I have been to Vegas many times and love it there. I was thinking of going to AC this year, but have read mixed reviews on some other sites. I am in my upper 20's and would be going with my husband. We do not go out clubbing. The reasons I love Vegas is because of the great resorts (stayed at Mirage, Monte Carlo and Paris), gambling, buffets and the shopping. I also like the fact if you want to take a break from the gambling, you could just go through the casinos and see all their attractions (fountain show at Caesars, lions at MGM, etc). How does AC compare to Vegas? Are you disappointed if you go to AC after Vegas? Thanks!

In a word: Yes.

Don't get me wrong, I love Atlantic City and go there a couple of times a year even though I'm not a gambler. But for us, it's only a couple of hours drive and frequently we can get a cheaper hotel rate there than we can at other Jersey shore resorts.

But the Wow! factor is certainly lacking. Most casinos are unthemed. There's nothing to compare with Bellagio's fountains. Venetian's gondolas, Mirage's critters or even Excalibur's moat.

When the weather is lovely, walking on Atlantic City's Boardwalk is a delightful way to spend an afternoon, but unless you're into watching the ocean, it's no Las Vegas Boulevard.

I went to Atlantic City twice. I hated it both times. The boardwalk was not even pleasant .. IMO.
The resorts wish they were like Las Vegas! I didn't even like the restaurants.
And to top it off, the smoke in the casinos seemed much worse than any Las Vegas casino.
LOL, grumble grumble!

Picture downtown Vegas, and ignore the strip. Then picture downtown Vegas about twice as dead and tacky. Now you're starting to get the idea of Atlantic City.

I live in NJ and have never been to Vegas... but from all I have heard about Vegas and having experienced AC - Don't even think about going to AC -
my husband and I went this past fall, thinking that maybe we hadn't given it a chance the few times we had gone there and were very disappointed!!!
I would never go again!!!
Just one point of view!

There is no contest here - AC cannot even begin to compare to 'Vegas. Patrick is correct, picture downtown 'Vegas and then factor in about 50% worse and you have AC. Go back to 'Vegas - I go several times a year and there is always something new to see. Steve Wynn's new hotel opens in April so if you are there after that I am sure it will be another great place to "experience" in the true 'Vegas tradition (a little over the top ... but lots of fun).

I might suggest you consider renting a car and getting off the strip too - a ride to Red Rock Canyon, Mount Charleston, Valley of Fire, etc. can be a nice break too. Also it is fun to see the new resorts at Lake Las Vegas. The new Ritz and Hyatt are both lovely.

Of course Las Vegas is nicer but Atlantic City has vastly improved! The casinos are nicer, the town has been cleaned up with new house and shopping and the crime is way down. A number of casinos are building new towers and updating their rooms. The Tropicana Hotel in Atlantic City has upgraded and now has a new mall with lots of interesting places to eat.

A few weeks ago we went to the Showboar Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City and loved our room in the new Tower. Atlantic City use to be a 3 on a one to ten scale, now it is a "6" Vegas gets a "9"

I'm from NJ, and go to AC because it's close to home. If you will have to make a major trip just to get there, I would only go in the summer. There are beach bars & lots more festivities happening then. Also, there are new outlet malls and restaurants that just opened. AC is vastly improved, but probably still not worth going out of your way to get to, especially if you are from far away, and don't have time to link it in with another destination, like NY or Philly. The Borgata is probably the closest thing you'll find to an upscale Vegas casino, and there are many good restaurants & clubs inside. Caesars is nice, also, but lacks attractions other than the gambling rooms (there are some restaurants, etc, but no fountain show..) Trop just expanded big-time, and has a mega mall inside. You can also catch live entertainment, with many major acts coming through. Anyway, I'd say give it a try in the summer, and see how you like it.

Hi.
None of the reasons that you love Vegas are in Atlantic City. There is not a lot to do other than gamble. That is changing, but not on a grand scale. The Borgata is a Vegas Strip type casino, but it is the only one and it is out of the way (off-Boardwalk (like off-Strip))
The Tropicana has just opened The Quarter, which is a big retail and entertainment complex. It is supposedly like the Forum Shops but on a smaller scale. I haven't been there yet, but I'll check it out in March.
The buffets are over-priced if you think in terms of Vegas. A $20 buffet in AC would be $12 in Vegas.
There are two martini bars in AC that I really like. The Blue Martini at Bally’s (they have a large martini menu, but can still make a real martini) and the Martini Bar at Firewater at Tropicana (good martinis and nice staff, but few patrons…)

I think you will be disappointed if you are expecting Vegas but go to Atlantic City. The reverse is a much better idea. If you haven’t been to Vegas, Atlantic City could be really neat. It is a stepping-stone to Vegas.

My husband and I (upper 20's) have been to AC and LV twice in the past 5 years. We hated AC both times and genuinely enjoyed Vegas. We are not serious gamblers, so AC was not much fun.

Plus, the clientele at AC is a much older crowd (buses of the geriatric plugging away at the slots). Ac was so depressing both times we went - no one, even the people plugging quarters into the machines, seemed to be enjoying themselves.

The only thing I enjoyed about AC was the Crazy Mouse (a good roller coaster on the boardwalk), and it wasn't open the last time we went.

Vegas is by far better than AC.. Now AC isn't bad, but nothing to race over and see. And plus, like the others said, it depends on the weather too, b/c you can't really do much in AC when it's cold outside. I would say go back to Vegas and stay in some of the other resorts you haven't experienced yet. Maybe the Venetian..i love that one! Plus, you can find really cheap tickets to Vegas right now on flyi.com (i'm flying with them to Nashville!)..If you are every in New Jersey, then i would check out AC (only if it's close) otherwise, i wouldn't spend any money checking it out!

I just came back from 36 hours in Atlantic City and I am going to write a trip report shortly...in fact, I have been composing it in my head since we arrived at the hotel!

There is so much negative stuff here on Atlantic City, and our experience was very positive. No, it is not Las Vegas, but it was a lot of fun.

Atlantic City isn't as bad as some people describe. It has improved significantly in recent years. That being said, I am in agreement with the seeminglu unanimous opinion that it is no Vegas.

My rule of thumb is that Atlantic City is worth a 4-5 hour drive, in the late spring, summer or early fall months. It is not worth a plane trip.

kgh8m - I bet you saw my parents there - they are part of the geriatric throngs that descend onto Atlantic City during the weekdays.

I've never been to Las Vegas, and I've been to AC twice for day trips. The only constructive comment I can provide is that the beach is horrible. Do not go thinking you will be able to get in good beach time. It is dirty, lots of litter, and is narrow.

However, I've found that there is plenty of parking on the side streets.

hi!! Ok I can give you some good tips. I have been to both AC and Vegas many times. I have family in NJ actually. I have also been to a ton of other casinos throughout the country. Here is the deal:

1. Yes of course AC is no Las Vegas. Vegas is the number 1 gambling/entertainment mecca in the country. But I will tell you this - AC is number 2! Take this as you will. After AC, there isn't anywhere in the country that is worth going to (god have you been to those dreadful river boats in the mid west? ugh).

2. Picture everything Vegas offers, and take it down a notch. Yes AC has lots of casinos and buffets and restaurants and clubs, just not as many as Vegas. I do suggest going when the weather is nice because the unique thing AC offers is the boardwalk and the beach.

3. Here's a good site to check out. I think you will have fun in AC. You can still enjoy the scene and the nightlife and see shows, etc. But since your not big gamblers, you may run out of things to do. Like I said, go when the weather is nice and enjoy the beach! I would even take a day and head out of AC to go to some nearby beaches. Here is a good site:
http://www.atlanticcitynj.com/visitors.asp

Atlantic City is a dirty, run down place. It cannot compare to Las Vegas in any way.

Hi.

I have had some great times in Atlantic City. Everyone's experiences will be unique, but the negativity towards AC is a bit overdone. Atlantic City is not Vegas. That is very true. It isn't dirty and run down though either. If anything, it is just the opposite. The Borgata is anything but run down. At least half of the properties on the Boardwalk have either just finished major renovations or are in the process.

You don't have to go there only in the summer either. I have been there in the spring and fall more often than in the summer. I spent 2 Thanksgivings in a row at the Tropicana. Both of those trips have special memories for me. On the first I treated a homeless person to dinner – yes, you will see homeless people, just you will in Las Vegas. On the second trip, my girlfriend and I saw Simon & Garfunkel at what has to be the smallest venue they played on their tour. The weather was cool, but no different than what it was at home in DC. I've never gone to AC to go to the beach (although I have walked along it). I always walk the length of the Boardwalk whenever I go (even if I’m staying at the Borgata) and I always get a slice of pizza from one of the shops on the Boardwalk.

Normally, I go by myself and I go to gamble. AC is fine for that. I’m probably more genuinely comfortable in the Wild West Casino at Bally’s than I am anywhere else. When I bring my girlfriend, we go for an event of some sort – a concert or one of the few production shows (half of which have low production values – especially compared to a review in Vegas, but you get what you pay for - others have been worth a lot more than the ticket price and might have had bigger houses if they had raised the prices).

Atlantic City is not Vegas, but that’s no reason to put it down.

Mark

Mark has stated very well what's up with AC.

Also, it's all about REALISTIC expectations. No matter where you go, if you have reasonable expectations you'll be ok. So all you pessimists put down your baseball bats and calm down.

Nicolels, Hopefully you can get a reasonable picture of what AC is all about from the replies you got. I also hope you can subtract the non-objective comments from the rest.

A trip to AC can be lots of fun. Gamble at nice, newly renovated casinos, eat great food, enjoy charming aspects of AC from days gone by, even catch a show. The offerings are not on the scale of Vegas...but last time I checked, nobody was claiming they were either.

My personal experience with Borgata has been excellent. It's a beautiful, very well designed hotel with interesting restaurant options and a fantastic spa!

Wherever you go, have a great time!
Trish