A few questions about Atlantic City....if I please.

Is it like Vegas? Is there a strip so to speak?? Can anyone recommend a nice hotel for a romantic getaway???

Thank you
Kim

It is like Vegas in the casinos, but not at all like it on the outside.

There is not a strip, but there is a boardwalk, a beach, and an ocean. The boardwalk has some beachy-style restuarants and upscale shops. The whole casino area is much smaller than the strip, without the fancy architecture -- just giant glass and steel cubes.

I don't know the hotels there, sorry.

Romantic and loud, bright casinos just don't go together in my mind.

The Marriott Seaview is in Galloway, NJ - about 10 miles (probably less)to Atlantic City. It's a lovely, historic hotel.

Romantic? My best recommendation would be for Borgata. Same owners as Bellagio in Vegas. One of the newest (or is the newest) casino in AC. I've stayed there. It's nice. The spa is awesome. Good restaurants too.

It's the only place I'd stay in AC.

Ditto on the Borgata.

I agree with Borgata, but it's on the Marina, away from the boardwalk. Caesar's Palace is nice too, and some very nice shops will be opening next month right outside on the pier.

Tropicana was just renovated. We were there over the weekend. They have some good restaurants, The Palm, PF Chang.

The Marriott Seaview is a very old hotel, & some distance from AC, probably 1/2 hour away.

There are also some lovely old B&B's in Cape May.

I would most certainly consider Cape May for a romantic weekend if that is what you are seeking. A.C doesn't spark a romantic twinge in me at all. If you want to drive there and see a show fine or gamble that would be fun. There is a restaurant on the way down to A.C on backroads called the Renault Winery. I was there years ago and it was somewhat different as I recall. Not sure if it is still as nice as it was many years ago. I would call it romantic back in the day!

The rooms in Resort's new tower are huge with luxury baths. We enjoyed a stay there last summer. The three casinos at that end of the Boardwalk -- Resorts, Trump Taj and Showboat -- are connected by enclosed bridges.
At the center of the Boardwalk, Sands, Claridge, Bally's, Bally's Wild West, and Caesars can be traversed without ever going outside. Haven't stayed in any of the others in years, but Bally's has some nice rooms in its tower.
At the bottom end of the Boardwalk are Trop -- which is huge and always seems to be expanding -- and the Grand (or whatever they are calling it now). It's possible to stroll from one end of the Boardwalk to the other in about an hour, if you don't go into any of the casinos. Between casino locations is an amazing array of tacky retail establishments.
The three marina casinos, Harrah's, Trump Castle, and Borgata, are connected by shuttle bus. Walking from one to another is theoretically feasible.
The casino hotels in Atlantic City do not yet have the "WOW" factor that you get in Vegas. Unless you are a serious gambler, I wouldn't suggest taking a flight to get there. But if access is easy and time is short, you can have a pleasant couple of days.

The two best non-casino restaurants in Atlantic City:

The Knife & Fork Inn
Dock's Oyster House

www.knifeandforkinn.com
www.docksoysterhouse.com

Enjoy!

Try a NEW room at the Tropicana, then you can walk around all the nightlife right there. Borgata is OK, but it's not on the boardwalk. Another NICE alternative is to book a corner room in the tower at Caesar's. You'll get a view of the city & ocean/boarwalk. The Sheraton has great views facing the city. Any of those would be very nice, so see what kind of deals you can get. Sheraton is on Hotwire a lot.

If you are expecting Vegas, you probably won't be happy with Atlantic City. The main factor here is that Atlantic City doesn't have the space to grow and build sprawling casinos like Vegas.
I like both places (at the end of this year I will have had 7 trips to Vegas and 4 trips to AC in 2006 alone).
A lot of the previous posts have hit it.
The Borgata will be the most 'Vegas-like'. It is the classiest (and pricey'est, too). The rooms are spacious and comfy. The 'Living Room' is a really nice touch. It is a place where you can sit, relax and have a drink, much like a nice hotel lobby and it is for Borgata guests only.
It is in the Marina district, so getting to the Boardwalk requires driving in one form or another, but you can probably find everything you need without having to leave the Borgata.

The Tropicana Havana Tower is another option. It is fairly new and you have all of the restaurants and bars of The Quarter right there. I can't vouch for the rooms, but I have been happy with all of the rooms I've had in the other towers at the Trop.

I recently spent 2 nights at Bally's and had a room that might be of interest, but it was definitely a room specific thing. I had a a corner room with an ocean view. The bathtub was oversized (they called it a sunken tub) and you could see out to the ocean sky while soaking. It might be just what you are looking for, but you won't be guaranteed to get it. When you check in you can make the request and see if you get it... It was room xx30 in the Ballys Tower. One caveat here; there are 4 corner rooms like this and all 4 doors are right next to each other (the rooms are triangular, not rectangular), so sometimes it was difficult to tell if someone was knocking on my door or one of the other doors. That might dampen a romantic moment.

What are you looking for in a romantic getaway? Is being out all night dancing romantic? Would you prefer more quiet time together? Does seeing a burlesque show add to the romance?
All of these things are options.

Take Care,
Mark