OK, so I'm not a pit boss or a dealer. But in the spirit of helping FTers, there's often nothing better than a local hotel concierge.

Any questions on visiting the city that's "Always Turned On", do post. I can't really help with comps and casino floor stuff, but I'll happily help for the rest of the visiting experience. If you're new to the AC scene and need a restaurant recommendation or what have you, please post and I'll make every attempt to answer and help.

Yes But then again, I live under 90 minutes away

Is there any secret to getting a decent rate on a hotel room if you're not a frequent gambler?

My parents have high status with one of the casinos and have a comped room on a Sat night. I wanted to join them and they got me a room at a 20% reduction, but still a ridiculous sum for a hotel in NJ

There's not really a way around the weekend rates. The joke around town is that Sunday thru Thursday is just something that gets in the way of the next Friday and Saturday.

Two more specific points: 20% off on a Saturday night is nothing to sneeze at, especially as high as the rates are on a usual Saturday. I can understand the point about not wanting to pay such a high rate in AC, but I would also wonder which property (or program?) your parents have the status at. That 20% goes a lot further if your parents have a good relationship with a host, and the host sees fit to get good rooms for all members of the party.

Some casinos aren't interested in keeping the rooms up to snuff, while some can't justify the cost of getting their building to not look as dated.

Hope this helps, Mary.

Thanks. We're talking about Showboat, not exactly in the Borgata territory.

I've seen the rooms and they're not all that wonderful. Even the suites are so-so.

They certainly aren't worth nearly $300 per night.

Oh well, it's Dad's birthday, and I guess I'll just cough it up.

One counterpoint to this: if your parents have a status (I'm guessing they're Diamond or Seven Stars?) they would assumedly have a casino host. Showboat is a Harrah's Entertainment property, along with Bally's, Caesars, and Harrah's. What is to stop your parents from telling the host that it's a special occasion and asking for something different than they normally get? Harrah's just finished a new tower - why not have them try that? The Total Rewards system works across all of the AC properties - Harrah's even runs a players' shuttle between the four properties, so it's not like they're uncomfortable having peoples' play leave one building and go to another, so long as it's their building.

Bally's room product is great in the high-rise, the new Harrah's tower is a solid choice, and so is the more recent Caesars tower - IIRC it's Centurion Tower.

They're Diamond. I know they have a host and I'm not exactly sure who they called to get their comp. I asked them to call back and get me a room and ended up paying a discounted $250 for it

I'll mention it to them and see if they spoke to their host. I may even play mom and call myself. I have a copy of her diamond card

I'm not that familiar with the program. Do they have the same diamond amenities (ie food) at the other properties that my parents can use instead of at Showboat? They know they can play at all of them, but I'm not sure if they know they can also redeem at all of them.

I'll mention the neew Harrah's tower.

Thank you.

Stay away from Bally's, since the bad are really bad, and you just can't always guarantee what you'll get (well, unless you have a guarantee of a pre-block).

In non-summer (beach months), my #1 vote is Harrah's. Though, the Waterfront Tower is quite difficult to score on the weekend. The new suites in the Waterfront Tower are also very nice, a few details are HERE.

If you can go to the beach (i.e. warmer months) then I vote for Caesars, especially now that there isn't a bad room in the house.

I wrote about the new Caesars AC rooms in THIS THREAD.

I have a number of reasons for my preference of Harrah's Marina; which include their hugh indoor pool area that is absolutely tops --- as well as an awesome Red Door Spa. Also, the pool area is ADULTS ONLY, and has complete bar service; basically a win-win scenario, and never any kids splashing around.

My "favorite" AC casino for tables is Caesars. For VP, Slots and Tables, Showboat. My third choice is Harrah's, but I do like the Diamond Cove area, and the craps games are pretty active.

If staying @ Harrah's Marina, I'll usually just cab it over to the boardwalk, spend 6-10 hours, and then cab it back to Harrah's. A few times, I'll drive over, use the free valet, and then possibly cab it back if it's been a drinking evening --- retrieving my car in the morning from the boardwalk casino.

I have no patience, of recent, for the Harrah's shuttle --- but, it's not like I go back and forth 10 times a day.

Without a doubt, the Diamond Lounges at Caesars and Bally's are the best.
Harrah's lounge in too small, but, one of the bartenders Dino, is awesome.

ConciergeMike is correct,

Centurion is the newest tower @ Caesars, and offers the best views.

The older Ocean Tower also has good views (a bit shorter tower), and easier (but, not a hugh deal) access to the new Qua Spa, Fitness Center, and outdoor pool (which is not really applicable for a non-summer stay).

The Ocean Tower also has all of the butler suites, IIRC.

Since they no longer use the "Temple" designation for the web site booking, the categories are NOW as follows (well, at least from what I can make out from the descriptions) from most expensive ("best") to least expensive :

Premium - refers to the Centurion tower with a good view
Luxury - refers to the Centurion tower with a city or skyline view
Deluxe - refers to the Temple Tower

I'm "guessing" that they interchange Ocean Tower rooms also in the Premium/Luxury category, but the rooms depicted on the website booking are definitely the Premium and Luxury I describe in my pictures (in the Centurion tower).

Since all of the rooms have been renovated, getting stuck in the "Temple Tower" isn't a hugh deal, as it once was --- but, do be aware, the "Deluxe - Temple Tower" does have interior view rooms, that include a window overlooking the big Wheel of Fortune Slot Machine. ;

For historical purposes, the Temple Tower was the original Caesars hotel tower, that was previously a Howard Johnson's. In order to open Caesars Regency Boardwalk as the second casino in AC (after Resorts) there was a requirement that any casino hotel had 500+ (I think that was the #) hotel rooms in addition to the casino. Since they were in a rush to open Caesars, they grabbed the HoJo, and built the casino adjacent to it. Over the years, they have expanded the property around the original HoJo (Temple Tower) eventually enclosing it by the lobby; which is why they have "interior view" rooms.

Mary2e, another option, is a HOB (House of Blues Studio) @ Showboat. The "usual" player rate for a Saturday night will range from $250 to $350, YMMV. Some details HERE.

If staying at Showboat, the best regular rooms are in the "Bourbon Tower" with the higher floors giving the best (and most consistent) views.

If you are a TR member, there "might" be some tricks to score a better room rate, but those details would have to be by PM.

The amenities in theory should be the same across the board as far as how many points gets you whatever. They might differ a little based on the property...if a Showboat buffet comp is x points, a harrah's buffet might be x+50, just because they stratify the properties a little bit.

- you're welcome.

Very true, which is why I singled out the high-rise. The older Garden section rooms are huge for standard rooms, but they do not cool well and used to be a smoking section. When I worked at Bally's, that three-floor section of rooms did however have the pimpiest decor in the city, by far.

Yep, and LFB or RFB also work across properties. So, if you rate LFB (limited (non-gourmet) food and beverage unlimited) at Showboat, you can also charge back to Showboat @ the Caesars LFB specific restaurants (i.e. Caesars buffet or Cafe Roma Coffee Shop).

With regard to using Total Rewards points, basically they just convert the points to $ for instant conversion.

1,000 Reward Points (RCs) is worth $10.00 at a Harrah's (casino owned and operated) restaurant.

Does any hotel comp Spa treatments? LOL,just kiding...

Yes, of course, though I've only specifically had experience with COMPS at the Harrah's AC Red Door Spa.

Hard times hit AC:

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?p...edk&refer=home