US - Atlantic City

Duuuudddeeee. Went back August 2019 and damn that bird was jumpin. Hard Rock was like grand central and the place was packed. Ocean was also packed but much more upscale. The boardwalk was jammed up and people were everywhere. It was actually a great feeling. We went for the fantasy draft this year and rented a private space at Chickie and Pete’s in the Tropicana (went by the 4 dollar boardwalk driving tram…do not do this, took about 40 mins to get to the Trop from Ocean). The space itself was rad though. Could not have been better. All you can drink and eat for about 70 a person including tax and gratuity. Pretty sick and we put that policy to the test let me tell you. I have never seen 7 people drink and eat as much as we did in our 4 hour window. Holy shit. Plus there are like 5 private bays and the other bays were empty so we had the run of the house, super sweet.

The Ocean is the best casino and hotel by far, don’t second guess that for many years.

What I wrote below was before 2014, when multiple casinos closed. The only feeling you get around AC now is desperation and despair, and I mean a lot more than usual. The jury is out on what exactly will happen.

I always get excited when I go to Atlantic City. There is something about crossing that last bridge and knowing that you are on the beach surrounded by giant hotels and casinos. It’s enough to make it move for any hotel lover. Somehow there is a disconnect between that feeling and actually arriving at most of the destinations here. I can’t explain why, but Vegas never happened, and now that every state is approving gambling, it’s never going to.

There are rays of hope though. The Borgata and the French Quarter at the Tropicana started it. The renovation of the Caesars Pier and the new addition of Revel have helped even more. Perhaps there is light at the end of the tunnel. For the most part, the non casino parts (and many of the casino parts) are terrible. Walking the streets at night is great if you want to pick up some drugs…or VD, but not much more. The strip clubs make me particularly angry. I bring large groups to them every year and every year they are more shitty than the last. They are literally some of the worst people I have ever interacted with (bouncers mostly). May god have mercy on their soul. Of course, I also go back every year, haha.

Notes to self:

-Do yourself a favor and go the “White House” and get yourself an italian sub. You’re welcome. Last time there I did happen to get a steak and cheese the first day…and then I went back the next day cause I had to get…a steak and cheese, ha. I do hate the rude ladies who work there (the nice ones are a very small minority) and I hate that they only sell bags of potato chips for sides.
-BYOB clubs are nude…full liquor licenses means pasties. The best one (assuming the Taj stays open) is Scores at the Taj Mahal (it didn’t). The only strip club in AC that actually feels clean and not dangerous. Plus the door men at this club aren’t complete fucking pieces of shit, the world would be a better place if they died, assholes, like most of the other AC clubs. And then there were zero :)
-Took a limo from NYC this last time. Midtown to the Borgata was $400 plus I gave a $60 tip. Limo was less than top notch but the guy was super nice. Trip took about 2.5 hours.

-For groups we liked the hard rock reserve space. Rad balcony right on the boardwalk. 50 people made it seem a little sparse in there fyi.

*August 2023

Asbury Park is dumb and I don’t understand why people go there. The boardwalk is small and doesn’t have much on it. You have to pay to go to the beach. The “water park” isn’t even a good splash pad. The Berkeley hotel was terrible and should be closed for a complete renovation. The new Ocean Hotel is rad but so out of place. This place sucks.
Maybe we should have stayed at point pleasant, but still it wouldn’t beat ocean city or rehobeth.
Tallulahs was good for pizza and was a fun spot off beach/downtown.
Stella Marina bar was right on the boardwalk and was good. Pricey, but we had a good time. Going to the Stone Pony for an outdoor (or indoor) concert is all this town has.
Mid Atlantic boardwalk extravaganza trip completed. Nostalgia done. Going south from here on out (except for AC from time to time).

Ocean Atlantic City - Oct 2019

We actually really liked Revel. Really liked it. It was a whole new world for AC, mainly because the Borgata was rad, but it was way off the boardwalk, which can be super annoying. It took 2 billion dollars to create a Revel...and when it declared bankruptcy they sold it for like 15 million, holy shit. Have you ever wanted 15 million more? The scrap had to be worth 100 million alone! Anyway, they took Revel and they honestly made something even more gorgeous out of it. The place is rad. The radist by far in AC.

Now even from the outside you know this place is the jam, just a gorgeous looking hotel. Unfortunately right when you walk in you come to the first and possibly only real drawback, the annoyance of a lobby that is nowhere near the front door, and you need 2 elevator banks to get to your room...but I digress.

The hotel has style. It has some nice restaurants. It has some good casual places including a taco bar with a killer happy hour (2 buck margs and 2 buck tacos) and an Italian place that stays open until at least 2am and serves pretty good pizza and sandwiches. Very good drunk food at the bare minimum.

The spa is gorgeous. They have private bay indoor top golf. They have a nice pool area with weekend parties. Like when the Borgata opened, this is a little slice of Vegas on the Jersey shore.

I got a studio suite (they had one bedroom suites available but I actually prefer the single room style) and I was floored. The views are killer, straight from the Corner it seems like you can see everything, I was honestly surprised. Make sure you get the full ocean view if possible. Floor to ceiling windows covering over 50% of the room. Automatic shutters and other things you'd expect from a place like this. Huge bathrooms with gigantic 10 person showers. Tons of seating space, great bed. It was close to a perfect room to be honest. I guess the TV could of been much bigger but that was ok. And the mini bar was empty but casinos can be like that sometimes. I was disappointed that they didn't have 24 hour action on the TV, just a la carte which is a giant waste of money. But there is 24 hour room service, and anyway I nitpick so I know everything, not because I was truly bothered.

I loved it and outside of it being in Atlantic City and not a better city, it was right as rain.

Stayed in the one bedroom suite on November 2022. It was great and gigantic, but I still prefer the studio…just sexier.

Notes

-It is at the end of the traditional boardwalk so one might argue it's got some distance between it and the Hard Rock or Caesars, but I thought it was just fine, and if it's a nice day a walk on any boardwalk is great.
-My boys stayed at the showboat next door...do not do this. They took out everything cool that a casino could have and just opened a bare bones hotel. Outside of seeing an abandoned casino floor, which you don't normally get to see, this place is fucked. Hard to even get a beer...no joke.

Update is, they now have a pretty rad arcade in the old casino area. Not kidding it’s pretty cool.

Borgata AC - Dec 2010, Nov 2014

I really really like the Borgata. It was the first place to open up in AC that made me want to go just for the hotel experience. They have top of the line technology in the casino. They have a nice lobby and hot waitresses everywhere. The restaurants are some of the best in AC. The Italian place has great style in a downstairs cave-like environment. The steak house has great food and a shellfish appetizer tower that will knock your socks off. Regular rooms are fine, but the suites are really big and have nice bathrooms and nice views.

The fiore suite has a foyer, then a large living room with a couch, bed, tables etc. Off to the side is huge bathroom with a giant 2 person tub, plus a shower (decent size too with a seat), and separate toilet stall, etc. The view almost every time I stay here is just of the wetlands looking away from the strip.

Mini bars are empty. Pay per view was modern and good, but no packages! Room service was 24 hours (and I had a wonderful grilled cheese, haha). The vending machine offered water, in like not for resale sizes! and for like 2 bucks each!

Notes

–Very off the boardwalk which sucks, but worth a visit regardless.
-The club is somewhat of a big draw. We must of been there on gay night though because it was all dudes. It’s a decent sized club but the dance area is relatively small.
-Had dinner at the Italian restaurant in the basement. Server was a tool and the food was meh… I do kind of like the decor though. Cave action.

Revel Atlantic City - Oct 2012

Revel is sick. I mean, I’m not totally sure this hotel should be in Atlantic City. While it’s on the boardwalk, it really isn’t close to anything, which makes for many a drunken walks late night. That being said, considering what the rest of AC is currently offering (maybe except for the Borgata) I’m not sure you should ever leave. The restaurants are fantastic. The bars are fantastic. The club is as good as any you would want. To top it off, the whole place is non-smoking! Which I still can’t believe (though some dick face did light a cigarette up at one of the bars I was at and large men did not come to destroy him…sadly). The rooms are modern and cool and very spartan, which I love. I don’t understand all the crappy art they put in other casino rooms. That shit ain’t improving your clown room. The casino is a little spread out but I liked it nonetheless. Great hotel if they can just stay out of bankruptcy.

Notes

– Must go back to try the spa and the new pool area.

-As you know…they did not stay out of bankruptcy :(

Bally’s AC - Nov 2014

Obviously I wouldn’t stay here unless I was paying for a very large group to go up to AC. But I do every year so here I am. The Dennis tower is short, like 5 floors, and I think those rooms are pretty crappy. This year we stayed in the main tower and the rooms were a step up from crappy. We got ocean view action, which is actually pretty cool if you are on a high floor, which we were. The room we had was a suite, but it was really just adjoining rooms with the connecting doors opened. One room was very basic, bed couch, table, standard bathroom, but still with the great view. The other room was about the same, except they had a pretty sweet bathroom. The vanity was small and the toilet was kind of just sitting there, but in addition to a separate shower, they had a giant Jacuzzi tub sitting right up on the window, so 2 people could hang and sip champagne and watch the ocean. Not bad Bally’s, not bad.

Mini bars were empty. Room service normally went 24 hours, but when we called at 4pm, they were closed, for the night. Like not kidding. Anyway, they basically said if there aren’t enough guests they shut that shit down…ouch. TV was old school and I didn’t notice packages.

Notes

-The internet is free and works pretty well…and I don’t know much else cause I be sittin in de lobby.
-What a waste of time and money this wedding trip was. Say huh?

-I think they literally imploded this hotel…

Tropicana AC - Oct 2012

My Tropicana picture is misleading. It is a picture of the “French Quarter”, which is the renovated commercial and hotel wing of the hotel (done Vegas style). To be fair, I would not stay or visit the Tropicana if it was not for this wing. It is perhaps smaller than those found in Vegas, but the idea and style is basically the same, which says a hell of a lot for something in Atlantic City. This wing has great restaurants and bars and decent stores and an ok spa. It connects directly to the casino which is nice. The rooms in the French Quarter are fine, not great, but fine. The rooms in the other hotel towers are not fine, they should be avoided if they can be (though I have put a person or two up in them…you can’t complain if you aren’t paying!). Anyway, I like the Tropicana. It’s easy and it’s close enough to the other things I like on the Boardwalk (though not centrally located like Caesars).

Notes

-The lobby area might be the worst hotel lobby I have ever seen…imagine a bus station, but more desperate, ha!
-Pay movie system has everything…but it’s one of those super old systems.
-Room service is actually good and fast.