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my Atlantic City trip

Discussion in 'Non-Vegas Trip Reports' started by chef, Mar 29, 2010.

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  1. chef

    chef Resident Buffetologist

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    My Trip Report

    While visiting a relative in Columbia, MD, I decided to drive to AC on Sunday. After heavy traffic and numerous tolls, I began to appreciate my rural midwestern lifestyle.
    Arrived three hours later and parked near the Boardwalk. Going in, I had heard AC paled compared to Vegas, but it was more depressing than I had imagined. It wasn't the casinos themselves, but the area around them.
    I walked the boardwalk and checked out a few casinos (Hilton, Caesers, Trump). Boardwalk was kinda neat to walk along, even though it was 40 degrees and windy.
    Afterwards, went to Absecon Lighthouse and climbed the 228 steps to the top and caught a view of the surrounding area. This lighthouse is purported to be the third highest in the country.
    Several on this board suggested I check out Borgota, which I did and found it to be the highlight of the trip. Thanks for the tip. Indeed, this was a classy place to check out.
    Played BJ and found AC rules to be fair enough. Tables limits ranged from $15-100. For a Sunday afternoon, the casino was relatively crowded.
    Also did their $30 dinner buffet. I would rank it among the top of the second tier of Vegas buffets.
    Their seafood (especially broiled bay scallops on the half shell), meats and side dishes are outstanding. They do not overcook their seafood like Vegas buffet.
    They lack in the salad and ethnic departments. Desserts were fine, but not top scale.
    Originally, I was going to do an overniter in AC, but never got enough of a vibe to stay over. Instead, left later in the evening and drove back.
    Strongly doubt if a return trip is in the offing, but at least my curiousity is satisfied.
     
  2. Tammy58

    Tammy58 Frugal Slot Jockey

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    We have been going every couple of years just because Vegas is too far for a 2 or 3 nighter for us. Hubby hates it...every time there we are bothered by panhandlers, druggies, mentally ill begging for money. They are not shy either they come up in your face and get scarey. Hubby ran the boardwalk at 5 am and it was nothing but homeless hitting him up for stuff. Until the police down there do something to clean up the scarey people he isn't going back. Yes, it is a very depressed area, even walking along the street side of the cainos does not feel all that safe. I have been lucky enough to get in with a casino tour company who comps my flight from RI, free room at Bally's and they take care of the transfers. Worked out well for me with Mom in law last year...they send me an offer every month so may go again this year. It is the nearest HET prop for me and I'm not driving down I 95 to get there.
     
  3. Coaster Kikky

    Coaster Kikky Tourist

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    We haven't been to AC in a couple years (and have been to Vegas at least six times since then). When we do go to AC, it's drive straight to Borgata and stay there the entire time! Although I still miss the Stardust in Vegas, at least I think you can now see why I wasn't unhappy in what Echelon was supposed to be - it was to copy Borgata. Guess we'll see if Echelon ever becomes anything more than the shell of a building it is currently.
     
  4. BigRoss71

    BigRoss71 Low-Roller

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    I live about 2 hours from AC and don't have much inclination to go there. The Borgata is very nice, but i can't even get ahead in anything there even if to lose it back. I think they are more tightly rigged if that's possible, many people would agree with me. I have ok luck at the tropicana, but end up losing back all that win there as well. They recently redesigned, which is good because 6 months ago it was bad. I've been to AC four times in the last year and have never left a winner. Vegas treated me much better overall.

    As far as the borgata buffet, its decent (2nd tier of vegas buffets is a good comparison), but to be honest it was not worth the 30 bucks. I was hoping the borgata would have a buffet that would be amazing, almost like bellagio, i was disappointed. The food was good, but i got kind of a "bland" taste from it. The deli/cafe place in borgata is very good though.

    Las vegas casino staff are also much friendlier than the AC stiffs (yes i said stiffs). The AC trop has a few good ones, but does not make up for the majority found everywhere else in the city, including there.
     
  5. joyglen

    joyglen MIA

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    I am from North Jersey before moving to Montana in 2002. Going back to AC from here is about 1,900 and going to Vegas is about 1,300 miles. I have continued making several trips a year to AC even though Vegas was a little closer. I played AC from the time it opened at Resorts and then the Gold Nugg. I have been a steady Ballys Grand/Hilton player and also started playing at The Borgata. Recently went to Vegas and most likely unless I have something to do business wise in the northeast will not return to AC. Besides they lost the majority of their high limit action in AC the place is the same, never changes. They raped the public for years and stole everything they could and now with gambling in all the surrounding states and the ecomony in the dumps they will pay a heavy price.

    There are lots of great off casino property places to eat and things to do in the area if one knows. But with the attitude of the casinos and lack of players of the caliber they used to have, I hate to say it, bye to AC. Glen.
     
  6. Vegas Vampire

    Vegas Vampire Low-Roller

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    I just got back from AC. It's about a 5 1/2 hr drive and the room is comped, so it's a cheap getaway. We stayed at Caesars and had a great time. The room was very nice and the staff was super friendly there and at Bally's. The Irish Pub is a short walk and is a great place to hear live music. We've also found the staff at the GameOn restaurant at Caesars' Pier Shops to be extremely nice.

    No it's not Vegas, but I enjoy it. The beggars don't really bother me--if I have some extra small bills, I don't mind sharing. I don't find them to be at all aggressive. It's the timeshare people that I think are the spawn of Satan. :wink2:

    I'll be back there in a few weeks--staying at Harrah's this time. I guess I'm pretty low-maintenance and easy to please. It's just nice to get the hell out of Vermont once in awhile.....:beer:
     
  7. Dean Martin

    Dean Martin VIP Whale

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    Thanks for the report Chef:nworthy:

    This is exactly why we've never ventured to AC even though we could drive it in about 6+ hours. I'm hoping when Wynn opens up in PA that his resort there will be a driveable non-Vegas option for us. We've taken trips to Biloxi before and really enjoyed the Beau Rivage but w/ always having to catch a connecting flight (Delta or AirTran going thru Atlanta), its almost as long and as expensive as taking the non-stop SW flight to Vegas so we've kind of quit doing that too. Plus the Beau's VP (along w/ most MGM properties) has gone from poor to terrible.

    If I did go to AC, I'd take the advice of you folks I think and go directly to Borgatta and just stay there. We've looked at going there a few times but they want an arm and a leg for a room:rolleyes2: Again, when you compare their room rates to flights and free rooms in Vegas.....Vegas wins again:beer:
     
  8. zerofan

    zerofan VIP Whale

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    I live about 90 miles from AC but have not gone since 1992!

    2 reasons:

    1) Yes the surrounding area is a dump site

    2) I hate traveling through, or in, New Jersey. It is traffic, traffic, traffic.....no thanks. I will pay my $300 and take my round trip 5.5hr flight to LV.
     
  9. Coaster Kikky

    Coaster Kikky Tourist

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    Unless I read the story completely wrong, there isn't a hotel or resort associated with Wynn's Philly proposal. It's *just* a casino.
     
  10. dkbk

    dkbk High-Roller

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    Wynn has promised in his press conferences and proposals that his property will be a day trip destination, so as not to be too big for the powers that be here in PA.
     
  11. Dean Martin

    Dean Martin VIP Whale

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    Oh well:rolleyes2:... as usual, trips to Vegas win again:beer:
     
  12. joyglen

    joyglen MIA

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    I received 2 phone calls earlier in the week from A.C. players I used to frequent with playing Baccarat. "Where you been Bro!" and "We miss you, nobody rocks the pit like you did when you played here, where you going up to Connecticut again???". My answer, "Nope, now only to Vegas". And after a bunch of small talk they both said about the same thing. "We're not playing down at AC anymore, no action in the high limits and the players going ain't got a clue". SO all in all, AC is the same thing for so so so many years, time to change AC.
     
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