Atlantic City off season questions

[SilverGt]

My wife and I would like to go to Atlantic City in late September or early October for our anniversary. Are the hotel rates much better then? Is the board walk still sort of operating? Can someone recommend a reasonably priced hotel overlooking the ocean? Any places that are a must see while we are there? Thank You

 

[Leo99]

Rates will be cheap during the week and expensive on the weekends.

I'll tell you more later when I get home but Tropicana is nice and a huge property.

 

[pbm]

Don't venture further than a block or two west of the boardwalk after dark...it's pretty much a ghetto...

 

[JHZR2]

The season is really Memorial Day to Labor Day, with the high season really 4th of July to Labor Day. Most beach hotels are open through at least early-mid October, while AC casinos will be open year round.

Unless you're really into gambling, I'd look at Cape May for B&[censored], Wildwood for cute retro motels, etc. personally...

 

[NJ_Car_Owner]

I hate to say it but AC really offers nothing for people. If you are into gambling and drinking then maybe but as far as "entertainment" - nope - it's not Las Vegas! I stayed at Caesars in AC it is OK; Tropicana looked pretty nice. I believe that hotels/motels will be open then as it still kind of nice; I believe B&B are open year round. Wildwood Crest is kind of nice, Cape May as well. Places may be available on Long Beach Island (more north of AC). Most of the shore towns become kind of quiet after Labor Day so stores and or shops may be closed; the one thing I will say about AC is it runs 365 days a year unlike other shore towns.

If you do want to go to AC they may have Groupon deals since it is off season and they want to fill the hotel/casino. My son belongs to their comp program and he gets cheap rooms from time to time so they do discount every so often. As mentioned the surrounding areas immediately outside of the casino area is rough and since some of the casinos closed the boardwalk does have "dead zones" that may not have any activity (or wanted activity) going on.

 

[Leo99]

Silver, still thinking about AC? I go about twice a month but rarely on the boardwalk. Carmine's at the Trop is awesome!

 

[SilverGt]

Yes we are still thinking bout going to AC. Are any of the shops etc on boardwalk still open ? Museums,outlets ? Asian food ( wife's Filipina lol)?

 

[Rock_Hudstone]

Originally Posted By: SilverGt
My wife and I would like to go to Atlantic City in late September or early October for our anniversary.

Try to visit in September, the earlier the better and the nearby beach towns like Wildwood and Ocean City will still be open, at least on weekends, weather permitting.

Once into October, the weather can go downhill quick, along with the shorter daylight hours.

 

[Leo99]

There are a few Asian restaurants but nothing special that I know of. The Chinese one (not PF Changs, the other one) in Tropicana is good. We mostly stick to Italian food in AC. It's Jersey, yo! Girasole a couple blocks from the Trop is also very good as is Dock's Oyster house a couple blocks west.

The newer Havana tower at the Trop was great a few years ago. I haven't stayed there lately, though.

Happy anniversary.

 

[zzyzzx]

Originally Posted By: NJ_Car_Owner
I hate to say it but AC really offers nothing for people. If you are into gambling and drinking then maybe but as far as "entertainment" - nope - it's not Las Vegas!


The beach there is the best around, and was packed on Sunday. Vegas doesn't have that, or the boardwalk.

 

[zzyzzx]

Originally Posted By: SilverGt
My wife and I would like to go to Atlantic City in late September or early October for our anniversary. Are the hotel rates much better then? Is the board walk still sort of operating? Can someone recommend a reasonably priced hotel overlooking the ocean? Any places that are a must see while we are there? Thank You


The rates are really cheap on and Sunday - Thursday night after Labor Day. I like, and recommend all the boardwalk casino hotels. If it's your first time in AC. definitely stay on the boardwalk, preferably in Bally's or Caesars, since it's in the center of everything. Otherwise, the Tropicana is nice as well. If you are picky about the room, every casino hotel has different towers and sometimes even in the same tower, some are newly remodeled and some are not. If you go earlier like right after Labor day it will most likely still be good going to the beach weather, but yes some stuff will be closed (like the Pier with all the rides). I get the best deals via email offers (like from the Tropicana or Resorts), or my logging into my Total Rewards account (for Bally's or Caesars). I have never stayed in the Marina district and do not recommend that if it is your first time in Atlantic City, but I hear that it is very nice (I would consider the Marina area off season though). If going to the Tropicana for some sort of anniversary, avoid staying in the West Tower there.

This is a much better place to ask about Atlantic City:
https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowForum-g29750-i78-Atlantic_City_New_Jersey.html

 

[gman2304]

http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/07/03/535335917/chris-christie-closed-new-jers

Maybe Gov Christie will let you join him on his private beach.

 

[Sayjac]

^^^^Gotta say, I absolutely loved the many Memes and subsequent beach plane fly over message spawned by the Christie beach fiasco. Classic stuff. So I would personally like to thank the NJ Gov for providing me multiple (almost in tears on some) LOL moments over the 4th weekend.

 

[Triple_Se7en]

Originally Posted By: gman2304
http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/07/03/535335917/chris-christie-closed-new-jers

Maybe Gov Christie will let you join him on his private beach.


Last I read, Christie was auditioning to become a sports talk show-host in NYC. He's all done as Governor in January.

 

[JamesBond]

We took the train to AC last September and stayed at the newly re-opened showboat. It's a huge hotel/casino with a closed casino and it was like a ghost town. But we wanted beach time and it was perfect for that. It had a very nice stretch of un-crowded beach right outside.

The boardwalk is nice/kitchy Ballys/Caesars is centrally located and nice, the Tropicana seemed very popular. Casinos seem close together but are kind of a hike. Bring everything you need with you because finding a CVS, grocery store or liquor store nearby is not easy and most places outside of the boardwalk and outlet shops are sketchy.

 

[NJ_Car_Owner]

Originally Posted By: zzyzzx
Originally Posted By: NJ_Car_Owner
I hate to say it but AC really offers nothing for people. If you are into gambling and drinking then maybe but as far as "entertainment" - nope - it's not Las Vegas!


The beach there is the best around, and was packed on Sunday. Vegas doesn't have that, or the boardwalk.


OP said late September or early October which may or may not be beach weather; very few people will be on the beach during the weekdays that's for sure. Boardwalk will be empty during the week as well and at night if you're not into gambling and drinking then there is pretty much no entertainment unless a group just happens to be there you want to see and want to fork over some extra money because it is AC. I saw an Eagles concert at the Wells Fargo Center in Philly and their tickets were about $100 each where they were $150 each in AC.

As far as that being the "best" beach - not sure on that either. Wildwood and Wildwood Crest are nice beaches and Wildwood has a somewhat exciting boardwalk (if your into that) during the summer. Go up north a little and there are some other great beaches as well - Belmar, Point Pleasant and Spring Lake. AC is free to get onto during the summer, I believe all beaches are free when the season is over. Heck we were told once at Point Pleasant in season to come back in 1/2 hour after 5 PM and we can get onto the beach for free.

As far as the comparison between AC and Vegas - Vegas is a happening place with lots to do, AC is a depressed city with problems. The Borgata is trying to make their hotel a "destination" and some other hotel is trying to draw in a younger (21-25 YO) crowd by offering college nights and other things to draw people in. The Tropicana is really nice and seems to have a life of it's own but I think it does draw a younger crowd in.

I live in Jersey, worked in AC for 8 years and have gone there to drink and gamble about 3x my entire life - put $0.50 into a slot and hit the button for free drinks and give the attendant a buck. When my kid gets a comp we think about going, wouldn't spend too much on a room. Went to Vegas, stayed at the Venetian, was wowed by it, saw some nice nighttime shows, did some sightseeing ... I guess it depends on what you're expecting a place to be.

 

[zzyzzx]

Originally Posted By: JamesBond
We took the train to AC last September and stayed at the newly re-opened showboat. It's a huge hotel/casino with a closed casino and it was like a ghost town. But we wanted beach time and it was perfect for that. It had a very nice stretch of un-crowded beach right outside.


True, but that part of the beach near ShowBoat is/was highly eroded as of last time I looked there, which was in late May. It's being replenished right now and I have no idea exactly where the beach replenishment stuff will be whenever they get to AC. Nor do I have any idea how far south the beach replenishment will go, since it was fine in front of Bally's last weekend.