Atlantic City, In Summer

Views from the rooms

Location on the Boardwalk, directly on the beach

Casinos within walking distance

Outlet shopping a few blocks away

Cape May and Stone Harbor 1 hour away

Tons of restaurants, from inexpensive buffets to truly gourmet cuisine

"The Quarter" at Tropicana for restaurants, shopping, and entertainment

The timeshare salespersons were not bothersome - just politely say that you're not interested.

Quick Tips:

Bring beach chairs and umbrellas - It's an easy walk to the beach from the hotel, and it saves you rental fee of /day.

Allow enough time to get to and from your room - the elevators are crowded and slow at busy times.

Bring along beach towels.

The pool area is on the roof and beautiful, but there are no shady areas.

Clip coupons from visitor magazines for discounts at restaurants and local attractions.

Best Way To Get Around:

If you arrive by bus or plane and plan to stay in Atlantic City proper, you need not have a car. You have to pay for parking in most garages, even in the casinos. Taxi jitneys, buses, and pushcarts along the boardwalk are readily available and inexpensive.

If your stay will be a week or so and you are not an avid gambler, a car can benefit you in that you can visit the Jersey Shore. It's close by and the communities are very nice - everything from quiet upscale to water parks, amusement parks, and boardwalks. Cape May is an appealing Victorian town with nice restaurants, hotels, and shops that is only about an hour away - you can even take a ferry to Delaware.

Best Things Nearby:
Beaches and boardwalk

Casinos

Outlet shopping a few blocks away

Beach clubs on the dunes

Restaurants of all types

Entertainment to suit everyone

Wineries

Cape May

Jersey Shore

Best Things About the Resort:
Wonderful views of the ocean and boardwalk

Proximity to the beach and casinos

Quiet retreat in a very busy atmosphere

Pool on a deck overlooking the ocean

Resort Experience:
Somewhat apprehensive after reading some negative reviews, we were prepared for some disappointment but decided that we would make the best of the situation. Our arrival went smoothly - the bellhop unloads your car, you self-park with a voucher, and, once checked in, you call for your bags. A smile and a tip went a long way - we were assigned an upgraded corner studio unit on the top floor with an amazing view of the ocean, boardwalk, and city.

At 450 square feet with six floor-to-ceiling windows, the unit feels very spacious, open, and easy to make our home for the next week. The neutral decor of black, taupe, and gray blends well with the light oak furniture. The partial kitchen is more than adequate with a small refrigerator, two-burner stove, small microwave - you can easily have breakfast or lunch – and enough utensils, dishes, and pots and pans for dinner, but who wants to cook?

Although there isn't a dining table, the bar area with high stools and an ocean view or the small coffee table in front of the leather sofa were both perfect for a drink or snack. Storage was adequate, with a closet, an armoire that housed the TV and DVD and had four drawers, and a nightstand that provided more storage space. There were plenty of kitchen cabinets and the luggage fit in compartments under the bed.

I just loved the bathroom. It was long and narrow, with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city. It sounds strange, but it was the best. The twin sinks with cabinet storage had great lighting, plenty of mirrors - even a magnifier - and a really powerful hair dryer. To top it all, the Jacuzzi tub with shower overlooked the ocean.

The location on the boardwalk is perfect - within walking distance of casinos, restaurants, and the jitney. The elevator can be slow at busy times since only three elevators service 31 floors. Timeshare salespersons are not pesky and security personnel are in the lobby at all times.

Atlantic City has improved over the past 5 years - Not only is the boardwalk active, but there is now outlet shopping, a convention center, and beach clubs on the dunes, and the Tropicana has a "Quarter" with restaurants, music, and shopping, making it a nice diversion for the whole family.

In my opinion, Atlantic City is more a place for adults, but we saw many families who were enjoying their time at the beach and along the boardwalk. This particular resort does not plan any activities for either adults or children, but this should not be considered a negative aspect. If you come to Atlantic City, you more than likely are not looking for a take-care-of-the-kids experience. Most people are here for the beach or casinos. If you need the Disney atmosphere, Florida should be your choice.

We've already made reservations for next summer. It's an exciting city that's getting better all the time, and Atlantic Palace is a good choice if you don't need to be in a casino hotel.

• Unit Type: Studio
• Activities: Fair
• Amenities: Good
• Unit Satisfaction: Excellent
• Family Friendliness: Fair
• Service: Fair

Royal Suites at Atlantic Palace has a new name!! It's now FANTASEA. We so much enjoyed last summer that we exchanged again into a studio as soon as we saw availability on the RCI website. An early check-in and a tip again got us on the top floor—#31. Last year we were fortunate to have a corner room but this year we have the same size room but without the extra windows.

This resort/timeshare/hotel could use some upgrading of linens and spreads. The leather sofas have held up well to all the traffic, but since there is such an awareness lately of "luxury style" bedding with duvets and choice of pillows on cruise ships and name brand hotels, these older soft goods don't measure up any more. Bathroom counters and toilet are very low compared to the newer "comfort height" seen in newer construction. However, these are negligeable complaints when you can spend a week in summer on the ocean in the best location of any timeshare in Atlantic City for less than $200. We may return again in 2007.

WHAT I LIKED:

The staff continues to be pleasant

Timeshare personnel are inconspicuous and not bothersome

Welcome party with champagne, hors d'oeuvres, bingo, and prizes

Monte Carlo night at Flagshhip Resort (are they sister timeshares??)

Large area for game room and small gym overlooking the large deck and pool

Good security in lobby and parking garage (one car allowed free)

Great views in an exciting city

WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE CHANGED:

Better Internet access

Umbrellas by the pool

Newer sheets and spreads

More elevators (they are shared with housekeeping and bell staff)

Safe in room

Fantasea would not appeal to the beautiful people who frequent "Borgata"—this is timeshare and families are moving in with coolers, groceries, beach chairs, umbrellas, and kids in tow for a good vacation value with all the action of Atlantic City at their doorstep.

Just a few hundred yards from our hotel suite at Atlantic Palace, this small, old-fashioned Italian restaurant dates back to the 50s. We'd had dinner here last year and the food was as good Italian as we expect from the North End in Boston or Little Italy in New York, and another incentive was a coupon from our timeshare hotel for 1/2 price on the second entrée.

As you enter, you note a slight musty smell, soon covered up by the garlicky sauces cooking in the kitchen. A few locals at the bar and Mama and her family, including a small baby at a far table near the kitchen... sounds bad... think of it as adding charm!

We're greeted promptly by a smiling hostess and led to a table by the window covered with lacy curtains. Our fellow diners include a few couples who seem to eat here regularly, a foursome on vacation, and a group of six ladies on a "girls' night out." Our young waiter serves us warm, fresh bread and takes our drink order - meals here are all served with a salad and side of pasta.

Remembering how large the portions were from previous experience, we skip the appetizers and start out with a cold, crisp, well-dressed salad. If you wish to linger over dinner, mention it; otherwise it will be very quick service. Guess lots of people are eager to get back to gambling.

Chicken, veal, flounder, shrimp, and scallops are prepared in six or seven ways - Francaise, Scampi, Valdastano, Cacciatori, Parmigiana, etc., and you have a choice of a side dish portion of penne, spaghetti, or liguini. Chicken meals are presented as two large, boneless cutlets; veal as four medallions; and shrimp as six to eight large ones. Wines are reasonably priced.

All in all, we enjoy this experience. It's not gourmet; this is freshly and individually prepared good Italian food with chef/owner and family serving you with a smile. We will return again and again!

An experience that I'll attempt to share. I had read about the restaurant— "Hard to find," "Can't get a reservation," "Great Italian food," "Party atmosphere," "Tacky," "BYOB"—I had to see for myself.

The experience begins with attempting to "get in". Phone calls are answered by a machine—Leave your name, phone number, and date wanted. If you're lucky, you get a return phone call. Seems that reservations are early—6 to 6:30pm—or after 9pm. I've never gotten a 7:30 or 8pm.

Next challenge—finding the restaurant. This should be easy—it's on Albion Street. With due warning, we drive by during the daytime. Albion is a small street between California and Texas off Pacific. Older homes, close together—no signs of a restaurant here, but one house has lots of boxes and garbage piled curbside. Could this be it? Sure enough—a small, brass placque 2"x6" on the side of the shingled house says "CHEF VOLAS". Glad that we came to scout it out. A small parking lot across the street is always full, so we decide to park at Tropicana and walk over.

At night the only clue is teeny white lights over a garden archway. The small sign is barely visible. It's almost 9pm and a few people are walking in the same direction with bags in tow—some even have coolers. Remember it's "BYOB" and everyone has a big supply of wine and beer. We've all crammed into a small vestibule in the basement of a three-story house. A few chairs, old pictures, and a coat rack. Soon we all become friends. Incredible waves of Italian aromas—garlic and tomato from the dining room. Full, happy diners try to squeeze past carrying their lunch for tomorrow. Everyone is smiling. Soon we'll be seated.

Small, basement size windows, tacky decor, outdoor strings of party lights,about 20 tables. The nice touches are tablecloths and a very happy waitstaff with corkscrew in hand—they want you to be happy too!! The menu is very long, potions are large, pastas and side dishes for sharing. There is an extra charge to share entrees. Now the fun begins. Our waitress rattles off at least 30 specials from memory!! Basically you can have chicken, veal, and fish prepared a dozen different ways. Pastas of all kinds and beautiful steaks simply prepared.

Four of us shared two pastas, one side of spinach—enough for eight—three main courses, and two desserts. All very good except for the tasteless veal marsala. We commented to our waitress and she offered to either replace it or remove the charge from our bill. Not gourmet but good, basic Italian.

We'll return to Chef Volas; it's fun, loud, the staff is friendly, the food good. Go for a casual, fun evening with friends—not for an elegant, quiet gourmet experience, and you'll look forward to your next visit.

Not having visited Atlantic City for about 5 years, I was pleasantly surprised to see lots of improvements not only in the number of casinos, but along the beach, boardwalk, and surrounding streets.

BEACH - The beach is very clean with lots of well trained lifeguards (saw them rescue eight people in the course of a week).Dune grass has been planted close to the boardwalk and there are wood slatted walkways every 300 yards or so connecting the boardwalk, over the dunes, and to the beach. Umbrellas and chairs can be rented for $10 and $5 on a daily basis. Occasionally vendors walk past with ice cream, Popsicles and water—reasonably priced.

BEACH CLUBS - Five of the casinos have built "Beach Clubs"—decks and gazebos on the beach in front of their hotels. They feature entertainment and activities both afternoons and evenings; sometimes a DJ with girl dancers or a live band. A nice option for afternoons with food, drinks, and bathrooms available, or for "hanging out" under the stars on a warm night.

OUTLET SHOPPING - From the convention center to the casinos, two blocks of new shops have been built. The outlet stores have moved in with all of their bargains and people love it!! A nice alternative to the tacky boardwalk shops and expensive hotel boutiques.

THE "QUARTER" AT TROPICANA - This new venue is attached to the casino and hotel at the Tropicana. It's a beautiful two-story area filled with restaurants: Carmine's, The Palm, PF Chang's Red Square, and Cuba Libra. Shops range from clothing boutiques to eclectic shops with gifts for the home, art galleries, and of course... jewelry stores. Bars feature music from Blues to Jazz, Karaoke, and Duos for listening pleasure. There really is something for everyone here—one of you can shop or listen to music while the other gambles really close by.

HARRAH'S MARINA DECK - Although Harrah's does not have a beach, they have their version of a "Deck" overlooking the marina where they've built a covered deck bar with a limited menu. A different band is featured each evening and daily specials such as $2 beers, $5 pizza, $1 cheeseburgers, and 25-cent wings attract a good crowd. There's even a small casino with slots and table games, but it's not air-conditioned. The second floor has a full service, air-conditioned restaurant overlooking the beautiful yachts. Atlantic City is a fun place year round, but summertime is the best.