Harrah’s Resort Atlantic City

In a way, Harrah's has a split personality. As the oldest property in the Marina District, elements of the original structure and casino desperately call for renovations. For instance, rooms in the older towers (in particular, the Atrium and Marina buildings) are tired and come at a cheap price. On the other end, a number of great amenities were added during the resort's expansions and renovations in 2008, 2014 and 2018-19. The Bayview and Coastal towers, specifically, have been fully redesigned and rooms there stand up well against other similarly priced hotels in Atlantic City. However, the property announced in December 2019 that it would undergo another extensive renovation to upgrade the Harrah’s Atlantic City Marina Tower rooms.

While there is a large casino that draws tons of non-guests, perhaps the most noteworthy feature at Harrah's is the 21-and-over tropical indoor pool that turns into a nightclub, "The Pool After Dark," every evening (think bottle service, cabanas, and DJs). Obviously, this scene appeals to a young party crowd as opposed to families, though there is a separate pool that kids are allowed to use. Additionally, the hotel’s 125-square-foot conference center also draws tons of business travelers. In short, with its wide array of amenities for families, couples, and partygoers, the hotel is a good pick for all types of visitors, and the atmosphere is lively and fun.

The Marina District is an area of New Jersey’s Atlantic City that has seen quite a bit of change, especially with the opening of the Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa and The Water Club Hotel, which feature celebrity chef restaurants and a some of Atlantic City's hottest nightlife. Borgata, located adjacent to the Harrah’s, has become a destination unto itself, but there is little else to do within walking distance of the resort. The Atlantic City Convention Center is about a seven-minute drive from the Harrah’s. For those asking “How far is Harrah's Atlantic City from the beach?”, the resort is also a seven-minute car ride from Atlantic City’s famous boardwalk, the beach, and the New Jersey Transit train station. Bally's Atlantic City Hotel & Casino is an eight-minute drive from Harrah’s. A little farther away are Absecon Lighthouse and the Brigantine Golf Links. Cape May, New Jersey and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania are both about an hour away, while it takes just over two hours to get to New York City. Atlantic City International Airport is a 20-minute drive from Harrah’s.

Harrah's Atlantic City Resort has over 2,500 rooms in five towers, including the Atrium, Marina, and Waterfront towers, and the newer Bayview and Coastal buildings. Older rooms are showing wear and tear and have rather dated decor, including classic wooden furniture, carpets in neutral hues, and generic artwork on walls. Bayview and Coastal rooms have a more contemporary style that combines brown patterned carpets, crisp white bedding with purple bed runners and white padded headboards, and white accent walls with sleek golden designs. Fortunately, the property announced in December 2019 that it would renovate the Marina Tower rooms, with an expected finish date of April 2020.

Large flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges, free Wi-Fi, and coffeemakers are all standard amenities, while suites add iPod docks, DVD players (some), and spacious living areas -- some with sofa beds. Atrium Penthouses feature gas fireplaces. Big windows let in lots of light in all rooms, but Waterfront, Coastal, and Bayview towers offer the best bay and Brigantine Island views.

Bathrooms vary between renovated and non-renovated units. While the former feature ample vanity areas with big mirrors plus separate showers and soaking tubs, the latter have older granite and wooden vanities, plus simple shower/tub combos. Suites have bigger bathrooms with walk-in glass rainfall showers and separate jetted tubs.

All but the Coastal Tower have a selection of smoking rooms, so those bothered by cigarette smell may want to request a non-smoking unit upon check-in or on booking. Also, those traveling with dogs can request a Pet Stay Room in the Marina Tower, which come with a few pet-friendly perks, including bowls and beds.

The Harrah’s Atlantic City pool is easily one of the resort’s top features. The adults-only indoor pool is housed in a large glass dome and surrounded by palm trees and other plants. There are four hot tubs, private cabanas, and bar service for cocktails. This space turns into a nightclub known as "The Pool After Dark" with bottle service, DJs, and occasional celebrity sightings. Guests get free access to the pool except on Saturday afternoon, when there are DJ sessions and minimum drinks and food fees in cabanas, daybeds, bungalows, and tables.

There is an additional, much smaller, family-friendly pool -- complete with a game room with arcade games -- that opens seasonally only.

Harrah’s Atlantic City casino is a huge space located on the main floor. It features over 2,000 slot machines, as well as table games, video reel games, and sports bets. Smoking is allowed in the casino, but there is a non-smoking section with slots and tables.

The fitness center offers a few dozen cardio and strength-training machines overlooking the main pool. Massages and hair and nail services are available at the Harrah’s Atlantic City spa, Red Door Spa, which features a couple dozen treatment rooms and a hydrotherapy area, plus a sauna, steam room, and relaxation area with a fireplace.

The hotel’s 2014 expansion added a 125,000-square-foot conference center offering boardrooms, meeting rooms, and ballrooms of all sizes and shapes. Audiovisual equipment is available on request, as are catering services.

Aside from DJ sessions at the pool/nightclub, the hotel has a large theater with weekly shows, concerts, and events such as comedy and jazz performances. The Waterfront Shops sell jewelry and clothing, and there is self-parking on-site for a fee.

Harrah's Atlantic City restaurants offer a nice range of dining options to suit all budgets. For fine dining, guests can choose from Asian at Oshi, Mexican at Veracruz, authentic Italian-American cuisine at Martorano’s, or steakhouse offerings at Gordon Ramsay Steak. More casual dining can be had at Waterfront Buffet or the various food court options, which include pizza, sandwiches, salads, and a Starbucks. The Harrah’s Atlantic City buffet serves dinner every night and breakfast on Saturdays and Sundays. Children eat for a lower cost. Additionally, the property has a buffet-to-go, where guests can fit as much as they want in a box to-go.

The hotel is also home to three bars, including a lobby lounge with live music. Room service is available 24/7.