Atlantic City First Timer

Going to AC in a few weeks for the first time. I'll be staying at Bally's for a few days and want to see all the casinos that are still left. My free time will be at night. Are Tropicana, Taj Mahal, and Resorts walkable at night from Bally's (distance/safety)? Should I be taking a cab to visit Borgata, Harrah's?

Also, any best/worst place for a casino smoker? I play 40/40/20, VP/Slots/Tables I hear they only reserve a quarter of the casino floor for smokers.

Any VP bars for smokers?

Any must-sees in AC?

Thanks!

 

Savage. Borgata is definitely a must do. Best casino / hotel in Atlantic City.

 

Bally's, we rarely go to, used to all the time. Terrible dining. Caesar's next door better dining options. Just feel Bally's is run down. All the casino's are walkable and safe. Trop isn't bad, about 10 minute walk. Resorts, small but remodeled, nice, Jimmy Buffet theme with Taj next store, a bit run down also, every time we stop by it's dead. We miss the ShowBoat. Now we stay at Harrah's, much much the best of the CET properties in A.C., they have everything, nice place. The Borgata is also fantastic, has it all, very live casino, when we stop by. Also Golden Nugget next to Harrah's, about a 5-10 minute walk. Not a bad little casino, remodeled when the nugget took over. Yes a cab is needed to get to the Marina District or You can catch Harrah's bus from Bally's to Harrah's, then a cab to Borgata's. Use to need a players card, and check their times at the desk. They have the same in Vegas. Borgata's is a hard 20 minute walk, don't try. There's a blacktop walk way in the back,[poker room].
Over all, it surely isn't Vegas, not even close, Harrah's and Borgata, especially Borgata has the action. The board walk is safe, with all it's cheap stores. AC , it's a shame the city never invested in it, it looks the same as 20 years ago, old and run down. With the ocean they could of made it the place to be in the summer, instead, just a rusted old bucket,,,hanging in there. Me and the wife still go, 1 and 1/2 hour ride. We have casino's all over, within 5 minutes in Delaware, yes we still go to AC, our get a way place. Hope you enjoy yourself, just get out to the Marina,at night. Win lots of money!!!

 

Yes, you won't be able to walk to the Marina area where Borgata (and Harrah's) are. They might still have these shuttles called "jitneys" that take people to and from the boardwalk to the marina.

Bally's is at the center of the boardwalk, and you'll be walking several blocks along the boardwalk to go to either Tropicana (to the south) or Taj and Resorts (to the north). I think the boardwalk is fairly safe. There is an area on the boardwalk close to Bally's which is called "The Playground," and it used to be a shopping area, but has been recently renovated and I think has some bars and other music venues.....might be worth checking out.

 

Do check out the Marina district..Harrahs has a free ride from thier other properties but the VP is pretty rough there..at bartops it's 10 units @ $.25 a spin for an 8000 RSF payout though.I prefer the back 'poker bar' as opposed to the eden lounge or xhibition and as of April when I was last there,smoking was allowed in all..

Did not hit the Borgata last trip but VP bartop seats are hard to find at night..Tony is right on though it is the class of AC......Did try the Nugget for the first time and was really impressed what they have done with the place.I'm mostly a VP bartop player and smoker and paytables were ok enough to play all day.

Have a nice trip and you should be good on the boardwalk,someone asking for a cig or a dollar may hit you up but that's it if you stay on the main path..

 

jitney is AC's public transportation, cost?? use to be around a $1.00, probably more today, you catch them out on the main street. I'm pretty sure Harrah's have their shuttle bus, I think a players card is needed. platinum or diamond, gold card may cost? 7star, they'll probably drive you over. Shopping, the outlets. I think the playground?? is the old mall like building hooked up to Caesars, 1/2 the stores shut down, they have dining on the 3rd floor, and a new bar, entertainment center on the 1st or 2nd floor. Trop has the Quarter, nice dining and shopping.

 

Jitney is $2.25 now, and runs between the Marina properties, as well as Marina-->Boardwalk and back. Caesar's has a shuttle that runs between the Total Rewards properties (Caesar's, Bally's, Harrahs) and is free for guests staying at those properties. I stayed at Bally's back in the spring. The rooms were standard - nothing special, but they were clean. Bally's is attached to Caesar's, so if the gambling goes sour there, Caesar's is right next door. Trop, Taj, and Resorts are all walkable from Bally's, just make sure you stay on the Boardwalk, particularly at night. IMO, Tropicana has the best dining options on the Boardwalk, and I always seem to do well gambling there (mostly slots and tables - not much of a VP player). I haven't stepped foot in Taj Mahal since the rumors that it was closing started floating around the time Showboat/Plaza/Revel all went under. Resorts is small, but worth the walk if you wanna have a couple margaritas at Margaritaville. Over in the Marina area, Borgata is the class of AC. Definitely recommend you spend some time there. It's true that only 25% of the casino can be smoking areas, but most of the tables and VP bartops are in the smoking areas, so you should be ok there.

 

Walking via the boards (Boardwalk) is completely safe. Go out and turn left for Restorts and Taj, right for Caesars & Tropicana. KWI Noodle House in Caesars is absolutely delicious. A must for me/us every trip. Definitely check out Brogata, don't bother with the rickety Jitney, all cab fares are $13 or less between casinos (plus tip). You can walk from Brogata to Harrahs, the nicest CET property in AC by going out the side doors, through the self parking lot and across the street at the light, simply, not a fan of the Nugget but is walkable via a walkway from Harrah's. Or a cab between the Marina prosperity's is about 7 + tip.

 

Bally's is my place for gambling, not anything else. Nothing much to see in Trop, and it's far to walk. Instead go to Taj, and then take a cab to Borgata.

I hear Taj and Bally's are next to go kaput, so enjoy!
BTW, go to AC before its gets too cold.

 

if you get bored at the Borgata, Harrahs and the Golden Nugget are right next door.

 

Gomar, I would respectfully disagree, I would go to the Tropicana as it has a lot of dining options and they just remodeled the gaming floor. I can't speak about the smoking areas, but I think you will be accommodated, but I'm not sure if they have a VP bar. The Taj is just plain sad, it has an enormous floor and without the crowds it feels empty. However, a few months ago I did see a two deck hand pitch $10 Blackjack table. They also had several $5 tables. The place is a cave.

As others mentioned, a visit to Borgata is a must. Harrahs and Golden Nugget both have nice VP bars as well. Many of the restaurants at these two properties also feature Happy Hour and I am particular to the HH at the Chart House. Nice views of the marina and discounted cocktails and appetizers. Vic and Anthony's at the GN had $1 oysters during happy hour during my recent visits. Most of the casinos charge for parking, but some of them have free parking promos, Golden Nugget and Tropicana come to mind. Parking is free at CET properties if you put 25 points on your card, or if you spend $100 at a restaurant, just print out a voucher before you leave. We haven't been down since August, so sometimes these programs change, so best to confirm.

One of my favorite things to do in AC is to walk the boards and hit a few bars, play a little, from Tropicana to the Taj is about 1.5 miles. Weather permitting, of course. Not fun last week during a Nor'easter with the wind and rain.

Sure, 4 properties closed, but there's still 8 open and they are pulling in about $2.5 Billion a year, and that ain't hay.

 

Thanks for all the great advice. Apparently, Borgata is the place to go! But I'm staying at Bally's on a comp so that will be home base.

Any cheap quick eats to recommend?

 

White House subs is always good. Anyone know if The Playground is full on? I haven't been to AC yet this year. That might be an option. And there's always Caesars.

 

Downstairs at Bally's is Harry's Oyster House. Good restaurant. Sort of a sports bar set up.

I'd go to Trop before going to Taj. Taj is lame-o. Trop has a shopping and restaurant wing that's pretty nice.

There are a few good restaurants on the Pier at Caesars. Continental and Buddhakan are both very good. Angelo's II is a bar/restaurant a bock or two from Bally's. It's great. It's close to Bass Pro Shops.

Don't stray from the casinos and walk around the city. The outlet area and Bass Pro Shop are safe. Other streets are not and if you're not sure, assume it's not safe.

 

+1 White House, get the White House Special, order a "half" as its about 10" long and more than enough for lunch.
+1 Harry's, check and see if they still have buck a shuck oysters for happy hour.
+1 Angelo's Fairmont Tavern, a red gravy Italian restaurant

If you make it to the Trop, there is Tony Luke's, get the Roast Pork Italian with Broccoli Rabe and provolone, it's better than a cheesesteak.
Around the corner is Tony's Baltimore Grill, just go for the pizza, can't recommend anything else.

While at Ballys, check out the Mountain bar, $3 beers. At Caesars, check out Nero's bar, a fun bar to have a drink and watch the folks go by. If you make it to Resorts, the LandShark Bar & Grill is right on the beach and it has great ocean views. Also, check out the top floor of the Pier Shops or Playground in front of Caesars, there are many Adirondack chairs overlooking the ocean, it's a great place to have a coffee and plan the day. A couple blocks from the Trop is a little corner restaurant, Little Saigon, great Pho.