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Cosmo vs Aria

Discussion in 'LV Strip Hotels' started by marya, Apr 22, 2017.

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  1. marya

    marya Tourist

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    My husband and I are heading out to Vegas in just over a month and I still have not booked a room. There are so many choices it can get overwhelming. I have narrowed it down to two different hotels.... the Cosmo and the Aria based on the location and the features each hotel has to offer we will be staying in one of the nicer rooms each hotel has to offer ( not decided on the room yet so any input would be nice). My Husband has never been to Vegas before and I have been only one time roughly 15 years ago. We are between the age range of 35- 42. looking for a place we can have a good time and also a place that is comfortable and relaxing as this will be our only couple vacation this year. I am thinking we will prob spend roughly 40- 50% of the time in Vegas in our room as neither one of us is a night owl ( in bed around 8 at home) so I want something that is going to be nice to hang out in, we will be there for four nights.. any help would be great
     
  2. Travel Fanatic

    Travel Fanatic The Arbiter of Taste Caviar Kid

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    Both hotels are excellent options. if you're planning to spend that much time in the room, I would either go with a skysuite at Aria or a wraparound terrace suite at Cosmo. Both are large, comfortable, and have good views. If it matters, the wraparound suite has a second full bathroom, while the standard skysuite only has one and half baths
     
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  3. Chuck2009x

    Chuck2009x VIP Whale

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    You can't really go wrong with either, they're both excellent properties.

    Recommend:
    • "Terrace Suite" or Wraparound Terrace Suite w/Fountain View at Cosmo (be careful when booking Cosmo, almost all the room types have the word "terrace" in the name. A "Terrace Suite" is a specific room type).
    • Corner Suite Strip View or higher at Aria
     
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  4. JRRestoule

    JRRestoule VIP Whale

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    Both properties are comparable but if I were choosing I would definitely go with the Cosmopolitan in a room on a high floor with a fountain view. You cannot get a better view than this anywhere in Vegas. And the terrace (balcony) just makes it over the top. Have fun!
     
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  5. NeonTurtle14

    NeonTurtle14 I Run the Vegas Hotdog Stand

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    While Cosmo is a nice property and very trendy (the young club crowd is all over that place on the weekends) I find the service to be in another ballpark at Aria. Especially if you end up in the Sky Suites (which I highly recommend based on your original post). I've stayed at the Cosmo twice in terrace suites, and I've stayed at Aria in the Sky Suite penthouse three times, and the level of service isn't even close. Don't take as a knock on Cosmo, the property is beautiful, and you can get amazing views of the fountains, which speaks for itself. My wife prefers that one for the view alone. As someone else pointed out, you can't go wrong either way.. but if I am looking for the distinguishing thing, it's the service.
     
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  6. ahalifko

    ahalifko Tourist

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    I'm a long time Aria patron, but switched to a Terrace Studio with Bellagio Fountain view to try something new this past trip. I have to say, Cosmo has hit on something special with those high floor terraces. Aria's rooms are great, modern, comfortable, spacious and clean, but those terraces at Cosmo are pretty unique for Vegas hotel rooms. I'm not big on spending a lot of time in my room while I'm in Vegas but I found myself stopping to have a few drinks and soak in Vegas on the Cosmo terrace. I would honestly choose based on where you can get the best deal. Both locations are great and you can easily walk from one to the other. Both have offer great service and amenities from my experiences.
     
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  7. Nittany1

    Nittany1 VIP Whale

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    Agree with this completely.
    The terrace was great but the service in the hotel simply did not compare to Aria.
     
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  8. Chuck2009x

    Chuck2009x VIP Whale

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    Not to side track the thread, but I've been meaning to ask this question for a long time. So I'll throw it out to @TRN and @Nittany1 and probably @UKFanatic since I imagine he's stayed at both.

    The service thing. Aria/Sky Suites vs Cosmo.

    When it comes to service, I'm pretty self-reliant, so I don't use housekeeping a ton, but if I need something from housekeeping or engineering or tech, even getting a safe unlocked at night, I've never had a problem at any property, say from MGM Grand level on up, going across all the major strip properties. It's not that frequent, but I never have any problems.

    So I'm curious what it is that makes service stand out to you at one property vs another, assuming that at least a baseline competency and helpful attitude from staff exists. Do you have requests filled better or faster? Do you feel more comfortable making a certain request at one property vs another? Are there things you can get with a phone call at one but not another? It can't just be turndown service or twice-a-day housekeeping, or some high level of obsequiousness. But I never see people detail what they mean.

    Thanks...
     
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  9. Multifarious5

    Multifarious5 VIP Whale

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    Oh wow, this is a tough question, and will absolutely depend on your specific needs.

    Rooms I've stayed in:
    Aria: Corner Suite (bedroom corner), Corner suite (double corners, bathroom and living room) & Standard
    Cosmo: Terrace Suite fountain view (FV), one bedroom (non-FV) and terrace studio (FV)

    Our age: 40 and 43.

    BOTH are my favorites.

    1) More fun, or more formal: I would say Aria is a bit more buttoned-down, where as Cosmo is polished and gorgeous, but still a party spot. Not in a bad, "people puking in the hallway way", just more of a "people are there to have fun and let the hair down" way. Aria seems a smidge more formal. I'd say I might rank Cosmo a little more "fun".

    2) Return trips/Price. If you're not comped, Aria gets this nod as the rooms are definitely cheaper, but still just as nice. Aria you can get a nice standard room for mid 100's, Cosmo you're often pushing low-mid $200 for the starter room. (I know you're looking at nicer rooms, so this is just a baseline.)

    3) If you ARE comped/follow up comps/player program: Cosmo knocks this one out of the park. Cosmo is much MUCH more generous in their player program (Identity) than mlife. I'm platinum mlife, which really just gives taxi cuts and line passes (plus platinum experience and POSSIBLY a free cruise). Conversely, Cosmo's gold (on par with mlife platinum to me) gives "2 annual nights free (on top of corporate offers), 2 annual nights free for a guest in their own room, comp late/early checkout, boo wicked spoon daily, and no resort fee." They also often give 4 nights free with enough play, unlike mlife's 3 nights. I won't fight to get Platinum mlife again, but I WILL fight to get Identity gold. :)

    4) Food. We prefer Cosmo on this as it does a better job of offering high-end and moderate, versus just higher-end. Plus it as Holsteins.....SOLD. We also absolutely give Wicked Spoon top props on a buffet. Milos has a great happy hour, and The Henry (still need to try) has some great affordable food options. I don't do top dining, so can't comment on that, but for mid-tier options, Cosmo, hands down.

    5) Service: We have not had a problem with Cosmo yet (knock on wood), but at Aria, we were stunned at how generous they were. A few stays back, the tablet slid off the bed, and even though it was a light drop on carpet, the screen cracked. They had comped our room (corner suite) so I felt TERRIBLE and reported it immediately. It was one of my few trips where I came out ahead there...so free room, in the black, AND a cracked tablet.

    After the trip they emailed me the tablet charge saying "it came to their attention" about the tablet. I was fine with the charge, but wanted to make SURE they knew I did report it and wasn't being a weasle. They actually refunded the $150 charge when they double-checked and saw I reported it, and thanked us for being honest. Wow. Free room, in the black on money, AND they waived a fee that was valid? We are still impressed 2 years later.

    Bottoming is, I love BOTH....and I think your choice might depend on the above factors. For me? I love them both....but Cosmo might get the final nod (as long as Aria is not watching) if staying in a terrace room, as it fits our needs as a couple the most. I didn't think any hotel could get my vote over Aria....but Cosmo's player program is the final tie breaker...it's flat way stronger.

    Do let us know what you pick and what you think. I'm tickled pink staying at either spot, and think/hope you guys will be as well!
     
    Last edited: Apr 23, 2017
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  10. TIMSPEED

    TIMSPEED Money’s on the way, with CashNetUSA

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    For your description, I'd stay in a Tower Suite at Wynn...and try to do Sun-Thur...otherwise be prepared to open your wallet WIDE.
     
  11. NeonTurtle14

    NeonTurtle14 I Run the Vegas Hotdog Stand

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    Best examples that come to mind for me:

    1. Extra charge on the room noticed after checking-out - happened at both properties, by accident - a coincidence but shows how each handled.
    - Cosmo: Call to desk on the way out, had to wait on hold a total of 20-30 minutes for the right manager since it was a peak checkout time. Manager was not completely sure what the process/timeline looked like, but assured me it would get handled. I left it at that, but noticed 1 month later the total $ charged had not been adjusted. Had to call back again from home and talk to another manager to handle. Fast forward one more month, no adjustment seen on credit card, called and asked for someone higher than a manager, who finally was able to straighten it out - they were waiting on some type of validation from a restaurant manager, who was in turn waiting for some type of response from a bartender who was no longer employed there, so it just sat in the black hole.
    - Aria: Call to desk on the way out, did not have to wait more than a minute, manager instantly adjusted my charge without requiring an explanation. No issues, never had to deal with it again.

    2. Needed additional housekeeping for various reasons.
    - Cosmo: had to call multiple times before someone showed up, never was resolved to my satisfaction. Ended up having to change rooms after first night.
    - Aria: first call, housekeeping was at the room within 15 minutes, issue was resolved nearly immediately.

    3. Concierge requests - this one isn't even fair, comparing Cosmo to Aria Sky Suites. I suspect Cosmo vs Aria (non-Sky Suites) may be more comparable.
     
  12. Nittany1

    Nittany1 VIP Whale

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    The issues at Cosmo have been primarily housekeeping which has been horrible but the front desk has been less that accommodating on a couple of occasions.
    Last two stays at Cosmo there were multiple housekeeping issues from a complete no show even after multiple calls to asking for various items that were not delivered.

    Agree with TRN that comparing SkySuites to Cosmo is not fair as the service levels there are very high including twice a day housekeeping.
    However,having stayed on the Aria side numerous times, any request was always handled promptly and efficiently.

    Calls to tech services at Aria when they switched in room tablets were handled right away.

    There are things about Cosmo I like better than Aria but on the hotel side it does not seem close.
    I realize these are anecdotal examples that can happen anywhere but are things that leave lasting impressions.
     
  13. amk121

    amk121 VIP Whale

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    Yep..I can vouch for Aria on the bill issues..I had an issue and they worked it out on that moment, rather than taking a while...I do feel like Aria has top notch service!
     
  14. spicole

    spicole No shirt, no shoes... NO DICE!

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    This is a really tough choice. I have stayed at both properties, most recently in a Wraparound Suite at Cosmo. The rooms at Cosmo are fantastic and the balconies are tough to beat.

    The vibe will be more lively and younger at Cosmo. I do like the modern, more mature vibe at Aria. Both properties have great restaurant line-ups. Based on your description of what you are looking for I would lean towards Aria.

    If you want to save a few bucks the basic room at Aria is excellent. If you want to spend a few more dollars on the room then I vote a terrace room at Cosmo.
     
  15. PAH

    PAH Tourist

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    I have stayed at both hotels more then ten times. I was even a guest of Aria at its soft opening when they first opened their doors. I must confess I am partial by a wide margin to Cosmo but a lot depends on what you and your husband value most. I do have to say I never experienced poor customer service at Cosmo like I am hearing about in this thread. If you tell us what parts of the Vegas experience you value most it would help me give a proper recommendation. As many have said already, you can't go wrong regardless of which you choose. No question any reasonable person would say they are two of the top five places in town.
     
  16. vegasvic

    vegasvic VIP Whale

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    I'd base my choice first and foremost on the room itself. Since you said you'd be spending a great deal of time there that's what I would focus on. Service is also important. I wouldn't consider food, you can eat anywhere, you don't have to eat where you stay. Same with gambling. Since you have a combined one trip to Vegas (15 years ago) I would venture that you won't be heavy gamblers. So I wouldn't take the casino into account. Now if you think you WILL gamble a lot and especially if you think you would gamble enough to get some good comps AND think you will be back to Vegas then I would take that into account. As said above Cosmo's players card is better than MLIFE's.

    Personally I would take Aria but it's a close choice. You won't be disappointed either way.
     
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  17. Lil Lo

    Lil Lo Tourist

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    If you havent booked your room yet I would HIGHLY RECOMMEND taking advantage of Marriott's LNF Guarantee. I've stayed in a Cosmo Wraparound Suite for my last 5 Vegas trips and utilized this "trick" everytime. I have 2 upcoming Vegas trips in July and August and I've already booked the Wraparound suite for both trips. For my July weekend trip I got the room for around $380/nt+tax+ resort fees. For the August weekend it was a closer to $400/nt+tax+resort fees.

    That being said, I prefer Aria over Cosmo all things considered. I just stay at Cosmo because I cant get a comparable suite at Aria for a comparable price. I usually end up spending half my time over at Aria anyways.
     
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  18. mickeydfly13

    mickeydfly13 Low-Roller

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    I'd stay at Cosmo. The views and balcony are unbeatable. A little fresh air with the background noise of the strip below just can't be beaten. Nice to sit, watch and relax out there. Aria is great, but having stayed at both, I'm voting for Cosmo Kramer.
     
  19. Kevke

    Kevke Vegas Addict

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    Without any experience in both hotels , i hear so many good things about Cosmo !
     
  20. moefoe81

    moefoe81 Low-Roller

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    I have stayed at both properties, I do like Cosmo balcony views are amazing. Here is my short video of my room.

    As mentioned above about Cosmo house keeping, I did have to call down to the front desk to ask them to have house keeping come to my room.

    I didn't stay in a Skysuite at Aria just the deluxe king room. It wasn't bad, I would stay there again. I am a CET player though so I would be going over to CET properties to do my gambling. My girlfriend and I like to try and stay at Mlife properties to change it up every once and a while.
    Here is a short video of the Deluxe king room


    Ernie
     
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