Part of the renovation and expansion of the Windsor casino/hotel to the Caesars brand involved an overhaul of the existing complex, as well as construction of a new hotel tower, complete with new lobby, ballroom and theatre. In fact, the whole Caesars Windsor complex is a more refined version of its Las Vegas counterpart, including several Romanesque statues -- sans the animatronics – and a circular motif apparent in much of the complex, including the Caesars emblem, the design of several areas on the property, decorative dividers and art.
New Set Up for Hotel:
The two towers of hotel rooms in the complex are separated by the Rotunda of restaurants and shops, the casino and sky bridge. The lobby in the bottom of the new Augustus Tower serves as check-in for all 758 rooms in both towers and was build to meet the standards of a Caesars property. In other words, it is large and striking, with a 10-foot high fountain, named the Three Graces, in its middle. In spite of its impressiveness, however, the check-in desk’s distance from the Forum Tower of hotel rooms creates some logistical challenges.
Parking/Check-in:
Hotel parking can be somewhat hard to find as you approach the complex from the Detroit/Windsor tunnel. It is accessed via Riverside Drive, the street located between the complex and the Detroit River. Hotel parking is by valet and is serviced through a tunnel that runs under the sky bridge between the Augustus Tower and the casino.
Hotel Towers:
While one of the hotel towers is ten years older than the other, the renovation of the Forum tower (the original Windsor Casino hotel) insured that the rooms are virtually identical. That being said, the towers have their relative advantages and disadvantages. For instance, the Forum Tower is closer to most of the restaurants and bars in the rotunda part of the complex, while being considerably distant from the hotel’s check-in, valet and theater. It is also oriented so that its rooms face north/south, meaning that some rooms face away from the Detroit River completely.
The Augustus Tower, on the other hand, is oriented so that its rooms face east/west, insuring a view of the Detroit River from all rooms. It is also much closer to the casino, ballrooms and theater. In spite of its distance from most of the restaurants, buffet and bars in the complex, it does have a restaurant in the lobby so a trek isn’t required for all meals.
Hotel Rooms:
The room decoration is, in fact, the Caesars standard and presents as crisp and clean. That being said, the complete and utter transformation of the complex to the Caesars brand may bring Vegas to Windsor, but nothing unique to reflect the casino’s Canadian origin and location. While the rooms have the amenities you’d expect of a four-star hotel, there is nothing about the rooms that set them apart from their rivals across the river, especially the MotorCity Casino/Hotel that aims to surprise and delight with its newfangled technology and unparalleled pampering. Of course, the rooms at Caesars Windsor offer comparable luxury at considerably lower prices. Ironically, Caesars Windsor offers a much better view of Detroit – even if the windows were a bit dirty -- than any of the casino/hotel complexes actually located there.
The rooms are done in warm, beige tones: cream, toffee, taupe and chocolate. The beds are adorned with down comforters and a plethora of pillows, including five pillows, a bed roll and throw pillow on each bed. The carpet is textured with a cross-hatched design that is deep, plush and luxurious. The room also includes a refrigerator and a flat-screen TV. The bathroom is large and ornate with a tub and a separate glass-enclosed shower. While the tub lacks some of the perks you come to expect at a four-star hotel, such as Jacuzzi bubbles or extra depth, the toiletries offered are Gilchrist and Soames and come in enormous bottles relative to most hotels.
