Atlantic City Getaway and Hotel Guide

Visitors to "America's Favorite Playground" have been enjoying the world-famous, four-mile long Boardwalk, amusements, sights and surf since the 1800s.

Today "AC" offers 12 casinos open 24 hours, headliner entertainment, The Miss America Pageant, convention facilities and a variety of nearby recreational diversions, including world famous beaches, golf, tennis, sailing, fishing and wildlife refuges, and regional historical sites. However, it is argued that Atlantic City in reality remains a strip of lavish resort casinos flanked on one side by the Boardwalk and beach, and on the other side by slums. You don’t want to stay off the boards in AC proper. The neighborhoods are too iffy. Just like in Monopoly, Boardwalk properties cost more, but trust me on this.

If you want beach action, weather and water temps are most appropriate between June and September. There are many Fall Getaway deals available at the casino resorts. But late Fall and early Spring offer fascinating beachcombing. Other than holidays, when rates climb, the winter months are the same as any other at the casino hotels. Many smaller hotels and motels close off-season, between mid September and Memorial Day.

Getting around is easy. Cabs are everywhere along Pacific Avenue, the first street inland to flank the stretch of casinos. Residents and tourists alike take jitneys, convenient 13 passenger mini-buses, a bargain at only $1.50. Color coded schedules make them a cinch to use and they run 24/7 year round. Rolling chairs on the boardwalk offer more kitchy romance than speed, but can be a charming and relaxing mode of transport. Personally I like to walk, and find it the best way to take in the sea air, people-watch, and pop in and out of all the casinos and their gazillion shops.

Regardless of the season, gambling action from blackjack to boxing is now the heart of Atlantic City. There are 12 major casino hotels; The Atlantic City Hilton, Bally's Park Place and Wild West Casino, Caesar's, The Claridge, Harrah's, Resorts, Sands, Showboat, Tropicana, Trump Marina, Trump Plaza, and the Trump Taj Mahal, arguably one of the most delightfully exotic structures on the boardwalk. Shopping is abundant, from the famed Ocean One Mall directly across the boards from the Taj or at one of the myriad casino shopping galleries.

All casinos but the Sands and Harrah’s front the Boardwalk. The Flagship, a non-casino resort, is also off the boards in the newly gentrified Marina district around the inlet of Absecon Bay, near Harrah’s. Harrah's Casino, whose facilities and games are often described in gaming ‘zines as first rate, built their own boardwalk, called The Baywalk, which overlooks the very lovely 65-slip marina and Absecon Bay. A short ride in a jitney or a cab takes you back into everything.

Each casino offers similar luxury amenities, but vary in luring headliner attractions and the level of stakes at their tables. Call ahead to see what big names are lined up and what stakes are expected at the tables. Rates vary greatly at holidays and off-peak season, roughly October through May. The casino hotels are the places to stay if you want to be in the thick of top-notch entertainment, fabulous game tables, endless shopping and world-class dining. The beach and related recreation are mere yards away from all boardwalk lodging. Unlike beaches in residential resort towns where beach tags must be purchased(about $6 per week or $3 day), the beaches in AC are gloriously free. Watch out for hungry seagulls, though. They’ve been known to snatch lit cigarettes right out of peoples' fingers.

Your best values along the Boardwalk are the non-casino hotels like Quality Inn Beach Block, The Holiday Inn Boardwalk, Howard Johnson’s and the Econolodge Boardwalk. Rates tend to get lower off season, but not always. Many of the casinos are more costly in December than in August.

Want to really get in the glitz spirit? Consider Bally’s Park Place and Wild West Casino, the Taj Mahal or Caesars. All three are the latest in theme-oriented, world-class accommodations - and you’ll get what you pay for. Superb service and the finest dining. Exquisitely appointed rooms with romantic, historical themes. Costumed staff. At the Wild West casino, the animatronic lobby show with a grizzled old ‘49er, mine explosion and Jack Nicholson sound-alike vulture is hysterical, and the slots are endless.

If you have kids, Atlantic City is a great place to visit but, in my opinion as a parent, is a poor home base. True, there are pools and the occasional game room. There is regular live entertainment in the casino lobbies. The Showboat hosts the only bowling alley in Atlantic City and an upbeat animatronic musical revue lobby show. True, the Boardwalk boasts attractions like Ripley’s Believe it or Not Museum, Steel Pier,and an assortment of lighthouse tours and marine attractions. It’s a great wonder to behold, but the atmosphere is not quite milk and cookies.

Gambling makes for a diverse crowd some may consider unsavory at times, to say nothing about the seduction of the games themselves for older kids. (Legal age to play is 18). Consider staying at one of the shore towns further south and taking easy day trips up to Atlantic City.

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