Those planning a weekend getaway in Atlantic City during the height of the 2026 season may find casino-hotel room rates out of reach. However, increased competition from other markets has pushed prices slightly lower than in previous seasons.
Taking a look at the price of a standard room for a weekend in July, (in these examples, July 10 to July 13, 2026) the Tropicana has the highest rate at $617 per night, which does not include what is known as the “daily resort fee,” and other taxes. Surprisingly, the best price for a room in a hotel-casino is at the upscale Borgata, where room rates average $349 per night. Book early to get that rate.
A price like that may be too high for the budget-conscious. The good news is there are alternatives, which include booking a room on a weekday rather than a weekend, or considering lodging in a non-casino venue.
Two of the better-known, non-casino hotels were once casinos. Showboat Resort’s in-season rates are $329 per night, and the venerable Claridge Hotel, if booked early, runs $297.
Travelers won’t save much during the season at The Seahaus Hotel, a new Marriott-owned property at Morris Avenue and the Boardwalk. A room there will cost $392 per weekend night at the height of the season.
The Atlantic Palace and the Flagship Resort, both located near the Inlet section of the city, are properties in transition. Though the Palace is hyping a “vacation ownership” program called “Club Boardwalk Resorts,” similar to a timeshare, non-timeshare hotel rooms are available for $342 on a weekend night during the summer.
The Flagship, under the same ownership as the Palace, has the same “vacation ownership” option, but offers rooms on a nightly basis for $365.
The following are trusted hotel chains offering pools, parking and something close to a guarantee of cleanliness and safety:
The Clarion Inn on Iowa Avenue gets decent reviews. At a rate of $314 it’s certainly not cheap, nor is the $337 nightly rate for Howard Johnson by Wyndham at 1339 Pacific Ave. Best Western Atlantic is the lowest price of this group at $302.
The real deals can be found in the city’s smaller motels. In the 1960s there were a bunch of them, including The Four Seasons, The Coronet, Sea-Winds, The Flamingo, Lombardy, Empress, Beachfront Gardens, Sorrento, Malibu, Ascot, Terrace, Eastbourne, Seville, Tropicana Motel, Boardwalk Motel, Bala, Envoy and the Saxony.
Some remain, albeit under different names. While the costs vary widely for motels along Pacific Avenue, the best advice when booking a room in venues like these is “let the buyer beware.” When considering affordability, safety and cleanliness, check the reviews carefully.
The Flamingo Quality Inn in Chelsea received an average 3.5-star review, with rates running about $273 per night. The El Dorado, at 2741 Pacific Ave., is even cheaper at $228, and it received a 4.5-star review. The Downbeach Inn, at 3601 Pacific Ave. in the Chelsea neighborhood, has a great location. If booked now, a room would cost around $64 per night. In July, the same room would cost around $168. Sure, it’s a bargain, but the reviews are terrible. Also in the Chelsea area is the A.C. Lodge by Beach and Boardwalk, formerly an Econo Lodge. Nightly room cost is $252, but the reviews – one described “decrepit conditions” – are uniformly lousy.
Things get more iffy, price-wise and review-wise, for motels farther uptown. Consider this: Reviews are mixed for the Knights Inn at 1101 Pacific Ave., and rooms there are a whopping $449 per night for a July weekend. But a few doors away at 1104 Pacific Ave. and close to the Hard Rock is the Red Carpet Inn, which received decent reviews. The nightly rate is a real bargain at $183 during the height of the summer season.
There are deals to be had on the Black Horse and White Horse pikes and in Absecon, but once again, researching the reviews is important. A dear friend of mine swears by the Hampton Inn in Atlantic City – he loves the pool and the free breakfast – but during the season, a room will still set you back $309 per night.
For those who prefer to stay on the island, but not in Atlantic City, there are now two choices in Ventnor.
The Surrey Beach House at 109 Surrey Ave., is relatively new to the fray. Billing itself as “Ventnor’s Boutique Hotel,” the Surrey has 15 rooms, including three suites with kitchen and dining areas. It’s not cheap – $484 is the nightly room rate – and a four-night stay is required.
The Carisbrooke Inn, a long-time favorite bed and breakfast property, is still thriving, but the rate, at around $563, is quite high.
The good news is that there is plenty of room at the non-casino inn for the 2026 summer season. The-not-so-good news is that in many cases, it’s going to cost you.
Quality comes at a price.
Bruce Klauber is the author of four books, an award-winning music journalist, concert and record producer and publicist, producer of the Warner Brothers and Hudson Music “Jazz Legends” film series, and performs both as a drummer and vocalist.
