Aria

Center Strip, next to the Cosmopolitan and Park MGM, with a tram to the Bellagio and Park MGM6 min read

The verdict

A rough first impression with a smell and a low-floor view, but it came good. Five stars overall.

Best for: Suite guests who want a great center-Strip location and the VIP lounge perk, as long as you are not counting on a strip view.

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I stayed in a corner suite at the Aria and tried the 20 dollar trick at check-in. I was already in a corner suite so I did not expect much, and this time she just took the money and said thank you, no upgrade. Sometimes that is how it goes.

The first impression was a little rough, but it turned around. Here is the honest version of what staying at the Aria was like.

What I liked

My favorite part was the VIP lounge downstairs that suite guests get access to, with cold drinks, snacks, coffee, and a caffeine machine you can use whenever you want
Great center-Strip location next to the Cosmopolitan and Park MGM, with a tram to the Bellagio and Park MGM and shops right out on the Strip
The corner suite had a second bathroom near the entrance so a guest can use that and you keep the main one to yourself
Beautiful pool area with lots of greenery and places to sit and lounge

What to know

My room had an off-putting smell when I walked in, plus cleaning rags the crew had left on a table, a weird first impression
I was on the 3rd floor, the lowest at the Aria, and the view was basically just traffic and the entrance, not facing the Strip
The room was more boxed off into separate areas than the open concept the pictures showed, and table minimums run 25 and 50 dollars

The room

Everything was clean and tidy, but there was an off-putting smell when I walked in and cleaning rags left on the table by the door, so it was a weird first impression. The smell did dissipate, which tends to happen with a stale room.

The bathroom is nice, with a double sink and big mirror, a toilet with a bidet, a separate shower, and a decent tub with a TV off to the side. There is also a second bathroom by the entrance, which is handy in a suite.

The property and food

There are three pools, but one is reserved for sky suite guests, leaving two for everyone else in a beautiful, green space. The casino is a decent size with lots of slots and table games, though minimums run 25 and 50 dollars.

There is a lot of dining, Carbone, Javier's, Salt and Ivy, Blossom, plus a food court, but I went to Lemongrass for beef pho. It was the best pho I have had at any of the places I have stayed, though also the most expensive, about 35 dollars when it is usually 20 to 25.

David's tip

If you book a suite at the Aria, ask about the VIP lounge downstairs, I did not know it was a thing until the front desk told me. It gets you cold drinks, snacks, and coffee whenever you want, and it was one of my favorite parts of the stay.

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Quick answers

Frequently asked

Is the view good at the Aria?

It depends on your floor. I was on the 3rd floor, the lowest at the Aria, and I was basically looking at traffic and the entrance, not the Strip. So it was not my favorite view, but a higher floor would be a different story.

What do you get in an Aria suite?

Staying in a suite gets you access to the VIP lounge downstairs with cold drinks, snacks, coffee, and a caffeine machine you can use whenever. My corner suite also had a second bathroom near the entrance, which was a nice touch.