Harrah's Joliet Casino & Hotel - A Caesars Rewards Destination

I was there for a hotel stay, not the casino. Getting to the hotel from the parking garage by elevator was really weird, but the room made up for it. I asked for the cheapest room available and got a huge space, with a king bed and a couch. The deep, comfortable bathtub was a big plus. The garage was good, other places were walkable, and the staff were AMAZING. If you want to make a vacation of it, go for it.

The room was spotless and nicely appointed, and the front desk and maid staff were friendly and helpful. We had a bathroom leak during the frigid weather, but staff responded quickly, moved us right away, and gave us $30 to use at any of the on-site restaurants. That’s where the stay got tricky: Harrah's Joliet has very limited dining for an upscale hotel. There’s nowhere to get a decently priced, well-cooked breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Cross Street Grill has no table service, long lines, and a sparse menu. The Reserve is very expensive and isn’t open every night, while Tortazo by Rick Bayless was just AWFUL. You can smell the grease as soon as you enter, and the food wasn’t worth the price. We didn’t see anyone eating there even when it was open. We kept having to leave the casino to find food, so we gambled less. Hollywood’s food court was fantastic, and I don’t know why Harrah’s can’t do something similar. Bring back the buffet for all three meals. Aside from that, we had a great time. The slots ran hot and cold, as they do at most casinos, and we appreciated the low $5.00 table limits in the mornings. My girlfriend and I stayed January 25-30, five nights, and paid $149.00 total, including the $17.40 resort fee and a few sundries. Given our casino play, that was a great price.

The convenient location worked well for downtown shows, and the staff were friendly and helpful. Still, I wouldn’t stay here again. For that exorbitant price, the room was a big disappointment. We expected nice linens and chocolates on the pillow, but instead there was an undisclosed $17.40 amenity fee, and I’m not sure what it was for. The bed had obvious old body dips, the bathroom floor looked like it hadn’t been washed in a while, and the faucet kept dripping.

The rooms were good, and the hotel workers were really nice. Dining and the casino, though, were the worst parts of the trip. I drove down from Wisconsin, which was my first mistake. The casino sign boasts 89.6% RTP, and I knew there wasn’t a physical Sportsbook. Since it’s a Caesars property, I expected at least a few kiosks around the floor to place sports wagers, but there weren’t any. On Sunday night the grill was the only place open, and they said not to order because making a hamburger would take half an hour.