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Free at Flamingo vs paying at Aria

Discussion in 'LV Strip Hotels' started by sdugan99, Mar 28, 2016.

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  1. sdugan99

    sdugan99 Tourist

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    Hello,

    Weill be in vegas for a conference in June, my wife's conference is at Red Rock so will be there from Thursday - Saturday. We are going out 2 days earlier Get in late on Tuesday evening.

    We have a reservation at Aria Totaling $418 with 100 resort credit so net $318. Looking on my total rewards I found a comp rate for both nights at the Flamingo for a Fab king with Strip view. so with resorts fees and taxes comes to $68. They offered a chance of an upgrade to a go room at check in for $14 a night. Stayed at flamingo before but it has been 5 years or so, immediately thought would take the free room at Flamingo like the Flamingo pool and Location better then Aria. Then I started reading some reviews on here, but some of those were from people that paid for the Flamingo room. We stayed at Aria last year and know how nice the rooms are, but really started to hate that walk through the mall to the strip.

    So free room at the Flamingo for the 2 nights or pay a little for the Aria??????? Is the flamingo so bad now it is not worth $0???
     
  2. vegasvic

    vegasvic VIP Whale

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    The Flamingo is fine for a comp room. Obviously Aria is much nicer. It all depends on your financial situation and how much you value that ~$300. If $300 is no big deal to you book Aria definitely. .
     
  3. kansaisupra

    kansaisupra Low-Roller

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    I guess it depends on a few variables.

    1) How often do you go to Las Vegas?
    2) How much does the money mean to you?
    3) How much time are you going to spend in the Hotel room?
    4) How much does your wife care?

    For me personally, staying at both places, I'd pick Flamingo.

    I go to Vegas very often, like twice a month, so I really don't care about the room. Since my wife and I are pretty cheap, I'd save the money and use the extra savings to buy something else. Maybe a nice meal or go outlet shopping. Plus, I play poker so I just use the room for a bed (maybe) and a shower.

    Also since your staying at Red Rock, and your staying there 2nd, staying at Flamingo and going to Red Rock might seem like a huge upgrade. If it were the reverse, say, you were staying at Red Rock first and then had to go to Flamingo, then I'd probably stay at Aria.
    If you stay at Flamingo, you might appreciate Red Rock even more.
     
  4. JosieCat

    JosieCat VIP Whale

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    I like free, and I like the Flamingo - so that's what I'd pick. Granted I haven't stayed there for a few years, but I really enjoy the vibe there, the animal habitat, and the location is great.
     
  5. bjpcyclone

    bjpcyclone High-Roller

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    I like free as well because I'm not in the room much but having stayed 5 nights at Flamingo last fall, I'd hesitate to stay there again. I'd much rather stay at Linq or Bally's. And if you get comped rooms at Flamingo, you should get comped rooms at either of those places.

    The casino is fine but the rooms and elevator situation were not.
     
  6. sybgal

    sybgal VIP Whale

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    Unless your room at Aria is a very nice suite.(or you would rather pay for high end)....I always go for free. Stayed in a Go Deluxe / strip view for NYE week and it was nice. Any free rooms offered at Bally's? Their Jubilee rooms are the best and always our 1st choice.
     
  7. Top Dog

    Top Dog Low-Roller

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    For me the choice would be Aria. I've tried cheaper options and regretted it. The room probably means more to me than others, but I know I love it there. You say 'pay a little' for Aria so it doesn't seem like the difference in price is going to be that big of a deal. Don't be afraid to pass up free (plus resort fees and taxes) if you think you are getting your money's worth elsewhere.
     
  8. sdugan99

    sdugan99 Tourist

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    Yea looked at Linq and Balleys and those rates aren't comped, 20-40 a night but not free.
     
  9. sdugan99

    sdugan99 Tourist

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    1) Go to Vegas about once a year
    2) The Money isn't an issue, can afford the few hundred dollars, but am not apposed to treating it as "savings" and putting it towards a cabana or nice dinner etc.
    3) Guessing won't spend much time in room, will be out late on Tuesday night, spend Wednesday day at pool head to dinner and probably out late again.
    4) Wife doesn't need fancy , decent is all. She would much rather spend the money at the pool or somehting.

    Thanks for the feedback and the point about the Red rock feeling like an upgrade that is helpful.

    Leaning towards Flamingo but some of the reviews are scaring the wife.
     
  10. sarah9nascar

    sarah9nascar VIP Whale

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    I've stayed at both, Aria all the way!!!!
     
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  11. NickPapageorgio

    NickPapageorgio OG of the Sal Sagev Hotel

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    Flamingo is rough. Take the Linq with new carpet, bedding, linens etc in a heartbeat for the extra $20 per night. Despite what you may hear on this board, Flamingo is dirty. Hallways, rooms, I've just experienced too much filth in that property to give them another chance. Food left in hallways, horrible cleanings, stains, odors.... Linq, Ballys, Harrahs and pay the nominal upcharge. I love Aria, but $400 for 2 nights could be spent on a nice meal and show tickets as well.

    Nick:beer:
     
  12. DonnyC

    DonnyC VIP Whale

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    I've stayed at Flamingo (lots) in fab and Go rooms...and once at Bally's basic room.

    The Fab = Bally's basic room. I'd upgrade to the Go room. Is it as nice as Aria? Nope. But if you've never stayed in one it's a decent room. Small tv in the bathroom miror, room comes with a fridge. You best friend is probably YouTube when comparing rooms.
     
  13. DonnyC

    DonnyC VIP Whale

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    If you are talking about the hallway carpets, yes they could stand to get replaced. But I have never noticed the room carpets to be worn.
     
  14. irishdave

    irishdave VIP Whale

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    Check and see what you can do with a Bally's jubilee tower room. Significant room upgrade over Flamingo, but not a lot more cost. Personally, I'd go with Aria, but I'm a late 50's type with a fair amount of disposable income. If the pool is a major factor according to those in my family who like pools (I'm not a pool person at all), Flamingo has one of the better party pools mid-strip.
     
  15. Nittany1

    Nittany1 VIP Whale

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    You go once a year. Why not splurge and spend the extra $400 for a really nice hotel?
    There really is no comparison between the two properties.
     
  16. bjpcyclone

    bjpcyclone High-Roller

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    If you are not a room-type person, I'd definitely pocket the $400 and spend it elsewhere. The basic rooms at Aria aren't much different than most other places (newer obviously). That said, if it were me I'd consider a middle ground somewhere. I'd spend the $20 more per night and stay at Linq. Rooms are small but updated. Pool is small but new. Great location.

    I generally don't care much about the room (Monte Carlo/NYNY has been my home base for years, now I'm branching out and trying CET properties) and I've stayed at Excalibur several times. And the bathroom, elevators, and cleanliness at Flamingo were worse. Linq/Ballys was WAY better IMO. But the pool at Flamingo is great.
     
  17. sdugan99

    sdugan99 Tourist

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    Ok talking it over with the wife last night and we still are undecided, but ranked in order of importance what we care about

    1 Location
    2. Pool
    3. Room(size/how nice etc)
    4. Price

    Sounds like the Linq is a good middle ground, I think where we are are stuck is the pool. How is the Linq pool? Have been to Flamingo pool but not since they flipped the larger pool to the go pool(although mid week not sure it makes a difference)

    To the poster that commented on spending the money since it is a once a year trip to Vegas. Have stayed at Aria, Cosmo, Ceasers, Manadaly, so don't have a great need to get the fancy room/hotel. Also understand the difference in feel walking through the Aria to get to your room and walking through Aria etc.

    We travel quite a bit and in most cases we would pick the nicer hotel and spend a little extra, but with it being vegas and how little we are in the room except to sleep, shower etc we are willing to save on that.
     
  18. kansaisupra

    kansaisupra Low-Roller

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    If you haven't stayed at Venetian or Wynn. Stay there first. Venetian has a better location.

    Planet Hollywood, an upgrade from Flamingo but not nearly as nice as Aria has a good location. Mirage is pretty decent too.

    So knowing now what you said, If I only go to Vegas once a year, and location, pool, room and price was the order, I'd pick Venetian. Location not the greatest but still North strip (I mean just walk anyway,) Pool is super nice, Room is super huge, all suites, and price well whatever, its Vegas.
     
  19. DonnyC

    DonnyC VIP Whale

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    The pool at Flamingo is going to absolutely crush the Linq's pool.

    Even mid-week the pool at Flamingo is great. Good mix of people: signles, couples, younger and older, guys groups, girls groups. Like any good Vegas pool, chairs are hard to come buy, so if that's important you will want to be in line before the pool opens (unfortunately people still go down and reserve chairs with towels and then bugger off till later).

    Music picks up around noon, and you can view their drink specials on their website.

    Although I'd like to branch out and try other places, it is the poll that keeps me coming back to Flamingo.
     
  20. Nevyn

    Nevyn VIP Whale

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    First, you said it yourself, $0 is really $68.

    I guess it comes down to how much do you care about the room? Aria is worlds better, but a Flamingo room should still be relatively safe and clean and well located. So whether it is worth paying more is up to you.

    Also, the Aria resort credit does not truly push the net cost down unless you liked Aria options enough that you would use them anyway. And if you hated walking through the mall, why is it down to these places only? Wouldn't Cosmo and others in the centre strip area would be comparable to that Aria cost?
     
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