This review is just for the casino floor as I have yet to stay at Aria but friends of mine have. Aria looks breathtaking structurally from the outside as you drive in from the strip and into the City Center. The little fountains of dancing water and the lights showcasing them, as well as the buildings of the resort also. Very modern and right in line with all the new hotels in Vegas.
But the one thing I noticed when I first walked in here the first few months they were open and on recent trips since is that it's dark in this hotel. I mean, I felt like my eyes were deceiving me but the dim lighting on the casino floor and surrounding areas did not leave a good impression on me. I'll never forget it cause I was thinking that and remarked to my friends in amazement how a brand new (at the time) hotel & casino that was the epicenter of the City Center (also brand new at the time) could be so poorly lit?!? Not good... And also there are a lot of "dead" zones and corners that are just wasted space within the casino floor and the 24 hour restaurant/cafe towards the back of the property.
And I cant go without reviewing the valet. Valet lane is a bit confusing and hard to spot at first with their signs being so small. By the time you realize you've mistakenly taken the thru-traffic or taxi lane, it's too late and you gotta go all the way around to finally valet your car. Valet pickup is a decent setup with a nice air-conditioned room for you to wait in with magazines & vending machines. Not sure how long they expect you to wait for your car but that was an interesting touch. I thought the placement of the valet being all the way towards the front end of the Aria property was too long of a walk. You actually leave the casino through 2 sets of double doors before you reach the valet station to drop off your ticket. I might be hypercritical but ease & convenience of valet dictates where I like to stay in Vegas sometimes... That and a well-lit casino & resort.