AC Trip-the good, the bad, and the sadly same old, same old

AC Trip-the good, the bad, and the sadly same old, same old

The Good

1) Stayed at Borgata - Great renovations to room. Big flat screen tv, refrigerator available, and if you have stayed at red rock in Vegas, and loved it, you'll feel right at home.
A great casual dining place is the Bread and Butter for terrific sandwiches and
Roma's has terrific breakfast sandwiches. I suggest the Roman wrap with the hash browns in the wrap. Outstanding.
They are celebrating their 10 year anniversary celebration and were giving away free t-shirts.
The gaming at Borgata is great - VP with 9/6 jacks all over, even 9/6 DDB. Fun slots, as well as the usual new ones included Dolly Parton and my new fave Willy Wonka. The oompa loompa random bonus is similar to the Glinda bonus on the old wizard of oz machines, only the the screen is extended to the panel above. Lots of fun.

2) The Atlantic Club, which used to be AC Hilton , is nicely renovated. And good promos. Friday is $1 comp buffet day and is a Great value. Its a small, but good buffet. Choices are limited, but well done. Limited desserts, but chocolate cake is to diefor.
Other promos include free parking if you make $1 tier point (otherwise, parking is $10, ouch!). And for first timers, after 1/2 hour play, you are eligible for $5 - $5000 in free slot play. Normally, it's the usually bottom given out like $5, but I received $20, which I made into $60 playing slots. So lets review: free buffet for 1 tier point ( fridays only), free parking for another tier point, and a free slot play that played into $60 profit. I definately recommend Atlantic Club - I'm going back.

3) Revel - loved it. It's like being in Vegas. It probably doesn't fit the AC casino profile, but definately worth the visit. After a tough start, they are trying to right the ship with many changes. And the month of July includes a loss replacement promo that seems like a pretty strong play. It brings a freshness of a resort that AC desperately needs. Great little touches, like an taco truck inside the casino, anda bar called mussels with a beer menu like I have never seen. Fabulous for the beer conisiure.

So, between AC Club, Revel, and the best of AC borgata, I'll be back.

Now the Bad & the Sad

1) Resorts - the only good addition to this place is margaritaville and the landshark grill overlooking the beach. The speakeasy vibe the are going for in the casino is not working. And the gaming is pathetic - poor vp, high table limits (buts that's all over AC) and typical of boardwalk properties, it seems that to the place that old slots go to die. I mean, even the reels are outdated, never mind the video slots which seem ten years behind the times. The place left me with the feeling like i needed to take a shower upon leaving.

2) Caesars (I still call them Harrahs) properties on the boardwalk
Filthy, overcrowded, machines, many outdated, packed on top of each other, enough to suffocate everyone. Terrible vp tables, high limits, dirty, abused and not kept up. The same "mo" as in Vegas - properties full of neglect. And it's quite obvious that wild Wild West is just an afterthought for Harrahs entertainment - 75% is closed off, neglected and basically used to get you from ballys to Caesars.

3) Also a sign of the times for the boardwalk - lts of people for beach, same scuzzy traveling carnival feel walking on the boardwalk. I sware that the same people own all the cheap disgusting clothing sheds ( I can't even call the kiosks because it would be insulting to kiosk owners). The pier, the big boat of shopping has more empty stores than ever. Similar retail to Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun? I Think NOT!
Anyone go to the deli "Pickles" in Ballys? It used to be the quintessential east coast casino deli - now it's a a takeout fast food deli. Same good menu, but the ambience is gone for good. It was sad eating there, even though their Reuben is one of the best.

The wrap up, unless you like dilapidated, smoke filled, outdated casinos, stick to the three corners - Atlantic Club, Revel, and the best - Borgata.

Going to AC for the first time at the end of July, thanks for the heads up!

Thanks for the report. We were just there also. I enjoyed Harrahs marina. We visited Resorts to see the changes, and I, too, will not be back there. We went to the Taj and had a good time there, we like the hard rock for lunch.

I should have gone to the Revel, we haven't been since they changed their smoking policy, must go there next time.

All in all, we enjoyed the trip, including sitting on the boardwalk and just people watching for a bit. Tons of families just there for the ocean! It's a fun place to visit and I hope to go back there this month.

Nice report binbin.
I just returned from a weekend at the Borgata(Water Club) and agree with your review.
IMO It offers the best of gaming,dining and entertainment in AC.

You are exactly right about the Caesars boardwalk properties.They are dumpy,outdated and overcrowded.
Harrahs Resort,Borgata's next door neighbor, is different.It is more current and maintained way better.
Revel is the shiny new star in AC but continues to struggle.I was there a couple weeks after they opened and was impressed with the property,kind of reminded me of Aria.
The problem was they were not really comping anything when I stooped in as they still thought they were gonna make it as a boutique resort and everyone would run to spend big $ on rooms and bottle service.
I understand they realize they need to change their game and I probably should stop back there.

Hey Now!
I really have to speak up for Resorts. Yes, most of the slots are old, but they have recently added a bunch of new ones. As for the VP- I personally like to play .50 8/5 Bonus Poker, and the joint is loaded with it. And the comps are easy to get playing VP. They actually have some really nice places to eat too. The Burger Bar has killer burgers, and Cappuccino's has very good Italian food. Going up next week for 3 nights comped and will post my usual TR as soon possible.

Interesting to hear your thoughts on visiting Atlantic City. Borgata is definitely a great place to stay, but don't expect much in the way of free play or even comp room offers unless you're a pretty big player. They've also cut back their video poker offerings quite a bit. You used to find 9/6 JoB pretty much anywhere you looked. Now you have to hunt a bit for those machines. The rooms were in need of freshening up, though I think I liked the original look better, but things were starting to get a little worn.

I am a little surprised by how you rated the video poker offerings at different properties. For example, you were fond of Revel, and I agree the place looks nice, but the gaming is the worst in town and it got worse in preparation for this month's promotions. Now, the promotions this month are great (more on that later), but the best games are 8/5 JoB, unless you're willing/able to bet $30 a spin on one of the two $2 9/5 JoB Triple Play machines. By the same token, you described the gaming options at Resorts and the Caesars/Harrah's properties as poor. Resorts has ample 8/5 BP, which is a 99+% game (with a better return than 9/6 DDB). Bally's has quite a few quarter 8/5 BP Triple Play progressives and $1 9/6 Job and 8/5 BP progressives. Caesars has quarter 9/6 JoB progressives and $1 9/6 JoB. Harrah's has a few $1 9/6 JoB in the Diamond Cove area and three slanttop 9/6 JoB machines that you can play for quarters, half-dollars, or dollars. Showboat also has two banks of multidenominational machines with 9/6 JoB, 8/5 BP, and 9/7/5 DB (I forget if these also have 9/6 DDB). Granted, there's a lot of trash in the Caesars Entertainment video poker inventory and you may not want to search through it to find the good games, but they are present.



If anyone is visiting Revel this month, then I'll add this amendment to my complaints about their gaming offerings. The loss rebate they are offering may be a little overhyped, as most people won't return 20 weeks in a row to reclaim their losses, but matching other casino slot offers can be a huge deal. You can bring one from another Atlantic City casino every day this month and get the same offer at Revel (though if your offer is a coupon, then you'll have to surrender that coupon, but with most other offers you can still use them at the original casino as well, so you get twice the free play!).

Love Borgata and revel but still like Resorts. 8/5 bonus poker all over the place. Much easier to earn comps. Nice pool deck overlooking the ocean. 1 for 1 comps at the margaritaville restaurants and stores. They are upgrading the ocean tower rooms and adding new slots. A food court is under construction. However, if this is your first or only trip to AC stick with Borgata.

Great stuff thank you all as I am heading there Tuesday staying at the "Water Club" and I do enjoy the atmosphere there. I have only been to AC twice and both nights it was pouring rain so I never left the Borgata but I was okay with that.

Thanks for the suggestion on the free play match offer at Reval, I will now head there for an addition 100 free play thanks to you and the Borgata.

I am a Borgata regular, and I think the posts here are pretty accurate.
Just a couple of additions:

1. On the boardwalk, check out Harrys Seafood, next to Bally's. The outdoor dining plus the live entertainment
makes it a nice change.

2. I don't stay at Showboat, but I still like to play there and mid week it is not overcrowded. I think the ventilation is better than it used to be.

3. I have heard from many poker players and dealers that security is still an issue at the Taj.

4. Revel: they recently added a game that I like, Texas Holdem Bonus, so I gave them some black chip
play. Still no comps. Forget it.

Thanks for the t/r and update on A/C. I'm going down next month for a few days and I want to go down to the Revel.