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Atlantic City's Trump Taj Mahal Covers The Grit In Gilt

August 20, 2009 at 1:58 PM | by JetSetCD | 0 Comments

Guess where we were last weekend? No, not Las Vegas, but close! We took a day trip down to Atlantic City for the fun of it, and for some hotel reconnaissance. Also, we only took a day trip because we refuse to pay over $200 a night at a hotel where weeknights go for $40-60.

If you haven't already guessed from our picture above, we meandered through a Trump property or two, this one that obviously overdosed on chandeliers being the Trump Taj Mahal. The Taj Mahal is like an old Jersey Shore woman spending her retirement getting plastic surgery: she pretties up here and there, but in the end she's still old and still facing the inevitable.

But now that Donald Trump has recently bought back control of his Atlantic City properties, will this old lady shake her weakening hips once more? For the record, we also spent time at the Hilton, Showboat, Caesar's (where we won $25 on slots!), and Resorts, and, although the Taj still has a lot of work to do to reheat Atlantic City's hipness, at least it isn't the worst property on the boardwalk.

[Photo: HotelChatter]

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Hey, Big Spender! The Swanky Suites at Tulalip Resort Casino

Go To The Hotel's Web Site Where: 10200 Quil Ceda Boulevard [map], Tulalip, WA, United States, 98270
May 14, 2009 at 5:03 PM | by globetrotting gourmet | 0 Comments

When it comes to Indian-run casinos, it’s all about expressing the local tribal culture through the property’s design, décor, and if you’re lucky, customer service and cuisine. Frequently, the overall experience feels like Native American-themed overkill that rivals even the gaudiest high stake destinations in Sin City.

At Tulalip Resort Casino, the Tulalip Tribes has nailed the fine art of running a classy casino without the usual cheese factor – in non-descript Marysville, Washington, no less. The gaming floor features more than 2,000 slot machines and 50 table games. The place is immaculately clean, tastefully designed, and the smoke ventilation system keeps the air remarkably breathable. Imagine that.

The casino’s restaurants, especially Black Fish and the more fancy schmancy Tulalip Bay, are really quite tasty, with service that exceeds many of nearby Seattle’s fine-dining darlings.

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No Doubt Kicks Off Comeback at the Borgata

Go To The Hotel's Web Site Where: One Borgata Way [map], Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States, 08401
May 4, 2009 at 2:30 PM | by shiralevine | 3 Comments

Back from those long walks along California beaches with husband Gavin Rossdale and babies Kingston and Zuma (as heavily, heavily chronicled by People and Us Weekly), Gwen Stefani and her band No Doubt kicked off their world tour at the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa in New Jersey on Saturday night.

Perez Hilton reported a Zuma sighting at the concert and then cited the singer shouting to fans: "Its so good to be back after five f-ing years" and "I forgot how adorable you all were!" (Good thing Zuma was sporting big blue headphones; he probably didn't hear his mom say the F-word). No sign of Gavin and Kingston, though. Maybe they were having some father-son bonding time workin' the BlackJack tables.

Following the show, the 38-year-old mommy showed she could turn it out late night along with Jersey's finest, as she was spotted partying at the hotel's club mur.mur into the wee hours.

[Photo: Donald Kravitz/Getty Images via NJ.com]

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Harrah's AC Hits the Jackpot with Jacques Torres Chocolate

Go To The Hotel's Web Site Where: 777 Harrah's Boulevard [map], Atlantic City, NJ, United States, 08401
March 19, 2009 at 11:25 AM | by JetSetCD | 0 Comments

It's the middle of March already and the east coast is still mired in the cold, thanks to Punxsutawney Phil. If it weren't for St. Patrick's Day, we would be bundled up yet; instead, we headed down to Atlantic City for a rare weeknight escape, and discovered that Harrah's is brewing a little heat of their own.

After wading through the lights and sirens of the casino, denying the urge to tuck into the buffet, and gawking into the tropical pool dome, guests will come face to face with one of New York's favorite little gift havens: Jacques Torres Chocolates. It's no surprise that Jacques, who is something of a celebrity chef after writing several cookbooks, hosting PBS shows and "Chocolate with Jacques Torres" on the Food Network, has done this deal with Harrah's for an Atlantic City location; New Yorkers will recognize it straightaway and most others will know of him from his TV appearances.

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Making a Pilgrimage to the Macau Clone of Vegas' Wynn Hotel

Go To The Hotel's Web Site Where: Rua Cidade de Sintra, Nape, Macau
February 9, 2009 at 12:58 PM | by JetSetCD | 0 Comments

We are totally still in Hong Kong, and if there's one huge benefit to staying longer than a week in a new city, it's the opportunity for side trips. Tempted by the possibility of more passport stamps and a ride on a jet catamaran ferry, we hightailed it out to Macau, a former Portuguese property which now turns out both gambling addicts and heavenly egg tarts.

After about $15 USD and a comfortable 40-minute ride out in the South China sea from Hong Kong's downtown port, we headed ashore to what has become the Las Vegas of the East; The Sands Casino towers is a behemoth sitting right off the main drag, and further down the main street you'll find the newcomers MGM Grand and the Wynn along with the old Hotel Lisboa. At one moment you'll be strolling down a cobblestone alley and licking gelato, and the next you're throwing dice a few hundred feet away from a Chanel boutique.

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Skip the Parking Fees: Catch the ACES Train to Your AC Hotel

December 18, 2008 at 4:26 PM | by AndrewC | 3 Comments

For New York City-area residents who'd rather not drive, are too cheap to rent a limo and are averse to taking a bus to Atlantic City, starting in February, you'll be able to take a dedicated luxury train directly from New York's Penn Station (or Newark Penn Station) right into AC. No switching and waiting in Trenton and Philadelphia required. We're talkin' one seat the whole way, in a little over two and a half hours baby! Oh yea.

The Atlantic City Express Service (ACES), which is a joint venture between the Borgata, Harrahs and Caesars is getting ready to start a weekly Friday through Sunday schedule with 9 round trips in February 2009 with tickets going on sale starting in January.

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Casino Hotels Enjoying Own Pity Party

November 24, 2008 at 4:50 PM | by JetSetCD | 0 Comments

Did you hear the story about the woman who, on her first trip to Vegas last week, won the $2.4 million jackpot at the Wheel of Fortune slots? The timing of the big win seems a little convenient considering the massive hit the hotels and casinos are taking with the recession; they could use a little good press right now.

While we'd like to imagine a depression as being all about escapism and people taking advantage of all-you-can-eat crab leg buffets, the reality is that Trump International Hotel and Tower has to give up a second tower for now, Kansas won't get a casino and the MGM Mirage is having trouble holding on to their Project CityCenter in Vegas. Even Harrah's CEO admitted that they aren't exactly cutting corners to help things along: "One of the challenges that has plagued the casino industry for a long time is that we spend money like drunken sailors."

Drunken sailors indeed, as that's exactly who they're hoping you'll become when the recession hits home. Who better to take advantage of $29-$39 per night for Harrah's Total Rewards members or all those free drinks while playing slots? If you're headed to Vegas, Atlantic City or Lake Tahoe in December hoping for a little last-minute Christmas money, keep your eyes peeled for recession specials, which are sure to include more than a bucketful of crab legs.

[Photo via Harrah's]

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Malaysia's First World Hotel is First in Sheer Size

Go To The Hotel's Web Site Where: Selangor Pahang Border, Genting, Malaysia, 69000
October 31, 2008 at 1:35 PM | by JetSetCD | 2 Comments

Who doesn't love superlatives? We're crazy for knowing what's the most expensive, tallest and most haunted of hotels, but the simple title of largest hotel goes to the First World in the highlands of Malaysia. As the star attraction of the region known as Malaysia'a answer to Las Vegas, the First World boasts a staggering 6,118 rooms, having surpassed the MGM Grand's measly 5,690 in 2006 for an entry in the Guinness Book of World Records.

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Halloween at Las Vegas Hotels Will Be All Sexy, All the Time

October 22, 2008 at 2:37 PM | by JetSetCD | 1 Comment

Ever wonder who buys all those super revealing "naughty maid" and "sexy DEA agent" packaged costumes from halloween stores? Las Vegas, whose party scene seems to consume them en masse, has the answer with each hotel holding their own scintillating shebang to celebrate the witching hour.

When it comes to trick-or-treating this halloween, Studio 54 at the MGM Grand ups the "trick" quotient with their "Nightmare on 54th Street" party, every night from October 28-31. Think you can handle it?

The nightly sexy soiree includes seductive torture maidens, strikingly hot death warriors and wickedly naughty nurses. The Studio 54 Sexy Spider Girls will entertain as they spin, swoop and swing on aerial webs and ghost bungees, while Snake Babe, a bewitching temptress, will walk amongst the crowd with her slithering serpent.

Before you go, we recommend making sure your insurance covers any possible injuries resulting from "sexy web entanglement" as the MGM Grand is only the beginning.

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Fontainebleau Miami Wants to Be More Like Fontainebleau Vegas

Where: 4441 Collins Ave [map], Miami, FL, United States, 33140
October 3, 2008 at 1:19 PM | by Jenna | 0 Comments

The Fontainebleau Las Vegas -- coming in Fall 2009 -- will have a casino.

The Fontainebleau Miami -- reopening in November -- does not.

Apparently, the owners of the ritzy (and soon to be ritzier) Miami hotel want to change that. According to the Miami Herald, the owners of the Fontainebleau have put money into a new political committee dedicated to bringing casino gambling to Miami.

The committee -- headed up by a pair of developers working on 25-acre Miami Worldcenter -- has hired lawyers to draft a proposed constitutional amendment allowing a casino initiative for possible placement on the 2010 ballot.

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AC's Historic Dennis Hotel Comes Out From Its Hiding Spot

Where: 1900 Pacific Ave [map], Atlantic City, NJ, United States, 08401
August 29, 2008 at 12:38 PM | by AndrewC | 0 Comments



The Dennis Hotel: Under renovations this summer.

Once upon a time (1920) in a land far, far away (Atlantic City, NJ) the Dennis Hotel was a beautiful historic hotel located right on the boardwalk. In fact, it was one of the original Atlantic City resorts!

Then one day (in 1979), this big, big company came along (Bally's) and built a casino around the hotel, surrounding its beauty and history with slots and poker tables while guests stayed in the hotel without realizing where they were.

Then (present-day), after its owners finally realized what an asset they were hiding, it was decided to renovate the former Dennis Hotel and bring it back to its glory.

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Atlantic City to Get A New Hotel on The Beach

August 11, 2008 at 11:58 AM | by AndrewC | 0 Comments

Footprint of Pinnacle's Atlantic City Resort

The news from Atlantic City just doesn't stop! First Harrahs, then The WaterClub, then The Chelsea and Prasada - and now Pinnacle Entertainment has confirmed they are building a $2 billion hotel and casino resort which will have...wait for it...a beach theme.

If you've ever rolled up into AC and wondered what all those purple and blue billboards saying, "All those other casinos - they are just practice," are for - this is it.

Pinnacle bought the former Sands Casino in 2006 and imploded it last year in Atlantic City's first-ever casino implosion. By now, the hotel was supposed to be well on its way to construction but thanks to the recent credit crisis, who knows what's going on here.

Despite that we don't know what it will look like, or how big it will be, the hotel will be huge. It will also be on the beach, and have heavy competition from the other casinos that are huge, and on the beach. However, the Pinnacle will be brand-new and let's face it, in AC, that is a big deal.

Keep your browser pointed here, as HotelChatter's own Atlantic City Bureau will keep you up-to-date on the Pinnacle in the future.