On Our Radar: Borgata

I’ve been going to Atlantic City since I was a child.  As I grew up, it became the perfect girls weekend getaway (especially for concerts and shows).  While I have stayed in almost all the hotels on the Boardwalk, The Borgata is by far my favorite when it comes to luxury, amenities and entertainment!

The Accommodations
Last year we stayed at the Borgata and this year we chose to switch it up and stay at their Water Club tower (above) for Memorial Day Weekend.  The water theme is evident throughout all the design and décor.  What stood out the most were the bright teal sheets on the beds.  You get so accustomed to standard, bleached white bedding, that the burst of color was a refreshing and comforting change.  Our room even had great views of the bay and boats in the marina, keeping with the water theme.

Service was excellent also.  One of our favorite things about The Borgata is that you have to show your room key at the elevators ensuring only those who are staying overnight have access to the rooms. The friendly staff took every opportunity to ensure we were enjoying our stay.

The Spa
Our goal for the weekend was to do as much as possible – without ever leaving the hotel.  We spent Saturday morning getting massages as Spa Toccare.  Many other people must have had similar plans as the spa was hustling with women coming and going.  The three of us got the standard aromatherapy massage and left the spa feeling refreshed, rejuvenated and smelling like lemon, orange and pomegranate.  The heated tables and relaxing music made the massage experience even more enjoyable.  We especially liked that all fees and gratuity were included when you paid upon arrival.  (Insider’s tip:  Ask for Gio, he was an amazing massage therapist!)

The Entertainment
It was a concert that brought us to Atlantic City and we can’t say enough good things about the Event Center venue.  The intimate size and general admission set-up allows for great views no matter where you’re standing.

The above picture with the stage curtain in the background shows how close we were to all the action.

After the concert we headed over to one of our favorite clubs, MIXX.  Soon after turning 21 my girlfriends and I enjoyed a fun night at MIXX so the nightclub has always had a special place in my heart.

The DJ played a great mix of music, the lines at the bar were manageable and security spends a lot of time managing crowd control which provided us enough room to dance the night away.  We got there early on a Friday and there wasn’t a long line, but we’ve seen the line curve around the entire casino, so be sure to plan accordingly.

The Food
Last but not least, The Borgata offers a ton of places to eat.  We sampled casual dining options at The Borgata Buffet, Bread & Butter and our personal favorite, The Metropolitan (get the Cobb Salad!).

One piece of advice -- if you’d like to have Internet access over the weekend, be sure to pack your laptop.  The business center is only open on weekdays (we found this out the hard way).

We’re already looking forward to our next stay.  Fingers crossed the future holds some nicer weather for us so that we can fully check out the indoor and outdoor pools.

Written by JSG contributor Samara Finn.