Considering first stay at Cosmo - Questions

My wife and I have booked a much deserved getaway to Vegas in late April. We are currently booked at Aria on April 22-25 but Jungy's recent thread on Aria vs. Cosmo vs. Vdara has given me some fuel to consider booking on an offer from Cosmopolitan.

We have not stayed at Cosmo before and we are looking for a new experience. Our last two trips together have been to Aria and a first time trip to Bellagio. We are in our early 40s and love the restaurant and drink choices at both Cosmo and Aria. We are getting a tired of the restaurants at Aria and would likely eat at Cosmo several times anyway. We are definitely not nightclub people but we love the red-hot people watching at Cosmo. I am primarily a black-chip blackjack player and love craps, while my wife very much looks forward to time at the pool and spa.

We have two free nights and one cheap night at Aria, plus $100 resort credit. I have been receiving offers for two free weekday nights at Cosmo and $200/nt resort credit on Friday or Saturday.

Great cocktail and dining options are important. I love the rooms and gambling at Aria, and the pool will be relaxing. Another factor in Aria's favor is that I was Platinum with Mlife last year and I am looking at booking a "guys trip" for a group at an Mlife property over Labor Day - the play and spend at Aria this trip may help push me back to Platinum. On the other hand, the food, drinks, vibe and prospect of a balcony at Cosmo are very intriguing.


I have a few questions...

1) How is Sahra Spa? Pros/cons? Decent value? My wife *loved* the Bellagio spa, and really liked the Aria spa (but thought the co-ed areas were a bit weird).

2) How relaxing is the Bamboo pool? Having an accessible pool experience is important - my wife does not want to fight for lounge chairs or suffer from poor service. She will not be going to Marquee Day Club. Do they allow lounger/day bed reservations? What is the typical pricing? Drink pricing? I plan on dropping an email to Cosmo to get the specifics for the week we are looking at but wanted some info from the board first. The Cypress Pool at Bellagio with their reserved loungers was right up her alley.

3) Any concerns regarding pool weather this time in April?


As I type this up, it is starting to reinforce our decision to stay at Aria, but I am looking for some convincing to try Cosmopolitan. (Aria wins hands-down versus Bellagio in my opinion... I love the modern architecture and casino too much over B.)

Any and all opinions are welcome. Thanks for your help!

Spicole

 

Never been to the spa but have stayed at both properties multiple times. I would rather have a balcony room at the Cosmo than a regular room at Aria. Cosmos location is better as a shorter walk to the strip. The boulevard pool was really nice. I would say you only live once so try and stay at the cosmo and see if you like it. For the price and room a cosmo balcony cant be beat imo.

Gambling at Aria is much better than cosmo though.

 

Watch out for 6:5 bj when you play at cosmo. Aria has much better bj rules

The terraces at cosmo are awesoMe.

 

Cosmo over Aria when compairing the rooms, also that balcony with a view over B fountain is as good as it gets. I also prefer Cosmo's pool, the blvd pool has some great scenary and views over the strip. Its pretty relaxing on weekdays but can get really busy on the weekend. The bamboo pool area is smaller but also really quiet although i seen some kids there. I also think the drink service and drinks are way better over at Cosmo's pool area (cheaper as well if i remember correctly).

 

The Cosmo has been our home casino for two years now.

The Bamboo Pool is the best deal if you're going to rent a cabana. It's quieter and calmer. If you rent a cabana during a weekday, it should only be a few hundred and that includes that much in food and beverage.

 

Why not double book, and check out the Cosmo. You can check out the pools and the room. If you like it better, cancel the extra night at Aria and stay at Cosmopolitan. We booked Cosmo for March 17th, 18th, and are booked at Aria 18, 19th and 20th. Allows me to move over at my convenience on the 18th. I plan on packing some of our stuff in smaller suitcase.. and taking that over when I check in at Aria. Then when Hubby is done golfing on the 18th, will move the rest over.. or if we are liking the Cosmo, will move over the morning of the 19th. My concern is room noise. I have heard that Cosmopolitan can be loud - and I love how quiet the Aria rooms and halls are. I found a link on vegasvital.com which shows a nice little short cut between Cosmo and Aria - so you don't have to walk through Crystals.

 

Cosmo is my home casino now and I stayed just last week. I had a spa visit and really enjoyed it but I can't compare it to any other place as I've never been anywhere else.

Like others said be wary of the 6:5 bj, I've seen it even at the $100 level on busy nights. The hl room will be $100 on slow nights but in the floor you can find 3:2 for $25 or $50 just be vigilant. It's not the best property for bj.

Bamboo pool is very relaxing. They do daybeds and cabanas, here is what they sent me for last May when I inquired

On May 27, 2014

The rates for the Bamboo Pool:

· Cabana (maximum of 8 guests)- starting at $500 food and beverage minimum

· Daybeds (maximum of 4 guests)- starting at $250 food and beverage minimum



The rates for the Boulevard Pool:

· 4.0 Cabana (pool level)(maximum of 8 guests)- starting at $1,250 food and beverage minimum

· 4.5 Cabana (upper level)(maximum of 8 guests)- starting at $750 food and beverage minimum

· Daybeds (maximum of 4 guests)- starting at $300 food and beverage minimum



On May 29, 2014

The rates for the Bamboo Pool:

· Cabana (maximum of 8 guests)- starting at $500 food and beverage minimum

· Daybeds (maximum of 4 guests)- starting at $250 food and beverage minimum



The rates for the Boulevard Pool:

· 4.0 Cabana (pool level)(maximum of 8 guests)- starting at $1,250 food and beverage minimum

· 4.5 Cabana (upper level)(maximum of 8 guests)- starting at $750 food and beverage minimum

· Daybeds (maximum of 4 guests)- starting at $300 food and beverage minimum





Please note all minimums exclude an additional charge for sales tax (8.1%) and automatic gratuity/service fee (21%).

​

 

Agreed on the blackjack issue. One of the dealers at Aria was telling me how they didn't have a single 6:5 table in the place, and sounded pretty proud of that fact. At Cosmo, I struggled to find a 3:2 table outside of the high-limit room during a walk through the place on a Saturday night, even at the $25-50 level; I'm told they exist, but I couldn't find one for the life of me, and I hate having to wander around in search of something that should be pretty accessible.

 

Pool is a waste i. April, still too cold

 

Cosmo is my home casino now as well, I have stayed there the last 7 trips. Although Aria is nice, Cosmo is a two notches ahead. The small things make all the difference; hotel room to strip walk is very short, the vibe is much more chic, pool options much better...on and on...but like another poster mentioned you only live once....try em all!

 

Thanks for all of the replies - all of your feedback is much appreciated. If anyone has any feedback on the spa, let me know!


matchu and BayouBengal - thanks for the information on the cabanas and day beds. The beds are worth considering if the charges go towards F&B.

I am well aware of the disparity in blackjack conditions between Aria and Cosmo and, honestly, is a big reason why I have been leaning towards Aria. (I even hate the cards Cosmo uses at the tables!) One solution would be to play all of my BJ at either Aria or B, and just eat, drink, and be merry at Cosmopolitan.

I think this is a fantastic option... let's see if Cosmo comes through with the offer! I typically sleep like the dead but I do like the tranquility in the Aria hotel. I am also well aware of the shortcut.

 

Cosmo used to be my favorite and I used to hate Aria. Now, Aria is my favorite and Cosmo is middle of the pack for me. I love the balcony and view from Cosmo, but everything else I like so much better at Aria.

 

The charges quoted to me were the food and bev minimum. So the daybed or cabana is "free" if you commit to buying that much in food and drink. It looks like we will be booking one in May. When it's just me and the GF I just don't think we'd spend enough between just us. There will be 4 people this time, will be easy to hit the minimum.

 

The only thing you need to know about the Cosmo is that you HAVE TO play the Cleopatra II machine by the center bar. $20 a pull, but could net your $20K!

 

I feel sexually harassed by Cleo..."share my Fantasy." Ummmm.....ok.

 

Is this in the HL area?

- - - Updated - - -

Is this in the HL area?

 

Hope you don't mind me asking a couple of questions in your thread??

We too are thinking of booking a first stay at the Cosmo, so questions are:

Do the Terraces overlooking the fountains get full sun in the mornings or evening or are they in constant shade??

Are the one bedroom Terrace rooms worth the extra over the studios?

What is the minimum floor number we should ask for so we are high enough to see the fountains without the Jockey Club roof being in the way, but without being so high we need binoculars?

Thanks for the help, going in July for 25 nights. Not all in Vegas though!!!

 

Have pity on this poor soul (looked all over vitalvegas.com), what is the secret from Cosmo to Aria???? I can't do that walk again!

 

From Aria to Cosmo - Go out the back entrance as if walking to the Vdara (rear valet). Turn right and head towards Vdara. Before arriving you will see a set of stairs on your right leading down to street level. After walking down the stairs, turn right and walk along the road into the Cosmo garage on the left and into the back entrance of Cosmo. About 5-7 minute walk, depending on pace. This way is faster than going through Crystals.

Reverse the directions if going from Cosmo to Aria.

 

My wife and I used to only get the one bedroom, but then we got our first comp room, which was a studio. Now Studio is the only room we get. It's a bit smaller, but it has a way better bathtub. Always go for the Eastside Tower.