Aah, what memories. When I was just 15 years old, living in NJ along the Atlantic Ocean, just 30 minutes due North along the Garden State Parkway from AC (Atlantic City for you bennies), my parents took me and my best friend Rossi to the AC boardwalk. They went to play at the Resorts Casino (at that time the ONLY legal casino in AC). Rossi and I went exploring on the boardwalk (a lot safer back then) and then decided to explore the Resorts. We walked into the casino area without even realizing it and almost freaked out. But, I'll never forget the sound of all those coins in the old "mechanical slots" (like the old Jenkins machines) as they poured out.
Years later, as more casinos hit the strip, and I finally became of age of play legally...18 for me cos I was "grandfathered in" when the legal age went up to 21, my parents used to "bribe" me to go with them. They'd give me $10 to play and we'd hit the slots. My father, alot of times, would take me off with him, show me how much he'd won and then started me on a new tradition. While Mom played, Dad would take me through the "secret areas" (not really secret, but it seemed) of the casino. He showed me where they had hidden swimming pools along rooftops open to casino hotel guests, art shows down long hallways, other interesting areas of the casino, views of the Atlantic Ocean to die for...all of these "non-gambling" related freebies. He also showed me where his favorite VP machines where hidden away (not on the main floor, of course, but secreted on other levels where few players knew of them) and he taught me how to play.
I honeymooned at the Tropicana back in 1987. What happened was I booked a room for the honeymoon for two nights on a $39 per night package. When hubby and I got to the Trop, they told us they were "overbooked". I sighed and blurted out, "This is our honeymoon." Next thing I know, the guy at the computer said, "Oh, it is?" And, he called his supervisor over, they did something on the machine and the next thing we know we were being escorted up to our room. This "room" turned out to be one of the "penthouses" that rented for $1500 a night, two bedrooms, a corner-sized living room with window views of downtown and the ocean, full jacuzzi tub, a sitting room, full bar, etc. After the busboy left, Jerry and I looked at the back of the door and saw the prices. We immediately went back down to say there must be some kind of mistake. The person who booked us had left, but the new desk person looked and said that when overbooked, they have the option to "bump up" a reservation to the next level. In this case, there was a note about a "young couple on honeymoon" bumped up three room levels--free gratis. We paid the same price $39/night for this wonderful honeymoon gift from the Trop.
Other memories include me visiting and always family would go to Barnegat casinos (Harrahs, who always loves to comp us beautiful rooms) or over the the main strip. But, after visiting there last November, I have to agree that along the strip where "Sands" used to be and where the Trop is now and all, it's gone downhill. Where once at age 15 I would freely roam this area, now I would be in fear of my life at times. It's gone downhill and the casinos themselves seem to follow suit. So whenever we go now, it's to the "Harbor" area or not at all.
That's my memories. Hope you enjoyed. Love ya all from an old fashioned (but moved to Idaho now) 'Jersey girl.
Years later, as more casinos hit the strip, and I finally became of age of play legally...18 for me cos I was "grandfathered in" when the legal age went up to 21, my parents used to "bribe" me to go with them. They'd give me $10 to play and we'd hit the slots. My father, alot of times, would take me off with him, show me how much he'd won and then started me on a new tradition. While Mom played, Dad would take me through the "secret areas" (not really secret, but it seemed) of the casino. He showed me where they had hidden swimming pools along rooftops open to casino hotel guests, art shows down long hallways, other interesting areas of the casino, views of the Atlantic Ocean to die for...all of these "non-gambling" related freebies. He also showed me where his favorite VP machines where hidden away (not on the main floor, of course, but secreted on other levels where few players knew of them) and he taught me how to play.
I honeymooned at the Tropicana back in 1987. What happened was I booked a room for the honeymoon for two nights on a $39 per night package. When hubby and I got to the Trop, they told us they were "overbooked". I sighed and blurted out, "This is our honeymoon." Next thing I know, the guy at the computer said, "Oh, it is?" And, he called his supervisor over, they did something on the machine and the next thing we know we were being escorted up to our room. This "room" turned out to be one of the "penthouses" that rented for $1500 a night, two bedrooms, a corner-sized living room with window views of downtown and the ocean, full jacuzzi tub, a sitting room, full bar, etc. After the busboy left, Jerry and I looked at the back of the door and saw the prices. We immediately went back down to say there must be some kind of mistake. The person who booked us had left, but the new desk person looked and said that when overbooked, they have the option to "bump up" a reservation to the next level. In this case, there was a note about a "young couple on honeymoon" bumped up three room levels--free gratis. We paid the same price $39/night for this wonderful honeymoon gift from the Trop.
Other memories include me visiting and always family would go to Barnegat casinos (Harrahs, who always loves to comp us beautiful rooms) or over the the main strip. But, after visiting there last November, I have to agree that along the strip where "Sands" used to be and where the Trop is now and all, it's gone downhill. Where once at age 15 I would freely roam this area, now I would be in fear of my life at times. It's gone downhill and the casinos themselves seem to follow suit. So whenever we go now, it's to the "Harbor" area or not at all.
That's my memories. Hope you enjoyed. Love ya all from an old fashioned (but moved to Idaho now) 'Jersey girl.
