Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa

Though this huge hotel opened in 2003, its architecture harkens to the Art Deco period, with pristinely manicured grounds and exteriors the color of pale egg yolks with lots of white archways and pillars. The interiors are classic and elegant, with a huge Chihully-style soft-glass chandelier at the front entrance and an elegant lobby with mirrored ceilings, soft velvet seating, and marble floors. Guest registration takes place here, though many past guests have complained of ridiculously long waits at check in. Most of the hotel's guests are casino-goers and business travelers, and while some families stay here, the facilities are geared toward an adult crowd. 

This hotel is located in the northern part of Atlantic City, an eight-minute drive to the Boardwalk and five minutes by car to the Farley State Marina. The Borgata's main level is directly connected to The Shoppes at The Water Club, with high-end shops including Hugo Boss and Just Cavalli along with a wine shop. It's a seven-minute drive to the New Jersey Transit railway station. The Absecon Lighthouse, Brigantine Golf Links, and Lucy the Elephant all take 10 minutes to reach by car. It's about a 25-minute drive to Renault Winery. Long Beach Island, Wildwoods by the Sea, and Cape May all take just short of an hour to reach. It's around an hour or so from the hotel to Philadelphia. New York City takes just over two hours to get to by car, depending on traffic. 

The Borgata offers a wide variety of rooms and suites, from entry-level, 460-square-foot (43-square-meter) Classic Rooms clear up to the gargantuan Piatto Suite, which measures 1500 square feet (140 square meters). While suites have their own individual looks and feel, rooms are more or less the same in terms of decor, with lots of neutral shades of beige and muted gray brightened up by fire-hued wall art and hot pink detailing in carpets and desk chairs. Standard amenities found across categories include 46-inch or larger flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges, coffeemakers, desks, free Wi-Fi, and huge safes and irons/ironing boards in the closets. Bathrooms are gargantuan in even the smallest rooms, and come with Lather-brand toiletries and huge walk-in showers. Suites add bathrobes. Travelers booking directly through the Borgata online should note that the Club Rooms and Vista Rooms listed on the website are actually at the Water Club, the hotel's adjacent sister property.

The Borgata has a huge range of on-site amenities, though for many guests it's biggest draw is the giant casino, with a couple hundred table games and upwards of 4,000 slot machines. However, there are a lot of smoking areas and some past guests have complained that it gets too smokey inside. There's also a 2,400-seat event center on-site that's seen the likes of major acts such as Pearl Jam and Gwen Stefani. A smaller theater, the 1000-seat Music Box, offers regular events such as comedy shows. Other entertainment spaces include Gypsy Bar, a tequila bar with rock music, the swanky 24-hour B Bar lounge with eight flat-screen TVs for screening sports, and the Premier Nightclub, which plays host to internationally celebrated DJs such as Steve Aoki.Wellness and recreation facilities include a huge gym with lots of treadmills, weight-training machines, and free weights. There's also an outdoor pool and a small indoor pool with two whirlpool hot tubs situated in an elegant room with high ceilings and Art Deco-style windows. The opulent spa, Spa Toccare, features 30-plus treatment rooms, a barbershop, and a beauty salon. Business facilities include 24 venues for groups of 10 to 3,500 guests with audio-visual equipment and all sorts of catering packages. Additional smaller space is available at the adjacent Water Club. Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel, free of charge, and parking is available for a fee. Note that a daily resort fee is levied by the resort and is not included in advertised rates. 

Dining options here also abound, with 24-hour room service and all sorts of casual spots to eat, some with huge buffets. Options include the Metropolitan, a bistro with its own oyster bar; a buffet restaurant with a huge breakfast spread (the aptly named Borgata Buffet); NOW noodle shop; Sunroom, with tapas and other small bites; and the Bread + Butter sandwich shop. Not to mention a bakery, a Starbucks, a food court, and a beer garden. Fine-dining outlets include Izakaya (with modern Japanese fare), the Old Homestead Steakhouse, Bobby Flay Steak, and Wolfgang Puck American Grille, along with the Italian Angeline by Michael Symon, created by a James Beard Award-winning chef.