How is Atlantic City these days?

We used to go to Atlantic City when the kids were younger and it was a good compromise of beach and poker. The kids were too you to know it wasn't that great of a spot and all they cared about was going to the ocean. Over the years it deteriorated to the point we just didn't want to go back.

Fast forward 8 years or so and the kids, and the wife, are on me to go back and try it again. I really don't want to, but to be fair to them I'll give it a shot if it isn't a total dump these days. My daughter simply loves the ocean, I hate it, with a passion. Rip currents scare me, sharks scare me, drowning scares me, I don't like sand on, well, everything. If it makes my daughter happy I will grin and bear it but if it's even worse than it was 8-10 years ago I'm gonna have to ask them to pass.

Anyone been there this/last year? What was your experience?

Thanks.

 

It's gotten better in the last few years. The city as a whole is safer and the boardwalk area is improved. The hotels at Ocean and Hard Rock are both very nice.

I've been multiple times the past 2 years and am going back at the end of July.

 

I’m totally biased because I have been going to the Jersey Shore my whole life, I love the beach. So having 9 casinos along with many non-casino restaurants and watering holes makes it my happy place.

In the past 8-10 years, a lot of money, both public and private has been invested in Atlantic City. Revel was reopened a year ago as Ocean Casino and the Taj Mahal is now the Hard Rock. Stockton University opened an oceanfront branch campus, there is a new apartment development that takes up a city block. Sports betting was approved a little over a year ago and I heard that NJ has just overtaken Las Vegas in betting volume last month.

That’s not to say it’s all rainbows and unicorns, because there are still run down areas. But you will see examples of this in just about any city.

I would recommend reading some of the trip reports to get a better feel for things. As for rip currents, sharks, drowning, these are minimized because the beach is patrolled. Rip currents happen when the wind picks up, the lifeguards don’t let you go out far. Can’t remember when there was a shark attack, but if it skeeves you, just go up to your knees.

I think it’s safe to say that for the folks who have visited AC, the feedback has been almost universally positive. But for the folks who’ve never been, it’s a dump because they heard it from someone, somewhere, at some time.

 

Thank you for the feedback. I'm not labeling it a dump and my experience there is over 8 trips or so. It went downhill quite a bit towards our last trip. Very shady areas, in fact if you went anywhere past Pacific avenue it got downright scary for a while. I remember the Tropicana literally using duct tape to protect people from sharp edges on broken outer door handles.

My concerns aren't because I've heard bad things, it's because I witnessed bad things there. If it's improved even to the point it was around 2005ish then it's worth going back, but around 2012/2013 it got to the point we said we'd never go back. Not sure what piqued the interest from the family this year, but they want to go.

I'm guessing we end up going......

 

I applaud you, because at least you made a visit and saw things for yourself. There are many folks who hear things second hand and of course bad news travels fast. The top of the market was 2007, things were never better. Then competition set in and casinos from PA, DE, MD, NY, CT slowly drew customers away and Atlantic City didn’t prepare.

Probably around 2014 things hit the bottom. Atlantic Club, Showboat, Trump Plaza and Taj Mahal all closed. Then the $2.4 Billion Revel closed as well. Thousands of casino employees lost their jobs and Atlantic County became one of the top spots in the country for foreclosures. Folks just stopped paying their mortgage and in many cases it took 2.5 years to complete the foreclosure. AC was on the balls of its ass.

AC just hosted the Van’s Warped Tour last weekend, it was a sold out two-day beach concert, I heard there were 60,000 tickets sold.

We have gone to a beach about a mile south of Tropicana, it is never crowded, street parking is readily available, but we bring our own chairs and umbrella since we drive in. If you’re with MGM, I understand that Borgata has a shuttle to a beach in Brigantine, just a few minutes north.

One of my favorite things to do is ride my bike on the boardwalk in the morning. There is an automated bike rental kiosk in front of Showboat, and rental shop down in Margate, about 3 miles south of AC. But the boardwalk starts about 3 blocks north of the bike shop.

I think your timing is great to make a return trip to AC.

 

brigantine beach is not free----you need to buy a beach tag------does Borgata provide the tags for free or is there a charge?

 

I was there last week, it was great, beautiful weather and very busy, give it another shot, I think you'll like it.

 

Here you go:
SHUTTLE DETAILS
Guests will be dropped off in Brigantine at the 14th street beach next to Laguna Grill & Rum Bar. Borgata provides complimentary beach towels and beach tags to all guests, and will have beach chairs and umbrellas available to rent at the beach to make for a hassle free trip! Additionally, Gold, Platinum and Noir M life Rewards Members are able to charge any purchases made at Laguna Grill & Rum Bar to their hotel room.

BEACH RENTALS
The rental fee for an umbrella is $10, and the rental fee for a chair is $7.* All guests can conveniently charge beach chair and umbrella rentals to their hotel room.

https://www.theborgata.com/hotel/amenities/beach-shuttle

 

Took this advice and booked a couple rooms at Oceans. Not gonna lie, bit of sticker shock when I'm used to staying in comped rooms in Vegas. Yikes.......

 

Good choice, nice rooms, several good restaurants, a great sports book, Top Golf. You might even find a cinnamon roll at Rocco’s. Just about anything will be sticker shock compared to a comp. The season at the shore is really short, 8-10 weeks, so they gotta make hay when the sun shines.

 

Cinnamon roll you say? I may be warming up to this trip after all.........


Maybe I'm doing it wrong, but two rooms for three nights checking in on a Monday and out on Thursday was almost $1,100 and that was with signing up for the email list and getting 10% off. Seems a bit much?

 

I played there one evening in May, did not stay there. Was on business in the Tinton Falls area and drove down on a free Saturday.

I went to the GN. Why? Why not? It was there. It was nice, not seedy at all.

I was trying to get there in time to do a bet on the Kentucky Derby but alas, the sports book at GN did not do horses.

The buffet was surprisingly good. Casino was fun but I lost. Had a fair selection of the machines I like.

I would have enjoyed it better if I would have been able to have a few more beverages, but I was driving.

I drove back on the north highway (30?). No particular reason, just felt like it.

 

Weekend rates in the summer go anywhere from $250-450/weekend night and half that during the week. So 6 nights weekdays sounds about right at $1,100. Demand is high in the summer, the casinos are crowded, the boardwalk buzzing. Bicycle rentals available in front of the Claridge, too.

The weekends are even busy in the Winters. The reason AC casinos have so much trouble is because: How do you keep the business crowded on a Tuesday in February? The debates over 'What ails AC' boils down to that question. You can't run a large business if it sits vacant 3-4 days a week. Fix that problem and the money will be there so you don't see duct tape on the doors.

 

Midweek rooms @ $180 per night, is that an “all in” price with tax and resort fee? If so, that sounds about right for someone without a players card and history. I was going to ask if you have an Mlife or Caesars Rewards card. I’m a low roller but can get midweek rooms at Borgata starting at $59. I’m getting comps at some Caesars properties.

If you have any Marriott Points, there is a Courtyard about a block from the boardwalk and a block south from Resorts. We had stayed 3 times at the Wyndham Skyline Tower, its a timeshare and they have 2 bed/2 bath units with a full kitchen and a living room. They are really nice and we have rented through a reseller on eBay. Valet parking only, but it worked for me and I always avoid valet if I can. There is a Sheraton, but it’s several blocks from the beach and you’d be driving everywhere.

Maybe you could call a host on duty at Ocean and ask if they can do anything with the rate. The Claridge is part of the Radisson chain and some folks have reported positive experiences. Finally, Showboat has been operating as a hotel for a couple years, but i can’t vouch for the room quality. It’s right next to Hard Rock.

Good Luck! Bring your beach chairs and umbrella, bucket and shovel too!

 

I do get Mlife comps and we could have stayed at the Borgata for much less, but the wife and kids want to be right on the beach and don't want to shuttle back and forth. I've been given my way with a second Vegas trip this year to see Guns Roses so I'm in no position to complain. I'm just in a position to foot the bill and smile, which is exactly what I'm going to do (with age comes wisdom).

 

Because its cheaper, and still has lovely rooms, I might have picked Borgata however, I understand wanting to stay right on the beach/boardwalk and Ocean is said to have fabulous rooms.....in fact I am staying at Ocean soon for the very same reason and even with "special" rates its almost $500 for 3 nights by the time they add all the fees and taxes!
I hope you have a wonderful time and that your opinion about AC changes

 

Thank you, and to be fair, we've had some great times/memories in Atlantic City. It was a great compromise when the kids were younger. They had the beach and I would hang out with them all day on the sand/boardwalk then we'd have dinner and they would hit the pool or movie in the room and I would go play in the casino. We were really disappointed it got to the condition it did as we had some great times there.

I'm older now and somehow less patient with my time and really don't enjoy sitting in the sun all day on a beach but if it makes the wife and kids happy then I'm all in.

 

When going on the Borgata shuttle, I have never been approached about a beach tag.
It is obviously not a private beach but I think Borgata has a deal with Brigantine.The kids patrolling the beach don't bug anybody either in that section or in chairs provided by the Borgata.
It is a great spot.Laguna has decent food and drinks and bands every weekend.

 

@Mr. Brownestone 1100 seems like a lot, but with no history it may be harder to judge. I would see if Borgata will give you an offer and then call back see if they will match or improve. Also they are doing status matches which usually come with some perks as well, so you may want to call them and ask about the match and what you would get. They seem to be making a push to get players, and like Borgata, Ocean may be most on par with Wynn, Aria etc in terms of the beauty of the property and quality of the amenities. I'm trying to figure out a decent way to get on their radar while not burning Caesars. Nice mix of casual and fancy restaurants and a great vibe.

We started going to AC in 2010 and saw it get pretty rough before a resurgence, now it is the perfect destination to leave the baby home but be close enough to drive home fast if there are any issues and only need to go for 2-3 nights.

 

Great advice, there seems to be some disgruntled players out there who are noticing changes since MGM took full control of the Borgata about three years ago.