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| - I recently stayed here for 4 nights. I think I've stayed at every big hotel in Vegas. I used to like THEhotel at Mandalay Bay, but that property is a bit dated. Service is awful, too. I like Encore, but everything is so expensive there. Bellagio is one big tourist mecca. The other hotels (Caesars, Venetian, PH, etc.) feel claustrophobic. Dark. Low ceilings. Smoky. Same crowd you'd find on a Carnival cruise ship.
My favorite hotel is Mandarin Oriental, but they don't have a casino... and if I'm in Vegas, I kind of want a casino in the building. Easy access. Aria is part of the City Center complex... same as Mandarin Oriental (and Cosmo, which I'll get to in a separate review). Big, open casino. High ceilings. Newer machines. Very little smoke. Lots of good dining options (except for their buffet... which is terrible). The rooms are all modern and high tech. Bathrooms are clean and logical. Service is exceptional. Elevators are grouped by floor ranges... which makes for a quick trip. They have a "promenade" level where you can get to the spa, pool, Starbucks, the shops) without having to go through the casino. The resort even just smells nice.
The fitness center is cool, but it closes at 8PM... which is pretty early. Back to the dining options... Todd English's P.U.B is a great place for chicken parm sliders, lobster rolls, and good food at a reasonable price. The Five50 pizza joint serves some of the best pizza I've had (awesome when you're highly buzzed at 1AM and need to fill your belly). Lemongrass had slow service, but awesome Thai food. Blossom offers typical Chinese dishes, but 5-star service in an elegant setting. My best friend is Chinese and agreed that it was some of the best she's had. They've got a Javier's off the casino floor if you want a tasty margarita, Mastro's if you want a steak, and the list goes on (Julian Serrano, Sage, Social House, She by Morton's).
Aria's got a good location. Mandarin Oriental is next door and offers MoZen and a nice bar with a view. Cosmo isn't too far away. A bridge will take you across the street to Planet Hollywood, Bubba Gump, and a bunch of stuff. CVS is nearby.
So... it's relatively new, big, clean, and offers a lot of variety. I'd stay here again.
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