I've stayed at Skyline Towers several times and loved it. It is on the same block as Resorts Hotel and Casino (on the other side of the street). It is one long block to the boardwalk and beach. Skyline also has a pool, on the 7th floor I think. It's on an outdoor deck, and is small. Most of the units have a terrace, with chairs. Bring binoculars. I have watched "The Donald" arrive and depart via his private plane, from the landing pad atop the Taj Mahal Hotel, which is two long blocks away.
You can enter the Resorts Casino and use an indoor walkway to get to the Taj Mahal, and from Taj to the Showboat Casino. It's quicker, however, to walk along the boardwalk if the weather is nice. This whole section is called the "uptown" part of AC. You generally enter AC in the "downtown" section where the Hilton and Ceaser's Palace are located. Midtown you have Bally's. All of the casinos have an entrance on the boardwalk. I'm guessing that it's about a 2 mile walk from the first to the last casino. It's totally safe in daylight. In fact, in good weather there are so many people walking along the boardwalk that it is like being on the busiest street in midtown Manhattan. It looks a bit scary at night because it is generally deserted but I have walked it alone numerous times, at all hours, and have never had a problem.
Skyline Towers is located on the corner of North Carolina and Pacific Avenue. Jitney (small buses) run up and down Pacific 24/7. The fare the last time I was there in October 2007 was $2.00 . However, if you are a senior or disabled, you can buy discount tickets. When I bought them two years ago, it was .50 per trip. I still use them. They have no expiration date. The price may be higher now. They come in a strip of little tear off tickets, the type you get for admission to an event, and perhaps drop in a drum to win a prize. I have never been asked to show proof of age or disability. You can buy them at certain banks, a convenience store on Atlantic Avenue near Ceasar's Palace (by the Outlet Malls) or you can take the jitney down to the jitney office which is near the Flagship timeshare. Ask the driver for directions. When my friend did, he let her ride free to the office. However, the office is only open from 9-4. With these tickets, I just ride up and down Pacific Avenue to the other casinos and the outlet mall, etc.. It's a lot easier than taking the car in and out of the garage and then having to re-park it. Some of the jitneys go to the Marina district where the Borgata, Trump Marina, and Harrah's Hotel and Casino are located.
Re: parking. You can leave your car in front of Skyline for quite awhile when you check-in. A porter will ask if you need help with your luggage. There's no problem if you want to bring it up yourself, while leaving the car parked in front. (They have luggage carts near the door). You could run over to the Resorts casino and apply for a players card at the Promotions Booth. It's free. You just need a drivers license or similar I.D..
With the card, you can pull your car into Resort's self park garage, and pay the discounted rate (with the players card) of $5.00. I think it's $10. without the card. You could leave it there all week without incurring any further charges. When you do take it out, if you go to another casino, save the receipt if you pay to park. That receipt will get you back into Resorts for free if you return before 5:59 a.m.. A casino day is considered to begin at 6:00 a.m. and end at 5:59 a.m. the next day. When you pay for parking once during any part of that time period, your receipt will get you free parking at any other casino (but just once).
Atlantic City gets better and better every year. The shows are approaching Las Vegas quality. A lot of top performers are there from time to time. The buffets have excellent food, especially at Borgata, and Virginia City in Bally's Wild Wild West Casino. and at Showboat. (The worst IMHO is Resorts and Tropicana). And all of the casinos have multiple highly acclaimed 5* restaurants, if your budget can handle it. It's best to make reservations a few weeks in advance, if possible.
I scratch my head everytime I hear people talk about crime and seediness and fear. That is so not what people who go there on a regular basis encounter. It was the case 25 years ago, and the reputation lingers. But the reality is different. Sure there are neighborhoods in surrounding areas that have poverty and crime. But tourists and visitors have no reason to go there. And you can be sure that with all the taxes the casinos pay to the city and state, the police give top priority to keeping the boardwalk and casino area safe.
Enjoy!
