Bus service from New York City to Atlantic City is easy and the most affordable option for visitors, though it is not as comfortable as the train. NJ Transit buses (from $9) take off every hour for the Atlantic City. Find cheap tickets to anywhere in Virginia from Atlantic City. KAYAK searches hundreds of travel sites to help you find cheap airfare and book the flight that suits you best. With KAYAK you can also compare prices of plane tickets for last minute flights to anywhere in Virginia from Atlantic City. Hi all, We are with 6 and we want to go to Atlantic City via NYC.We have some luggage, so we need capacity for that as well. What would be our best bet? Going to Philadelphia first and searching for a train / bus via there or directly to Atlantic City? Extra detail: we will travel and stay in Philadelphia after we stay in Atlantic City.
Winter in Atlantic City The cheapest time to visit AC is during the winter months, especially in the middle of the week. You'll miss out on the beaches, but the casinos and most restaurants are.
Despite its sometimes less-than-glamorous reputation, there are many reasons to get away to Atlantic City. Whether you like hot nights gambling, beautiful ocean sunrises, great food or just are looking for a place to get away, Atlantic City has something to offer you.
Actually, Atlantic City has a lot offers for you. Some of these offers are from hotels trying to win your business. Others from airlines that are trying to get you to fly with them instead of the other folks. Some offers come from restaurants or hospital groups that will help you afford all of that delicious food while you are there. Plus, there are travel sites like Expedia and Kayak.
Therefore, when planning a trip to Atlantic City, you have a number of ways to spend your vacation budget, but which way is the most affordable? How can you stretch your dollars the furthest and get the most?
I do a lot of travel and have spent a lot of time on various travel sites. I'm going to help you unravel how to get the best deal possible. What I won't do is try to push any one program, site or company on you because that's not fair. I will also do my best to let you know when I use a company so you can be confident you're getting the best deal and I'm not profiting from it.
Determining 'Cheapest'
Clearly we're trying to find the lowest priced combination of hotel and airfare. Those are must haves (I didn't include rental cars because rideshares are fairly cost effective and you can walk a lost of places in Atlantic City.) Beyond that, if we can get discounts on food or shows, we will take that into the final tally as much as possible.
Also, please keep in mind that any prices quoted were rounded to avoid giving firm prices. Any prices that I found while looking at this article are only good for the times I searched, from my home airport, and for that day. Please do your own searching to find your price.
Resort Websites
The first place to go when looking for good deals is going to the various resort hotel websites and see what deals they are offering. Sadly, this doesn't usually include airfare, even in their 'vacation packages.'
Normally, but not always, the hotels are going to give you the worst price of any source, but I like to start on the hotel website for three reasons:
- Every now and then they will surprise you and offer a really great deal.
- They establish a worst-case scenario for the highest rate you will have to pay for a given night. At least you have something to compare against.
- They remind you of additional things you can sign up for to save money like email clubs and loyalty cards.
Also, while I am thinking about it, while you're on the websites, sign up for those loyalty cards and email clubs. It takes a minute and you will save money.
Airline Websites
The next place to check for cheap rates is your favorite airline. For me, this happens to be Southwest (of which I am a member), but I am sure by merely mentioning that, some heads just exploded. I get that. Southwest is an acquired taste, but they're cheap. They also offer vacation packages.
To get an idea of how much it might cost to travel to Atlantic City, I picked a weekend at random and searched for fares from my home city to Atlantic City. While prices will vary sometimes by the day, let's say it was about $800 for airfare. Hotels were basically another $300 for a Friday and Saturday night.
Then, for comparison, I entered in the same days into the Southwest site to get a hotel plus flight package deal. Despite my earlier admonition that hotel websites are the most expensive, it was actually about seventy dollars cheaper to buy the flight and hotel separately than the package deal.
To be honest, that surprised me a bit. Both teams to score predictions. Oh, and I looked at Delta to get a comparison and found there wasn't a good way to Atlantic City via Delta. Boo.
Hotels.com
I like to use Hotels.com to find cheaper hotel rates and am a member of theirs, though so far that only qualifies me to stay so many nights and get a free room.
For the purposes of this experiment, I tried to find the same hotel as I did use the Southwest package on the Hotels.com site. That particular hotel did not have any availability.
I looked at another property on both Hotels.com and the resort's actual site and found that I could book a room in Atlantic City for about forty dollars cheaper than on the hotel's actual website. That tends to be my experience (that Hotels.com is cheaper).
I have also found that you can call the hotel and they will give you the Hotels.com rate, which can entitle you to hotel's own perks instead of the Hotels.com free night.
Travel Websites
To round out my research, I also decided to check out a couple of travel websites. American online gambling laws for real. I've had good luck with Expedia.com (and, in fact, I am Silver member.) I have also heard really good things about Kayak, though my luck with them hasn't been fantastic.
Kayak
With that said I searched both sites for the same dates to Atlantic City. Starting with Kayak, I found that if I shopped for my flight separately, I could save about two hundred bucks. However, the only flight that Kayak found had me leaving at 6:00 AM on Sunday, robbing me of a day that I would get to spend in Atlantic City if I flew Southwest.
Similarly, if I looked up a package deal for the same days and hotel, I could stay for about a thousand bucks, but with the same unfavorable airline schedule. In this case, Kayak was not my friend.
Expedia.com
When searching on Expedia, I started off with the same base price for the package deal, which was fishy until I realized that I was on the same set of terrible flights. I then selected different flights and found a really great deal on American Airlines that was twenty dollars less than Southwest's package deal and sixty dollars more than buying hotel and airfare separately.
In terms of pure cost, the winner is still buying each set of tickets separately. However, in terms of flight times, I have to give the nod to Expedia. Being able to comparison shop for better flights gave me an extra few minutes of sleep or an extra six hours in Atlantic City. Either way, it was a good deal.
Other Perks
Unfortunately, for the times and hotels I looked for, there weren't any specials on food or shows with one small exception. Remember above when I said you should sign up for the loyalty program? I did notice that if you sign up for Harrah's rewards program, it cuts down on the cost of food at their restaurant. So, that's something at least.
Still, there were no gambling credits, discounted tickets, etc.
Part of that, I have to believe, is that Atlantic City either doesn't need to discount its activities to get people to come or doesn't find that to be a useful way to attract customers.
Either way, in a lot of cases, booking hotel and airfare individually will qualify you for special benefits from the hotel or airline that booking through a site might not otherwise give you. That's why I tend to lean towards booking everything myself especially when I get to stay loyal to my favorite brands.
Conclusion: Be Flexible
I will say one other thing about this search. More than likely, I could have saved extra money if I was flexible on days or where I stayed. There were plenty of deals out there, so if you can, have a few different times you can go. Your wallet might just thank you for it.
I have to admit at the end of this exercise to feeling a little surprised by the result. I'm not surprised that I got the best deal by purchasing a package deal from a travel site. Their insight into how much other companies travel is too good and they have more options to choose from than I really want to seek out.
What did surprise me was the difference between the travel site price and buying hotel and airfare separately. In a lot of cases, I would have to think long and hard about whether it was worth flying a different airline, especially when the difference was so minimal.
Ultimately, your mileage may vary. If you have time to do research, feel free to look at all these sources. If planning a vacation is really not your thing, log into your favorite travel site, pick your times, and pay your money.
Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus.If you're planning to visit Atlantic City then you might be
feeling a little nervous. You're probably spending a lot of
money on this trip, and you want to do it right. There's no need
to worry though, as this guide can help make sure you do.
On this page we provide tips for travelling to Atlantic City,
finding suitable lodging at the best prices, and having the most
fun for your money while you're there. We also cover getting
from place to place within the city, where and what to eat, and
what to do for fun. There is, of course, plenty of information
on all the gambling activities available too.
Atlantic City is a wonderful destination, and not just for
gamblers. To get the most out of your visit it really is worth
taking the time to plan things properly.
Travelling to Atlantic City
Most people flying into Atlantic City from within the US use
Spirit Air or Southwest (formerly Air Tran). Both carriers are
well-known for providing affordable airfare in general, so
flying in doesn't have to be a huge financial burden.
If you're travelling on a budget—and these days, who isn't?—be
flexible with your dates. Fares vary in price depending on
supply and demand. An airline will charge more for a particular
flight if they have sold a lot of tickets, and less if they
haven't. You want to shop around to find the cheapest dates
possible, and using websites like Kayak and Travelocity is great
for checking multiple dates for your trip. Booking your flights
two or three weeks in advance also helps you get a better price.
Everyone travels on Friday and Saturday, so demand is great
and supply is low. Other days of the week therefore tend to be
much cheaper. The only exception to this is when special events
like conventions are happening.
Accommodation in Atlantic City
visit is mid-week.
Hotel prices in Atlantic City are set using supply and
demand. Most travelers like to stay over the weekend, so the
hotels raise their rates accordingly. Friday and Saturday are
the most expensive nights of the week to stay, while Sunday
through Thursday nights are the most affordable.
Avoiding special events can also save you a lot of money. If
you're traveling to Atlantic City during the Miss America
Pageant, Restaurant Week, The Airshow, or Oktoberfest, you can
expect to pay top dollar for your room and board. You can also
look forward to fighting huge crowds.
When it comes to weather, the best times to visit are from
March through August. The average temperature during those
months is in the low 80s. Of course, if you're spending most of
your time in the casino gambling, the weather outside probably
doesn't matter so much. In that case, the best time of year to
visit Atlantic City is whenever you can get the time off work.
Choosing Where to Stay
A lot of visitors to Atlantic City like to take advantage of
travel packages. These include your hotel stay as well as the
other perks specific to that package. Golf packages and spa
packages are especially popular. These kinds of packages usually
include airfare and dining, too. But if you're on a budget,
booking your stay separately from everything else is the way to
go, even if you want to stay at one of the luxury hotel/casinos
on the Boardwalk.
The casino resorts on the Boardwalk include Bally's, Borgata
Hotel Casino & Spa, Caesars, Golden Nugget, Harrah's Resort,
Resorts Casino, Tropicana Casino and Resort, and Trump Taj Mahal
Casino Resort. If you're looking for luxury, go with the
Borgata. If you're looking for the best price, book two or three
weeks in advance and use one of the hotel comparison engines on
the Internet to find the best price.
If you're truly budget-conscious, you can find Comfort Inns
and other budget hotels elsewhere in the city, but factor in the
cost of transportation to the sights and sounds. Depending on
what kind of rate you can find at the casinos on the Boardwalk,
it might save money to pay more for your hotel since you won't
have to pay for transportation.
If you want to get a free room upgrade, you might want to try
the following little trick. When you're giving the desk clerk
your credit card, include a $20 tip. Ask if there are any free
room upgrades available. If something is available, she'll often
accommodate you. If not, she'll usually return your $20. This
isn't a trick exclusive to Atlantic City, but it works here as
often as anywhere else, especially during low-occupancy periods
at the hotels.
Gambling in Atlantic City
Casino games and poker are both popular gambling activities
in Atlantic City, but unlike Las Vegas, there is no legal sports
betting here—yet.
Casino Games
You can play at one of eight (or nine, depending on whether
or not you include Wild Wild West as part of Bally's) different
casinos in the city, and you'll find gambling machines, table
games, and poker at almost all of them.
You must be at least 21 years old to gamble in an Atlantic
City casino, but under-age people can go in the casinos as long
as they aren't gambling or drinking alcohol. They aren't allowed
to loiter in the gambling areas, though—they're just allowed to
walk through those areas.
Slot machines in Atlantic City are much the same as they are
at any other casino gambling destination. The house has the
edge, it's usually large, and players have no decisions to make.
Players who like machine gambling but want better odds or a game
where their decisions matter should look into video poker.
Jacks or Better and Deuces Wild are the two most popular
video poker variations. At any given time, the video poker
manufacturers are experimenting with additional video poker
titles. These have different odds. The safest bet is to look for
a video poker game you have some understanding of. Compared to
slot machines, video poker games are a much better deal for the
player. Even the worst video poker game in Atlantic City
probably has a better payout percentage than the best slot
machine.
New Jersey has specific rules about counting cards that have
spurred the casinos in Atlantic City to change their blackjack
games. Most casinos in most parts of the world retain the right
to ban players who are using advantage techniques while playing
blackjack, but in New Jersey, it's illegal to do this. As a
result, the blackjack games in Atlantic City are almost always
played using eight decks and are often dealt from a machine that
continually shuffles the cards. The casinos have made it almost
impossible to get an edge by counting.
It's not all bad for blackjack players in Atlantic City
though. The casinos tend to have generous rules options. It's
not unusual for a basic strategy player to face a relatively low
house edge of 0.36%. Since the casinos have made it impossible
to get an edge by counting, they've made up for it by making the
rules options more favorable to the player.
Atlantic City roulette is usually a better deal for the
player than roulette in other U.S. destinations. In Las Vegas,
almost all roulette wheels have a 0 and 00. In Atlantic City,
most roulette wheels only have a single 0, which effectively
cuts the house edge over the player in half. Of course, a 2.70%
edge compares poorly with a 0.36% edge at blackjack, but some
gamblers aren't interested in doing the work necessary to master
basic strategy.
Craps is also available and popular in Atlantic City. If
you've never played before, you deserve to experience this game.
It's one of the most exciting and fun experiences you can have
in a casino. And the house edge is low, too, as long as you stay
away from the more exotic bets. The most basic bets—pass, don't
pass, come, don't come, and the odds bet—all offer a house edge
on par with blackjack or video poker.
You can't use skill to get an edge at craps, but getting on a
hot streak can be one of the most exciting experiences you'll
ever have in a casino anywhere. Like Las Vegas casinos, the
resorts in Atlantic City often offer free lessons for games like
craps during their non-peak periods. You should take advantage
of them.
If you're going to gamble on the casino games in Atlantic
City, you should practice a little bit online at the free online
casino games first while you're still at home. You'll have a
better sense of how the action works, and you'll be less likely
to embarrass yourself by committing a faux pas. You might also
invest in one of the better books about casino gambling for
beginners. I'm a big fan of Andrew Brisman's book, The Mensa
Guide to Casino Gambling: Winning Ways. It's a little dated, but
it contains some of the clearest explanations of how casino
games work in print.
Poker
The poker rooms in Atlantic City vary dramatically in size.
The Golden Nugget, for example, has a tiny room with only 10
tables. Borgata, on the other hand, has a large poker room with
85 tables. All of the casinos with poker rooms offer regular
tournament opportunities, but the only casino cardroom to offer
large-scale events is Borgata.
You can find small stakes action at most of the cardrooms in
the city, starting at $1/$2 no limit holdem with a buy-in
ranging from $60 to $300. If you're interested in big games, you
can play for high stakes at the Borgata. The $25/$50 no limit
game there has no maximum buy-in. Limit holdem players are
looking at a $2/$4 game in most cardrooms with a minimum $40
buy-in.
Online Gambling
You've probably read some ballyhoo about legalized gambling
in New Jersey. If you're not a resident of the state you can't
gamble online there, even if you're visiting a casino resort. If
you are a resident of New Jersey, and you're interested in
gambling online, you've probably already taken advantage of the
new gambling laws there.
What Else to Do & See in Atlantic City
Some people go to Atlantic City just for the gambling. If
that describes you, great! More power to you. But if you're looking for other stuff to see and do, you
won't have to look far. Atlantic City has something for
everyone. Here are a few details on a small selection of the
attractions.
The Boardwalk
This was the first boardwalk in the USA. It opened in 1870—at
the time, the population of Atlantic City was barely over 1000.
Like the Las Vegas Strip, the Atlantic City Boardwalk is about
four miles long. You'll find multiple attractions along the
boardwalk, including the casino resorts, restaurants, shopping,
and museums.
The shopping on the boardwalk is especially notable. The
Quarter at Tropicana is an indoor shopping mall at the Tropicana
with a unique Havana theme and over 40 stores. The Pier Shops at
Caesars is one high end shopping center that's always a big hit
with first time visitors. Tangier Outlets The Walk is an outdoor
outlet mall, offering lower prices for more budget-conscious
shops.
Most of the casino resorts offer shopping of some kind. The
Borgata Shops, The Shoppes at Water Club, and Spice Road are all
shopping centers located inside of the casino resorts there.
Multiple other shopping malls dot the landscape in the
surrounding Atlantic City. They cater as much to the locals as
to tourists, but if shopping's your bag, you might want to check
them out, too.
The Beach
Atlantic City is probably the most popular beach destination
on the East Coast, so beach activities are perennially popular
there. Different areas of the beach are designated for different
activities.
If you want to surf, you have three choices.
- Downtown Beach at Raleigh Avenue
- Crystal Beach at New Hampshire Avenue
- Delaware Avenue Beach
If you're into kayaking and/or windsurfing, you'll want to
stick with Jackson Avenue Beach. And if you hope to go fishing,
you can fish from the jetties on Maine Avenue. You can also fish
from the inlet off the Boardwalk. You can even try surf fishing
on any of the other beaches, but only during non-bathing hours.
Beach activities aren't limited to fishing, kayaking, and
surfing, though. You can hunt for treasure with your metal
detector, build castles in the sand, play volleyball, or just
lie in the sun and drink.
The Miss America Pageant
The 2013 Miss America Pageant was held in January in Las
Vegas, but the event returned to Atlantic City, New Jersey in
September of that year. It's now traditionally held every
September there. The beauty pageant has a fascinating history,
and it's probably the most famous event of its kind in the
world.
Contestants must be between the ages of 17 and 24 and be
United States citizens. They're judged on multiple criteria,
including the swimsuit competition, the evening wear
competition, the talent show, their private interview, and their
on-stage question. The talent competition has the most weighting
in the competition, counting for 35% of the contestant's score.
The Atlantic City Art Center
This is located on Garden Pier on the Boardwalk. They're open
7 days a week from 10am to 4pm. You'll find various exhibitions
of paintings, sculptures, and photographs on display here
depending on what's happening on those calendar dates.
Other Attractions
How Much Does It Cost To Go To Atlantic City
The Garden Pier is, by itself, quite lovely, even if you
don't visit the Art Center. It has a huge concert stand and a
beautiful garden and fountain in the center.
The Atlantic City Historical Museum is also located on Garden
Pier. It's free and relatively quiet, so it makes a nice break
from the casinos. It was recently renovated, too. They have
multiple exhibits which change, but they also have one permanent
exhibit: 'Atlantic City: Playground of the Nation'. It's open
daily from 10am to 5pm.
Ripleys Believe It or Not boasts of over 400 exhibits in
their A.C. location. The 'Odditorium' is over 12,000 square feet
and has 14 themed galleries on a single floor. You can see the
world's smallest car there as well as authentic shrunken heads.
Tickets cost $16.99 for adults but only $10.99 for children
under 13. Infants are free, and senior citizens (65+) get a
discounted rate of $13.99.
Where to Eat in Atlantic City
If you're not on a budget, visiting Atlantic City during
Restaurant Week might be the best activity for you. You can
expect to pay more for your flights and your hotel stay, but you
can experience special menus at a wide variety of restaurants.
Restaurant Week is held in mid-March every year. Examples of
restaurants which have participated in the event in the past
include Back Bay Ale House, Capriccio, Gordon Ramsay Pub &
Grill, Guy Fieri's Chophouse, Kwi Noodle House, and Nero's
Italian Steakhouse. Many (if not most) of these restaurants are
located inside the resorts on the Boardwalk.
Unlike Las Vegas, the United States' other premier gambling
destination, Atlantic City is not known for its dirt-cheap
buffets or midnight meal specials. If you want to eat on a
budget, though, you can find the usual quick service restaurants
with the usual quick service restaurant prices throughout the
city.
Tipping Guide
Tipping in Atlantic City is typical of anywhere else, but
here's a quick guide to help you out.
Winter in Atlantic City The cheapest time to visit AC is during the winter months, especially in the middle of the week. You'll miss out on the beaches, but the casinos and most restaurants are.
Despite its sometimes less-than-glamorous reputation, there are many reasons to get away to Atlantic City. Whether you like hot nights gambling, beautiful ocean sunrises, great food or just are looking for a place to get away, Atlantic City has something to offer you.
Actually, Atlantic City has a lot offers for you. Some of these offers are from hotels trying to win your business. Others from airlines that are trying to get you to fly with them instead of the other folks. Some offers come from restaurants or hospital groups that will help you afford all of that delicious food while you are there. Plus, there are travel sites like Expedia and Kayak.
Therefore, when planning a trip to Atlantic City, you have a number of ways to spend your vacation budget, but which way is the most affordable? How can you stretch your dollars the furthest and get the most?
I do a lot of travel and have spent a lot of time on various travel sites. I'm going to help you unravel how to get the best deal possible. What I won't do is try to push any one program, site or company on you because that's not fair. I will also do my best to let you know when I use a company so you can be confident you're getting the best deal and I'm not profiting from it.
Determining 'Cheapest'
Clearly we're trying to find the lowest priced combination of hotel and airfare. Those are must haves (I didn't include rental cars because rideshares are fairly cost effective and you can walk a lost of places in Atlantic City.) Beyond that, if we can get discounts on food or shows, we will take that into the final tally as much as possible.
Also, please keep in mind that any prices quoted were rounded to avoid giving firm prices. Any prices that I found while looking at this article are only good for the times I searched, from my home airport, and for that day. Please do your own searching to find your price.
Resort Websites
The first place to go when looking for good deals is going to the various resort hotel websites and see what deals they are offering. Sadly, this doesn't usually include airfare, even in their 'vacation packages.'
Normally, but not always, the hotels are going to give you the worst price of any source, but I like to start on the hotel website for three reasons:
- Every now and then they will surprise you and offer a really great deal.
- They establish a worst-case scenario for the highest rate you will have to pay for a given night. At least you have something to compare against.
- They remind you of additional things you can sign up for to save money like email clubs and loyalty cards.
Also, while I am thinking about it, while you're on the websites, sign up for those loyalty cards and email clubs. It takes a minute and you will save money.
Airline Websites
The next place to check for cheap rates is your favorite airline. For me, this happens to be Southwest (of which I am a member), but I am sure by merely mentioning that, some heads just exploded. I get that. Southwest is an acquired taste, but they're cheap. They also offer vacation packages.
To get an idea of how much it might cost to travel to Atlantic City, I picked a weekend at random and searched for fares from my home city to Atlantic City. While prices will vary sometimes by the day, let's say it was about $800 for airfare. Hotels were basically another $300 for a Friday and Saturday night.
Then, for comparison, I entered in the same days into the Southwest site to get a hotel plus flight package deal. Despite my earlier admonition that hotel websites are the most expensive, it was actually about seventy dollars cheaper to buy the flight and hotel separately than the package deal.
To be honest, that surprised me a bit. Both teams to score predictions. Oh, and I looked at Delta to get a comparison and found there wasn't a good way to Atlantic City via Delta. Boo.
Hotels.com
I like to use Hotels.com to find cheaper hotel rates and am a member of theirs, though so far that only qualifies me to stay so many nights and get a free room.
For the purposes of this experiment, I tried to find the same hotel as I did use the Southwest package on the Hotels.com site. That particular hotel did not have any availability.
I looked at another property on both Hotels.com and the resort's actual site and found that I could book a room in Atlantic City for about forty dollars cheaper than on the hotel's actual website. That tends to be my experience (that Hotels.com is cheaper).
I have also found that you can call the hotel and they will give you the Hotels.com rate, which can entitle you to hotel's own perks instead of the Hotels.com free night.
Travel Websites
To round out my research, I also decided to check out a couple of travel websites. American online gambling laws for real. I've had good luck with Expedia.com (and, in fact, I am Silver member.) I have also heard really good things about Kayak, though my luck with them hasn't been fantastic.
Kayak
With that said I searched both sites for the same dates to Atlantic City. Starting with Kayak, I found that if I shopped for my flight separately, I could save about two hundred bucks. However, the only flight that Kayak found had me leaving at 6:00 AM on Sunday, robbing me of a day that I would get to spend in Atlantic City if I flew Southwest.
Similarly, if I looked up a package deal for the same days and hotel, I could stay for about a thousand bucks, but with the same unfavorable airline schedule. In this case, Kayak was not my friend.
Expedia.com
When searching on Expedia, I started off with the same base price for the package deal, which was fishy until I realized that I was on the same set of terrible flights. I then selected different flights and found a really great deal on American Airlines that was twenty dollars less than Southwest's package deal and sixty dollars more than buying hotel and airfare separately.
In terms of pure cost, the winner is still buying each set of tickets separately. However, in terms of flight times, I have to give the nod to Expedia. Being able to comparison shop for better flights gave me an extra few minutes of sleep or an extra six hours in Atlantic City. Either way, it was a good deal.
Other Perks
Unfortunately, for the times and hotels I looked for, there weren't any specials on food or shows with one small exception. Remember above when I said you should sign up for the loyalty program? I did notice that if you sign up for Harrah's rewards program, it cuts down on the cost of food at their restaurant. So, that's something at least.
Still, there were no gambling credits, discounted tickets, etc.
Part of that, I have to believe, is that Atlantic City either doesn't need to discount its activities to get people to come or doesn't find that to be a useful way to attract customers.
Either way, in a lot of cases, booking hotel and airfare individually will qualify you for special benefits from the hotel or airline that booking through a site might not otherwise give you. That's why I tend to lean towards booking everything myself especially when I get to stay loyal to my favorite brands.
Conclusion: Be Flexible
I will say one other thing about this search. More than likely, I could have saved extra money if I was flexible on days or where I stayed. There were plenty of deals out there, so if you can, have a few different times you can go. Your wallet might just thank you for it.
I have to admit at the end of this exercise to feeling a little surprised by the result. I'm not surprised that I got the best deal by purchasing a package deal from a travel site. Their insight into how much other companies travel is too good and they have more options to choose from than I really want to seek out.
What did surprise me was the difference between the travel site price and buying hotel and airfare separately. In a lot of cases, I would have to think long and hard about whether it was worth flying a different airline, especially when the difference was so minimal.
Ultimately, your mileage may vary. If you have time to do research, feel free to look at all these sources. If planning a vacation is really not your thing, log into your favorite travel site, pick your times, and pay your money.
Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus.If you're planning to visit Atlantic City then you might be
feeling a little nervous. You're probably spending a lot of
money on this trip, and you want to do it right. There's no need
to worry though, as this guide can help make sure you do.
On this page we provide tips for travelling to Atlantic City,
finding suitable lodging at the best prices, and having the most
fun for your money while you're there. We also cover getting
from place to place within the city, where and what to eat, and
what to do for fun. There is, of course, plenty of information
on all the gambling activities available too.
Atlantic City is a wonderful destination, and not just for
gamblers. To get the most out of your visit it really is worth
taking the time to plan things properly.
Travelling to Atlantic City
Most people flying into Atlantic City from within the US use
Spirit Air or Southwest (formerly Air Tran). Both carriers are
well-known for providing affordable airfare in general, so
flying in doesn't have to be a huge financial burden.
If you're travelling on a budget—and these days, who isn't?—be
flexible with your dates. Fares vary in price depending on
supply and demand. An airline will charge more for a particular
flight if they have sold a lot of tickets, and less if they
haven't. You want to shop around to find the cheapest dates
possible, and using websites like Kayak and Travelocity is great
for checking multiple dates for your trip. Booking your flights
two or three weeks in advance also helps you get a better price.
Everyone travels on Friday and Saturday, so demand is great
and supply is low. Other days of the week therefore tend to be
much cheaper. The only exception to this is when special events
like conventions are happening.
Accommodation in Atlantic City
visit is mid-week.
Hotel prices in Atlantic City are set using supply and
demand. Most travelers like to stay over the weekend, so the
hotels raise their rates accordingly. Friday and Saturday are
the most expensive nights of the week to stay, while Sunday
through Thursday nights are the most affordable.
Avoiding special events can also save you a lot of money. If
you're traveling to Atlantic City during the Miss America
Pageant, Restaurant Week, The Airshow, or Oktoberfest, you can
expect to pay top dollar for your room and board. You can also
look forward to fighting huge crowds.
When it comes to weather, the best times to visit are from
March through August. The average temperature during those
months is in the low 80s. Of course, if you're spending most of
your time in the casino gambling, the weather outside probably
doesn't matter so much. In that case, the best time of year to
visit Atlantic City is whenever you can get the time off work.
Choosing Where to Stay
A lot of visitors to Atlantic City like to take advantage of
travel packages. These include your hotel stay as well as the
other perks specific to that package. Golf packages and spa
packages are especially popular. These kinds of packages usually
include airfare and dining, too. But if you're on a budget,
booking your stay separately from everything else is the way to
go, even if you want to stay at one of the luxury hotel/casinos
on the Boardwalk.
The casino resorts on the Boardwalk include Bally's, Borgata
Hotel Casino & Spa, Caesars, Golden Nugget, Harrah's Resort,
Resorts Casino, Tropicana Casino and Resort, and Trump Taj Mahal
Casino Resort. If you're looking for luxury, go with the
Borgata. If you're looking for the best price, book two or three
weeks in advance and use one of the hotel comparison engines on
the Internet to find the best price.
If you're truly budget-conscious, you can find Comfort Inns
and other budget hotels elsewhere in the city, but factor in the
cost of transportation to the sights and sounds. Depending on
what kind of rate you can find at the casinos on the Boardwalk,
it might save money to pay more for your hotel since you won't
have to pay for transportation.
If you want to get a free room upgrade, you might want to try
the following little trick. When you're giving the desk clerk
your credit card, include a $20 tip. Ask if there are any free
room upgrades available. If something is available, she'll often
accommodate you. If not, she'll usually return your $20. This
isn't a trick exclusive to Atlantic City, but it works here as
often as anywhere else, especially during low-occupancy periods
at the hotels.
Gambling in Atlantic City
Casino games and poker are both popular gambling activities
in Atlantic City, but unlike Las Vegas, there is no legal sports
betting here—yet.
Casino Games
You can play at one of eight (or nine, depending on whether
or not you include Wild Wild West as part of Bally's) different
casinos in the city, and you'll find gambling machines, table
games, and poker at almost all of them.
You must be at least 21 years old to gamble in an Atlantic
City casino, but under-age people can go in the casinos as long
as they aren't gambling or drinking alcohol. They aren't allowed
to loiter in the gambling areas, though—they're just allowed to
walk through those areas.
Slot machines in Atlantic City are much the same as they are
at any other casino gambling destination. The house has the
edge, it's usually large, and players have no decisions to make.
Players who like machine gambling but want better odds or a game
where their decisions matter should look into video poker.
Jacks or Better and Deuces Wild are the two most popular
video poker variations. At any given time, the video poker
manufacturers are experimenting with additional video poker
titles. These have different odds. The safest bet is to look for
a video poker game you have some understanding of. Compared to
slot machines, video poker games are a much better deal for the
player. Even the worst video poker game in Atlantic City
probably has a better payout percentage than the best slot
machine.
New Jersey has specific rules about counting cards that have
spurred the casinos in Atlantic City to change their blackjack
games. Most casinos in most parts of the world retain the right
to ban players who are using advantage techniques while playing
blackjack, but in New Jersey, it's illegal to do this. As a
result, the blackjack games in Atlantic City are almost always
played using eight decks and are often dealt from a machine that
continually shuffles the cards. The casinos have made it almost
impossible to get an edge by counting.
It's not all bad for blackjack players in Atlantic City
though. The casinos tend to have generous rules options. It's
not unusual for a basic strategy player to face a relatively low
house edge of 0.36%. Since the casinos have made it impossible
to get an edge by counting, they've made up for it by making the
rules options more favorable to the player.
Atlantic City roulette is usually a better deal for the
player than roulette in other U.S. destinations. In Las Vegas,
almost all roulette wheels have a 0 and 00. In Atlantic City,
most roulette wheels only have a single 0, which effectively
cuts the house edge over the player in half. Of course, a 2.70%
edge compares poorly with a 0.36% edge at blackjack, but some
gamblers aren't interested in doing the work necessary to master
basic strategy.
Craps is also available and popular in Atlantic City. If
you've never played before, you deserve to experience this game.
It's one of the most exciting and fun experiences you can have
in a casino. And the house edge is low, too, as long as you stay
away from the more exotic bets. The most basic bets—pass, don't
pass, come, don't come, and the odds bet—all offer a house edge
on par with blackjack or video poker.
You can't use skill to get an edge at craps, but getting on a
hot streak can be one of the most exciting experiences you'll
ever have in a casino anywhere. Like Las Vegas casinos, the
resorts in Atlantic City often offer free lessons for games like
craps during their non-peak periods. You should take advantage
of them.
If you're going to gamble on the casino games in Atlantic
City, you should practice a little bit online at the free online
casino games first while you're still at home. You'll have a
better sense of how the action works, and you'll be less likely
to embarrass yourself by committing a faux pas. You might also
invest in one of the better books about casino gambling for
beginners. I'm a big fan of Andrew Brisman's book, The Mensa
Guide to Casino Gambling: Winning Ways. It's a little dated, but
it contains some of the clearest explanations of how casino
games work in print.
Poker
The poker rooms in Atlantic City vary dramatically in size.
The Golden Nugget, for example, has a tiny room with only 10
tables. Borgata, on the other hand, has a large poker room with
85 tables. All of the casinos with poker rooms offer regular
tournament opportunities, but the only casino cardroom to offer
large-scale events is Borgata.
You can find small stakes action at most of the cardrooms in
the city, starting at $1/$2 no limit holdem with a buy-in
ranging from $60 to $300. If you're interested in big games, you
can play for high stakes at the Borgata. The $25/$50 no limit
game there has no maximum buy-in. Limit holdem players are
looking at a $2/$4 game in most cardrooms with a minimum $40
buy-in.
Online Gambling
You've probably read some ballyhoo about legalized gambling
in New Jersey. If you're not a resident of the state you can't
gamble online there, even if you're visiting a casino resort. If
you are a resident of New Jersey, and you're interested in
gambling online, you've probably already taken advantage of the
new gambling laws there.
What Else to Do & See in Atlantic City
Some people go to Atlantic City just for the gambling. If
that describes you, great! More power to you. But if you're looking for other stuff to see and do, you
won't have to look far. Atlantic City has something for
everyone. Here are a few details on a small selection of the
attractions.
The Boardwalk
This was the first boardwalk in the USA. It opened in 1870—at
the time, the population of Atlantic City was barely over 1000.
Like the Las Vegas Strip, the Atlantic City Boardwalk is about
four miles long. You'll find multiple attractions along the
boardwalk, including the casino resorts, restaurants, shopping,
and museums.
The shopping on the boardwalk is especially notable. The
Quarter at Tropicana is an indoor shopping mall at the Tropicana
with a unique Havana theme and over 40 stores. The Pier Shops at
Caesars is one high end shopping center that's always a big hit
with first time visitors. Tangier Outlets The Walk is an outdoor
outlet mall, offering lower prices for more budget-conscious
shops.
Most of the casino resorts offer shopping of some kind. The
Borgata Shops, The Shoppes at Water Club, and Spice Road are all
shopping centers located inside of the casino resorts there.
Multiple other shopping malls dot the landscape in the
surrounding Atlantic City. They cater as much to the locals as
to tourists, but if shopping's your bag, you might want to check
them out, too.
The Beach
Atlantic City is probably the most popular beach destination
on the East Coast, so beach activities are perennially popular
there. Different areas of the beach are designated for different
activities.
If you want to surf, you have three choices.
- Downtown Beach at Raleigh Avenue
- Crystal Beach at New Hampshire Avenue
- Delaware Avenue Beach
If you're into kayaking and/or windsurfing, you'll want to
stick with Jackson Avenue Beach. And if you hope to go fishing,
you can fish from the jetties on Maine Avenue. You can also fish
from the inlet off the Boardwalk. You can even try surf fishing
on any of the other beaches, but only during non-bathing hours.
Beach activities aren't limited to fishing, kayaking, and
surfing, though. You can hunt for treasure with your metal
detector, build castles in the sand, play volleyball, or just
lie in the sun and drink.
The Miss America Pageant
The 2013 Miss America Pageant was held in January in Las
Vegas, but the event returned to Atlantic City, New Jersey in
September of that year. It's now traditionally held every
September there. The beauty pageant has a fascinating history,
and it's probably the most famous event of its kind in the
world.
Contestants must be between the ages of 17 and 24 and be
United States citizens. They're judged on multiple criteria,
including the swimsuit competition, the evening wear
competition, the talent show, their private interview, and their
on-stage question. The talent competition has the most weighting
in the competition, counting for 35% of the contestant's score.
The Atlantic City Art Center
This is located on Garden Pier on the Boardwalk. They're open
7 days a week from 10am to 4pm. You'll find various exhibitions
of paintings, sculptures, and photographs on display here
depending on what's happening on those calendar dates.
Other Attractions
How Much Does It Cost To Go To Atlantic City
The Garden Pier is, by itself, quite lovely, even if you
don't visit the Art Center. It has a huge concert stand and a
beautiful garden and fountain in the center.
The Atlantic City Historical Museum is also located on Garden
Pier. It's free and relatively quiet, so it makes a nice break
from the casinos. It was recently renovated, too. They have
multiple exhibits which change, but they also have one permanent
exhibit: 'Atlantic City: Playground of the Nation'. It's open
daily from 10am to 5pm.
Ripleys Believe It or Not boasts of over 400 exhibits in
their A.C. location. The 'Odditorium' is over 12,000 square feet
and has 14 themed galleries on a single floor. You can see the
world's smallest car there as well as authentic shrunken heads.
Tickets cost $16.99 for adults but only $10.99 for children
under 13. Infants are free, and senior citizens (65+) get a
discounted rate of $13.99.
Where to Eat in Atlantic City
If you're not on a budget, visiting Atlantic City during
Restaurant Week might be the best activity for you. You can
expect to pay more for your flights and your hotel stay, but you
can experience special menus at a wide variety of restaurants.
Restaurant Week is held in mid-March every year. Examples of
restaurants which have participated in the event in the past
include Back Bay Ale House, Capriccio, Gordon Ramsay Pub &
Grill, Guy Fieri's Chophouse, Kwi Noodle House, and Nero's
Italian Steakhouse. Many (if not most) of these restaurants are
located inside the resorts on the Boardwalk.
Unlike Las Vegas, the United States' other premier gambling
destination, Atlantic City is not known for its dirt-cheap
buffets or midnight meal specials. If you want to eat on a
budget, though, you can find the usual quick service restaurants
with the usual quick service restaurant prices throughout the
city.
Tipping Guide
Tipping in Atlantic City is typical of anywhere else, but
here's a quick guide to help you out.
- If you have someone help you with your bags at the hotel,
it's customary to tip $1 or $2 per bag. It's also customary to
tip a valet $2 to $5 when they're parking your car. - Cocktail waitresses in the casino should get AT LEAST $1
every time they bring you a drink. $2 is better. If you prefer
being ignored by the waitresses, don't tip. That'll do the trick
every time. In fact, you'll probably be amazed at how fast word
gets around. - You tip bartenders, waiters, and waitresses the same way you
do everywhere else, 15% to 20%. If you're paying for your drinks
at the bar on a per round basis, you should tip a dollar or two
every round. - You're also expected to tip the dealers in the casino. $5 or
so per hour is plenty. Don't get carried away with tipping the
dealers when you're winning; they don't have any real control
over your outcomes. Trying to look like a big shot isn't going
to help you get luckier.
Getting Around In Atlantic City
If you're staying on the Boardwalk, you can see a lot of the
sights just by walking around. That's what the Boardwalk was
designed for, in fact. Even when it's raining, you can walk from
between casinos using covered walkways from most places on the
Boardwalk.
Like most major metropolitan areas in the United States,
Atlantic City has plenty of taxi cabs available. These are great
if you want to check out some of the sights in the city other
than the Boardwalk. Cabs are also affordable—as long as you stay
INSIDE Atlantic City, your cab fare is a maximum of $13. You
should tip your cab driver at least $2.
More frugal visitors might want to take advantage of the
public transportation system. The city has four jitney routes,
and the fare for using the jitneys is only $2.25 per trip.
You can rent personal scooters to get around inside the
casinos. Some people even use these on the Boardwalk. It's a bad
idea to try to use these anywhere else, though, because of
safety and traffic concerns.
You could rent a car, but it's probably the frugal choice not
to given that Atlantic City is so small and there are so many
other options for getting around.
Summary
Atlantic City is one of the most popular resort destinations
on the East Coast, and with good reason. First timers can have
just as much fun in the city as seasoned visitors. With a little
bit of diligence, you can travel to Atlantic City and stay there
without blowing your entire bankroll. You can have all kinds of
fun, see all kinds of people, eat all kinds of food, and have
all kinds of experiences—the memories of which will last a
lifetime.
We've got some more information on Atlantic City, which you
can find on the following pages.
Here we provide more information on a number of the best
places to stay in Atlantic City. We've made recommendations in
different categories to help you find somewhere suitable.
Cheapest Way To Go To Atlantic City Flights
This directory contains detailed information on all of the
top casinos in Atlantic City. You can find out exactly what each
venue has to offer in terms of gaming and other facilities.
Cheapest Way To Go To Atlantic City New Jersey
On this page we provide additional information on a
comprehensive range of non-gambling activities in Atlantic City.
You might be surprised at just how much there is to do outside
the casinos.
