"The beach, boardwalk and borgata " a Atlantic City Travel Page by tuoedisni1

A few years ago, actually 10, I went to Atlantic City with some friends. As we didn't have much money, we stayed off the boardwalk at a budget chain hotel. It was fun - we walked the boardwalk and casinos during the day and retired to the dodgy outdoor pool when we got tired.

Walking through the casinos was an adventure. Everything seemed larger than life and very colorful - the casinos as well as the people. Trying to get a slot machine was almost a game in itself. Chain-smoking retirees would hog 3 machines at a time and hiss at you if you came near. It was enough to keep my perspective of gambling to that of being a few minutes of fun - not a lifetime commitment.

My most recent trip to AC was for my sister's bachelorette party. And this time it was far away from the cheesiness of the boardwalk. It was at the Borgata, the swankiest hotel in AC.
It was tough to justify the expense of having the party there - one room for a Saturday night cost over $400. But from reading other people's reviews, it promised to be a one in a lifetime experience. And they turned out to be right.

Walking into the hotel is comparable to walking into the Bellagio. OK, maybe that's an exaggeration, but by AC standards, this is the cream of the crop. Contrary to the rest of AC, this place is class all the way - from the understated exterior to the super clean bedrooms and oversized showers. The concept is very similar to all the Vegas hotels. Navigating your way around is extremely difficult - you have to pass a machine at every turn.

And it attracts a lot of celebrities: passing all the billboards on the AC Expressway, it seemed like all the best acts in town were playing at the Borgata. And my sister's favorite moment was the moment she saw a rapper/Law and Order star walking the casino floor. It's always exciting to justify your trip with a celebrity sighting.

The funniest moment of our trip: When we all came upon the front door, we looked at each other in awe. We had been there for almost a full day before we saw a view of the outside world.

I am so glad AC is being revitalized by hotels like the Borgata. And it's creating more options for all tourists traveling to the city. You can have it all - walk the boardwalk and snack on some salt water taffy, fight the day trippers for a slot machine and return to the marina area for overpriced dinner and drinks.