Ballys AC or Showboat?

We are going next weekend. Currently have a res at Showboat (Orleans Deluxe). Rates changed today and we are now being offered Bally's (classic in Claridge) for same price. Starting to lean towards Bally's since it also has Wild West Casino and near Caesars. More casinos - less walking from one to another.

We have never stayed at either property. Any advice on which property would be a better room? We are only there for two nights and not spending a huge amount of time in the room. However, I don't want to make the move form Showboat to Bally's and find that Bally's Claridge is a worse room.

We are Diamond but arriving on a Friday so not sure if we can get a complimentaryy updgrade (website says updgrades offered Sun-Thurs).

Thanks for any input.

~Allen

Allen,

I'd stay at the Showboat. The Claridge rooms can be very tiny with cramped bathrooms. From what I have heard, they've renovated about 25% of the rooms, but it's like putting lipstick on a pig. The rooms are still the same size. The Claridge was an old hotel that they doubled the size of in the late 70s to meet the 500 room requirement. While it's centrally located, I don't know if I would take the room over the Showboats. If they can put you in another tower, stay at Bally's.
The Showboat has a connection to the Taj Mahal which also connects to the Resorts. So you'd be near a couple of other casinos there as well. There's also the Diamond shuttle that will take you to the other CET properties.

Thanks Flip.

I recommend Showboat, and ask for the Bourbon Tower when you check in, it is nicer than the Orleans.

Flip is right about Ballys, I don't recommend it. The location is better, and Wild West is ok, but the rooms are likely to be a disappointment.

"offered Bally's (classic in Claridge) for same price."

I had a corner jacuzzi room w/ like 7 windows and a chaise lounge at The Ridge but I just got darn lucky ---the tell is "classic in Claridge"

Plus, you'll wait half your vacation for an elevator-- makes the elevators at the I.P. seem high tec...


Showboat mo betta cleaner, newer- make tha walk to Bally's/Ceasars a daily habit though- it's a lovely Boardwalk

Our trip was last weekend and we decided on keeping our reservation at Bally's. Weather forecast (rain) and having Bally's, WWW, & Caesar's connected were factored in.

We paid $79 for Fri night and Sat was comped. We were booked in the Claridge tower and told we could not be upgraded to other towers based on our room rate. We could get Bally's tower if we wanted to pay more. We opted to stay keep our Claridge rate. We asked for a high floor corner room that had been remodeled and had an ocean view. We got a nice size corner room on the 20th floor with windows on two walls. A direct view of the boardwalk/ocean and a view looking at Trump & Tropicana. The room had new carpet, flat screen, wet bar and fridge. The bathroom had a jetted tub but we didn't use it.
For what we paid we were very happy with it. Quite too-we heard no noise in the hall or adjoining rooms. Elevator wait was not bad. We overheard that it was a slow weekend so that probably contributed to the short wait.

We'll be back in AC in June for a long weekend chasing room comps. Fri @ Showboat, Sat @ Borgata, Sun @ Bally's tower all comped.

Looking forward to checking out Showboat and Bally's rooms to see how they all compare.

~Allen