Trip Report - First time to AC

Well, we survived the almost 9 hour road trip to AC and it was well worth it! It doesn%26#39;t compare to Vegas - it is a great place to gamble.....not conducive to walking and sight seeing like Vegas....it has it%26#39;s own charm and draw and I love the coastal feel.

We hit Trump Marina about 1 am that Friday when we rolled into town - nice casino but we only stayed there a few hours...My husband played in a tournament at Bally%26#39;s Fri/Sat and I was impressed with that casino. Very casual, friendly and comfortable.....We took the jitney down to the boardwalk and went in through the Hilton (?) maybe and walked onto the boardwalk - took the rolling chairs down to the Trop - got some saltwater taffy at James%26#39; and then exited back to the jitney to the Marina.

We were not impressed with the downtown/boardwalk area. Maybe we didn%26#39;t give it a chance...but we all loved the atmosphere at the Marina casinos. The Borgata is very nice - upper class casino -like the Bellagio in LV - but I am not comparing! :)

Not many $5 table games in AC - but some $10 tables and mostly $15 - $25. ouch!!

I played more slots this time than I have in Vegas and really enjoyed it - to my surprise. I won some money but put it right back in the slots....played a few table games but didn%26#39;t last long.

Oh, when we walked into Trump Marina I asked a lady where the CUPS were - you know, for the coins!! What? No more coins? Paper tickets? :) Has Vegas gone to paper tickets now too??

Let%26#39;s see what else - We ate at the Reflections Cafe at Harrah%26#39;s several time - I recommend it! Delicious food. We ate at the Metropolitan at Borgata. Delicious food and reasonably priced.

We stayed at the Holiday Inn Absecon (becuase my husband is a priority club member and we used his points for a 4 night free stay!!) It was a wonderful hotel with a family type atmosphere. Short drive into the Marina casinos.

The weather was nice and pleasant (last few days of August).

Hubby enjoyed the 3 card poker tournament but didn%26#39;t place for a seat to the Vegas event in Nov. Maybe next year....

Anything else you want to hear?? We are planning another trip in the Spring - to take the other set of in-laws!! How is the weather in April? When does the weather break?

Thanks for listening. We are still reeling from our trip!! Lots of fun had by all.

Trip Report - First time to AC

I%26#39;m really glad that you enjoyed your first trip to AC!! It%26#39;s also nice that you were not expecting ';mini Vegas';!

When was your last trip to Vegas? Most of the casinos have been ticketless (or in the process of converting) since I have been going the last three years. Some of the older casinos are still coin in/coin out. (I think the Trop still has a good number of CICO machines.) A few of the casinos also have a bank or two of coin machines (I know the Stratosphere had some like that 2 years ago). A few of the really old/low end casinos are all hand pay only. Even if you want to cash out $5 you have to wait for an attendant. The (gone) Westward Ho had some machines like that, and the Western%26#39;s (downtown) machines were all like that when I went in February. Some people have lamented about there being ';no more coins';, but I personally LOVE the TITO (ticket in/ticket out) machines. I don%26#39;t want to pick up all those dirty coins!! LOL

The weather in April tends to be a bit chilly. Some cold breezes come off the ocean, but it%26#39;s not too bad. The middle/end of May is gorgeous usually. But April%26#39;s not bad.

Where do you think you will stay next time? Are you thinking about staying at one of the casinos?

Trip Report - First time to AC

Glad you had a good time .

The Hilton to the Trop area of the boardwalk is the most quiet area of the casino boardwalk . There is much more to see and do once you get past the old convention hall next to the Trump Plaza Casino .

Next time don%26#39;t forget to stroll the Boardwalk from one end to the other as thats what made AC so special and still does.

Did you get to The Walk shopping area ?

CHEERS!!!!!!!!!!!

Hon, some of us don%26#39;t like to stroll that far.

(Altho it is personal choice) I am usualy wearing 3 or 4 inch heels. I%26#39;m not doing the legnth of the boardwalk in those. ;-) I think I should win prizes for tooling around the casinos for three days like that!! LOL

I am like bring me the nearest rolling chair!!!

I am guessing you will be staying in Absecon in the spring. It appears that you did not get to take in much of the boardwalk and there is not much attractions at that part of the boardwalk you visited. I suggest that if you get a decent day on your next visit in the spring, try renting a bike to take in the boardwalk. Bikes are allowed on the boardwalk from 6am - 10am. This way you can take in the sights quickly with an exhilarating bike ride and decide what you want to visit. Most of the shops are not open at that hour, but you can see where they are to make a plan as to which part[s] of the boardwalk you want to visit via Jitney/car/foot later.

I could not find a link, some bike rental info below:

B%26amp; K Bike Rentals (available in front of the Resorts, Caesars’ and Hilton Hotels) 609-344-8008 From 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. you can pedal the length of the Boardwalk

you missed: the Steel Pier http://www.steelpier.com/ Unfortunately, which will not reopen as an entertainment pier.

The Pier at Ceasar%26#39;s http://www.thepieratcaesars.com/

The Garden Pier http://www.acmuseum.org/

The Central Pier casinoconnection.com/articles/The_Captain___…

Kennedy Plaza forms-surfaces.com/projects/parks/kennedy_pl…

Boardwalk hall http://www.boardwalkhall.com/index.asp

and the Korean War Memorial at Brighton Park http://www.njcrda.com/koreanwar.html

I hope you get gorgeous spring days on your next visit

Thanks for all the tips for next time!!

I am sure we will stay in Absecon next time vs. the casinos - because it is free for us....Although there is nothing as convenient as staying in a casino....

My mom and her boyfriend aren%26#39;t physically able to walk as much as my husband and I are so that was probably one reason we didn%26#39;t stroll as much. I would have loved to visit the Pier at Caesars and the Quarter at the Trop - maybe next time.

Our last trip to Vegas was Sept. 05 and there were still cups at every casino and coins dropping all around. AC was the first time I had seen the paper tix.

Thanks again and I will keep this site checked for all the good advice!!