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Aria Getting a Little Stingy With the Booze

Discussion in 'LV Strip Hotels' started by thecarve, Nov 3, 2015.

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  1. thecarve

    thecarve Misanthrope

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    I just returned from a four day trip to Aria. I had a good time and enjoyed some great food, booze and Halloween (eye) candy. (Small-medium loss, unfortunately.)

    But I noticed that 90% of the time that I'd ask for Goose (or even Tito's), I was told, "we have Ketel and Absolute". I don't find this to be a deal breaker by any means as - unless I'm drinking it all night - vodka is vodka for the most part. And if given my druthers, I'd usually choose Ketel One over Goose anyway. But I did find it a little surprising. I've never run into this at any of Aria's main competition (Wynncore, Cosmo, et. al).

    I should also note that 99.9% of my play was at a $100 BJ table, a $5 VP machine or a $1 triple or five play STP VP machine. And I was told the same story in the HL room.

    I'm not going anywhere with this, really. I'm far from outraged. It won't change my behavior all that much. But I figured I'd pass the info along to VMB - it certainly does fit in with current trends.

    The good news: the bartenders at the bartops (at least at Lift Bar and the new Gem Bar) still freely poured the good stuff to gamblers. Though I did overhear a bartender saying that "timing drinks" is now a property-wide policy (but I never encountered it so that might have just been lip service).
     
  2. Dean Martin

    Dean Martin VIP Whale

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    Interesting. I know at Wynncore, I was ordering Tangueray martini's and my wife was having Jameson on the rocks and there were no problems with that.

    By "timing", do you mean those people that sit down and pretend to play and get a drink and then cash out? I noticed Wynn is still not comping drinks at his VP bars and in fact took all the VP out of the Eastside Bar. That seems to be a popular place for people to hang out and grab a drink and also the bar of choice for the ladies of the evening.

    Sounds like your gaming $$'s is getting up there, you must be getting room, food and limo?
     
  3. 44inarow

    44inarow VIP Whale

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    The "timing" thing is presumably the policy, generally reported by people at the Sports Bar, that you only get one drink every 30 minutes while playing VP. This has supposedly been around for a while, but, like carve, I've never run into it in practice. I've been told about it by a couple bartenders at Lift Bar, but also been told they don't really follow it there.

    I'd actually noticed the vodka thing a while back when I had asked for Stoli and was told they didn't have it. And this was at Lift Bar, so it wasn't an issue of it just not being stocked at the service bar. I wonder if it's some sort of supplier contract thing.
     
  4. Krh2o

    Krh2o MIA

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    If they use only a couple brands they can get a discount from their distributor. Also it makes it easier on the service side if they limit the choices. If they had 6 different types of vodka, that would be way more complicated then three. Some might have Ketel others might go Grey Goose.
     
  5. deadeyefive

    deadeyefive Big Daddy

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    I was there a couple weeks ago and was talking to a bartender in the high limit room. Apparently after the last Mayweather fight, his Entourage was in there and really took advantage of the high end booze in the high limit room. Most of them weren't playing but drank them out of just about all the high end liquor. Since then, management has taken notice and tightened up on all the liquor offerings throughout the property. No more going in there and getting a drink at the high limit bar unless you are playing at that moment in the high limit room. They used to let you get pretty much whatever you wanted within reason as long as you have been playing in there during your trip. I just love how some people just overdue it and ruin it for everyone else....:thumbsdown:
     
  6. thecarve

    thecarve Misanthrope

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    This most recent offer was too good to pass up, hence my straying from Wynncore. It was for a "regular" room in the Aria Sky Suites (meh...far cry from Tower suites), $250/day in food and beverage plus $400 resort credit and a limo. I was solo and didn't get around to hitting the spa so I couldn't come close to using all the comps...despite the fact that I loaded my bags with minibar snacks on the way out the door. :evillaugh

    I'm a bit torn on what I'll do going forward. All things being equal, it's a no-brainer, IMO. Wynn wins going away. But if my Aria offers continue to be so much better than what I get at Wynn, it's going to be a tough decision - it's nice to be able to eat/drink very well and return home without a big CC bill arriving in the mail in a few weeks. Plus the BJ is sooo much better at Aria and then there's the bartop comps...
     
  7. franknic

    franknic Low-Roller

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    If free pouring, I thought timing had to do with timing the pour, i.e. a 3 count from the bottle, the pour was stopped and mixer added.

    And why not share the offers you are getting from Aria with you host from Wynn? I wouldn't get heavy handed with it but as a "just to let you know" and perhaps they can up thier side of things to your advantage. Also, your host at Wynn should be able (and very willing) to comp all bar drinks there)
     
  8. thecarve

    thecarve Misanthrope

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    Sorry to be confusing. Buy "timing", I was referring to the policy at Aria (discussed on this board several months ago) of requiring bartenders to wait a certain amount of time (I believe 30 minutes) before they could give a gambler another comped drink.

    As far as using my Aria offers to my advantage with Wynn: that's sound advice. If my Aria offers continue to be far more generous than those at Wynn, I'll probably mention it. This time around I actually wanted to give Aria a try, though. The much better BJ and craps and marginally better VP - and bartop comping w/o having to use primary comps - at Aria played a part too.
     
  9. Dean Martin

    Dean Martin VIP Whale

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    I hear you but I have to say, the same thing happened to me with Bellagio. They offered a small suite (again no nicer than an Encore room) $250 per day room credit and limo. We bit the last time we were in town and the whole experience wasn't the same. We just really love the whole Wynncore ambiance. Plus.... I just feel luckier there. Won twice at Bellagio my whole life. Can't count the times we've both hit at Wynncore. I know it's just luck but I will say that I never win when I don't feel good about where I'm playing.
     
    Last edited: Nov 5, 2015
  10. gpburdell

    gpburdell Low-Roller

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    I just returned from Aria as well and noticed the same thing. My drink of choice is Makers and ginger ale. The first couple days I was there no problem in getting that. On Saturday or Sunday something changed. When I asked for Makers, the CW said they changed out the liquor selection and it wasn't available anymore. I don't care for Jack or Jim and they didn't have Buffalo Trace or something else comparable.

    I settled for a Ketel One and cran. I did ask for Grey Goose like the OP, but was denied.

    Also, one of the guys with us said Macallan was no longer available in the Aria poker room either and had Glenlivet instead.

    I'm a bit surprised by this change especially for the high limit room or someone playing black chips like the OP. I'm a lowly green chip bettor and a second class citizen at Aria anyway, but I love it there ;-)
     
  11. mansam

    mansam Low-Roller

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    I'm a "vodka & Cabernet snob" & will not drink Absolute. I can understand a low level cab but playing at Wynncore, their house choices are always better than most places. Something I found out recently - being on the east coast I've been taking advantage of free airfares & rooms to the Beau Rivage in Biloxi ( actually originally a Steve Wynn property) & I was told I can order anything ( even high end wine) & use my express comps ( I have about $1,000 accumulated). I'll be staying at Wynncore Dec 5 & will take a walk down to Bellagio & Aria to play a bit & it'll be nice to know I can order any brand I want & use my express comps. Kind of surprised to hear that about Aria though.
     
    Back to Wynn to Win!
  12. MidnightBJ

    MidnightBJ Low-Roller

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    I got Macallan 18 in the high limit room last Friday without even a flinch. Had 4 within a little over an hour. It used to be that they would comp up to a $125 drink in the high limit (table games) room without charging it your room. I know they are tightening up on a lot of things now according to my host. They are looking much harder at individual profitability when it comes to comps.

    The future is not looking good for gambling. After my last ass kicking, a reduction in comps will likely cause me to rethink gambling at all. I am one of those that expect to get taken care of when I am risking significant amounts of money. Casinos were able to make money for years giving away significant comps to players. Taking on huge debt has caused their current financial struggles.
     
  13. mansam

    mansam Low-Roller

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    BJ you're right. The gamblers just aren't being taken care of like they used to ( unless you're a slot player for the obvious reasons). Last year I was talking to my host at Wynn & we were talking about that. She told me stories - one in particular about A Saudi regular who would get about a dozen rooms for him & his entourage, rent Ferraris & not gamble at all. They loved to "Club" all the time & would literally spend hundreds of thousands of $'s every night. Think about that profit - eg. A bottle of Goose cost them $20 & sells for $500 ish - If they spend $500,000, the profit is probably around $450,000! Vegas has changed drastically from the good old days. Miss them!
     
    Back to Wynn to Win!
  14. broncofn

    broncofn VIP Whale

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    Do you know when they changed the liquor choices? I was there in September and had grey goose without a problem (saw them pour it in the bj high limit room). Also had Louis XIII in the bacc room but the pit wanted me to sign for it for $540. I bitched and he said he would buy the first one. Never ordered another one after that lol

    Kettle and titos are good also
     
  15. broncofn

    broncofn VIP Whale

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    I don't blame the Saudi for just wanting to go party lol. Do you know how they live there? They have nothing like we do here in the US lol. It's a chance for the "younger" ones to get away and unwind. Kinda reminds me of the movie, coming to America where they want to come and sew their royal oats lol
     
  16. franknic

    franknic Low-Roller

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    The timing matter, as you mention now would have been my second guess. Troubling trends in LV continue for most of us to experience. In more direct terms, along with other points you mention, more BS from the casino's. Reminds me of that drink voucher deal reported from mirage lobby bar (if anyone has latest news on that could you enlighten?)

    You also mentioned, marginally better VP. I'm surprised to hear that. Always though Aria not too good in that area - much less in qty and payback schedules so so.

    In any event, hope the comps you see at least don't decrease in any form.
     
  17. gpburdell

    gpburdell Low-Roller

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    I think it was this past weekend. I was at Aria in late September also and had both Makers and Goose with no issues. I flew in to Vegas last week on Wed night and had Makers on Wed and Thursday. My memory is a bit fuzzy if it was Friday or Saturday when they said it wasn't available.
     
  18. Nittany1

    Nittany1 VIP Whale

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    Always had Goose available at every bar in Aria.
    Does this mean if you are playing VP at the Lift Bar they will not have Goose anywhere?Is it only they will not comp it?
    I can see if the CW can't get it for the floor but High Limit not having it will be a shocker.
     
  19. thecarve

    thecarve Misanthrope

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    It was just the CWs. Bartenders were pouring (comped) whatever I asked for without batting an eye.

    I should also add that the HL room about which I was speaking was the HL slot room. So, I can't imagine someone tossing around yellow chips is going to be denied anything. But I was banging away on $5 DDB with STP ($30/spin) and was told only Ketel or Absolut - I was a bit surprised at that.
     
  20. Nittany1

    Nittany1 VIP Whale

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    Just left Aria and found few things out about comped drinks.
    CWs on main casino floor said they could not get Goose.
    Had no problem with anything else.
    At Lift Bar was able to get Goose comped for play with good tipping.
    Alibi was surprisingly generous with comping drinks for friends with me but not playing.
    Only issue we had was with Tyrone,the Jerk at the sports bar who has been mentioned on here numerous times .
    He proudly announced he could only comp one drink every 30 minutes with a players card and max play.
    We had one drink and were about to leave when his shift ended.
    We asked the other bartenders what his problem was and they acknowledged Aria gets a lot of complaints about him.
    Suddenly the drinks were arriving fast and great pours.

    So it seems the policy may be in place but only followed selectively
    Overall our drink service at the bars was very good with no problems besides the first cocktail at the sports bar .
     
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