Travel Genius: Atlantic City, NJ Dos and Don’ts

What to do while traveling and what not to do. These are things you should know. Every city, every state, country, region…they’re all different. And I’m here to tell you what to do and what not to do based on my own experiences. Starting with Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Let’s pretend you find yourself in Atlantic City, New Jersey. There’s likely only one reason why: gambling. Gambling is legal and blossoming in this grim and gray beach town. If you East-Coasters can’t afford the trip to the desert’s Las Vegas to give your luck at the Black Jack table a turn, Atlantic City is where you’ll likely end up for your gambling getaway. But beware…A.C. is no Las Vegas. I recently visited the city and have these pieces of advice for you:

DON’T
-Arrive expecting your slot machines to spit money out at you. Unlike Las Vegas, most Atlantic City slot machines give you a coupon you can redeem later.

-Talk smack about New Jersey. Not only is Atlantic City the hot spot hang out for South Jersey residents, but they’re all pretty proud to be from Jersey. And a lot of them bulk up at the gym before greasing their hair, so if you’re gonna pick a battle, make sure you can win it.

-Walk around with glass containers. Yes, you can drink while walking around in most casinos, but you need a plastic cup.

-Lose your phone. Or anything else. You’ll never get it back. People at the casino are out to win something and if someone down on their luck finds your phone, wallet, computer, or anything else, they’re going to likely keep it and write it off as a win.

-Buy anyone’s B.S. on the boardwalk. Everyone down there is trying to scam you into something. If someone starts talking to you on the Boardwalk, just walk away.

-Get in a taxi without cash. Certainly, New York has equipped all yellow taxis with card machines, but Atlantic City has not.

DO
-Gamble with a reward card from the casino you visit. These are usually only available if you’re staying at the casino’s hotel, but they offer all sorts of perks if you can get one.

-Take the time to order from the casino waitresses. It’s not worth spending money on drinks when you’re probably already losing it. And the drinks from the waitresses are free, but remember to tip.

-Go to il Verdi in the Tropicana if you want really nice meal out. It’s expensive, but it’s pretty flawless. Italian and glamorous.

-Go to Carmine’s in the Tropicana if you want to split a big meal with friends without coughing up a lot of money. They serve everything in dishes that feed 2-4 people and are reasonably priced.

-Shop during the daytime downtown. The city gets pretty shady at night. I saw both a drug bust and a kind of violent casino bust within 24 hours of each other.

-Enjoy the beach side when it’s warm. Sure, it’s Jersey. And Jersey may not be your number one beach vacation destination, but when it’s warm out, the beach is actually a nice match for the free drinks from the casino and dolled up Jersey girls.