My wife and I (34 and 29) stayed at the Trump Marina last weekend and found it to be just ok. We ate at the Italian restaurant and found the food to be good, but very pricey for what you get. We stayed in a suite on the 7th floor and although the room was nice, the lights outside our window turned night into day so we had to practically seal the curtains shut to keep the light out. The room wasn't bad but no food or drinks in the fridge, thought that was strange. The staff was fine except the security guards who ask to see your hotel key before you can get on the elevator, they were all too aggressive. The casino was nice, but again, nothing spectacular. I don't know why I expected more from a Trump property but it was as cheesy and fake as the Donald's sad comb-over.

About once or twice a year my wife and I (without the kids) like to go on a “sin” outing to a fancy hotel-casino. We enjoy staying in opulently overdone rooms with lots of mirrors, hot tubs, and tawdrily luxurious appointments. The Suites at the Trump Marina Crystal Towers fit the bill precisely!

There appear to be two types of suites in the Crystal Towers. One is really just one huge bedroom with attached bathroom that has a sitting area, marble floors, an immensely large hot tub (located tantalizing close to a king sized bed), and lots and lots of mirrors. These include full length wall mirrors, mirrors lining the wall behind the bathtub (wow!), mirrors lining the bed headboard, and even vertical mirrors that serve as crown molding. I’m guessing the name “Crystal” towers derives from all the glass they use. Overwrought and tasteless to be sure, but sexy as all hell! The second type of suite contains a huge living room with oversized hot tub linked by double doors to a bedroom with two attached bathrooms. The two room + bath suite doesn’t have many mirrors, although there are ones on the ceiling over the bed (which my wife really liked) and full-length closet mirrors in the hallway leading from the bedroom to the bathrooms. The two room + bath suite is not as garishly aphrodisiacal as the “mirror” suite, but its size and luxurious appointments (including a lavish and color coordinated bedroom décor) nonetheless make for a sensuous environment. Families note: Neither type of suite is suitable for kids!

We stayed in a “mirror” suite in January, 2006. We’d been provided with a description of the room by a representative from housekeeping prior to coming, but were nonetheless stunned with how sumptuously erotic the room was. Even the double doors leading from the elevators to the Towers were lavishly carved. My wife (a truly gorgeous Chinese gal) had thoughtfully brought along high heels, lots of lingerie, a fur coat, perfume, foaming bubble bath, and boundless energy. She spent the entire afternoon posing and teasing me in front of all those mirrors before...well, let’s just say we had a very sensual time. Thank you Donald for providing such a naughty love nest!

In February, 2006, we returned hoping to stay in one of the “mirror” suites again. Unfortunately, even though we were promised one was available prior to leaving our home in the morning, we were told that there were no suites available once we arrived. I was quite angry over the deception. Apparently high rollers who overstay their visit are more important than ordinary folks with reservations. However, having come such a long way, we took up their offer to stay in a two room + bath suite. We really missed the mirrors, but in the end we still had a romantically sensuous time. In fact, we actually decided the two room/bath suite was nicer than the “mirror setup”. We came to this conclusion because, near the end of the second day of our visit, the hotel finally gave us a “mirror” suite, which we accepted. After having spent time in the huge and sumptuously furnished two room-bath suite, the smaller mirror suite suddenly seemed a bit tacky (although we still liked it).

I’m afraid the public areas of the Trump Marina are pretty tacky and devoid of romance. By comparison, the lounge and casino areas of the Trump Taj Mahal are far more luxurious, seemed to have slots that paid off more often, and are located right next to the boardwalk. The latter is nice for a romantic walk (especially after frisky afternoon escapades in the bedroom). The Taj Mahal has recently finished renovating all of its “Sultan” suites. The next time we go on a “honeymoon” outing we plan on staying in one. In the meantime, for couples looking for a naughty getaway place, seriously consider the Crystal Towers Suites at the Trump Marina. If your goal is sensual romance and not gambling, you’ll be pleasantly rewarded.

The Trump Marina is one of the oldest casinos around, and their ventilation system has obviously not been updated since it was built. The entire hotel/casino is like a smoky bar. There is no place to hide, even on the non-smoking floors or in your room. The smoke must come up the elevator shafts. We've been to other casinos, and I've NEVER experienced this before. The newer casinos must have state of the art ventilation which at least makes it TOLERABLE for non-smokers to be in there.

There is no air-conditioning at all in the winter, and our rooms (at 350.00 per night!) were humid and overheated for some reason, even though it was 20-something degrees out and the thermostat was on 50. The room didn't even cool off after shutting the fans off for many hours at the direction of maintenance when we arrived. They did come up and bring some tiny fans when we returned to our rooms later and complained again, but that really wasn't going to do it. I heard many other people complain too, so it just wasn't us. We had burning eyes, sore throats - the works. There was simply no air.

Bottom line, we had to go home at 1 in the morning (we had been to a concert there) and take the 2 1/2 hour drive home after maintenance said there was nothing they could do. Front desk would only credit us for one of the rooms. Bottom line, we'll call AMEX about this. We aren't too happy. We wanted to stay at the same hotel as the concert, but I guess we should have stayed at a newer hotel/casino like the Borgata which is nearby.

Otherwise, the rooms were very clean and well appointed, and the staff in general was very polite. The rooms had shower seats for older people, which I thought was very thoughtful. We were, however, in the renovated portion of the hotel, so I can't speak for the rooms that have not been refurbished.

The casino itself, besides the smoking situation, does nothing to lure you in as far as I was concerned. I usually have no problem dropping some money while I'm there. I can't explain exactly why - maybe some other people can explain that better than I.

We ate in the Italian restaurant which was very overpriced although that's what you'd expect there I guess. What I didn't expect was my husband's overcooked lobster and that the Chilian Sea Bass I ordered was not Chilian Sea Bass in any way, shape or form (which I guiltily eat from time to time because it's one of those poorly fished fish or something). That really upset me. At $40.00 don't serve me some kind of whitefish & tell me it's Sea Bass. How embarrassing for them.

The Steak House is closed for renovation right now, and the buffet is not special at all - mostly cafeteria-like food. I've eaten at the buffet at the Borgata. That was phenominal. Go there for dinner instead.

I was skeptic to stay at Trump Marina because of the not so good reviews and so far away from boardwalk but I had the best time, first when I arrive at the check-in around 3:30pm. Thinking our room should be ready because the check-in time is 4pm. The check in lady say "Are we willing to wait for a room". I was thinking what is 3:40pm already and the rooms are not ready. But the lady explained that there are bigger and better room and just newly renovated. She advise us to wait, if not we can get one of the older room. Of course I waited because I want a newer room. The check-in lady was very nice and courtesy. At 5:45pm our room were ready. We had a corner room so the room is peace and quiet from the hallway. When I first walk-in to the room. I was blown away. We had the king size bed room. The bed had a lovely head board and the height of the bed was high so u have to climb up the bed if you are short. There were tons of decorating pillows around and on the bed. We had a harbour view. The room look like it would cost $300-$400 per night but I only paid $71 tax included. The only bad thing is the bathroom is not renovate. So they have the new room and old bathroom. And one more thing dining is very average. If you want better food, I would suggest you to go across the street to Borgata. Borgata dining are so much better.