We currently have tentative reservations at the Bally's Park Place for our stay in Atlantic City. This will be our first visit there, Is this a good place to stay?? I am a single parent with 4 children ranging in age from 4 to 16. Another option was the Tropicana, Which is the better choice??

Bally's is generally considered to be a bit better, but you won't find many people at this travel site with anything nice to say about AC.
Hopefully you already know what it's like, so you'll not be surprised (unpleasantly).
I haven't been there in 5 years, but it was one of the worst tourist destinations I've ever been to and I've been to all but one of the 50 states.
Especially for kids.
AC is custom made for older gamblers who really don't need much more than a casino and plenty of cigarette machines to be happy. The city has no redeeming qualities, is unsafe at night, and the casinos are run down looking compared to Las Vegas.
I'll just quit there, I guess.
Hope you have a nice time, though.

Hmmm Dawn:
Would you mind disclosing why you are planning a vacation with 4 children to Atlantic City?
If it is the Jersey Shore you are interested in, there are dozens of other towns to visit.

For those who are concerned, we are going to Atlantic City for a Dance Competition that is being held there. There is no choice in the destination, but would at least like a nice place for the rest of us to stay while the one is off at the competition dancing...

Dawn:
Thanks for the clarification...
My AC expert tells me both hotels are comparable. Though the preference is Bally's.
The service personel is a bit lacking in AC.
Good luck in the Competition!

Given that you've now told us 'the rest of the story', I'd complain BIG TIME to whoever chose AC for a kids' dance competition. They really screwed up.
In reality, they took some type of kickback or something, I'm sure.
That's too bad.
Hope you manage to have a good time anyway.

Dawn:

Bally's is a better place to stay in AC. Unfortunately when most of us read your note we wondered - 4 kids in AC? They'll probably enjoy the boardwalk and the beach.

actually let us know how the visit goes.

Balley's is a good choice and the children will like it because a wild west them (remolded about 3 years ago). Also, it is attached to Caesars which is my favorite hotel in A/C.

Just thought I would get back to everyone and let them know how it went in Atlantic City. We actually had a very good time, children included. Staying on the boardwalk however, is a must! There are plenty of things to do there for people of ALL ages. Outside the boardwalk however, things get a little dicey, which is why it is important to stay and pretty much keep yourself confined to that area.
But if one should ask overall, Yes, I would go there again...

So what was Bally's like?
The hotel rooms, food, etc????

To all you naysayers of AC: granted, it might not be the nicest of tourist destinations, but how do you expect it to improve by discouraging tourist dollars? Think about it.

If you don't have kids trump at the Marina is a nice place to stay.

Hi Dawn,

Did your child compete at the high school or the convention center?? For future use if they competed at the convention center, then Caesar's is probably the best place to stay on the boardwalk and in walking distance to the convention center. My daughter competed at the high school once and that wasn't walking distance to anything so it didn't matter as much.

Which comp did you do?

LindafromNJ--I agree with Trumps at the Marina, a decent place to stay. We have a reserved boat dock there 1 weekend in August, and Labor Day as well. We are hoping for nice weather. I will have to do a search to see if there are any decent shows playing for those weekends in surrounding areas.