending on which member of the West Side Story cast you choose to listen to. Either way, it is somewhere that is seen as an excellent place for tourists to head to, thanks in no small part to the fact that many people on the island speak English and the US dollar is the official currency. One of the things that you can do whilst you’re there is head to a casino and enjoy a flutter, with the Mayagüez Resort & Casino being a great place to visit.
The Casino
The first thing to note about Mayagüez Casino is that isn’t the biggest on the island. Whereas most casinos in most countries around the world opt to go big on the slot machine front, the same isn’t true here. Instead, the machines are limited in number but do offer a pleasant mix of old and new in terms of style. That means that there is a very good chance that you’ll get to play the kinds of games that you’ve enjoyed if you’ve played on slots elsewhere. There is another room in which you’ll find dollar machines, if you want to try to keep your spending down with offerings that are low in terms of how much you need to pay.
You might notice that talk of table games, such as roulette, blackjack and craps, is missing. That is a sign of just how small and basic the casino is here. That doesn’t mean that you should be put off, of course, but it perhaps offers you a sense of the sort of experience that you’re likely to have if you choose to make a night of it at Mayagüez Casino. It is fair to say that the casino itself is mainly aimed at hotel residents looking to spend a little bit of time having a flutter, rather than looking to appeal to others coming in from elsewhere to hit the tables. This isn’t a casino that is likely to appeal to the big spenders, put it that way.
The Resort
Mayagüez Casino is part of a wider resort that is located in the Mayagüez area of Puerto Rico. The hotel was built on the location of the Valdes Castle, which is where a prominent Puerto Rico figure called Alfonso Valdés Cobián lived. The co-founder of Cervecería India, the largest brewery in Puerto Rico, you can see why the local area is filled with fascinating history. The hotel itself was built in 1963 by Hilton, but was sold by the company to a private group when it became apparent that tourists were more inclined to visit the likes of Rincon and Aguadilla. The rebranding from Mayagüez Hilton to Mayagüez Resort & Casino also involved some cosmetic changes.
Amenities
For example, a new lazy river was built for the new-look pool area, which also boasts a zero-entry pool. There is a water slide for excitement and entertainment, whilst the addition of a new tower allowed the room count to be increased. There are two large restaurants on-site, as well as a conference centre for those looking to host a business get together there. In 2010, the hotel was selected to host the Central American and Caribbean Games, giving you a sense of its size and scope. The fact that there are 140 rooms means that you might not get the personalised treatment that you might expect at a smaller location.
Things to Do in Mayagüez
The hotel is located slightly back from the front, so those that might wish to head to the beach, for example, will have to go on a little bit of a walk in order to do so. The good news is that Mayagüez itself has plenty to offer, being an area of historical significance. It is also somewhere that you can feel as though you’re experience all that Puerto Rico has to offer in one location, thanks to the fact that the city’s terrain includes coastal plains, marshland, hills, mountains and river valleys. Boasting a tropical savanna climate, it experiences some of the most extreme weather on the entirety of the island of Puerto Rico.
In terms of what you’re likely to experience once you leave the hotel, Mayagüez contains one of the largest concentrations of mango trees in Puerto Rico. If you’re a foodie then you’re in luck, given the fact that the city offers numerous options for bites to eat and drink. There are all of the usual beach-based activities that you’d expect to enjoy, even if you aren’t exactly right next to the beach when you’re there, plus there is the possibility that you’ll get to experience one of the many festivals and events that the city is famous for, depending on when you’re visiting. There are countless landmarks to spend your time visiting, too.