Tropicana AC Trip Report - December
December 7th, 2014 at 5:56:32 PM
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I had a week of vacation I needed to use before the end of the year so we decided to take a few days and head to AC. Our favorite spot there is the Tropicana and my wife's slot play always gets us a free room. We hoped for the weather to be a bit nicer than it turned out so we could get to walk the boardwalk. Unfortunately that didn't work out.
Renovations to the table games area were underway during our last visit (end of September) and they have progressed nicely. The temporary wall is down and lighting, cameras and carpeting (the latter during our visit) is now done. The floor supervisor told me the tables would go in next week, but there would be a week or 2 to get all the surveillance checked out. Once that was done the tables would move over to there and the baccarat and high limit room would close to be the next section to be remodeled. What's done looks quite nice so far. However, this means the table area is quite confined with tables just way too close together. There is really only room for one chair at 3rd base of table A and first base of table B. I think they could have done a better job here.
The interesting effect of this was that it was sometimes hard to find a seat at a low limit table while they had several empty $25 tables. Seems wrong to me!
Day 1
We arrived around noon and were able to check in immediately. We could have gotten a corner room if we wanted to wait but we settled for a high floor room that was ready. After a nice lunch at "A Damn Good Sports Bar" we headed to the casino. This was Tuesday afternoon (in December) and things were quite busy. I played for a while with lots of ups and downs but never had that good run. I ended up a few units.
We had comped tickets to the "Holiday Extravaganza" so we did a quick pizza dinner and then headed to the show. The show lasts about an hour and was quite good (better than last years). As with other shows there, I'm not sure I would pay to see them, however, with comped tickets it was well worth the price.
After the show I played some more and hit a bad streak and lost all I had won earlier and quite a bit more. This will become a recurring theme of the week. A few small wins and a few BIG losses. I did get a comp for the cafe from the floor but that didn't nearly make up for the loss.
Day 2
We had hoped the weather would improve but it stayed rainy and cold so we decided to head to the IMAX theater which was playing Interstellar in the afternoon. The casino was not very busy early but got quite busy later in the day and into the evening. I played in the morning and basically broke even (up 3 units). We then headed to lunch at the cafe (comped) which was quite nice. After lunch I hit a very bad streak including a max bet split against a 6 which lost both hands (I hate losing to 6s). It was time to relax and enjoy the movie.
I very much enjoyed the movie (I'm a techie and love space and time stuff), my wife didn't like it nearly as much, but as she said afterwards, "I didn't fall asleep". So I guess that says something. It was really cool in IMAX though not in 3D (could have been).
Dinner was at Casa Taco and Tequila Bar. We enjoy this place and try to get there on most of our trips. We both had the chicken enchiladas and enjoyed them very much.
Afterwards I played 2 short sessions having two small(ish) wins. Again, it just felt like I could never get on a roll.
Day 3
I played early in the day and once again just couldn't get anything going, by lunch time I ended the session exactly even. This was by far the slowest day for the casino (perhaps no buses). Lunch was at Chickie's and Pete's with a very nice table overlooking the ocean. It looked so nice, but was actually quite chilly out there. The meal was good and my wife's comp dollars paid for the majority. After lunch it was time for more blackjack and another big loss. It seemed like every double and split was a loss and every good hand I was dealt the dealer was getting 20 or 21. Yuck!
Dinner was at the Broadway Burger Bar (excellent), with great service and great burgers. We had planned to go to Country Kitchen, just south of the Trop, however, even though there website and door say they are open daily 7 to 7, they were closed at 6:15. My pattern continued through the evening with a couple of sessions, the first with a small win and the other with my best (albeit not big) win of the week.
Day 4
I played a short session before hitting the road. It wasn't going well but in the end I finished up $2.50 (a win is a win!).
I must say I never felt like it was so hard to get a run going as this week. Dealers seemed to be making every hand. Perhaps its the H17 and 8 decks catching up. Perhaps it was just variance rearing its ugly head. It was my biggest weekly loss in quite some time. Having said that it was a fun week and significantly better than being at work. In another thread I related a story where the pit allowed me to play a hand I had forgot to push my bet out for, very nice of him and good customer service in my opinion. There is certainly a reason the Trop is still doing well, they keep the place nice and the renovations are going to make it even nicer. We'll be back.
Renovations to the table games area were underway during our last visit (end of September) and they have progressed nicely. The temporary wall is down and lighting, cameras and carpeting (the latter during our visit) is now done. The floor supervisor told me the tables would go in next week, but there would be a week or 2 to get all the surveillance checked out. Once that was done the tables would move over to there and the baccarat and high limit room would close to be the next section to be remodeled. What's done looks quite nice so far. However, this means the table area is quite confined with tables just way too close together. There is really only room for one chair at 3rd base of table A and first base of table B. I think they could have done a better job here.
The interesting effect of this was that it was sometimes hard to find a seat at a low limit table while they had several empty $25 tables. Seems wrong to me!
Day 1
We arrived around noon and were able to check in immediately. We could have gotten a corner room if we wanted to wait but we settled for a high floor room that was ready. After a nice lunch at "A Damn Good Sports Bar" we headed to the casino. This was Tuesday afternoon (in December) and things were quite busy. I played for a while with lots of ups and downs but never had that good run. I ended up a few units.
We had comped tickets to the "Holiday Extravaganza" so we did a quick pizza dinner and then headed to the show. The show lasts about an hour and was quite good (better than last years). As with other shows there, I'm not sure I would pay to see them, however, with comped tickets it was well worth the price.
After the show I played some more and hit a bad streak and lost all I had won earlier and quite a bit more. This will become a recurring theme of the week. A few small wins and a few BIG losses. I did get a comp for the cafe from the floor but that didn't nearly make up for the loss.
Day 2
We had hoped the weather would improve but it stayed rainy and cold so we decided to head to the IMAX theater which was playing Interstellar in the afternoon. The casino was not very busy early but got quite busy later in the day and into the evening. I played in the morning and basically broke even (up 3 units). We then headed to lunch at the cafe (comped) which was quite nice. After lunch I hit a very bad streak including a max bet split against a 6 which lost both hands (I hate losing to 6s). It was time to relax and enjoy the movie.
I very much enjoyed the movie (I'm a techie and love space and time stuff), my wife didn't like it nearly as much, but as she said afterwards, "I didn't fall asleep". So I guess that says something. It was really cool in IMAX though not in 3D (could have been).
Dinner was at Casa Taco and Tequila Bar. We enjoy this place and try to get there on most of our trips. We both had the chicken enchiladas and enjoyed them very much.
Afterwards I played 2 short sessions having two small(ish) wins. Again, it just felt like I could never get on a roll.
Day 3
I played early in the day and once again just couldn't get anything going, by lunch time I ended the session exactly even. This was by far the slowest day for the casino (perhaps no buses). Lunch was at Chickie's and Pete's with a very nice table overlooking the ocean. It looked so nice, but was actually quite chilly out there. The meal was good and my wife's comp dollars paid for the majority. After lunch it was time for more blackjack and another big loss. It seemed like every double and split was a loss and every good hand I was dealt the dealer was getting 20 or 21. Yuck!
Dinner was at the Broadway Burger Bar (excellent), with great service and great burgers. We had planned to go to Country Kitchen, just south of the Trop, however, even though there website and door say they are open daily 7 to 7, they were closed at 6:15. My pattern continued through the evening with a couple of sessions, the first with a small win and the other with my best (albeit not big) win of the week.
Day 4
I played a short session before hitting the road. It wasn't going well but in the end I finished up $2.50 (a win is a win!).
I must say I never felt like it was so hard to get a run going as this week. Dealers seemed to be making every hand. Perhaps its the H17 and 8 decks catching up. Perhaps it was just variance rearing its ugly head. It was my biggest weekly loss in quite some time. Having said that it was a fun week and significantly better than being at work. In another thread I related a story where the pit allowed me to play a hand I had forgot to push my bet out for, very nice of him and good customer service in my opinion. There is certainly a reason the Trop is still doing well, they keep the place nice and the renovations are going to make it even nicer. We'll be back.
December 7th, 2014 at 6:12:43 PM
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You mentioned a few times that it was crowded. Do you think it was becuase the casino space was limited, or more because of the shrinking number of casinos in AC overall, especially on the boardwalk?
If government is the answer, it must have been a very stupid question.
December 7th, 2014 at 6:27:11 PM
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Quote: bj4fun
Dinner was at the Broadway Burger Bar (excellent), with great service and great burgers. We had planned to go to Country Kitchen, just south of the Trop, however, even though there website and door say they are open daily 7 to 7, they were closed at 6:15. My pattern continued through the evening with a couple of sessions, the first with a small win and the other with my best (albeit not big) win of the week.
There is certainly a reason the Trop is still doing well, they keep the place nice and the renovations are going to make it even nicer. We'll be back.
Great Review. I love Broadway Burger, awesome burgers. And I agree, Trop seems to know how to stay relevant with both the older and younger crowd.
Quote: DaddydocYou mentioned a few times that it was crowded. Do you think it was becuase the casino space was limited, or more because of the shrinking number of casinos in AC overall, especially on the boardwalk?
Probably a combination. Tropicana is in the middle ground size wise (based on AC casinos). But usually in the Winter it feels like a ghosttown. So I would guess it has to do with the closing of other casinos. Even weekends in the winter (other than holidays) are often sparsely populated. But with 3 casinos closed, and the Taj possibly closing soon it may be funneling a lot if people there.
December 7th, 2014 at 6:36:29 PM
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TROPICANA has always been busy when I've been there. I like it its a big place with lots of stuff.Quote: DaddydocYou mentioned a few times that it was crowded. Do you think it was becuase the casino space was limited, or more because of the shrinking number of casinos in AC overall, especially on the boardwalk?
♪♪Now you swear and kick and beg us That you're not a gamblin' man Then you find you're back in Vegas With a handle in your hand♪♪ Your black cards can make you money So you hide them when you're able In the land of casinos and money You must put them on the table♪♪ You go back Jack do it again roulette wheels turinin' 'round and 'round♪♪ You go back Jack do it again♪♪
December 7th, 2014 at 6:46:41 PM
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Quote: DaddydocYou mentioned a few times that it was crowded. Do you think it was becuase the casino space was limited, or more because of the shrinking number of casinos in AC overall, especially on the boardwalk?
Well part of the crowd were the slot players, and that area was VERY busy. We were down last year a bit later in December and it certainly wasn't this busy. As I said, Thursday was much slower as if no buses came that day.
For the table games, I think it was some of each. I think they are running a couple less tables during the day so the tables were more crowded. Also, you just couldn't get 6 people sitting at the table playing. I was at one table with 5, but most were only 4. They had 2 craps tables open which both were full almost all the time (not so last December). So I think they are pulling in players from other closing casinos. I think they are doing well.
