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Just got back from Aria & Cosmo ~ LONG!

Discussion in 'Vegas Trip Reports' started by mansam, Jul 20, 2013.

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  1. mansam

    mansam Low-Roller

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    My Trip Report

    Well, a little abut me & my trips ~ always solo, no shows or real high end dinners ~ no point as a solo but love to watch people & mostly play Blackjack. Used to stay at Bellagio but last 4-5 years mostly WynnCore. Again, I used to make about 3 trips a year but due to the economy & airfares from the east coast, have chopped it to 1 or 2 & have been taking advantage of the free junkets to the Beau Rivage in Biloxi (very nice alternative to Vegas!)

    Due to my Mlife & probably "radar" from The Beau, I received 2 comp nights at Aria & 2 at the Cosmopolitan (only stayed 1). I'd never stayed at either but played a little there last year. Airfare was ridiculously high from Savannah/Hilton Head & decent schedule was even worse, so I decided to fly 1st class ~ would have been less to go to Europe! Arrived Tuesday a little sooner than 11 am ~ got my bag & took taxi to Aria ~ told him to take Swensen (no tunnel). Long line at check but went to Invited Guest ~ 7th floor available now but decided to wait for higher floor. Went in "stalled" a bit & played Bonus Video Poker (put $40 in & played max $1) Eventually got Four 2's & cashed out with $400 ~ nice start but I knew it would be a roller coaster ride! About an hour later got a text to my room on 27th floor ~ nice room, view looking mostly north towards MC, NYNY.

    Over the next 2 days & nights played alot of BJ, drinks (not much food) ~ up, down. Wednesday night decided to try Javiers just off the casino floor ~ GREAT Place, food & Don Julio, lime juice & agave nector. 2 Enchiladas & 2 drinks was about $52 ~ left $70. I'd go back in a heartbeat. So far down about $2k.

    Stayed up most of the night watching the British Open (started at 1am!) Checked out by way of e-mail ~ no clerks at Invited Line & ck out line way too long. Walked next door & they gave me a Terrace Studio overlooking B's fountains ~ nice room (a little chincy though) but GREAT Shower. Obviously the vible at the Cosmo is not my thing ~ alot of "youngins" with tats, piercings & Loud Music not to my liking but the price was right! Went downstairs to check things out & quickly lost $500 to a very unfriendly dealer ~ no personality at all. I took the tram & went next door to the B. One of the Pit Bosses came over to say hello from the "old days" & asked where I'd been. VERY CROWDED in there with people just walking & looking around ~ That's why I stopped going there. But it's still a classic!

    I then decided to go walk to Wynn & say hey to my host there! It was a HOT Walk ~ thank God for the $1 water people on the way. As I enter the Esplanade in Wynn, I take a breath, Sinatra is playing thru the sound system ~ AHHHH ~ Wynn! This place is an Absolute Oasis compared to everything else! My host's office is at Encore next to Tower Suites ~ she asks me when did I check in & I told her where I was staying & why. We had a long talk about real estate, golf & business. She told me their last quarter was the BEST WynnCore has ever had! I believe it ~ head & shoulders above everyone else & their clientele didn't get hurt with the economy (if anything it thrived). She was telling me about the Saudi's coming in with their Entourages & rented Ferraris spending Hundred of Thousands mostly in the Clubs, Shopping & Dinning. Amazing how much REAL Money is out there!

    Took a taxi back about 4pm & got stuck in traffic ~ Hot & stuck in traffic ~ not my thing. Finally got back to the Cosmo & decided to play BJ. Great CW service, & dealer! Was doing very good & 2 guys & a girl from CA come over to play & we all proceed to have a terrific time! Pit Boss is watching us & joining in the fun & I asked her if we could get that drink called Verbena (or something like that) with the Szechuan flower that you bite into & it numbs your mouth. She said it's not part of the casino but she had a CW come over. I asked her if she could bring 5 of them & I took care of her. What a STRANGE Drink ~ Had more fun & cashed in about $3,500.

    Then went back to Aria to accumulate more tier points & grinded away to another $1,500 ~ never did get back to see the view/fountains from my room!

    Just a few observations about Aria & The Cosmo ~ I would not stay at the Cosmo again. The music was just way too loud, not my age bracket, & a little "lower end" quality-wise" as far as I thought but the Chandelier Bar looked like a great place to hang. Aria was ok ~ good selection of restaurants, pool just ok, rooms very nice. Thursday evening, I swear there were more $100 tables than regular tables ~ a bit much & none of them were busy. It surprised me they were that high & that many! The reason I did it was the Price was Right (free) but all in all, NOTHING out there beats WynnCore for me.

    Next trip ~ end of October for my Halloween B Day!
    Thanks for reading:beer:
     
    Back to Wynn to Win!
  2. Dean Martin

    Dean Martin VIP Whale

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    Great timing to see your TR, thanks!

    We're long time Wynncore residents too and have been thinking of staying at Bellagio this time. We're not huge gamblers but we play and all we get at Encore is the room and the Bellagio has made us a pretty sweet offer.

    Still....like you (and others) have said....there really just isn't anything that compares to that feeling you get when you step inside of Wynn and Encore.:nworthy:

    Decisions, decisions.....:rolleyes2:
     
  3. weluvvegas

    weluvvegas Casino Countess

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    So what exactly is in that drink??
     
  4. craps1

    craps1 Low-Roller

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    Last year st patty's day, aria had one or two $50 tables and the rest were $100 and up. :confused2:

    I never looked at aria in the bellagio, Wynn, Venetian class.
     
  5. CCaroleann

    CCaroleann Tourist

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    I was curious also, as per the website...."The Verbena (Don Julio Blanco Tequila, Lemon Verbena, Yuzu Sour, Fresh Lemon Juice, and Ginger Syrup, with a trio of Szechuan Flower-buds)"

    There are a few things that make The Verbena so special. First, those Szechuan flowers, known as “buzz buttons” are a story in and of themselves. When chewed they cause an intense tingling sensation of the tongue, that enhances the cocktail. Second, this cockail has become so popular (simply via word-of-mouth), that more than a half-million of them have been poured. Finally, The Verbena is a “secret” cocktail, in that it doesn’t appear on any menu, anywhere on property; making it the Animal Style 3 x 3 burger of the cocktail world.

    Thank you for the trip report.

    CC
     
  6. mansam

    mansam Low-Roller

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    Actually the drink itself didn't taste bad ~ but eating that bud is why everyone's doing it ~ Big time tingling in your mouth & almost gets numb ~ weird!
    :licklips:
     
    Back to Wynn to Win!
  7. Dearns

    Dearns Low-Roller

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    The first and last time I used Szechuan peppercorns in cooking I put a heaped teaspoon of them in and lived to regret it! Spent 10 minutes picking the damn things out of the food. Still tempted to try one of those drinks when we get to Vegas though!
     
  8. YoungGun

    YoungGun VIP Whale

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    Is it available only from a certain bar? The TR made it sound like this isn't something normally available on the casino floor.
     
  9. breanna61

    breanna61 Super Moderator

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    Wynncore has been my home base for the past few years with some Cosmo stays as well. It's the terrace that has given Cosmo the edge for me but I do like the Casino as well. Wynncore is definitely a "higher end" casino/service experience and I feel pampered when I stay there. Interesting drink!
     
  10. Smokedegecko

    Smokedegecko Tourist

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    Thanks for the trip report! Enjoyed the read :)
     
  11. Leesh

    Leesh Low-Roller

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    Nice report! I'm always torn between Aria/Cosmo/Wynn but gotta say I agree with you. That drink sounds amazing will have to try it in a few weeks and impress my friends!!
     
  12. mansam

    mansam Low-Roller

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    Young Gun, the impression I got was you can NOT get the Verbena drink on the casino floor. I think the reason the Pit Boss got the CW over to do that for us was because we doing at least $100 per hand & all having such a good time.
    It's funny ~ I just got online today & ordered about 100 seeds of the Szechuan button flowers ~ I'm going to GROW MY OWN! :licklips:

    One other thing ~ everyone talks about comfortable beds. Even though I didn't get much sleep, I have to say, the Aria's bed was Amazing!
     
    Back to Wynn to Win!
  13. smartone

    smartone VIP Whale

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    Nice report!!! I appreciate the way you outline what you like and what you don't without necessarily baggin' on what you don't... sounds like you had a good trip.
     
  14. Buckeye Bob

    Buckeye Bob Low-Roller

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    I was at Aria at the same time although left just before St Patricks Day. Our group were not super high players and had absolutely no problem finding many $25 BJ tables to play. Throughout the day, they had $15 tables available also.
     
  15. dodgenburn

    dodgenburn Newbie

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    The Chandelier Bar in Cosmo serves it. I believe its an unlisted menu drink.
     
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