The Casinos
The casino hotels are Atlantic City's big draw, luring visitors to spend nearly $5 billion in 2005. First on the Boardwalk was Resorts, at Pennsylvania Avenue (tel. 888/336-6378 or 609/344-6000; www.resortsac.com), which boasts a sharp new look thanks to a stylish $50-million renovation. It's bright, casual, and colorful, with a beachy vibe and an active showroom with top-flight rock, country, and pop headliners. Next door is The Apprentice's honcho Donald Trump's Trump Taj Mahal, at Virginia Avenue (tel. 800/825-8888 or 609/449-1000; www.trumptaj.com). Done in a loose Arabian Nights theme, the Taj is the most glamorous and attractive of the Boardwalk casinos though the rooms need better upkeep. (Nonsmokers, take note: It has the best ventilation on the Boardwalk, and Atlantic City is a smoker's haven; in fact, the casinos are exempt from the ban on smoking that exists in New Jersey's bars and restaurants.)
Clustered around the Boardwalk's midpoint are a number of notable casinos. A massive expansion has put Caesars, at Arkansas Avenue (tel. 800/443-0104 or 609/348-4411; www.caesars.com), in league with its landmark Vegas counterpart, and it has some of the best rooms in town (in the Centurion Tower). The casino is appropriately glitzy and the staff is still the best costumed in town. Expect headliners such as David Copperfield. The casino offers excellent packages and special promotions, too. Next door is Bally's, at Michigan Avenue (tel. 888/537-0007 or 609/340-2000; www.ballys.com), a fun, festive casino with inviting gaming tables and lots of dollar slots. On the second floor is the Gateway mall, connecting to the Claridge next door, and also to Bally's Wild Wild West Casino, Atlantic City's best themed casino. The casino is very well done in a Disneyesque style, with faux red rocks and audio-animatronic figures that offer a fun change of pace from the standard glitz (though we have to wonder about its obvious kid-appeal given the casino's stance on discouraging kids from entering).
Nearby at Indiana Avenue is Sands (tel. 800/AC-SANDS or 609/441-4000; www.acsands.com), best known for its great package rates and state-of-the-art spa. Rooms were remodeled only a couple of years ago and are still in good shape. All that glitters isn't gold at Trump Plaza, at Mississippi Avenue (tel. 800/677-7378 or 609/441-6000; www.trumpplaza.com), but it sure is shiny. Behind the glitz, this is an Everyman's casino, though the hotel needs work. The showroom often showcases big-name stars.
The Tropicana, at Brighton and the Boardwalk (tel. 800/THE-TROP; www.tropicana.net), has undergone a revitalization with its "Quarter at Tropicana" addition. This glossy new shopping and dining complex with an Old Havana theme even has an IMAX theater (and a bluemercury Spa!). The addition added 500 new hotel rooms, and some of the casino's old rooms have been updated.
Farther down, at the cleanest and quietest end of the Boardwalk, is the Atlantic City Hilton (tel. 800/257-8677 or 609/347-7111; www.hiltonac.com). The Hilton does what Atlantic City's other casino hotels don't dare (lest you leave the casino, of course): It provides full beach services to their guests, including beach chairs, cabanas, kayaks, on-the-sand volleyball, and more. It also features a headliner showroom and some surprisingly comfy rooms. It's hands-down the best choice in town for those who'd like to play at the beach and/or bring the kids, before returning to high-quality rooms.
At Farley State Marina, a quick drive from the Boardwalk via Brigantine Boulevard (Rte. 87), are three more casinos. With an '80s teal color scheme and oldies tunes playing over the sound system, Harrah's (tel. 800/HARRAHS or 609/441-5000; www.harrahs.com) draws a generally older crowd to its ultrafriendly casino. Trump Marina (tel. 800/777-8477 or 609/441-2000; www.trumpmarina.com) targets a younger crowd with rock-'n'-roll Muzak and headliners, but it otherwise seems like just another glittery Trump property. The best of the bunch is the brand-new Borgata Casino Hotel & Spa.
In the Showrooms
On any given night, Atlantic City's showrooms are peopled with acts ranging from Chris Rock to Tony Bennett to Aerosmith to Alicia Keys to Ringo Starr's All-Starr Band -- and the quality just keeps getting better. Check with the visitor bureau at tel. 888/AC-VISIT or www.atlanticcitynj.com, or contact the casinos directly for current schedules. You can also find out what's on and buy tickets through Ticketmaster (tel. 856/338-9000; www.ticketmaster.com).
