Chances are, when most of us think of Atlantic City, New Jersey, we picture the Atlantic City casino hotels, full of bright lights, high stakes and glamour. However, there are hotels in Atlantic City that offer a respite from the lights and sound, while still being convenient to the Boardwalk, beach and other area attractions. Two such places are the Chelsea Hotel and the Holly Hotel. Atlantic City has a long and fascinating history prior to the casino era which began in the 1970s. The Chelsea Hotel has been in Atlantic City since 1880, the year the City officially opened. It has operated as a hotel since 1980. The Chelsea is housed in a Victorian building, which gives it a quiet charm. Rates are moderate, and three meals are served for $10.00 or less.

Of course, sooner or later most visitors will want to check out the excitement of the casinos. Choosing an Atlantic City hotel that will give you the experience you are looking for can seem a bit daunting at first. The following four standouts offer the full range of casinos and gaming, restaurants, comfortable rooms, entertainment and spa services.

The Sands Hotel and the Claridge Hotel Atlantic City (Claridge is a nationwide chain) are relatively small in terms of number of rooms. The Claridge has 504 rooms, with 714 at the Sands Hotel. Atlantic City’s reputation leads many of us to expect mega-everything, but these two hotels can make your stay comfortable, glamorous, and fun. The Sands Hotel boasts seven restaurants, including French, Italian and the Brighton Steak House. The Claridge, located at the world-famous corner of Boardwalk and Park Place, has all the amenities of a full-service casino hotel, with personal, friendly service. The Claridge's 8th floor recreation area features a glass-enclosed pool, health spa with steam and sauna rooms, universal exercise equipment and more.

There are two Atlantic City hotels that stand out as destinations in and of themselves, with on-site offerings such as world-class restaurants and bars, dance clubs, spas and entertainment. The Borgata Hotel, Atlantic City’s newest such accommodation in more than a decade, is located at Renaissance Pointe in the Marina District. The feel of each of the hotel’s 2,002 rooms is sleek and contemporary, with attention given to every detail. Entertainment available ranges from MIXX, a Latin-Asian restaurant that changes into a nightclub by night, to the Gypsy Bar, an intimate setting in which to relax and listen to music while sampling more than 80 tequila brands. There is a landscaped pool and gardens, a 50,000 square foot European-style spa and salon, and four entertainment venues ranging from 100 to 2,100 seats. Once you arrive at the Borgata, why leave?

And then there’s the Tropicana Hotel, Atlantic City’s largest hotel. Not only does the Tropicana boast 1,600 beachfront rooms and suites, casual and gourmet dining, spas, indoor and outdoor pools, headliner entertainment and casino gambling; its newest addition is The Quarter, three floors of dining and more, reminiscent of Old Havana’s famous Tropicana Hotel. In Atlantic City, only the Tropicana can boast:

● Twenty-one world class restaurants
● An array of over 30 shops
● South Jersey’s only IMAX Theater

The Quarter features three floors of shopping, theater, dining and spa services, not to mention over 500 new hotel rooms.

So, how to choose the best Atlantic City hotels? There are quite a few websites where you can make Atlantic City hotel reservations. Before going there, however, it could be helpful to check out the official sites of the various hotels, as well as sites offering Atlantic City hotel room reviews. Just realize that these reviews can sometimes go beyond the facts to reflect the reviewer’s particular tastes, which may not match your own. Alternatively, a travel agent you trust can help you narrow your search. Once you have a good idea of what you can’t live without, and which services you can do without, and then narrow your search in terms of price and location, until you find the right place for you. Then put up your beach umbrella, or get out your dancing shoes, and have a great time!