Lavish Casino Hotel on Atlantic City's Boardwalk

Entertainment mogul Donald Trump spared no expense when he built the palatial Trump Taj Mahal. The billion-dollar casino hotel is one of the tallest structures in Atlantic City, comprising two towers, each more than 400 feet high and topped with onion-like domes inspired by India's iconic Taj Mahal. Inside, there's nonstop entertainment: two performance venues have welcomed showstoppers including Elton John and Beyonce, and the casino is lined with more than 3,500 slot machines and 200 gaming tables.

Massive crystal chandeliers suspend from a gilded ceiling above the main gaming area. The resort's poker room, which was featured in the movie Rounders, is furnished with 70 tables and hosts daily No Limit Hold 'Em tournaments. Broadcasts of the top thoroughbred and rocking-horse races from up to 20 tracks are shown in a simulcast facility.

This deal's dining credit can be redeemed for any onsite restaurants operated by the Taj Mahal, which highlight a wide array of cuisines. One can dine on anything from braised boneless short rib ($30) at the upscale Safari Steakhouse to shrimp prepared hibachi-style ($19.95) at The Rim Noodle Bar. Taj Mahal-operated restaurants include Dynasty, Safari Steakhouse, The Rim Noodle Bar, Plate American Cafe, and Go. Alternatively, the Taj-Tower option comes with a $20 drink credit at Ego Bar, featuring live entertainment on most Fridays.

The luxurious vibe permeates each of Trump Taj Mahal's lavish guest rooms, which are trimmed with rich tones and travel-size bottles of liquid gold. Bold reds and mod furnishings electrify the Chairman Tower rooms, water-view rooms feature floor-to-ceiling windows affording views of the boardwalk and the Atlantic Ocean, and the The Taj Tower rooms are filled with elegant decor and cream tones bathed in natural light.

Atlantic City, New Jersey: Glittering Boardwalk with Rich History

Situated just outside the Trump Taj Mahal, Atlantic City's wooden boardwalk is one of the longest in the world, stretching for nearly 6 miles along New Jersey's eastern coast and covered with beaches, boutiques, and glittering casinos. In the 1920s, the boardwalk established itself as an entertainment hotspot with carnival rides, flappers, and jazz musicians that inspired HBO's Boardwalk Empire. A fun-loving atmosphere still draws surfers, kayakers, and fishermen to the city's glitzy beaches.

Just a 10-minute drive from the hotel is the bayside Gardner's Basin, where a community of artisans sets up shop. Situated next to a 25,000-gallon aquarium swimming with turtles and rays, the crafters here have used seashells and driftwood to hand-make items such as wind chimes, picture frames, and other housewarming gifts for estranged uncles trapped on desert islands.