Hi there!

What do you do when you NEED a sunny getaway, but the budget is tight? For many Utahns like myself, the answer is Casablanca Resort in Mesquite, Nevada.

Mesquite is a small border town in southeast Nevada. It's about 30 minutes from St. George, Utah and 2 hours from Las Vegas. It is home to about half a dozen hotel casinos.

Casablanca is one of the better resorts in town. It's an affordable oasis for swimming, golf, spa, tennis, and of course, gambling. Local ads and online reviews say “It's like Las Vegas used to be!”

Summers are hot and winters are mild in Mesquite, which makes summer the off-season. You can find rooms at Casablanca for under $50 at the same time prices are at their peak most other places. Swimming weather lasts most of the year. Mesquite seldom sees snow so golf and tennis are available year-round.

I was invited to spend a weekend at Casablanca Resort to try their spa. I took my two children for a quick end-of-summer trip and we had a lot of fun together! Since it was a family trip, I didn't do any gambling, but that's not really my thing anyway.

Mesquite isn't really a family destination, but we saw a number of other families during our stay. Mesquite makes a good stopping point on a Disneyland, San Diego or Zion National Park road trip, or it's a good place to spend a weekend in a better-than-average pool.

Mesquite is a excellent option if you're looking for a fun couples or girlfriend getaway that won't put a big dent in the family budget.

Here are my tips for a stay at Casablanca Resort in Mesquite, Nevada.

Room

Our double room was basic, but clean and adequate for our needs. The bathroom was roomy and updated. The bedding was new with white comforters. We had a flat screen TV. WiFi is included in the resort fee, and worked reasonably well.

My kids were happy to find the Disney Channel and other family channels on the television. I was happy to find a mini-fridge, which is always a great amenity for families.

Pool

The pool at Casablanca is large, attractive and lots of fun for families. It has a waterfall and a small water slide that my kids loved. For my kids, this was the highlight of the trip!

The only thing the pool was lacking was complimentary drinking water. This surprised me since it was 111 degrees F and bringing in containers is officially not allowed. I could not find a water fountain or dispenser in the pool area, and had to purchase three mini water bottles from the pool bar for about $10.

Spa

Casablanca treated me to a facial in the spa during our stay. I wish I had scheduled a pedicure too! The Casablanca Spa experience is comparable to spas I have experienced at more expensive luxury resorts. My esthetician was friendly and professional. I had a great experience!

The Casablanca Spa has a steam room and two private outdoor pools, reserved for spa guests. Spa services are for guests age 16 and up.

Dining

Casablanca Resort has two restaurants. Katherine's Steak House serves steak, Oysters Rockefeller and other fine dining favorites. Casa Cafe is a casual full service restaurant with a wide variety of options.

My kids and I ate dinner and breakfast at Casa Cafe. They were excited about the burgers, chicken strips, Chinese and all-day breakfast. My vegetarian son even found a good veggie burger. I tried the prime rib. Not the best I've ever had, but it was satisfying and I couldn't complain about the price.

There is also an ice cream and coffee shop in the lobby. This was a nice place to find an afternoon snack after a couple of hours in the pool.

The Bottom Line

Casablanca won't be right for every family. Walking through the smoky casino is unavoidable, and children cannot go unattended. It's not our first choice for a long stay, but for a weekend by the pool or a stopover on the way to Southern California, we would certainly return.

I would definitely consider Casablanca Resort for an affordable romantic getaway or spa weekend with friends.

Disclosure: I received complimentary lodging, dining and a spa treatment at Casablanca Hotel Resort for the purpose of review. All opinions are my own.

How else can we help?

Learn more about Casablanca Resort. Read more reviews and check rates for Casablanca at TripAdvisor or Booking.com. Visit Casablanca's website at www.casablancaresort.com.

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Allison

Hi there! I am the founder of Tips for Family Trips. I am a married mom of two children, ages 14 and 17, living near Salt Lake City, Utah. We took our first child on a two-week road trip when she was four weeks old and we have been traveling as a family ever since. We love to get out of the house to see and do fun things, both far away and in our own neighborhood.