Las Vegas Vegas TI vs AC Borgata

Hey folks - new to the forum, I hope my question is appropriate.

I'm located in North Carolina, thinking about driving to the AC Borgata (7+ hours) or flying to Vegas Treasure Island in November (the slow season), staying for 3 nights. I'm not a big spender, but love blackjack and video slots (I know, I know, not a winner, but my brain just loves that stuff). I'm also originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, and am a bit uptight about dealing with the scruffier aspects of society. My budget is limited to $300 a day for gambling losses. AC would cost about $400 less than Vegas and my primary activity would be low-roller gambling. I absolutely love the glitz and glam of Vegas, but my activities will be limited. I haven't been to AC before, but I'm given to understand that only the Borgata has the kind of blackjack, video slots, and Vegas-like atmosphere that I'm seeking. Also, I understand that Borgata severely limits smoking in the their casinos, which is actually a negative for me.

Any thoughts and/or recommendations about Borgata v TI would be greatly appreciated. I know there are other casinos, but I've whittled down my choices between these two (TI apparently has the best blackjack on the strip and I found a great package). Thanks!

 

I am very familiar with both places. I used to live in NJ and although moved in 2002, been back many times to AC. Play mostly baccarat and know the Borgata. Nice place, yes, almost Vegas style, still AC though. The main floor does reassemble a Vegas place more so than other places there. However, not the options and assortment outside the place as Vegas has. If you are going to stay inside and not seek anything else around, go to AC if its easier and cheaper. However, TI has the Borgata beat hands down for everything else around it and further options from casinos to gaming to shopping. TI is also right at the crossroads, literally of the strip. South and connected by free monorail in the rear is the Mirage. To the north across the street, Spring Mountain Road is a huge 2 story mall called the Fashion Center. Across the street is Venetian/Palazzo, Paris and Planet Hollywood a bit south, walkable of course. As well on the other side of the Mirage is The Bellagio and C.P. TI has good to very good restaurants inside of it. Not as crowded as the other properties around it, but on weekends it does get fairly busy for sure.

Chinatown with some fantastic and smoking hot restaurants is just west on the other side of I-15 on Spring Mountain Road which is that main road on the very north side and adjacent to TI. Hope that helps, questions, ask away!

 

The monorail from the Mirage was unknown to me. I was leaning toward the Borgata, but now I'm stuck again. Thanks for the help!

 

Here are a few places to eat out of the casinos I really like. On Spring Mountain you can make a night out of the one shopping center with the Korean BBQ place (24 hours) as well as the Tiki Bar right there in the same center, also open 24 hours! I always go to those places and always a great time.

If you really want to expereince Las Vegas, with some great places (most out of the casinos) here are some great finds through my trials and errors! I know how expensive and time consuming it can be to get to off-strip places, but if you really want to enjoy and have a question, PM me your phone number and i will call you and answer whatever questions you have to see if a place is a fit for you. Here are some of my best places, most out of the casinos:

Over the years, these have been some great places to go. Some great spots worthy to experience, if you venture outside casino properties. A few are attached to mid-strip properties or very walkable. The 'Spring Mountain Road' places are extremely worthy of a cab ride or getting over there somehow.

Golden Steer Steakhouse. Check out WWW.Goldensteerlasvegas.Com. IMO, better all around the Del Frisco's with better prices/ Not so stuffy and formal. About a 1/2 block west of the SLS, at the north end of the block on the west side of the strip where Circus Circus is. Been there around 60 years, they are doing something right.

Pizza Rock Las Vegas. Downtown. Simply the place rocks. Fun with super specialty/gourmet pies and numerous other dishes as well. Upscale kind of pizza joint you can say. Check out WWW.Pizzarocklasvegas.Com.

Don Demarcos. Check out WWW.Domdemarcos.Com. All the way out on the west side, if you are around Red Rock or out exploring, check them out. Went there a few times with my attorney now, everything spot on. Great selection. They make sure it is right. Not cheap, not expensive IMO.

Frankie's Tiki Bar. Check out WWW.Frankiestikiroom.Com. Been around quite awhile, well known in the Tiki culture and written about in the Vegas industry media.

Golden Tiki. Out on West Spring Mountain Road. Check out WWW.Goldentiki.Com. I guess the consensus is, Golden TIki is superior to that of Frankie's Tiki Room the past couple of years. Haven't been by Frankie's the past couple of years as I am always winding up on Spring Mountain Road at one of the Asian Places or Hot n Juicy and then going to Golden Tiki. If you are at all interested in the Tiki culture or info, go to WWW.Thetikichick.Com.

Hot n Juicy Crawfish, Out on West Spring Mountain Road. They do have 2 places on Spring Mountain. WE usually go to the one within the plaza with the Korean BBQ place and The Golden Tiki Bar. For those of you that don't know where Spring Mountain Road is, it is the road running west between the Fashion Mall and Treasure Island across the I-15 and out into Chinatown. Simply you have to go to this place is you like seafood/Cajun style seafood, etc. It is a 15 on a 10 scale! Research 'Yelp' and read--you will get the gist of it. Check out WWW.Hotnjuicycrawfish.com. Personally I love their 1 pound shrimp/1 pound prawns/1 pound sausage with the multiple corn on the cobs. The place is fun, mouth watering and spot on.

NOTE!!!! SUPER PLACES 1 SHOPPING CENTER; Hot n Juicy, Golden Tiki and a great Korean BBQ (NY Style) is at the SAME SHOPPING PLAZA, it is on the south side of Spring Mountain Road. Many times we will do either the Korean place and then Golden Tiki or Hot n Juicy and then Golden Tiki.

Dae Keum Korean BBQ. THis is in the above shopping plaza I mentioned. For those of you familiar with Flushing, Queens NY, this is an authentic Korean BBQ restaurant you can cook at your own table. Flushing, Queens or Fort Lee, New Jersey style. Their phone number is 702-638-2222, been there many times. Great place open 24 hours, never closes. The staple of Korean BBQ is called 'Bulgogi', they also have larger combination platters of all the meats, etc., they are known their as "King-Queens-Jacks-Ace", etc.

Carmines Italian, Check out WWW.CarminesNYC.Com/Locations/Las-Vegas.
Can't go wrong. Located within the Caesars Palace Forum Shops. Large and Sharable. Usually get the order of Meatballs along with an appetizer of clams and mussels. I also really like their broiled porterhouse and a linguine with the mixed seafood, I believe they call it. Add a side of eggplant and you got enough to share for 3 or 4 people.

Maggiano's Little Italy. Ate there numerous times. Located within the Fashion Mall. Great food, always spot on, never a complaint. I remember their Lamb Loin being excellent. Also they have a really great linguine with clams. Last time there they brought us a free second of the pasta and clams and we wound up sharing it. The place is good. Check out WWW.Maggianos.Com/Nevada/Las-Vegas.

Pink's Hot Dogs. If you don't know about them or never tried them, and you are craving a hot dog, a gourmet style or specialty hot dog that is, check them out! Outside of Planet Hollywood on the Southwest patio out on the strip side. Check them out at WWW.Pinkshotdogslv.Com.

Fogo de Chao Steakhouse. If you have never been to a Brazilian Steakhouse, you owe it to yourself to check this one out. They have other ones throughout the country. Been there before, and it is usually really full, so be warned. It is out on East Flamingo Road. Check them out at WWW.Fogodechao.Com.

Battista's Hole in the Wall. Check them out at WWW.Battistaslasvegas.com. When you are tired of a quite and expensive celebrity chef restaurant, check this hyper fun place out. Been there an mighty long time. Always in the media and advertised. Good food and some really good food, lots of staples, bread, wine and stuff. More fun then serious and for many, considered an experience and living it up in a fun and casual atmosphere.

Lombardi's Romagna Mia. Check out WWW.Lombardislasvegas.Com. In the Miracle Mile Mall attached to Planet Ho. Really good all around place. Sit for hours dine, desserts and drink. Nice atmosphere in that part of the mall. I had some pictures posted with the family here stuffing our faces. Great seafood dishes.

Nora's Italian Cuisine. Check out WWW.Norascuisine.Com. Out on West Flamingo Road. IMO place is spot on, absolutely fantastic. Had the wild boar last time and the Alfredo pasta called something like 'Supreme crazy', lots of stuff on it done really well! Check it out, can't go wrong there.

Casi Di Amore. Check them out at WWW.Casidiamore.com. Old School, spot on. Call them they will send you their care/limo service no charge. Jazz entertainment nightly, I think all the time. Their Osso Buco is off the hook! It is over on East Tropicana Ave.

Peppermill Restaurant. Check them out at WWW. peppermilllasvegas.Com. I highly recommend their eggs benedict with their patented '100-grit' flavored sandpaper! Something for everyone at this long time existing place. Just north of the mid-strip on the north end of The Encore.

 

Yes the monorail is in the rear of each, ask anyone. Steve Wynn built it in the beginning of his properties to link the two together, when MGM sold off TI they arrangement was to leave it in place. Most times, the main casino floor is very busy at The Mirage of course and it is a quick entrance and exit to each property.

 

Ti is not close to the borgata- borgata has better places to eat and a better selection of games!!!!
Now Vegas overall is better but compare the two and it's not even close

 

The Borgata is a very paranoid place especially right after the Phil Ivey fiasco. That was the only casino to ever back me off because I was spread betting both sides to move the shoe. Also that place is very inconsistent. One supervisor may allow it but another will not. Many of the dealers hate their job and it shows. Have not been there and Atlantic City for years though so maybe things have changed with MGM fully taking over. Borgata can never compare to TI. TI like Vegas itself is a high class establishment where you feel welcomed.

 

borgata is much better