Atlantic City to Daytona Beach with Bluegreen

[BocaBum99 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close BocaBum99]

Just finished up a wonderful week in New York City at The Manhattan Club. We spent 2 days at the US Open. Saw 3 Musicals. Ran in Central Park. Met several TS4Mers. And ate my way around the City.

Now, I am on the Bluegreen leg of my trip down to Florida for the Bluegreen Annual meeting.

Here are the Bluegreen Resorts I will be visiting:

1) Atlantic Palace
2) Suites at Hershey
3) Shenandoah Crossing
4) Patrick Henry Square
5) Seaglass Tower
6) Lodge Alley Inn
7) Casa Del Mar

This thread is meant to give a flavor (not an in depth review) of the resort and resort areas I visit. I'm only staying 2 nights at most places. So, I won't have time to do much at each destination.

As soon as the photo server gets set up, I'll post pictures. For now, descriptions will have to do.

Enjoy.

[BocaBum99 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close BocaBum99]

From NYC to Atlantic City

We checked out of the Manhattan Club on Friday at about 11 am. We went to the US Open day session and finished up at around 6:30 pm. We took the 7 and W trains back to the Manhattan Club where we picked up Airlink to Newark Airport. Picked up my rental car. Doing a one way rental down to Florida. The rate for the car was good, but the extra fees are killer. I almost bought a car for the 3 weeks since I thought I could sell it when I arrived and I would cost me less. But, I came to my senses and decided to take the rate. Driving a Chrysler 300. Good size. No power. I hope that means great gas mileage.

Spent the night at the Radisson Hotel in Carteret in a suite. Had a nice fitness center and sports bar. Free hot buffet breakfast. Ran 9 miles on the treadmill before leaving Saturday. It was nice getting a late check out at 2:30 pm. There are nice things about hotels.

Found a sports bar in Secaucus carrying the USC game. Had my cousin meet me there so we could drive down to Atlantic City. It took 2 hours from Secaucus to Atlantic City. No traffic until we got to the Atlantic City Expressway. The last 3 miles took about 1/2 hour.

Atlantic Palace. Finally got here.

[BocaBum99 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close BocaBum99]

Atlantic Palace

The quick review of this resort is this. Great location right on the boardwalk. Great views from the good size units. Resort looks tired and needs refreshing. I have a renovated unit complete with plasma screen. 30th floor facing south with a fantastic oceanview and view of the Boardwalk casinos. Bluegreen could have put a little more thought into the decorating plan. The furniture is too small for the unit. So, it looks like it needs more furniture. All they needed to do is get bigger furniture and it would be fine. My 1br unit has a queen in the master. I am sleeping on the queen sleeper sofa which is much more comfortable than your average sleeper sofa.

Parking is free for owners. About $10 for non-owners. There is a structure right next to the resort. No elevators though, so don't forget to unload your car prior to parking. I parked on the 6th floor when we arrived at around 9:30pm. Laundry is shared on about 5 floors. It's $1.25 for wash $1.25 for dry.

Got Labor Day weekend for bonus time rates of $59/night for a 1br suite. So, I can't and won't complain. I hope that Bluegreen will still renovate this resort like they originally intended.

Felt pretty safe and secure walking around the boardwalk after midnight. I came back at 1:30 am. The rest of my party returned after 2:30 am. I did have to try out one of the numerous massage places around the boardwalk. Got a really good foot massage. $30 for 30 minutes. It was good enough where I'll probably get a full body deep tissue massage today. I need the massage for all the long runs I have been doing.

For dinner, we ended up getting pizza on the boardwalk. We tried to get into the 6ix restaurant in Bally Casino. But, after 10 minutes waiting with nobody in front of us seated. And, looking at the lackluster service from the waiters and waitresses. And, seeing a line of people waiting to pay their check. We decided to cut our losses and bail. Boy, that was a good decision.

I haven't been to Atlantic City in 20 years. It sure has grown in that time. I like it and will be back. Once Bluegreen updates this resort, it will be a fine resort to visit especially for east coast residents who want a weekend getaway on the New Jersey Shore.

[vintner Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close vintner]

I have not been to any of those places. As part of your commentary about the resorts, could you also briefly include:
Type of area the resort is in (beach/city/mountains/etc)
Why this resort might be a destination?
Are there sightseeing/activities near the resort to last a week?
Are the resorts 'nice' with onsite activities and a nice feel to them? Very subjective but any insight would help.
Are the resorts 'plain' and just a spot to sleep and move onto the day’s activities?
And how are the rooms/villas? Are they a place to stay in for the week or as said earlier, a place to sleep before going out the next day?
And for me as the cook, how is the kitchen? Is it full and well equipped or half size with just enough to get by?

[BocaBum99 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close BocaBum99]

I have not been to any of those places. As part of your commentary about the resorts, could you also briefly include:
Type of area the resort is in (beach/city/mountains/etc)
Why this resort might be a destination?
Are there sightseeing/activities near the resort to last a week?
Are the resorts 'nice' with onsite activities and a nice feel to them? Very subjective but any insight would help.
Are the resorts 'plain' and just a spot to sleep and move onto the day’s activities?
And how are the rooms/villas? Are they a place to stay in for the week or as said earlier, a place to sleep before going out the next day?
And for me as the cook, how is the kitchen? Is it full and well equipped or half size with just enough to get by?

LOL. As they said in the movie Sandlot, "you're killing me, Smalls...." I'll do my best.

I won't be doing much on this trip. So, my review wouldn't be complete. It may be easier to Google the respective destinations for things to do. I'm trying to focus my information on resort particulars that aren't as easy to get with a standard Google search, but would be of interest to a Bluegreen owner.

[BeerTentRich Member Find all posts View Profile Close BeerTentRich]

Boca Jim.......

Sounds like your enjoying your trip. Your a regular "East Coast Gypsy" for the month of September. You are going to love the new Pool area and general store at Shenandoah Crossing.They really did a nice job with the layout. Are you staying in a yurt ???? If so, you wil love those too. Also, we were lucky enough to have a tour of the awesome "tree house" when we were there in July. The nice family staying there for the weekend let us come in and check it out. It's outstanding.......Have fun.....Looking foward to more updates.....

[vintner Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close vintner]

I don't need high details, but what I am looking for, is this a place I want to go to?

Your Atlantic Palace resort review was helpul.
From it I got (short version):

• Beach/city
• Hey, its Atlantic City, boardwalk, food and beach. What were you expecting?
• More of a gambling (as I remember) with city activities and not for general sightseeing or history. Although the view from the room was good.
• Resort rooms are nice-don't know about the resort, but that is okay too.

I would have to believe that since this is a city, there must be groceries nearby, but don't know how the kitchen is sized. But hey, you got me interested in finding out more. But the wife said she has no interest in going, so I will look for the next location and review.

Thanks for doing this and putting up with me

[laxtimer Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close laxtimer]

Hershey food and more

Jim, when in Hershey i suggest the following for food:

Finicci's of Hershey
Fenicci's of Hershey

or the Chocolate Avenue Grill
Chocolate Avenue Grill

Also, check out the new Hershey museum on Chocolate Avenue. Its called The Hershey Story. Fun and informative.

Have fun during your stay at The Sweetest Place on Earth.

[BocaBum99 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close BocaBum99]

I had to work for most of Monday, so I stayed in the unit most of the day. At night, we went to the Taj Mahal for a dinner buffet. I think it was $27. It was average. I give it a 6 or 7 which is very disappointing for anything with the Trump brand on it. The Donald needs to buy back his casino's and bring them back up to his standard of quality.

I did have a horrible cheesesteak for lunch. I knew I was in for trouble when the cook left the meat on the grill and let it sit there forever.

Checked out of the Atlantic Palace at 11:00 am. It took about 10 minutes to go down the elevator from the 30th floor stopping at every floor even with a full elevator. It might be faster to walk down the stairs.

I forgot to mention that Internet access is Wayport and it was $6.95/24 hours and a discount for 3 days or more.

[BocaBum99 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close BocaBum99]

Atlantic City to Hershey

The trip from Atlantic City to Hershey is about 130 miles. So, it's an easy hop from one destination to the next. Since we left at about 11 am, I needed to find lunch. Then, it dawned on me that we would be going by Philadelphia on the way to Hershey. So, I set a Via Point to Pat's Steaks (I prefer Pat's to Geno's) for an authentic Philly Cheesesteak. When we got there, I had 2 of them. One wit (onions) and cheese whiz. The other wit and provolone. Those and the red and green cherry peppers and I was set for the rest of the day.

We arrived early at the Suites at Hershey. Found out the theme park starts Fall hours which means only weekends starting tomorrow. So, we will just be checking out the chocolate factory. There are factory outlets right next to the resort. So, my mother and cousin are heading there now.

It's really nice out here in the country. I miss this part of living in the Northeast. The only problem is cell phone coverage for AT&T pretty much sucks out here with service coming in and out. Fortunately, there is 3G service here at the resort.

Same Wayport interet wireless service in the unit. It's good you can use the service across resorts. I know there is some controversy with Bluegreen owners that internet access in the units isn't free. For me, I'm just happy they have it.

Now, I've got to go for a 10 mile run to burn off that extra cheese steak I had for lunch.

[bookworm Member Find all posts View Profile Close bookworm]

I had to work for most of Monday, so I stayed in the unit most of the day. At night, we went to the Taj Mahal for a dinner buffet. I think it was $27. It was average. I give it a 6 or 7 which is very disappointing for anything with the Trump brand on it. The Donald needs to buy back his casino's and bring them back up to his standard of quality.

I did have a horrible cheesesteak for lunch. I knew I was in for trouble when the cook left the meat on the grill and let it sit there forever.

Checked out of the Atlantic Palace at 11:00 am. It took about 10 minutes to go down the elevator from the 30th floor stopping at every floor even with a full elevator. It might be faster to walk down the stairs.

I forgot to mention that Internet access is Wayport and it was $6.95/24 hours and a discount for 3 days or more.

We stayed at the Wyndham Skyline Tower last week - our ocean view included the Atlantic Palace. We had fantastic cheese steaks at White House subs (I hope that wasn't where you went.) It is famous in Atlantic City for Hoagies of all kinds with many pics of famous people posted in their tiny little space. I would recommend trying that next time. Try not to go exactly over mealtime if you want to eat in because it can be quite a wait. You have to venture a few blocks from the boardwalk to get there.

[Hobbitess Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Hobbitess]

The trip from Atlantic City to Hershey is about 130 miles.

How do you get it down to 130 miles? The Googlemaps route is closer to 160.

Middle daughter is envying you your Pat's Philly Steaks (she's a Rick Sebak fan, and he featured them in Sandwiches You Will Like).

Are you going to try to make Gettysburg? That would be the "don't miss" for me in terms of Hershey Suites. Although I'm pretty sure my kids would pick Hershey World instead, which is much closer.

[BocaBum99 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close BocaBum99]

How do you get it down to 130 miles? The Googlemaps route is closer to 160.

Middle daughter is envying you your Pat's Philly Steaks (she's a Rick Sebak fan, and he featured them in Sandwiches You Will Like).

Are you going to try to make Gettysburg? That would be the "don't miss" for me in terms of Hershey Suites. Although I'm pretty sure my kids would pick Hershey World instead, which is much closer.

Failing memory. If it's 160, then that's what it is.

Not going to Gettysburg. I'm working all day today and then heading down to Shenandoah Crossing. Spending the day in Washington DC, instead.

[BocaBum99 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close BocaBum99]

Got a late start on my run, so I had to cut it short at 8 miles, then finished up the last 2 miles on the tread mill in the fitness center.

I can see the Hershey Park and the Chocolate factory from the window in my unit. I ran up there and I kept thinking, "Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory." This must be what is is like.

When I got to Chocolate Ave, saw a lot of nice houses and a beautiful golf course. There was a huge ground hog running around the fields. It stared me down as I ran by it and then fled to its hole.

This is a very beautiful part of the country. There seems to be a lot of things to do here. I don't have time to do them on this trip. But now I know why this place is so popular in the summer. This is a nice destination to put in a resort group like Bluegreen.

I think my mother and cousin are heading to Amish country today. That sounds pretty cool, too.

[ArtsieAng Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close ArtsieAng]

BB


The quick review of this resort is this. Great location right on the boardwalk. Great views from the good size units. Resort looks tired and needs refreshing. I have a renovated unit complete with plasma screen. 30th floor facing south with a fantastic oceanview and view of the Boardwalk casinos. Bluegreen could have put a little more thought into the decorating plan. The furniture is too small for the unit. So, it looks like it needs more furniture. All they needed to do is get bigger furniture and it would be fine. My 1br unit has a queen in the master. I am sleeping on the queen sleeper sofa which is much more comfortable than your average sleeper sofa.

I stayed at this resort a number of years ago, and had the same impression....Great location, nice view, but very tired, and in need of refurbishing.

It doesn't sound as if BG has done that much to improve the situation. Too bad. Even tho I'm not a BG owner, I was able to get a great deal, and really did like the location.