FolsomMike
Low-Roller
- Joined
- Aug 10, 2009
- Messages
- 148
- Trips to Las Vegas
- 14
Warning...I'm a 58 y.o. married guy so anyone looking for tales of blackouts and hook ups should stop reading right now. 
We spent this past weekend at the Vdara comped for 2 nights after losing our November booking due to their delayed opening. We arrived about 6 pm after the taxi driver had to call his dispatcher for directions because he had never done a drop off there. There was only one family checking in ahead of us (this was Super Bowl weekend, remember) and we were promptly booked for a "deluxe lake view" room on the 41st floor. As a reader of these boards, I knew to ask at the desk for dishes and utensils to be sent to the room for breakfast. The view from the room was amazing, presenting a panaroma from the Eiffel Tower and Bellagio fountains all the way to the Palms and mountains to the west. Immediately after we entered the room, our bags arrived and the bellman gave a detailed explanation of the room features including the motorized blinds. We left for a 7:00 reservation at Julian Serranos in the Aria which is just a 3 minute walk from the Vdara. If you like tapas and don't mind dropping about $200 for 2 people, you gotta go here. If you just want to stop by for a drink, they have the best sangria I've ever tasted. When we returned to our room, the dishes had been delivered and the table for two had been set with high quality napkins and flatware.
The next day, I had a massage and my wife had several services done at the spa and salon. The staff were satisfactory but nothing to brag about and the facility itself seemed a little sparse compared to Bellagio and Caesars.
Saturday night we ate at American Fish in the Aria which was almost as good as Serrano's but the portions were quite small and the preparations were rather basic for about the same size bill. We saw La Reve at the Wynn which was enjoyable but not quite up to the level of the 'real' Cirque shows.
Overall, we enjoyed the quiet, smoke free Vdara which was a nice respite from the noise and smoke everywhere else. It was certainly easy enough to walk to the Bellagio or Aria whenever I wanted to hit the slots or have my choice of restaurants. I also enjoyed the feeling that I had found an undiscovered place which is not an easy thing to do in Vegas. Would I stay there again? Maybe. I'm always looking for a new place to check out (since the Bellagio went down hill) and City Center does feel a little isolated from the Strip but I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a peaceful place in Vegas with great views and the comforts of home.
We spent this past weekend at the Vdara comped for 2 nights after losing our November booking due to their delayed opening. We arrived about 6 pm after the taxi driver had to call his dispatcher for directions because he had never done a drop off there. There was only one family checking in ahead of us (this was Super Bowl weekend, remember) and we were promptly booked for a "deluxe lake view" room on the 41st floor. As a reader of these boards, I knew to ask at the desk for dishes and utensils to be sent to the room for breakfast. The view from the room was amazing, presenting a panaroma from the Eiffel Tower and Bellagio fountains all the way to the Palms and mountains to the west. Immediately after we entered the room, our bags arrived and the bellman gave a detailed explanation of the room features including the motorized blinds. We left for a 7:00 reservation at Julian Serranos in the Aria which is just a 3 minute walk from the Vdara. If you like tapas and don't mind dropping about $200 for 2 people, you gotta go here. If you just want to stop by for a drink, they have the best sangria I've ever tasted. When we returned to our room, the dishes had been delivered and the table for two had been set with high quality napkins and flatware.
The next day, I had a massage and my wife had several services done at the spa and salon. The staff were satisfactory but nothing to brag about and the facility itself seemed a little sparse compared to Bellagio and Caesars.
Saturday night we ate at American Fish in the Aria which was almost as good as Serrano's but the portions were quite small and the preparations were rather basic for about the same size bill. We saw La Reve at the Wynn which was enjoyable but not quite up to the level of the 'real' Cirque shows.
Overall, we enjoyed the quiet, smoke free Vdara which was a nice respite from the noise and smoke everywhere else. It was certainly easy enough to walk to the Bellagio or Aria whenever I wanted to hit the slots or have my choice of restaurants. I also enjoyed the feeling that I had found an undiscovered place which is not an easy thing to do in Vegas. Would I stay there again? Maybe. I'm always looking for a new place to check out (since the Bellagio went down hill) and City Center does feel a little isolated from the Strip but I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a peaceful place in Vegas with great views and the comforts of home.
