Aria: A lovely room, indeed!

Walking in...

That is some bed!

Lots of storage

Space to work OR play...

Need more counter space!

Very big!

For my July 2011 trip, I decided to "double-book" one night at Aria, which is part of the new City Center complex.  I booked the offer because it was $79 for one night, plus $50 in Free Play and a $50 food credit at any of Aria's restaurants.  Well, that's like free to me!  I couldn't pass it up, and I'm glad I added it on to my trip.

Luckily I had Claire text me clear walking directions from Paris to Aria, because the whole City Center complex can be very confusing.  The hotels are very close together, and the entrances are not always visible from the Strip.  She thought I was kidding when I asked her for the easiest way to get from the Strip to the registration desk at Aria, but I was perfectly serious.  I already had blistered feet – I didn’t want to take extra steps if I didn’t have to.  Thank you, Claire, for being so awesome from afar!

I packed my overnight bag at Paris -since I had that room booked for all three nights - and headed out to the walkway in front of City Center.  A (somewhat) quick walk through Crystals and to the check in desk at Aria was fairly painless.  It was almost 6:30 p.m., but there were a few people in line.  Every one of them had issues with their reservations, I think.  Even so, I managed to get assigned a room quickly, and I was on my way to 18-210 in less than 10 minutes.  Figuring out the Aria hallways, though, can be a challenge.  I just knew I’d get turned around somewhere, but I never got lost.  The way the hallways "branch out" off of the elevators can get a tad confusing if you don't pay attention to your path and check your room number.

What an entrance into a hotel room!  I absolutely LOVE the way the lights turn on, the music turns on, and the drapes automatically open the first time you walk in!  That was worth the $79/night price for the room alone!  I only wish it happened every time you walk into the room, but I can see where that’d be a problem if you’re staying with someone else.  If I'd known about it I would've taken a video of it to be sure - I found it very impressive.

Of course I had to take the prerequisite room photos and figure out all the little gadgets to control the room.  It was quite nice to see my name all over the place, too!  The TV and the room controls all had "Welcome Deann M" programmed in, and I couldn't help but giggle when I first saw them.  

There is ample storage in the Aria rooms, with a double armoire, a dresser/bureau and valet station right inside the door, two nightstands, a desk and a mini bar - with extra amenities and goodies that cost quite a bit if you decide to take them with you - plus two chairs and a small coffee table right next to the windows.  However, the lovely and very comfortable bed is the focal point of this room!  It is EXTREMELY comfortable, and you sink into it quite deeply.  Add on the duvet and extra covers and...*sigh*...it's a lovely way to relax.  The mattress is so comfy that it makes Bellagio's mattress seem average by comparison, and it's not.  I was certainly happier than my husband and daughter when I texted them about the wonderful room and the EXTREMELY comfortable bed.  I don’t think they really cared I would be sleeping on a giant marshmallow.  

The bathroom is fairly good-sized, with a large, separate marble shower and tub tucked away to one side behind a clear glass door.  The toilet is behind another glass door, frosted for privacy (but I still miss real doors when you're separating a toilet from the rest of the bathroom), and there's a phone in the toilet room, too - you never want to miss an important call!

The only problem I have with anything in the Aria room is the lack of bathroom counter space.  There are plenty of drawers and counter tops everywhere else in the room, but there is a dinky 12” space between the two sinks, and the only plugs are BEHIND their bathroom amenities, which I knocked over four times before I finally moved them to the shower area because I couldn't even set my makeup bag on the counter.

I couldn't resist setting the controls to wake me up at 7 a.m. with the TV tuning to light jazz music, the bedside lights coming on to a "dim" setting, and the blackout drapes opening to reveal another beautiful Vegas morning.  Posh!

I would love to stay in this hotel again.  Of the entire City Center complex, it's one of only two with a casino attached, Cosmopolitan being the other.  I go to Vegas primarily to gamble, so a casino downstairs is important to me when I choose a place to stay.  It has to be my favorite hotel ROOM in Vegas so far, and I would definitely rate it a 10!

Now to wait for another offer like that one to pop up...

For more information on Aria and to check their room rates, visit http://www.arialasvegas.com/, or call (866) 359-7757.