Learning about Atlantic City...

[wegs the wegs]

I have spent the majority of the night doing research on Atlantic City. I have a “fall break” (well it’s a one day off on October 14th) so I’m thinking about taking a trip. I have never been to Atlantic City, nor have I had any desire to go before until this afternoon. I knew pretty much nothing about the area before the research tonight. I did have a few questions that I would like to get cleared up.

I ran several searches and the general consensus in the forums is that the Borgata and the Taj are the only two rooms worth playing. The poker cities wiki was a bit incomplete as far as AC card rooms. I play only NL and I’m a frequent visitor to the Gary, Indiana boats. Are there any other suggestions of a room with good NL games?

I am concerned about the extremely high rates on the weekend at the big two. I figure the easiest thing would be to stay at either one of the hotels with the main poker room. Saturday night at the Borgata is $459 for a standard room!!! Is that normal? The Taj is $275 on Saturday. Now that seems a bit too much for me. What are some cheaper hotels on weekends that are still somewhat decent (aka I don’t fear for my safety)? Would the other mainstream casinos be a good idea or am I looking at $400 on Saturday everywhere I go? Would getting around the City be a problem that way?

Once again, I did run several searches and did a little reading about this topic and didn’t find anything too specific. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

[Jeffage]

Basically, you can't stay at either of the big two unless you can get the poker rate. Without consistent mid and high limit play (which you don't have), this will be impossible to achieve on the weekend. There are plenty of reasonably priced hotels/motels nearby. Comfort Inn North is 5 mins from Borgata, there are others. Staying at one of these two casinos for a reasonable rate (that's not the poker rate) is dumb - nobody pays the rack rate. Over 80% of hotels rooms in AC are comped or partially comped at the casinos, that's why the rack is so high. So go to hotels.com and search for when you'll be there and you'll find something (be sure to check individual hotels's websites - often a better deal).

Jeff

[canis582]

Its cool to stay in one of the smaller, non-casino hotels in AC, just make sure its 'branded' meaning Days Inn or something.

If I were in your shoes, I would play 1-2 or 2-5 at the Trop.

[wegs the wegs]

Why the Trop may I ask? Better room? Softer games?

[WhiskyRiver]

Just remember, down here it's just winners and losers; don't get caught on the wrong side of that line...

[canis582]

I won't play at the taj because the chips are terrible. And the wait time at the borg is too long. That leaves the Trop and a few smaller cardrooms.

To acheive the trop's poker rate, its only 4 hours of play at any limits per day.

That's great... if you get there and sign up for the poker club card, talk to the floor, and put in a shitton of play, you may get your room rate knocked from the rack rate to the poker rate upon your checkout.

This is what I did my first time there. Granted the Trop's poker rate is still a bit high on weekends, its quite a bit easier to get than than say, Borgata. Especially if you are playing 1/2 nl, 2/5 nl or something about equal.


For future stays, I am also under the impression that they look at your average play per day in reservation queues, so if you have a record like me, of averaging 16 hrs of play per day, you can get pretty high on the lists pretty quick. =)


Oh, and their waits are very managable, and not hours+ like at borgata.

[FrankStallone]

The Borgata is clearly the most classy but if you are just playing 1-2 NL then you should try some of the new cardrooms with some weak players. Harrahs showboat wild west and ceasers just added rooms and have weaker players. Your welcome...

[playersare]

if you're looking for a AC backup plan down the line, I would recommend signing up for Total Rewards at Harrah's or Showboat. some details:

- free parking at either casino, 24/7, even for entry-level "gold" members. just show your card at the gate, no coupons or blackout periods.

- most competitive room rates on all days. many sunday through thursday rooms for free, even if not advertised (just log in and see what the computer says). fridays and saturdays often in the $100-150 range, even during the summer. this is at least 50% less than the rack rates at every other AC casino.

- WSOP-sponsored poker rooms. they're not the biggest nor best places to play poker yet, but Harrah's will be using their marketing muscle and WSOP trademark to heavily promote more traffic. the new House of Blues room at showboat in particular will be able to hold its own vs. established competition once the dealers have some more experience. and the big WSOP circuit events of course will be held in Harrah's-owned casinos as well.

- Harrah's merging with Caesars. Total Rewards will take over as the official players club program for Bally's and Caesars AC starting in 2006. that's 4 poker rooms under a single card.

these statements are made not to say that anything that Harrah's or Caesars offers is better than the Borg, Taj or Trop. but since membership is free, there's really no reason not to have it just in case. for all you guys sweating poker room rates at the other casinos, see how this compares:

--------------------------------

Below are your available room option(s) at Showboat Atlantic City for the dates selected. Please review your room option(s) and click Select Room to continue.

DELUXE Total Price: $366.00
Our Bourbon Tower and Orleans Tower Deluxe Room offers either 1 king or 2 queen beds. Features include TV with Pay-Per-View movies, clock radio and private voice mail.

Thu
10/27/2005
$79.00

Fri
10/28/2005
$79.00

Sat
10/29/2005
$129.00

Sun
10/30/2005
$79.00

and, no minimum play requirement.

[magoo]

I understand wanting to check-out something...see what's it like...good. But, Atlantic City gaming is a huge corporate money gouging predatory creature. Actually, Atlantic City New Jersey is a societal obscenity. Those blacks are living there like in slavery. A black town with a bunch of white cops protecting the casinos from the locals. I am not without sin... I just returned.