@DaiLuni think Aria and Vdara are better than Mirage or MB imo. I remember walking into the MB room my first time after Cosmo and Vdara stays and i was like what? i was disappointed but after 1 night there i adjusted and even said i would stay again for free. I think since i travel solo now, i prefer staying in comfort and paying a little extra. But i always am thinking if i should use that comp(s) and lower room rate vs more money. This sounds like what @44inarow said above. Aria vs MB are 2 diff room types to me. I have said in the future i would like to stay at Aria, Bellagio and even Ceasars (their pools look great) maybe. So i'm thinking Aria might be what i'll book for a few nights and then stay at Vdara remainder. Since i stay at Vdara regularly they are nice to me when i do stay. On my last trip they sent up a kitchen set up for me - plates, silverware, sponge and dishwashing liquid, i was surprised. I agree with @Danky on lower tier properties and thats why i was asking about Mirage as i dont think its on the same tier as Aria or Bellagio lets say. It would save me some money but im not sure how i would feel about the room. If i dont book Aria then Mirage might be the runner up thereafter. @nhcris I wouldn't mind trying out a new place and reason Mirage is on the list. Going into the pool is not a requirement but i for sure will want to sit in some sun each day since i'll be coming in from frigid 20 degree temps or so and i know Aria would be ok since i did that last Feb.
Depends on what your priorities are. If you favor having a nice room or a specific location (relative to the strip) then pay the money. I am a hosted guest but favor middle tier hotels that are close to NYNY, where I always gamble. I pick the middle tier hotels because I want to save my comps for fine dining & a family with two teenagers eats a lot. Nice hotel rooms are a distant third on my priority list. My priorities probably don’t align with yours but IMO decisions are easier when you know what you value most.
These are all excellent points. I tend to treat the hotel as a cruise ship, so I want to stay, play, and eat where I am. On the restaurant front, one of the reasons I preferred Aria was because not only did they have an excellent mix of "high end" and quick service, but there were always tons of places open for lunch (or at least, did in pre-Covid times). I like a fancy dinner, for sure, but for lunch I just want some pad thai or pizza. Unfortunately, the pandemic has thrown a huge wrench into operating hours. But I honestly always preferred the Aria daytime options to those at Bellagio, where I think it was pretty much just Sadelle's, Snacks, and Spago.
Just be forewarned, it was low 30s when I woke up this morning. There is sun for sure, and it's not Minnesota, but December in Vegas is not "lay out by the pool" weather. Record low for tomorrow was 14.
Each hotel has tiered rooms. Some are comparable...others aren’t. Restaurants vary from hotel to hotel. If your preference is Aria...that’s great...
I mean, even the "cheapest" hotel on the Strip is still pretty nice by hotel standards... Not hard to be comfortable at all. I'd take comped nights no matter where they were.
I go to LV for the city. I love everything about it. I rent a car and drive around the valley almost every day of my 2 week trips. I gamble all over. I eat out all over. The room must be comfortable but I find every casino hotel room to be comfortable so I will stay at whichever resort gives me a free room. I usually end up staying in 4-5 different hotels each trip but I love that as staying on the Strip is a different vacation than staying Downtown which is different than off-Strip luxury which is different than off-Strip simple. I get a taste of everything LV has to offer each trip and I'll take the free rooms in doing so.
Yeah, that's what I always say -- even the Las Vegas Club was better than the Best Western Kent Narrows (one of these days they're going to figure out that I keep complaining about them online...). I think it's just personal preference. I'd rather spend a few extra bucks on Aria or Mandalay Bay, but totally respect those who want to spend as little on the room as possible. I mean, MGM Grand has both the West Wing rooms (which are the size of my broom closet) and the Mansion. It's hard to make across-the-board recommendations, it all depends on what you prefer. There's no wrong way to do Vegas!
Really depends on the situation. I once cancelled a comp night at Mirage to pay for Four Queens. Worked out cheaper than just the resort fee for Mirage + I love Downtown. Ultimately, your trip so do whatever makes you happy.
Just a heads up that most pools close in the winter time or may have limited hours. Vegas has a "pool season", they're not open all the time. https://m.vegas.com/traveltips/las-vegas-pool-season I would suggest giving Mirage a try for one night! I love their base rooms and think the beds are really comfy.
I pretty much plan my trips only on weekends that I know I'm comped. Only time I'll go uncomped is if there's some sort of special occasion - but even then I will REALLY try my best to work my way into a comp. Whether it's Vegas or not - if I can avoid paying crazy amounts for the hotel? I'm going to do that. I've stayed at some crazy fancy hotels for work - and sure, it's great. But end of the day the only thing I'm doing in the room is sleeping and showering. So if a mid tier hotel is free vs. a fancier place that isn't free? Yea - #TeamComp here. The only time I will pay over a comped offer is if work is paying for it (Vegas or otherwise). In this scenario you bet your ass I'm getting the nicer place lol.
thanks @luck.ofthe.draw for pointing that out for me about the Mirage rooms. Im still unsure of where i'll stay and yesterday even got a thought of going after Feb so we'll see. And yes i am aware of the LV pool season and make sure i stay somewhere where i can sit in the sun in some shorts and a top or whatever it may be.
i like the aria/vdara/cosmo center but have stayed at each end of the strip too - MB once and SLS (Sahara ) a number of times.
i do want to add that since the last few times i've traveled solo, i dont need all that back and forth and playing all over the strip. I'm ok w.playing where i stay and nearby since im alone and would not want to be walking down the strip late into the evening back to my location. I know everyone has their preference on doing that but i prefer not to. when i traveled w.my former signf other, we played all over the strip into the late evening hrs and then walked back to our room.
This! Very much this! If you like softer beds (as I do) the Mirage beds are quite possibly the most comfortable beds I've ever had in a hotel, not just in Vegas.
