Steve Curry

Does anyone have any suggestions or advice on travelling from Manhattan to Atlantic City? I know we can drive, take a bus or take the train and transfer to a bus.

Anyone have experiences doing any/all of the above? Are there any companies that offer good package deals with the casino hotels?

Thanks

thereuare

As someone who doesn't like to drive, i'd recommend taking the bus.

The main bus line to Atlantic City from the Port Authority is Academy (i THINK it leaves from gate 1 or 2). To Atlantic City, the busses leave every hour or every 1/2 hour, depending upon time of day (and day of the week). Returning, the schedule is about every hour to every 90 minutes. On your return, i recommend getting to the bus ~20-25 minutes before departure (especially in Atlantic City) if you're traveling with others and want to make sure you can all sit together.

The fare is ~$24 midweek, ~$27 weekends. Depending upon which casino you get dropped off at, you get back ~$10-$15 in coin.

Schedule and more info can be had at http://www.academybus.com/ (after the page fully loads, click on the left hand side where it says Port Authority to Atlantic City). The bus pretty much goes direct, but usually stops once (<5 minutes) at a rest stop directly on the highway to pick up a few add'l passengers.

Feel free to ask any add'l questions. One more thing, you DON"T have to take the bus home from the hotel you get dropped off at... you can take the bus home from ANY casino that is convenient to your schedule.

Patrick

I can't help you specifically except to say that friends of mine did a package deal from midtown to Atlantic City in May. They paid about $75 each and got $75 worth of chips to go by bus from their hotel. They spent the day and came home with $1800 from the slots. I'm not saying you'll win like that, but their deal gave them chips to equal the amount they paid.

rqf

There are day trips, by bus, from various places in the city to Atlantic City. I don't know the current cost but the deal usually involves being given a small amount of gambling money.. The last time I went ( years ago) I was given $10 in quarters. On these day trips you get to spend around five hours in AC.

thereuare

That's the best part about taking the Academy Bus from the Port Authority rather than the day trips from the corner deli... instead of being confined to having to take the bus home in 6 hours, you can take ANY bus back on their schedule.

scurry

Thank you for the advice. Any suggestions on which boardwalk hotel to stay at?

I'm trying to find a map of the casinos online. www.atlanticcity.com isn't much help.

thereuare

I did a quick search and found this map which isn't great, but it at least gives you a pretty good idea of where the hotels are in relation to one another.
http://www.atlantic-city-online.com/map.shtml

If you want to be in the "heart" of it, i would stay anywhere between Trump Plaza and Sands (includes Trump Plaza, Caesar's, Bally's (Park Place OR Wild West), Claridge, or Sands). Can't give you much advice as to rooms at each place, as i don't go down there much anymore... but Caesar's is probably the nicest of the lot, then followed by Trump Plaza, Bally's, Sands, Claridge). Other hotels on the boardwalk are fine, but these are in the center of the boardwalk, and clustered together.

On one side of this cluster, is both the Hilton and Tropicana, and on the other side is a cluster of Resorts, Showboad, and Taj Majal (this group would be my second choice if the other hotels aren't available).

JIMBO

GOTTA GO TO TRUMP MARINA GREAT CASINO, ENTERTAINMENT AND ROOMS. ALSO IF YOU WALK PAST THE PARKING GARAGE YOU CAN GET TO A SECLUDED LITTLE WALKIN BEACH ALONG THE INLET LOTS OF LITTLE TREASURES FOR THE QUESTY ALL IN ALL THE BEST ALSO THE BEST BUFFET AROUND AND NOT REALLY THE CITY ATOMOSPHERE
GO FOR IT

scurry

Thanks for the tips, y'all.

thereuare -- is the Acadamy's $24-$27 fare one-way or round trip? I can't seem to find it listed on their site.

Steve

thereuare

That fare is roundtrip. You get a 4 part ticket... one for your travel TO a.c., one a voucher for your "rebate" from the casino, one for your return trip, and one for a discount ($2) off a future trip.

The marina area is a separate from the baordwalk, so if you want to be mobile and be able to walk from one casino to another, i'd recomend staying directly on the boardwalk. Also, it's a good idea NOT to wander off the boardwalk at nite (and be VERY aware of your surroundings on the boardwalk very late at nite), AC is still not a great neighborhood.

Also, i've never been, but if it's a "bunch of guys" getting together, take a cab to WhiteHouse Subs.. supposedly some of the best subs in the state (and a requested "last meal" of many local inmates... as well as visited by many famous people and presidents over the years).

juli

Hi Steve

I am from Central NJ and go to AC alot. We LOVE Trump marina as well. I never feel like I need to be worried about my personal safety and its great because the casinos are never overpacked. They have great restaurants in the casino and I prefer it because it isnt on the boardwalk so you dont get all the undesirables (some but not the really bad ones who pray on the people walking the boards at night). You can easily get cabs cheap to other casinos as well.
In the summer time they have an outdoor bar on the docks and it is the best way to spend a warm night.
We also stayed in the Comfort Inn right off the boardwalk and that was OK too.
We will be down in 3 weeks and I cant wait.
Good Luck
JK

cathydaly

There are so many hotels on the Boardwalk/ocean, why would you stay across "town" at the Marina? If you are only going to be there a short time,why spend it and money taking cabs back and forth? All the action, casino/restaurants/walking and sightseeing is on the Boardwalk side...We live in northern NJ and it is about 2-2 1/2 hours by car..never took a package, but I do know that Harrahs does specials as does Trumps..and I think Bally's also...Good luck