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Atlantic City Help

Discussion in 'Non-Vegas Casino Hotels' started by thecarve, Aug 13, 2016.

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  1. thecarve

    thecarve Misanthrope

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    I'm contemplating an early October AC trip and if memory serves, I haven't been up that way since early '09. So I'm hoping some of our AC pros can give me a little help.

    I have a number of questions (and the odds favor my having even more as the date draws near). If you can answer any of them - or have any other tips, pointers, advice - I'd love to here from you.

    So, without further ado...

    1. It looks like I can get Borgata and the Caesars properties comped. Is there any reason NOT to choose Borgata?

    2. Assuming I go with Borgata...Classic Room, Fiore Suite or Club Room at The Water Club? If I go the Caesars/Bally's/Harrah's route, are there any rooms/towers I should try to get or avoid?

    3. I'll be traveling with my father. If he's not able to get a comped room (or reasonable rate) at Borgata but is able to get a room at Harrah's...how's the walk between the two? Too much of a pain in the ass? Easily doable? Or somewhere in between?

    4. What can I expect from the Video Poker? I play 25¢-$5 games and enjoy STP and DSTP (at the 25¢-$1 level) and prefer DDBP and Boner Deluxe. I'm not necessarily asking for specific machines to look for (though, I'm all ears if you have some good ones)...but how about a general comparison with the Las Vegas strip? Better? Worse? Same?

    5. Where do you like to eat? I think we'll be there two nights so we'll likely have a nice dinner and a more casual one - plus a lunch or breakfast or two. So I'm open to any and all suggestions (ok, not McDonald's or Taco Bell or the like...). We'll have a car but we do enjoy a drink or two. So non-casino restaurant suggestions are welcome but stuff in the neighborhood of where we're staying is preferred.

    6. Any other advice for a guy who hasn't been to AC in 7.5 years?

    I realize I'm asking a lot and that not many of you can answer all of these questions. But any help you can give me will be very much appreciated! :nworthy:

    Thanks!
     
  2. worldtraveler

    worldtraveler Tourist

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    Borgata by far is the best in AC. Caesars also is good. I enjoy staying by the beach and boardwalk, hence prefer Caesars(centurion tower). There is a Pier shopping complex connected to Caesars that houses a number of restaurants. We often dine at Buddakhan. That being said, I would stay at Borgata on my next visit, now that it is\will be a part of MLife. Since you have a car, the connectivity to the Boardwalk should be pretty easy from Borgata.
     
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  3. Tony Y

    Tony Y Low-Roller

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    Borgata is the best property to stay at when traveling to AC.
     
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  4. NandJfrmNJ

    NandJfrmNJ VIP Whale

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    Borgata is the best but Harrah's and Caesars are pretty good too. We've never stayed in a club room but the standard rooms at the Water Club and Fiore suites are both very nice The Water club has a very nice, kid free pool and Harrahs pool is awesome, also kid free. If you decide on Caesars, we like the corner rooms in the Centurion tower because they are large and have great ocean views. Caesars only has an outdoor pool so it will not be open in October.

    The buffets at Borgata and Harrah's are both very good, Caesars not so much. We never eat at the other restaurants so I can't help there but all have good choices for upscale restaurants. Harrahs buffet is not open for breakfast but I think the cafe is still open. I think the cafe (forgot the name) at Borgata is pretty good for breakfast but we haven't eaten there in awhile.

    You can walk from Harrahs to Borgata via a lovely path that goes along the waterways that surround the hotels. Go through the exit near the poker room. It's not a long walk, maybe half a mile; not much if your dad is able to walk. I wouldn't do it at night though. You can also walk from Harrahs to the Golden Nugget.

    VP is not good at either place but if you're used to playing on the strip, it's probably about the same.
     
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  5. zignerlv

    zignerlv VIP Whale

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    The room choice part of your question is easy, assuming all are comped. Go with the Fiore suite at Borgata. The bathroom is close to the size of some downtown LV hotel rooms.

    The walk between Harrahs and Borgata if you take the path along the water is close to 0.7 mile, not something you would probably like to do more than once or twice a day. And yes, I wouldn't do the walk at dark, which comes earlier in October. Obviously if the weather happens to be bad that day, it wouldn't be a fun walk as the area is very open to winds etc, being right off the bay.

    I don't agree about the VP being not good, as Borgata has many 9/6 Jacks machines, even at quarters and dollars, which these days is better than 95% of the LV strip.
     
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  6. NandJfrmNJ

    NandJfrmNJ VIP Whale

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    I guess I never noticed the 9/6 JOB. Most of the DDB machines are 6/5 but I don't play that much VP. Thanks for correcting me.
     
  7. thecarve

    thecarve Misanthrope

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    Thanks for the responses. Great stuff so far.

    Sounds like a Borgata/Harrah's combo would be less than ideal. I figured that was the case as I didn't remember them being all that close to each other but wasn't sure.
     
  8. ACMike

    ACMike High-Roller

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    See my replies below:

     
  9. ACMike

    ACMike High-Roller

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    By the way, the best STP payable in AC is the one All-Star Poker machine at Tropicana, which has 9/6 DDB at $1 level. It's located right next to the 10 North Lounge.
     
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  10. ACMike

    ACMike High-Roller

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    If you're looking for Super Triple Play machines, the best one is in Caesar's Palace Court, which has up to 10-play at $1 - $5 levels. Golden Nugget has one, but limited to $1 5-play.

    Harrah's and Bally's also have Super Triple Play machines.
     
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  11. caroleehs

    caroleehs Low-Roller

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    Great restaurant is Dock's. Not in a hotel. Two blocks past caesar's. Can't remember if it is on Atlantic or pacific. Big portions so hubby and I share crab clam chowder soup and a main course. Lamb chops are a favorite. We share that because there are 8 for about$36 . Great service, great food.
     
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  12. ACMike

    ACMike High-Roller

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    Correction, this machine is 9/5, but still the best STP payable in AC. Nugget also has 9/5 at dollars, but limited to 5-play.
     
  13. thecarve

    thecarve Misanthrope

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    How about some ideas for non-gambling activities in case the bankroll needs a little breather?

    Odds are, we'll be staying at Borgata and will have a car. Dad's knees aren't in the best shape so maybe something that won't require tons of walking (though some walking is fine).

    Thanks.
     
  14. smerrian

    smerrian View from Bally's

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    1) The only reason to choose Harrah's over Borgata would be for the fantastic 'atrium' pool that they have open year round with palm trees and foliage and such; or for use of Caesars' free shuttle to the boardwalk. Since you have a car and it's doubtful your father (bad knees and all) is a pool person, I would choose Borgata. Borgata has a nice indoor pool and spa. The Borgata spa is located in their regular tower, not the Water tower. Also, the regular tower is right in the casino...whereas you have to walk down a long (relatively speaking, considering your dad's knees) hallway if you book the Water tower. (It's not really that long, but if you're infirmed at all it gets old quick.)
    2) I would choose a Fiore Suite primary and a regular tower room secondary.
    3) Your father is not going to do the walk between the Borgata and Harrah's. Plan on driving between the two. If you have a diamond card with Harrah's then parking is free at all of their properties. If you don't have a diamond card then save your receipt upon paying for parking; it is good for free parking at your next casino during that day only. Also, if you have a diamond card with Harrah's be sure to stop in at Borgata and get upgraded to their black card. It provides for free parking at Borgata and they will give you 2 free buffets (or Amphora Lounge) entries, $100 free play and a free room stay.
    4) Borgata has STP (All Star machines) ranging from $.05 - $1.00. They can be found by going to the buffet entrance and upon reaching the entrance turn around to face the casino machines. Walk in the direction of 10 o'clock and you will see them right near some Multi-Strike poker machines. There are also a couple more of these by the end of the craps table pit by the casino cage.
    5) Honestly, I find the designer chef restaurants in AC to be overpriced and only fair-good in cuisine. In Harrah's, Martorano's is my favorite. In Borgata, the Buffet (not just selection but quality of the food is great) is my favorite...followed by Wolfgang Puck's. At Caesars either Buddahkan or Gordon Ramsey's. Harrah's buffet is good because on the weekends they have all-you-can-eat crabs legs, but the food is not as haute cuisine as Borgata's buffet.
    6) A nice break can be a short drive to the lighthouse and pier just across from the Golden Nugget (old Trump Marina). That's known as Gardner's Basin. At the far end is a great restaurant for seafood, lunch or breakfast. Also, you can spend 1/2 a day driving up route 9 to Smithfield. It's a little tourist village of crafts, homey type things and a nice place to spend some time. If you go to Smithville stop at the Oyster Creek Inn for a moderately priced lunch or dinner.
    Stu
     
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  15. dede021

    dede021 Tourist

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    Borgata has 9/6 JOB in the "B" bar which is located in the casino.

    If its a nice day another place to visit would be Cape May which is at the end of the NJ Parkway. If you need to do shopping there are many outlets stores running between the train station and Caesar's. At night the Golden Nugget has a singer in the lounge most nights.

    In the Tropicana there is an area called the quarter with shops and restaurants. There is also a pretty new bar at the Tropicana that very pleasant that has bar top video poker.

    There is a Jitney service $2.25 that runs from the Marina (Golden Nugget, Borgata & Harrah's) area and the Broadwalk area.

    I prefer the main tower in Borgata over the Water Club since I find it closer to the casino and most areas. I have only stayed in the regular room in each but I am happy with either room.

    Have a great trip.
     
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