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A New Las Vegas ?

Doc1647545523

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Doc1647545523 Newbie

Doc1647545523

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I've been going to Vegas since 1962 (when I was too young to gamble) and was a little puppy trying to run with the big dogs at the Baccarat table at The Sands by 1980. I figure I've made over 30 trips there and have stayed at grungy low-end downtown rooms all the way up to the best high-roller suites. I've done Tahoe, north Vegas, the Boulder Strip, and of course the Las Vegas strip. I really love the experience, love to drive the surrounding desert, love the climate except in the summer, and always have a great time.

 

Last week my great niece was married at The Wynn, and I got an invitation to sample complimentary hospitality for the week at Aria, a new hotel at City Center. I was really knocked over! :)

 

It's a hard area to describe--no real "theme" or eye-popping visuals. It's just really comfortable, everything is super-convenient, lots of flowing water, and a roomy, airy atmosphere. The room was plush and high-tech. A room card that you carry tells the room you're in what to do: curtains open/close, music/TV comes on to your favorite channel and volume, lights dim/raise to preset levels for the time of day. Lots of marble and natural stone elements in the walls and flooring. Everything was comfortable and ergonomic. Nothing seemed garish or artificial. Unlike most Vegas hotels that you feel you need to escape from after 3 days, I didn't want to leave this place. :) Witness to that is that although I rented a new Mustang, when I returned it at the airport, I had only put 13 miles on it for the week!

 

The hotel has 4000 guest rooms and suites and an 80,000 square foot, 62 room spa. It is part of City Center, which connects the new hotels Vdara, Mandarin Oriental, The Harmon, and Veer Towers, along with the shopping area Crystals and the older hotel Monte Carlo.

 

Looking up at it from the entry drive:

http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r445/martyr65/2010%20Vegas/Pict0007.jpg

 

Another wing as seen from the tram:

http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r445/martyr65/2010%20Vegas/PICT0017.jpg

 

Attached residential towers:

http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r445/martyr65/2010%20Vegas/Pict0018.jpg

 

Walls of water at the entry:

http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r445/martyr65/2010%20Vegas/Pict0006.jpg

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Doc1647545523 Newbie

Doc1647545523

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Views from my room:

http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r445/martyr65/2010%20Vegas/PICT0002-1.jpg

 

http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r445/martyr65/2010%20Vegas/Pict0003.jpg

 

http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r445/martyr65/2010%20Vegas/Pict0004.jpg

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Doc1647545523 Newbie

Doc1647545523

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Crystals, the upscale retail area. Much less crowded than the Forum Shops at Ceasar's and at other hotel shopping areas.

http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r445/martyr65/2010%20Vegas/Pict0010.jpg

 

Wanna buy a fancy watch? Wall screens are everywhere and let you search for what you want:

http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r445/martyr65/2010%20Vegas/Pict0015.jpg

 

http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r445/martyr65/2010%20Vegas/Pict0012.jpg

 

http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r445/martyr65/2010%20Vegas/Pict0020.jpg

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Doc1647545523 Newbie

Doc1647545523

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Most importantly to me, the staff everywhere were extra friendly, everyone calls you by name (the room card transponder keeps track of you whenever you use it for a purchase or a service), everyone works hard to make sure you're having a good time.

 

I'm thinking we need to have a CR long weekend out there ....

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Kevin R. Newbie

Kevin R.

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I just got back on Thursday from there. Best vacation of my life. I could live in that city.

 

Only thing that was an inconvenience was the rerouting of all sidewalks on that side of the strip towards the City Center, meaning you had to zig-zag your way up the strip -- creating a much longer walk. Unfornately, I can't afford to shop anywhere inside the place. Very upscale.

 

We were in the Monte Carlo and that new building was massive compared to our hotel. Aria is a nice casino as well.

 

I'm definitely hoping to go back soon.

 

In actuality, you may have saw my naked ass walking around my room. Looks like you were right across from us, haha.

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Doc1647545523 Newbie

Doc1647545523

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Yeah, the Aria casino is so laid back ..... and right now the blackjack tables have the best odds in the city on the double deck tables: good penentration, dealer stands on soft 17, you can double down after splits, 25 min/ 10,000 max all day, every day.

 

Wish I'd known you were there -- you could've come over and had a steak dinner compliments of Aria. :)

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Mark1647545493 Newbie

Mark1647545493

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We went to Vegas in September and stayed at the MGM. Had a great view from our room on the 24th floor of this new hotel/casino being built. This must be a part of the MGM hotels because I keep getting players card emails from them with great room rates for the ARIA..

 

http://img517.imageshack.us/img517/2996/1000948.jpg

http://img202.imageshack.us/img202/2803/1000944k.jpg

 

My attempt at a panoramic shot...

http://img716.imageshack.us/img716/8996/1000946j.jpg

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Mark1647545493 Newbie

Mark1647545493

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Best vacation of my life. I could live in that city.

 

I felt the same way when we got back. I could have stayed. I didn't mind the re routing of the sidewalks as much as I did the timeshare pimps along the sidwalks. The timeshare people were 100x worse than the Mexican folks that hand out the cards with naked chicks on them. :)

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Buteo Newbie

Buteo

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Im heading back to Vegas the weekend April 16th. I saw this hotel when I was there last in January. Looks neat! Im staying at Mandalay Bay but will walk over to the Aria to wonder around. Looks awesome!
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Kevin R. Newbie

Kevin R.

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I felt the same way when we got back.

 

Exactly. This was easy to say after I left though. The last day I was shaking and feeling quite funny from being up for 60+ hours straight and binge drinking all of them. Another day I am sure my body would have shut down. It is easy to not go to sleep when there is something to do 24/7.

 

God bless the lady next to me on the plane ride home. I am sure she thought she was sitting next to Jack Daniel himself.

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Kevin R. Newbie

Kevin R.

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Awesome. Sounds like you had a good time. My gf is going in a couple weeks. I do miss living out there sometimes.

 

Are there, like, legit jobs out there? Or would one have to work in a casino/bar/etc?

 

If so, I need to start applying now...

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ImUrOBGYN Newbie

ImUrOBGYN

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Are there, like, legit jobs out there? Or would one have to work in a casino/bar/etc?

 

If so, I need to start applying now...

 

Just like any other city. However, alot of those casino jobs are pretty good. Definitely not a place to raise a family. However, if you don't have a gambling problem and children to raise, it was great!

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Kevin R. Newbie

Kevin R.

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Just like any other city. However, alot of those casino jobs are pretty good. Definitely not a place to raise a family. However, if you don't have a gambling problem and children to raise, it was great!

 

I plan on living the bachelor life until I'm 60. :cool:

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CRed05 Apprentice

CRed05

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I just got back 2 weeks ago, didn't have a chance to go inside Aria but it sounds really cool. We're thinking about going back for memorial weekend, which just so happens to be right around my birthday, so might have to stay there. CR Memorial Weekend Vegas Trip??

 

I don't think I could live in Vegas, but I could live in California or Arizona where it would be a couple hours to drive there. Love the place. I bet the valet people at the bigger hotels make some good money.

 

Here's the pic I have of it:

http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/4098/ariaz.jpg

 

Encore & Wynn which I also didnt get a chance to go in but looks really nice.

 

http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/3221/wynn.jpg

Edited by kickass
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