CoalCracker

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In our quest to explore all of the properties Caesar’s owned in Atlantic City during our CoalCracker Travels, we booked our next stay shortly after returning home from Harrah’s in January. Our destination for the next trip was the Tropicana, and we reserved the South One Bedroom Suite with 1 King bed, Non-Smoking, for 3 nights from March 12 through March 15.

I genuinely enjoyed our CoalCracker Adventure to Harrah’s, except for the limited dining options and lack of Valet. Tropicana seemed to offer more choices, and the room was certainly enticing even without an ocean view. It promised to be a considerable upgrade from any room we’d had at Caesar’s, and even the bayview suite at Harrah’s, though the bayview suite was quite remarkable.

In the weeks leading up to our trip, we meticulously reviewed the restaurant options at the Trop, strategizing how to make the most of our 3-night stay.

We arrived late Sunday afternoon, uncertain of what to anticipate. The check-in process was smooth, and soon we were heading to our suite in the south tower. The room was easy to locate and certainly met our expectations. Given the diverse reviews and our wonderful recent experience at Harrah’s, we were unsure of what awaited us. However, upon entering, we were welcomed by a spacious living area, a bathroom to one side, and an entrance to the bedroom and master bath on the other. The highlight of the room was undoubtedly the view of the Atlantic Ocean. Windows enveloped us, presenting an incredible vista of the beach. The only minor setback was the slightly hazy appearance of the windows, possibly due to the sea air. Yet, even with this minor imperfection, the view remained spectacular.

After our luggage was delivered and we’d unpacked, we made our way downstairs to the Casa Taco and Tequila Bar for dinner.

My wife began with a Very Berry Margarita. We shared Jalapeño Poppers and table-side guacamole.

She ordered the Salmon A La Parrilla: Seared Atlantic Salmon topped with Pineapple Habanero Salsa, accompanied by Avocado and Spanish White Rice with Black Beans.

I chose the Steak Burrito, which consisted of a Flour Tortilla filled with Grilled Marinated Flank Steak, Yellow Rice, Refried Beans, Queso Mixto, Salsa Roja, and Crema.

Selecting a restaurant was challenging given the plethora of options, but this was already a marked improvement from our first night at Harrah’s where we dined at Bobby Flay Burgers. I’m baffled as to why that establishment even exists; it lacked any redeeming qualities. However, this evening was a stark contrast. We were enamored with everything about Casa Taco. The food was delectable, the ambiance delightful, and we were already contemplating adopting the Tropicana as our preferred vacation spot. Our affection for the room, the week-long valet service, and the vast array of dining options—coupled with its beachfront location—only solidified our sentiments.

We concluded our inaugural night with a visit to the 24-hour Marketplace Express Cafe, indulging in a late-night chocolate cake dessert. Both Caesar’s and Harrah’s offered their versions of the Marketplace Express Cafe. Having explored and relished both, we were pleased to discover a similar establishment at the Trop.

We retired for the night shortly after our dessert, finding the room quite conducive to rest. A significant reason we chose the South tower 1-bedroom suite was due to its couch and oversized ottoman. Owing to multiple health concerns, I need to sleep in an upright position, as extended horizontal positions prove challenging for me. At home, I sleep on a reclining sofa, so during our travels, we prioritize rooms furnished with suitable alternatives. Our inaugural stay at Caesar’s in 2019 was great, boasting comfortable couches and other suitable furniture. However, our subsequent visit to Caesar’s in 2021 was deeply disappointing in this regard. Their revamped rooms, seemingly curated by an individual lacking any comprehension of comfort, featured a couch that was rigid and uncomfortable. This experience motivated us to explore other Caesar’s establishments in pursuit of a more amenable environment, especially given my wife’s annual real estate conference. Harrah’s did present a somewhat better option, as their couch surpassed Caesar’s in comfort, but there remained room for improvement. The couch-ottoman combination at the Trop, however, was ideal.

Awakening on our second day of this CoalCracker Adventure, I felt rejuvenated and eager for the day ahead. My work routine often sees me retiring either late at night or early in the morning—depending on one’s viewpoint, sometimes between 4 and 6 am. Fortunately, during this trip, my schedule aligned with the morning hours, allowing me the privilege to witness the sunrise. The sight was truly mesmerizing; gazing out at the Atlantic Ocean as the first beams of light painted the sky. Observing the sun’s ascent from the horizon and its subsequent journey across the vast expanse was a wonderful commencement to our second day.

After showering and making our way downstairs, we lingered in the casino before heading to Chickie’s and Pete’s for an early lunch.

We started with the Fried Mozzarella, Chickie’s & Pete’s Famous Crabfries, and Fried Crab Mac & Cheese. My wife chose the chicken club sandwich, while I opted for the patty melt.

Post-lunch, we returned to our room to unwind, subsequently dedicating several hours to the casino, exploring its myriad gaming options.

Come evening, we made a last-minute decision to dine at Wild Honey Smokehouse And Tavern.

I selected the brisket platter accompanied by tots and a side of baked beans. In contrast, my wife enjoyed the brisket sandwich, also with tots, but paired with a side of mac & cheese.

After our meal, we retreated to our room to relax for the remainder of the evening, eventually calling it a night.

The third day of our CoalCracker Adventure commenced with a mid-morning feast at Hash House A Go Go. We both began with the All Over Caramel Mocha. Perhaps it was my assumption, but judging by its portrayal on the menu, I anticipated a chilled drink. To my surprise, my first sip scalded my mouth given its extreme heat. While undeniably delectable, I’d advise waiting a bit for it to cool before indulging.

For my main course, I chose the tractor driver combo featuring a chocolate chip pancake, supplemented with a side of bacon. Similarly, my wife settled on the chocolate chip pancakes, also accompanied by a side of bacon.

Having enjoyed our hearty brunch, we retreated to our room briefly before spending more time on the casino floor. By now, it seemed the games at the Trop weren’t as rewarding as those at Harrah’s. Nevertheless, we continued to relish our time there.

Early in the trip, we’d decided that for our dinner on day 3, we’d treat ourselves at The Palm and indulge in a lavish meal on our last day.

We began with Lobster Bisque for my wife and the Steakhouse Wedge salad for me.

For our main courses, I chose the Prime Bone-In Ribeye, a hearty 22 oz, while my wife opted for the Broiled Jumbo Nova Scotia Lobster. Additionally, we shared a side of creamed spinach.

I was particularly fond of the salad and steak, and my wife relished the lobster tail, though the lobster bisque wasn’t to her taste. By the meal’s end, we realized we’d over-ordered and mentally noted to scale back on our next visit. Following dinner, we wandered the casino floor for a few hours before retiring to our room.

With an 11 a.m. check-out the subsequent morning, we didn’t stay up too late. Come morning, we packed up and contacted the bell desk to manage our luggage. The in-room check-out process was efficient, facilitated by the TV remote. Soon after, we made our way to the valet.

Overall, our stay at the Tropicana was delightful, and we’re fairly certain it’ll be our go-to destination in AC moving forward. We had come across some mixed reviews prior to our visit, so our expectations were tempered. However, our experience didn’t mirror the negatives we’d read. Aside from encountering a few smokers in non-smoking areas and noticing some worn spots (which seemed inevitable given the venue’s size), we were quite content with our CoalCracker Adventure. Eagerly, we anticipated our subsequent visit which, as fate would have it, was slated for just a few weeks later in April.