We checked in on Wednesday, Aug 3. There wasn't a line and the conceirge were fast and quiet. He handed us the room keys and we headed up the elevators. Once we entered the room we found trash on the desk and figured the maid had left coupons for us. My wife and I had a beer, while we shuffled through the papers. I found one that had a man's name on it, our Room #, and and his check-out date for Aug 4 (the next day). We looked in the drawers and found clothes!!! Needless to say we left fast and went back down to the desk with all of our luggage. I told the man and he just took the room keys (said nothing)...type-type..."Is smoking O/K?"...then handed us the new keys.

We locked our luggage up everytime we left the room and were a little tentative to enter at night. But overall The Quarter is fun and expensive, Slots don't pay, and the ocean is stagnant and dirty. Next time we'll dish the cash out for the Borgata.

My husband and I have been staying at the Tropicana now every few months we like to take a few days and stay, but since the havana quarter went in , it seems we do not get all the promations we use to get. or...we get great offers in the mail but they are only good for certin days and never when we are there anymore. Like this past weekend we went there and I had $150.00 in cash and he had $100.00 But only on days we would not be there. and you had to get them at 2 different days. Also we had havana dollars last time I was there and had a lot of fun shopping with them, but didn't get any more...very dissappointing.....and now you no longer can use your food comps in hooters and corkeys. I just feel they have taken a lot away from us since the new Quarter went in. My husband had commented the other day we may have to try staying at one of the other hotels next trip. I love the trop....but wish they would put out more of the promotion they use to offer, with a little more flexablity so we can get more cash back the way it was before the Quater went up.

My girlfriend and I did a not so well planned out first time trip to Atlantic City. I choose the least expensive casino resort on the Boardwalk. We wanted the convenience of an all in one hotel/restaurant/casino with all the amenities. We read the reviews and were a little leery about the customer services issues at the Tropicana. Wow were all the reviews right!

We arrived at Atlantic City full of expectations for a fun few days. Had a little trouble finding the parking deck for the Trop but, not a big deal. Then the real fun began. OK, do self-serve parking because they bang you out for valet and baggage service. No worries I can carry the bags to the front desk. Hi, the parking deck elevator is on one side of the resort, the front desk is on the otherside. We hump through the much acclaimed Quarter, through the casino down the escalator to a line for check-in. Let me point out it was 2:00PM on a Wensday and the line was like the DMV on a Saturday. Oh and yes the customer service when one finally make it to the front desk is equal to the high expectations of Motor Vehicle. We got the good news that our room was upgraded from the tower; next to the casino, access to the Boardwalk and the front desk to the other side of the resort, you know, the side we just humped our bags across but, we get an in room fridge (yay!). We again traverse the escalator, casino, Quarter, etc. and find our way to our room.

Now on the plus side the room was clean and had a nice view. We knew we did the trip on the cheap so, the little annoyance getting to the room wasn’t entirely unexpected. And happiness was restored to us.

So, lets get our Diamond Club VIP cards that we pre-applied for on-line and then get an early dinner, ok... Wow what a surprise yet another line for our VIP card again on a Wensday afternoon. Then when we make it tothe desk surprise, our on-line apps didn’t go through. The desk lady asks, what web-site did you use, ha,ha... Wow, the same one I used to make the reservations and yet that worked, huh. Fill out new apps. Get out cards and off to the buffet.

The buffet at the Trop was fine and the price was reasonable, except you have to pre-plan you alcohol consumption because you have to advance pay for drinks.

OK, lets hit the casino. It’s a labyrinth of unmarked slots and video poker, plus a few empty table games. The twenty year old pit bosses followed us around the empty casino like we were Bonnie and Clyde. Don’t bother to ask us what were looking for just follow us around talking on your Hawaii Five-0 walky-talkies, nice. We finally settled into some nickel slots as sober as a deacon after an hour of aimless wondering. Well, I am sure in a nice place like this a cocktail waitress will be around shortly. After a dry two hours we surrender to the nearest bar for a nice $8 a piece cocktail. Umm better. I then formulate my plan. We will find a waitress and follow her to drink serving territory. Ok, so that worked, the rest of the night was spent playing nickel poker and getting a drink about every hour and a half. We had fun.

Next day. We planned to get up early and sleep on the beach. So we run down at 10:00AM half a sleep to, SURPRISE! Yet another line to get chairs and towels. This was run be clueless teenagers and we got sun stroke waiting to bang-out $8 a piece for lounge chairs, that’s the guest rate (yay!). We also choose a little eye-opener whell-booze Bloody Marys which were also $8 a piece. At least the towels were free. This is when I came up with the much used expression, “they rape you at the Trop”. After a little sun it was time for lunch.

We wanted to try ADAM GOOD CRAB-SHACK in the Trop’s Quarter. The food and service were good for... Hi an $80 lunch which includes the most expensive raw bar in AC!

We considered paying the $10 a day guest rate for the pool and decided to instead take a nap. Of course we couldn’t because the maid was in our room. We walked in to “oh this is your room” yes, yes it is could we use it? No? We huddled in the snack room and decided to go back to our room and watch the maid clean. She took her time and never apologized. Finally, she left and we took a nap. Upon waking we planned to use out handy two for one coupon for the IMAX and grab a beer. Guess what! That went awry. First the IMAX won’t take coupons for features, as the lady at the counter clearly pointed out was written in small print on the back of the ticket, oh, how silly of us, so that means the ticket is good for the one showing of a nature film per day. “They rape you at the Trop.”

So, having a beer has to work out right? Wrong! This was the trips low point. We went to the Trops. FIRE WATER bar which advertises proudly 50 tap beers. Of course half the taps aren’t labeled and there is no visible list of brew. That’s ok, my girlfriend is sure they will give me a list. So, I walk up to the bar and the Bartender asks, “what’cha having” I reply “I’m not sure” she replies “well let me know when you decide!” and is off. I am pissed and want to leave which leads to a fight with my girlfriend. An hour later we sort it out and decide in desperation, to try the Boardwalk.

This was the high point of the trip. It included; $5 beers at BILLY’S SNACK BAR and awesome $1 a piece raw! Dinner at FLAMES which was cheap, yummy and has the best service ever! $2 taffy for the parents ( these boxes are $10 at the Trop.) And knock off bags for my girlfriend at ACCESSORIES FOR LESS. Followed by late night nickel poker.

There was more drama with the maid service, and baggage attendants when leaving the Trop. But, I am sure you get the idea by now.

Out final conclusion. Go to Atlantic City, we will again. Stay at a beach front hotel, like the Holiday Inn, use the resorts only for gaming and eat drink and be happy on the boardwalk. By all means avoid the TROPICANA!

STAY AWAY!!
We did an overnight at the Trop for a girl's night. We did not want to spend the extra 30 bucks for the Havana Tower and opted for the standard room.
Our room was in the old North tower and everything about the room was old!
Our room did not have a hairdryer. It took 45 minutes and four phone calls to get my hairdryer and that was only after I said I had a 7 o'clock dinner reservation!

We got back to our room and my girlfriend had her cell phone stolen from the room! They also tried to steal her Palm pilot, but the thieves could not access her password. Security came and took a report. I noticed later in the morning that my jewelry bag with some sterling items was stolen as well!

When we went to the front desk to discuss our problems they were non-apologetic, useless, and bordering on hostility! The front desk manager completely disregarded us and just walked away! The clerk said, "This happens all the time"...WHAT?

I have travelled all over the world for business and pleasure and I have NEVER HAD ANYTHING STOLEN OUT OF MY HOTEL ROOM.

One thing to have items stolen, but we were really flustered at the way the staff handled the situation.

I called my credit card company to dispute the bill.

For being in the hospitality industry, they were anything but hospitable.

The Quarter is great for barhopping and overpriced drinks and ambiance, but would never give a dime to this hotel again.

Spend the money and stay at the Borgata! The only real place in town!