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Thinking about Aria

Discussion in 'LV Strip Hotels' started by farkingidiot, Aug 12, 2013.

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  1. farkingidiot

    farkingidiot High-Roller

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    I've been searching the past threads and there isn't much discussion about Aria. The rooms look REALLY nice. I'm thinking about changing up and giving them a try.....if I can get my wife to go along with it. We usually stay at Wynncore, Bellagio or Ceasars. Seems like the prices for those places are unusually jacked up. Even though my wife has champagne tastes, I usually get us into those places with some kind of good deal. Best deal I've found mid-strip is Aria, that suits our tastes in room quality, from the looks of it.

    Just so you have a little background, we tend to only eat buffets (Bellagio, Wynn, Wicked Spoon, although we do hit Sugar Factory). We don't do spa stuff and we like to hit the clubs (Chateau, Lavo)

    My big concern is how bad is it walking from your room at Aria to the strip? What kind of routes can I take to get to Cosmo/Bellagio I understand there's a tram? I seem to remember riding it once, but I don't remember when it connected to Aria. I don't see us doing much at Aria other than sleeping there and some slots. Anyone have any ideas what to ask for in terms of room views? My wife is a big "view" fan. I personally don't care. Anyone give me the skinny on Aria?
     
  2. Travel Fanatic

    Travel Fanatic The Arbiter of Taste Caviar Kid

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    I have mixed feeling about Aria. Love the property, not a huge fan of the staff and service. That being said, here are my two cents on the subjects you identify:

    *The rooms are very nice. The standard room is spacious, super comfy bed, nice bathroom, and the remote control of the suite is convenient

    *The buffet is decent, although not as good as Bellagio or Wynn

    *There are mixed reviews on the club Haze

    *The criticism of getting to the Strip is overblown. Its just as long a walk as the Bellagio to the Strip, only there's no pretty lake to gawk at while you take the stroll. I am a walker, so it has never bothered me. As for getting to Bellagio, there is a tram, that connects the two, or there is a short walk from back valet to Vdara to Bellagio. It has never taken me more than 10 minutes. For Cosmo, you can cut through the attached Chrystals mall. From there, its just a short bridge walk to the Cosmo second floor entrance
     
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  3. undathesea

    undathesea Grandissimo

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    Yep. I find it easier to get to places from Aria than just about anywhere else on the strip. Using Crystals and the back valet trick described above. And, there's an attached underground walkway to Monte Carlo.

    I've used the tram, but it's worthless. It will take you more time to walk to the tram and wait on it rather than just walking. Planet Hollywood is accessible from the same bridge as the Cosmo by walking through Crystals.

    The cafe in the Aria is excellent. And, I loved Javier's and thought Serrano's was good too. There's a Starbucks on the second floor and one in the underground walkway in Monte Carlo. Monte Carlo also has a food court for quick eats.
     
  4. fugsworth

    fugsworth VIP Whale

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    UKFanatic nailed it. It can be a little bit of a stroll to get from the elevator to the strip, but not really any worse than the others. The Cosmo is just across the street, although my first time going between the two hotels I did get a little turned around. And yes, the place is absolutely stunning.
     
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  5. 44inarow

    44inarow VIP Whale

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    In addition to what's been said, Aria also has some of my favorite "casual"-ish restaurants in town. Javier's, Julian Serrano, and Lemongrass are all open for lunch, which means there's a bit more variety in the afternoon than at some of the other MGM properties.
     
  6. VegasKing

    VegasKing High-Roller

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    Aria rooms are comparable to Wynncore and Bellagio.
    UKfanatic is correct on the path to Bellagio and Cosmo
    Haze is pretty good - a tier 2 club. Go towards the top level bars for more room to move around. Lower level gets packed. Gold Lounge is small lounge, but I have had a good time every time I went
    Aria buffet got improved about 4 mos ago, have heard great reviews since. Have a lobster tail served with buffet
    Not a fan of the cafe though.
    American Fish has a good happy hour
     
  7. farkingidiot

    farkingidiot High-Roller

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    Wow, some quick responses. Thanks! :) My biggest concern right now is I keep reading about how their customer service isn't that great. Guess I can't do anything about that. UKfanatic, I'm a walker, too, so not really a deal breaker, but I wondered what I might be getting into. The walk from my room, through Wynn, to finally get outside would get on my nerves a bit in past stays. You guys have been really, helpful. I was guessing that about the tram, undathesea.
     
  8. luvstp

    luvstp High-Roller

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    We alternate between staying at Wynn and at Aria. Love the food options at Aria with Javier's, Julian Serrano's (my fave) and then Wolfgang Pucks at Crystals. I also enjoy Todd's English Pub--they make a great chicken pot pie and 2-1 wine on Wednesdays (or maybe Thurs).

    As far as the service goes, Wynn is in a class by itself. The major difference that I notice is in the cleanliness of the slots.....lot more cigarette ashes hanging around at Aria than at Wynn which prides itself on spotless machines. We stay at the Sky Suites and our host at Aria is FAR better than our host at Wynn. I think Wynn outdoes Aria in other service areas too.

    Can't comment on the buffets as we just don't do them.....too much temptation to overeat for me.

    Have fun!
     
  9. Nittany1

    Nittany1 VIP Whale

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    I have stayed at Aria 7 out of my last 8 trips to Las Vegas.
    For some reason,I have never encountered a service problem and I have found overall the service to be on par with any other hotel in Las Vegas including WynnCore and Bellagio.
    My one stay not at Aria in the last couple years was at Cosmo this March and the service contrast was significant with numerous hotel issues daily at Cosmo.

    As others have said, the walk issue is overblown.

    The easiest way to get into Cosmo is walk out the North entrance facing Bellagio and Vdara.
    Walk across the driveway and there is a stairway/elevator going down one floor.
    Turn left and you are very close to the main(valet) entrance to Cosmo.
    To go south on the strip,walk out the South(main valet )entrance and walk toward the strip.30 yards on the right is a stairway going down to Mandarin.
    The other option is to use the inside walkway connected to Monte Carlo.
    I think you will enjoy it.
     
  10. vegas_or_bust

    vegas_or_bust High-Roller

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    As others have stated, the walk to the strip issue is VASTLY overblown. The walk from the Aria check-in desk to the Cosmo is less than five minutes through the Crystals mall (at that juncture you can also walk across the overpass to the P-Ho.

    If you are heading south, we always walk through the street of dreams to the Monte-Carlo and then exit onto the strip through the MC.

    As far is service, Aria has always been great to us. Certainly no complaints in that department.

    My only issue with Aria is the lack of lower-cost food options (i.e. quick bites). However, that problem is solved by walking 3 minutes to the Monte Carlo food court through the street of dreams.
     
  11. Travel Fanatic

    Travel Fanatic The Arbiter of Taste Caviar Kid

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    I have had significant service issues there in the past. The desk and bell staff have been downright awful on some past stays and my issues with the host staff is documented in other threads. Outside those issues, however, its a great property. Other stuff I did not mention because it wasn't in response to your OP is that Aria also has a solid pool complex, good and improving food options (JS is my favorite restaurant in Vegas currently), and the best spa on the strip.
     
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  12. Tellafriend

    Tellafriend MIA

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    Try the spas at MB and Caesars. I think Aria comes in behind those, but that's just me.
     
  13. egelston2

    egelston2 Low-Roller

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    I set of cuff links stolen from our room and someone had rifled through all our stuff. We were not overwhelmed by their response so we haven't been back since then.
     
  14. ilovevegasbaby

    ilovevegasbaby Tourist

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    We have stayed at Aria two times within the last year. Our last trip was about two weeks ago. I love the place. The rooms are great and the beds are very comfortable.

    We had a "city view" both times. This is the view that looks out toward the strip. It isn't the best strip view I have ever had because there are buildings in the way, but there are still lots of lights to see at night.

    We did not have any issues with the staff. Please know that by saying this i am not trying to say others didnt have issues. I am just saying we didnt. The desk clerk we had on our first stay wasn't extremely friendly, but she was fine. The desk clerk from our second stay was great. She was super friendly and provided information about all the restaurants, etc. we encountered a lot of different staff on our floor during our 3 day and everyone acknowledged you in the hall and told you to have a nice day.

    I tend to agree with UKFanatic about the walk. It isn't any worse than any other large property. I would say its very similar to the walk you would have out of the Bellagio or Caesars. The trams to Monte Carlo and to Bellagio are very nice.

    I know they say the buffet was remodeled recently but I don't see that it changed all that much. As a matter of a fact, I enjoyed our dinner a year ago but wasn't impressed recently. The dinner buffet was okay. The breakfast buffet was not good at all for the price. I wish we had used our casino credit for a nice meal in one of the other restaurants on the property.
     
  15. Nittany1

    Nittany1 VIP Whale

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    I forgot to add that if they will let you upgrade to a Corner Suite for a reasonable amount it is worth it.
    I don't think the $20/$50 trick will work but it may be worth $50/night.
     
  16. ams722

    ams722 Side Bet Shunner

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    Am I the only one who thought the Aria's standard room was tiny?

    Nice yes, but significantly smaller than any other room I'd stayed in in Vegas. And the hallway to get from the elevator to my room was literally a maze.

    However, that mattress made up for everything....
     
  17. 44inarow

    44inarow VIP Whale

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    I think it might just be you, to be honest.

    Looking it up now, the standard Aria room is 520sf. A base room at Mandalay Bay is 550sf, so it's a little smaller than that, but MGM is 446sf (for the Grand King, the Petite King is even smaller), Bellagio is 510sf, and Mirage is 360sf. Even the Venetian suites aren't all that much bigger, at 650sf.
     
  18. Nittany1

    Nittany1 VIP Whale

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    I never thought the standard rooms were small.
     
  19. Bommen

    Bommen High-Roller

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    I think the rooms are small if you compare to the some of the other 5 star properties. Wynncore, V/P and Cosmo(except for city room) are all significantly bigger. There mattresses is however the best on the strip.
     
  20. ams722

    ams722 Side Bet Shunner

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    Maybe it was just my room, or the dark features of the room, but it felt small. The actual room (not including the bathroom) was certainly smaller than the rooms I've had at the MGM, Mirage, and Mandalay. Bathroom was bigger than MGM and Mirage, but still felt cramped with that awkward shower/tub combination.
     
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