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Aria or Cosmopolitan?

Discussion in 'LV Strip Hotels' started by 4xAggie, Jul 11, 2013.

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  1. 4xAggie

    4xAggie Tourist

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    Looking for advice on deciding between these two hotels. My wife and I are heading to Vegas in mid-August. I had originally booked using a special at the Aria, but then booked another special at the Cosmopolitan yesterday (free Wednesday special). I'm at basically equivalent price for either--within $25, but a much better room/view (terrace studio fountain view vs. just a regular Aria room).

    For reference, we stayed at Aria in March and had a great time, and really loved it there. Our goals for this trip are 1) a good spa experience, and 2) good food/eating/drinking. We aren't big on pools or a nightclubs (though the atmosphere may be fun to experience for 20 minutes or so). We are arriving at about 9 am on Wednesday and taking a redeye out of town late Friday night (technically 12:45 am Saturday), so we'll need to store our luggage with the concierge on both ends of the trip.

    Here's a rundown of the advantages of each property for our tastes:

    Aria
    -Familiarity
    -Spa (We really liked it last time; I think it's a little bigger and may have more stuff to do than the Cosmo's spa; I'd love to hang out on the balcony overlooking the pool all day long)
    -Starbucks (They've just opened up one inside Aria and Crystals--and my wife really likes to go there)
    -Jean Phillipe (I really liked that place last time)
    -Slightly Cheaper ($25) when factoring in the $50 "Resort Credit", though it may get used up in trying the $20 trick
    -MGM - I've stayed at MGM properties almost every trip to Vegas and am playing a lot of MyVegas recently.
    -Zarkana- I'm planning to use some of MyVegas rewards points on a Zarkana ticket Friday night just before we leave.

    Cosmo
    -Room quality (HUGE plus--with Aria I'll have to try the $20 trick (or pay extra) to get any sort of upgrade)
    -Something new (I do like to try new places)
    -It's the "in" place--though, we aren't necessarily the "in" crowd

    For whatever reason, I'm about 50/50 right now in deciding where we stay--we really liked the Aria last time. Any advice/suggestions would be appreciated.

    Specifically, I think the following may help:
    -Are we underrating the Cosmopolitan spa? If anyone has been to both, I'd love to hear the differences.
    -Restaurants: is there a restaurant at either place that we should absolutely check out?
     
  2. Bommen

    Bommen High-Roller

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    Cosmo all day for the same price. Terrace studio in not a suite or anything but still pretty nice and as far as room goes and i give Cosmo the small edge vs Aria standard room. The view however is spectacular with the fountain view and the balcony is also very nice.
    Also i prefer the restaurants at Cosmo as well even though both properties have some really nice options. Check out Milos lunch special at Cosmo, probably the best deal in town. Also Jaleo is a good tapas joint at Cosmo and Aria has one in Julian Serrano and one of them is definitely worth a visit.
     
  3. anonanon

    anonanon Low-Roller

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    Cosmo is a much better hotel than most LV strip hotels. Aria is nice, I've never stayed there however, but I'd take Cosmo over Aria any day. In fact, I'd probably take Cosmo over any other strip hotel (Within the same $ range).
     
  4. Travel Fanatic

    Travel Fanatic The Arbiter of Taste Caviar Kid

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    Do you mind walking? If not, stay in the bigger, nicer room at Cosmo and you can always walk next door to do all the stuff at Aria that you like. Heck, have an "Aria" day. Go to the spa in the morning, late lunch at Jean Phillipe, and hang around long enough to see the early Zarkana show
     
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  5. Nittany1

    Nittany1 VIP Whale

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    I posted my comparison in March after 5 days at Cosmo.
    Each has positives and negatives but my choice is Aria.
    I do not like the feeling of being in an alley in Cosmo's casino.
    My room at Cosmo was a one bedroom terrace and it had a weird design.No drawers,strange layout of the room and housekeeping service was very poor.
    Aria's beds are the best on the strip.

    I do like the selection of bars and lounges at Cosmo.
    Both have a great selection of restaurants.
     
  6. 4xAggie

    4xAggie Tourist

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    I did notice the comparison thread from March. Thanks all for the comments. We were also considering the "Aria day" approach. We really liked the Aria (it just fit us well).

    That said, any comments on the spas? That's one of the bigger items.
     
  7. Nittany1

    Nittany1 VIP Whale

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    I did not go to either but my wife likes the spa at Aria more than Cosmo.
     
  8. TheDirty

    TheDirty Tourist

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    Cosmo is the bomb dot com.. It's the only place my wife and I say when in Vegas.
     
  9. 123 Fake Street

    123 Fake Street Tourist

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    My wife and I stayed at Cosmo for the first time last weekend. We loved it and agreed it will be our home for the foreseeable future.

    Agree with the OP that the Aria spa is terrific for couples. We walked over there last Friday from Cosmo, and had a great time. The co-ed areas are nice, especially the infinity pool and the hot stone beds. But not really a reason to choose Aria here, since it's so easy to hit from Cosmo.

    I'll second the plug for lunch at Milos. We loved it so much on Thursday that we went back on Friday. Everything was great, but the grilled octopus is special.

    We loved the room at Cosmo ($20 trick upgraded us from Terrace Studio to Terrace One Bedroom), and housekeeping was as good as I've seen. Our room was made up by 10:30 every day, which I can't recall seeing at any other place we've stayed on the Strip.

    I love playing the Cosmo casino. The dealers are terrific, the music is good (and especially when the band plays live in front of Chandelier Bar), the energy is high, and it's bright and fun. Plus, if you're a craps player, they'll rate your odds.

    Shorter version: huzzah for Cosmo!
     
  10. nostresshere

    nostresshere Mr. Anti Debit Card

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    Stay at Cosmo. Play, eat, Spa at Aria
     
  11. panmalv

    panmalv Tourist

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    Tough choice, but I'd lean towards Cosmo, especially if you've got a fountain view. Like the other poster I've seen some weak points in housekeeping and other service issues over my three stays there, but you just can't beat that view. If you're looking for a different experience, you can't go wrong giving Cosmo a try.
     
  12. Meg at the Dealer School

    Meg at the Dealer School Newbie

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    Cosmo, but Aria is right next door

    Cosmo rooms are much more interesting than Aria. Plus you get a balcony!

    If you and your wife are not into the "in-crowd" as you say, know that Cosmo casino floor gets quite noisy and is rife with trendy 20-somethings. But that noise won't extend to your room.

    Walk to Aria for a quieter atmosphere.
     
  13. ams722

    ams722 Side Bet Shunner

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    I'd pick Cosmo in a heartbeat.

    Cosmo's terrace studios beat Aria's standard rooms by a mile. The only thing better about the Aria are those mattresses. Holy crap are they comfortable. But the standard room is tiny, the rooms can be MILES from the elevators, and the shower/bathtub combo inside the cramped bathroom is weird/awkward. At the Cosmo you get a bigger room, a balcony, and a huge bathroom with a jacuzzi tub. I've never had any housekeeping issues either like some people have.
     
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