Anything fun or cool to do there for a 30's, married, non swinging couple? Low roller gambling not withstanding, is it worth a cheap flight, 2-3 day trip?
I hear good things about the Borgata.....it's a much younger crowd. Some good shows coming up: http://www.theborgata.com/Main.cfm?Category_1=5000&Category_2=5100
Stay at one of the hotels that is along the boardwalk...not that the boardwalk is super great, but it's nice to be able to walk there in the evening. I've only been there to play poker, so I don't have any activity suggestions for you, but there is a beach, so if the weather is still nice (sketchy this time of year) you can do some sun and ocean time.
It really depends on what you like to do and whether gambling's your thing - if not you can always see if there's a show in town worth catching. That said, I've never been too impressed by AC and although there are a couple of 'okay' areas I consider much of it to be a dump. Of course if you enjoy spending time stolling around demilitarized zones and admiring crackheads then it's the perfect place.
Borgata is the nicest hotel there, but that's what I was talking about re: the boardwalk. It's a cab ride or drive to get there...not a nice place to be walking (unless you carry a gun and enjoy thwarting muggings). If you're a poker player, Borgata is great. talk to Stan the poker room manager about getting the poker rate at the hotel ($59 during the week...regular prices are way over $100 per). the games during the day are pretty soft, but at night you get a huge crowd of young, good players and the game gets much tougher.
If you can find things to do there for two days other than gambling, it's a lot better than the last time I was there.
Brad, my dad lives just down the road and is a regular customer of the Borgata and has been for a number of years. When my wife and I go up, that's typically the only casino we'll patronize. There some gift shops & restaurants and several bars, but all a little on the pricey side, which is to be expected. If you really want to go all out, hit the spa inside the Borgata...it's expensive but well worth it. Lots of stuff to do around the area besides gambling. As DDT mentioned, the boardwalk is cool to stroll. Lots of shopping. Just down the road is a touristy style town, Millville. There's also an historic lighthouse just a few miles from the Borgata, too.
New York City is a quick train ride away if you get bored. Tickets range from $29 to $39 per person one-way. Search Amtrak Aces - runs Friday-Sunday. There is additional rail service on the normal Amtrak line, but, I think it goes through Philly and is a bit more expensive.
The Tropicana is pretty nice too. It has a cool indoor mall-type area with shops, theatres, and restaurants.
I also like the Tropicana, for gambling, and there is a Hooters there on the boardwalk. Their table games usually have lower limits too. I like to play craps, you can usually get a $5 table at the Trop. The Borgata usually has $10 min tables. But the Borgata is much nicer than any hotel down there, lots of good restaurants, bars, and shows, and it's the place to people watch (ie hot chicks like to go there looking for sugar daddies). Is it worth a cheap flight and 2 or 3 days? If you plan on spending most of your time in the casinos, seeing shows, shopping, and eating, you should have fun. The boardwalk and beach are ok for walking around, but not much else to do around there. If you've never been, it's worth checking out. Just be forewarned that the outskirts are seedy, don't stray too far from the boardwalk or marina, you'll get harassed by druggies and hookers. But the areas around the casinos are very safe.
I live an hour and a half away and haven't heard nice enough things about it to make me intrigued enough to want to go?
Hmm..the more I research and hear about it, the less appealing its becoming. Still *might* chance it but will likely pass. Thanks all!
I live about 1.5 hours also, and usually make at least one or two day trips to hang out and play some craps with buddies. My wife and I also do a weekend overnight trip once a year, usually in the winter when the hotels are cheaper. And we always have fun. But it all depends on what you like to do. If you like to gamble, eat, drink, see shows, shop, and people watch, you will have a good time. Other than that, there's nothing much to do. Personally, I don't like the beach and boardwalk there that much, if I want to do the beach thing there are better places to go, i.e. Pt Pleasant, Wildwood. Also, historically speaking, AC has been a happening place to go for a very long time, the first boardwalk and piers were built in the late 1890's. But then it became poverty stricken by the 60's and it wasn't much of a resort town anymore. But when the casinos opened around 1980 the area was revitalized in and around the boardwalk, but the several blocks off the boardwalk remain poverty stricken. If you've never been, you should go. It's worth experiencing. Don't be put off by the crappy side of town, the boardwalk, marina, and casinos are very upscale and nice.
