Red Carpet Inn & Suites

It's two blocks from the beach, and parking is free. The place is very dirty, the elevator doesn't work, and neither does the AC. It is very cheap, so you get what you pay for, but I'd highly recommend staying away. For a good hotel, try the Showboat. The arcade is awesome, staff are very friendly, and the rooms are clean. It's a little more expensive, but worth the extra money.

For what it costs, the place is functional, spacious enough, and does the job. It was clean-ish, though things behind the nightstand looked a bit abandoned, and the bathroom towels were tiny, with no proper bath towels. Staff were neutral, neither especially helpful nor annoying. The room itself was okay for its class. The price was decent with no surprises, apart from the $100 hold they put on the card at check-in. I don't like surprise policies like that and hope they release it without making an issue of a fingerprint on the mirror. The parking lot seemed sketchy, and the neighborhood didn't feel like somewhere to wander at midnight. Maybe eat dinner early and stay inside. Chance I'd return: 40%.

The motel's best feature is how close it is to the boardwalk and right next to the Hard Rock Casino. The price looked good, and I hadn't expected a great stay, but it was much worse than I thought. There were so many flies in the room that I went to buy fly traps. A terrible smoky, musty smell filled the rooms and halls, and even air freshener couldn't clear it. If I return to Atlantic City, I'd pay the extra $50 or more for a better hotel.

The staff were helpful and worked hard to make my stay a good one. Everything was clean and the accommodations were great. It's hard to find a better or cheaper hotel in such a convenient spot, only a five-minute walk from the board walk and casinos. I read some reviews from last year, but the place is very well maintained. I plan to stay again.