Comp offer Bellagio, Aria and Mirage... opinions please, I can only accept one!

Hi guys, thanks for taking the time to have a look at my post and thank you in advance for your valued advice and opinions. I am a long time lurker and first time poster here on the boards. This is not my first trip to Vegas, but will be my first trip in over a year. My usual hotel of choice is the Bellagio, but I have offers for Aria and the Mirage this time around as well. Here are the offers I have...

Bellagio-
3 nights comp in a deluxe room and 200.00 food and beverage credit.

Aria-
3 nights comp in a deluxe room and 175.00 food and beverage credit.

Mirage-
3nights comp in a "suite" and 175.00 food and beverage credit.

I know a lot about the Bellagio, but am itching for a change of scenery. Which hotel do you like best and why? And based on the offers above, which property would you recommend or choose?

Thanks for your input -

Thatdudeguy!

 

Not knowing what you like to do when you go to Vegas, if I were in your shoes I would go with Aria. Aria has major service issues which I have ranted about several times on this board, but its a cool property and very different than the other two. I get the impression you're wanting to try something different than Bellagio, so go with Aria. Either way, choosing between those resorts is a good position to be in

 

I agree except for the fact that I've always been happy with Aria. Honestly, the choice between Aria and Bellagio is always one of the closest calls for me, because I really like both. If you're looking to try something new, I'd go with Aria; as much as I love Mirage, it's not really in the same league as the other two, and I wouldn't pick it over Aria or Bellagio if all things were entirely equal, which they are here.

 

I agree, Aria is the choice. It's the newest of the hotels and is very different from Bellagio and Mirage. One good thing (or bad thing depending on your perspective) is that Aria does not get nearly as much of the tourist foot traffic as the Bellagio or Mirage since it does not have a big attraction out front or inside (Bellagio Fountains, Garden, Lobby, etc. Mirage Volcano, Secret Garden, etc.) and the entrance is set back from the strip.

Aria is probably my favorite hotel on the strip right now.

(Note: Next trip at Mirage because that is where friends are staying and I'm not really enough of a High Roller to get any comps at Aria.)

 

Go with Aria!

I have stayed at Aria 7 of my last 8 trips. I've also stayed at the other 2 hotels you mentioned and Aria beats them.
Bellagio is a close second but several things about Aria are better.
The beds are the most comfortable on the strip.
There are way fewer tourists walking around with strollers.
Personally I think the dealers are better.
I like the drinking and dining venues better.

I never had service issues and it is my favorite hotel in Las Vegas.

 

Just to continue the discussion a little, here's my oh-so-scientific breakdown comparison of Aria v. Bellagio:

STANDARD ROOM QUALITY: Aria by a mile
SUITE ROOM QUALITY: Bellagio, but only by a hair
DELAERS: Push (strangely, I feel like Aria has better daytime dealers, but Bellagio is better on the evening shift)
FOOD: Bellagio by a mile
CIRQUE SHOW: Bellagio (admittedly, I have not seen Zarkana yet, but tough to beat O)
OTHER FREE ATTRACTIONS: Bellagio by a mile
SHOPPING: Push (I'm way to0 cheap to shop at either Crystals or Bellagio)
SERVICE: Bellagio (duh)
BARS: Aria
PEOPLE WATCHING: Aria (it trends younger)
POOL: Aria
SPA: Aria
CLUBS: Bellagio
CHOCOLATE STORE: Aria (I know, they're really the same, I just like the location at Aria better, lol)
VIP ENTRANCE: Aria
VIP CHECKIN LOUNGE: Bellagio
COLLECTION OF GLASS FLOWERS: Bellagio
ASSORTMENT OF DEATH RAYS: Aria (well, technically, Vdara)

 

Great observations

 

Clearly, I love canoe sculpture. Hence my avatar

 

#1-Aria
#2-Bellagio
#3-Mirage
We have stayed at Bellagio and Aria our last three trips. Next trip we have 2 nights at Bellagio and 3 nights at Aria. I agree with Nittany1 and Fafa2e.

 

If I had to choose, based on MY observations and past experiences and what you've said, I'd go with Aria.

1- You've stayed at Bellagio so it seems like you want to do something different.

2- Although I absolutely LOVE the Mirage, I'd go with Aria if offered the same comps. It's newer, has more "stuff" in the room (gadgets, amenities, etc)

3- I hear the bed in the Aria is to DIE for, but on the same token I damn near placed an order for the bed in the Mirage upon checkout. I will add that I had only slept 3 hours in in two days it but it was THE BEST DAMN 3 HOURS OF SLEEP IN MY LIFE.

4- I worry about the hassle of getting in & out of the Aria with it being so far back from the strip, but unless you're coming & going 4-5 times every day it probably wouldn't matter. If you're only leaving & coming back once during the day before turning in (or hanging out in the hotel) it shouldn't matter.

 

The Suite if worth plenty for us. We have varied sleep patterns and having that separate room is worth a $100 a night in a hearbeat.


Mirage for us, though Bellagio is our favorite.

 

I have stayed at all 3 of these properties in the last year and I would hands down go with Bellagio.
The only thing I liked better about Aria was the Spa... it was amazing.

Bellagio just treats you better, has better choices in food, and is in a better location in my opinion.

Mirage does not compare to either of these properties. I was not impressed at all with anything.

 

I have a feeling that if he's just getting standard rooms at Bellagio and Aria, though, he's not anything above the low-level suites at Mirage, and those are only one larger room (hence why I think he intentionally put "suite" in quotes).

 

If the offer at Mirage just says "suite" then it is most likely the Mirage Suite, which is just one big room (but 2 bathrooms ). I have an offer for the tower suite - and it specifically says a one bedroom suite.

Not an Aria fan after giving them 2 tries. So I'd go with either the Mirage or the Bellagio. I really like them both.

 

Which Suite at Mirage? If it's the Mirage suite, which is the lowest end, it's about 800 square feet with two bathrooms. Nice room, but probably not enough to move you away from one of the other two properties. If it's a tower suite, I think that tips it.

 

I go with Aria for a nicer room, more comfortable bed, and an overall calmer place then the other two. Bellagio´s standard room kind of meh and even though its been a long time since i stayed at the Mirage its a mediocre 4 star resort at best.

 

The beds at Mirage are one of the best parts of the hotel, so I'm not sure how much of a downgrade it would be.

 

Well you also have the Casino, restaurants, bars, spa and other amenities that are not up to par for Arias standard. Like i said i haven't stayed at Mirage for quit a while now and maybe they have changed there beds. But even if they did i seriously doubt they are anywhere near as comfortable as Aria. They probably have the most comfortable hotel bed i ever slept in and i spend a lot of time in hotels (100+ nights a year).

 

I love both hotels. When I walk into the Bellagio I almost feel like I'm home. I love the warmth and the general feel. But I would go with Aria too largely for one reason - less crowds walking around. Bellagio has become like Times Square and the constant crowds who don't know how to walk suck hard. Aria being a bit set back and not having much in the way of touristy sites doesn't get all the looky-loos. It's a top end hotel which feels like it revolves more around the guest experience in my opinion.

 

I agree with you on the casino, restaurant and bars not being up to the same standard. I just love the bedding at Mirage.