Borgata Hotel — Atlantic City Turn Key Schedule
When it comes to gambling, the two cities that I always knew of were Atlantic City (AC) and Las Vegas. Long before every state started developing casinos’ these were the go-to locations. My perception of Atlantic City was based on visits from other people. Having talked with people after they arrived back, AC seemed to be the destination for straight gambling and none of the opulence that is like Las Vegas. Now, having visited AC I have my own perception, and I was either wrong or AC has started a new chapter that I missed. The missing chapter has been fulfilled by the Borgata hotel.
The experience at Borgata rates as high as any Las Vegas property. Aside from the cleanliness, the team members at Borgata care deeply for the customers and their enjoyment. The casino is alive with action with numerous slot machines from any price point that fits your budget. When you need a break from the machines, Borgata offers a wide variety of restaurants that allows you to have a first-class experience. During the July 21-July 24, 2024 period, the table games ranges from $15 and up. The dealers were as helpful as any I have ever seen.
Borgata offers a wonderful experience at their restaurants. The Metropolitan offers some great sandwiches, salads and mocktails. The buffet carries the Las Vegas vibe to Atlantic City and you won’t leave hungry and The Old Homestead Steakhouse is a great final night visit to close out your visit to Borgata. If all else fails, you have a food court on the lower level with a variety of options for any taste bud.
Borgata offers a variety of pools. The family pool is in the Borgata side and is indoor only. The adults only pool is on the MGM side and offers and indoor and outdoor option. The pools are complemented by the Beer Garden which appears to be the best pool with the most amount of sunshine, although this will have the “excitement” and energy that you might often see in Las Vegas.
Borgata is not near the Boardwalk, but given the action in the casino and dining options, you will not be bored on the property and can minimize your costs by focusing your energy to relax and enjoy Borgata.
Here are a few tips to take full advantage of the Borgata hotel:
1. The best gym is in the Borgata tower and not the MGM tower. The Borgata gym has a full complement of machines and has a nice view overlooking the pool. The MGM tower has a fitness “room” with one bench and a few treadmills/bikes but nothing like the Borgata side
2. If you parked in the garage and want to pick somebody up at the front entrance, exit the garage and follow the signs to valet parking. The Borgata and MGM share a single entrance for the valet parking. You do not need to exit the property to pick somebody up.
3. The garage “sometimes” has the gate down and payment is required. Make sure you scan the app at the front desk and have it setup for exit.
4, The garage is the best parking. A surface parking lot does exist, but why let the car sit in the hot sun or inclement weather!
Planning a trip to Atlantic City (AC) brings up visions of several days of just gambling. Thanks to the efforts by the major hotel chains and AC, there are several activities that can break up your stay. The following article offers a turnkey solution for a three-day trip to Atlantic City. This trip is ideal for those coming from the Maryland/Virginia area.
Pre-Planning: Prior to your arrival in AC you will want to select your hotel room. While it is not on the Boardwalk, the Borgata hotel is an amazing location with multiple dining options and a vibrant casino floor. Alternatively, the area offers several other properties. Please note, not all properties have the same caliber of opulence like Borgata. Additional research will be necessary for other selections.
Day 1: Start your drive to Atlantic City. Along the way pick out a spot for lunch so you can break up the day. Upon arrival, use the self-park garage. The walk from the garage is manageable if you have minimal items to carry. Having checked into your room, take the time to take a walk around the casino floor and view the restaurants. The restaurants have alternating schedules of open and close days. You will want to plan accordingly to make sure the restaurant you want is open for your preferred day. If you do not have an MGM rewards card, visit the MGM Rewards desk and sign up for the card. If you have forgotten the card, MGM provides an automated kiosk to scan your identification and print a new card. You do not need to stand in line to get a new card.
Day 2: Take a ride over to Smithville, NJ. This is a replica of several historic homes that represent NJ. The homes are now shops that sell products that are developed by locals. Many of the products represent healthy living. Smithville has several places to eat. I benefitted from the Lakeside Grill — Historic SmithvilleHistoric Smithville and a great grilled cheese sandwich with fries. Other colleagues had chicken tenders and fish which were all wonderful.
Once the ride to Smithville is complete, you can head to the Tanger outlets for some shopping. For the outlets, they offer a parking garage. DO NOT BE FOOLED by the open-air parking lots. The parking garage is far cheaper than the open-air lots. The parking garage address for the Tanger outlets is on their map AtlanticCityParkingMap.pdf (tangeroutlet.com). The Tanger outlets in Atlantic City are not like other Tanger Outlets where you park in a parking lot and walk around a courtyard. The AC Tanger outlets require crossing busy streets. These Tanger outlets do not have a full-service rest room like you might see at other outlets. McDonald’s and Bass Pro Shops offer the best options for full service restrooms. Bass Pro Shops will have far less foot traffic than McDonald’s.
Your evening will be dinner at one of the Borgata restaurants followed by your gaming activity of choice.
Day 3: It is off to the Lighthouse! The Lighthouse in Atlantic City still stands and is a great historical site. You can climb up to the top where you will be greeted by Mary or one of the other keepers. Mary and the team at the Absecon Lighthouse are wonderful guardians of this treasure. The Lighthouse is a great historical review of what was necessary for trade to occur on the ocean and the value it provides. The walk up is your standard lighthouse of a circular staircase and takes approximately 10 minutes. There are several landings along the way to rest.
Having completed the Lighthouse, it is time to see the famous Atlantic City Boardwalk. You can park next to the Boardwalk at 102 S California Ave, Atlantic City, NJ 08401. The parking costs approximately $15. There is a machine and placard to either pay or scan and use the app. The Boardwalk is like any beach community you would see except for the easy access to the casinos. One of the stalwarts of the Boardwalk is the Tropicana. Inside the Tropicana is a great spot to get lunch called “Chickie and Petes Crab House and Sports Bar”. The seafood selections at this restaurant are excellent. The seafood boil is adequate for nine people to get a great sampling of seafood and the corn on the cob is a great addition.
After lunch, saunter down to Forno for some Gelato. Alternatively, Forno is a great pizza place if you want a great pizza and gelato all in the same area. Forno is new and has a great outdoor dining area along with some tables and chairs inside.
The night should end with a visit to the Old Homestead Steak house at the Borgata hotel.
If you need a change of scenery and want to have an experience without a long flight and too much excitement, AC and Borgata hotel are viable options. Casino locations have various economic areas surrounding them, but if you choose to stay at a resort with multiple options for entertainment and dining, you can have a quick get-a-way without all the extra travel.