Review: Aria Resort and Casino, Las Vegas
Part of the MGM Resorts stable, this labyrinthine holiday honeypot will change how you view Las Vegas luxury.
By Matt Lennon, June 24 2022
Country
USA
City
Las Vegas
Hotel
Aria Resort and Casino
Notes
The Good
- Amazing central location, right on ‘the Strip’
- More than 15 food and beverage venues
- Free monorail to neighbouring Park MGM and Bellagio
The Bad
- Numerous entrances can lead to confusion
- Book restaurants well in advance to avoid disappointment
- Expensive resort fees are a perpetual nuisance
X-Factor
- Sky Suites guests enjoy access to a private back entrance among other perks
Introduction
Las Vegas is renowned for its excess, yet the Aria Resort and Casino has managed to raise the stakes even higher. Costing a staggering USD$9.2 billion (AU$13.2b) to build, the precinct is the largest privately funded development in U.S. history.
Opened in 2009, the complex is part of the MGM Resorts International gambling and entertainment juggernaut, comprising three hotels with nearly 6,000 rooms, twin residential towers, a luxury mall, dozens of restaurants, bars, clubs and more than 2,000 slot and table casino games.
During a visit to the United States, Executive Traveller rolled the dice at one of these hotels, Aria Sky Suites. Occupying prime real estate, the Aria precinct brings much of the vibrancy, colour and glamour of the Las Vegas Strip directly to its front door. The main driveway leads to a twin-level ring-road. The upper deck affords plenty of room for taxis to drop off arriving guests, with space to spare for tour vehicles collecting adventurers, as well as the display of glamorous luxury cars available to rent. A lower level is designated to rideshare vehicles (Uber and Lyft) with a dedicated concierge to assist in managing traffic flow. Gently moving above is the Aria Express, a free three-stop monorail linking Aria to sister hotels, Park MGM (once known as the Monte Carlo), the Vdara apartment-hotel and the Bellagio Resort, home to the strip’s most famous dancing fountains. Guests at Aria Sky Suites also enjoy return airport transfers in the hotel’s fleet of luxury stretch SUVs. Accommodation at Aria Resort and Casino is actually divided into different ‘hotels within a hotel’, each offering varying access despite physically sitting on separate floors of the same tower. These consist of the standard Deluxe Rooms; the wellness-oriented Stay Well Premier category; more spacious Aria Tower Suites; or for larger groups, the multi-bedroom Aria Sky Suites and multi-storey Sky Villas. Always amenable to a great view, we check in to 51016, a one-bedroom penthouse at Aria Sky Suites on the 51st floor. As a premium room category, we’re whisked from the airport to a back entrance and an exclusive check-in desk with no line – a huge plus in a city like Las Vegas. There’s no disappointment as we step inside, with our suite opening to a grand foyer and floor-to-ceiling view to some of the strip’s most famous properties, including MGM Grand, Planet Hollywood, and New York New York, plus one of its newest residents, The Cosmopolitan. Surrounded by elegant marble, we’re greeted by separate living and dining rooms, the latter enhanced by a bar for its six-seat dining table. The bedroom features a king bed and a similarly-sized ensuite featuring a huge shower vestibule, bathtub, dual vanities and a walk-in closet. cIt’s a heavenly yet homely retreat. Rooms can be customised to your liking via one of two tablet compendiums, which control aspects such as individually-operated curtains, lighting and air conditioning. You can even set some music to flow through the rooms. This tablet is also your link to all hotel services, such as in-room dining, while some venues also allow you to join a virtual reservation queue for a table and be notified when it is ready. Forget work. This is Las Vegas and we’re here to play. Las Vegas is a city mastered in the art of visual deception. A property seemingly just next door can in fact be quite a walk away. Ladies, bear that in mind when selecting your evening footwear. Near Aria you’ll find the T-Mobile Arena, home to a roster of rotating international superstars and major sporting events including the Las Vegas Golden Knights NHL franchise (that’s ice hockey). There’s also the acoustically-taut Dolby Live concert hall located within Park MGM (again next door but catch the Aria Express monorail). While it pays to plan your trip and secure tickets well in advance, Aria Sky Suites guests have access to a dedicated Concierge who may just be able to secure seats to some shows if your heart really is set on one. No promises, but it’s worth a shot. Outside of major events, Aria will never leave you bored, with numerous bars, lounges and clubs open almost around the clock. These include a theatre style sports bar, the Alibi Ultra Lounge for lovers of fine spirits and aperitifs, cocktail connoisseurs at Lift Bar or gaming bars suited to poker, baccarat and high-limit slots, if that’s your game. For somewhere to unwind by day, Aria’s pool scene is vibrant and varied, with options including the adults-only Liquid Pool Lounge, which sets the standard for summer parties with a rotating DJ roster and lounge-side food and beverage service (but remember to tip the server). Guests in Sky Suites have exclusive summertime access to the Sky Pool, with an attendant on hand to check room keys. Note though that this space opens to all guests during the cooler winter months. If you’d like to avoid the hassle of finding a chair by the pool, space can be reserved in the form of a chaise lounge, daybed or a premium cabana, capable of seating up to 15 people. Cabanas all come with towels, shaded lounges, priority F&B service and misting fans, along with other amenities. Aria Resort and Casino is home to dozens of restaurants ranging from casual quick-bite eateries all the way up to your fine dining experiences, featuring exquisitely crafted local and international menus delivered in lavish settings. Whether your taste for the evening is a steak grilled to perfection or expert Italian, French, Chinese, Spanish or Mexican fare, Aria has you covered with premium restaurants helmed by experts renowned for their cuisine. Reservations are absolutely essential, with weekends often booking out weeks in advance. One way around this is to consider eating early (like 4pm) or very late (seated post 10pm). For a less stressful environment, particularly if you have a show to get to, grab some delicious dumplings, some authentic Thai or even just a pizza to share. There’s plenty to choose from. Crave a day of pampering? The Spa at Aria is rated five stars by Forbes and is one of the largest facilities in the world, with a treatment menu capable of working out every stress in your body. Treat yourself to a few hours of seclusion in a Spa Suite, where a variety of treatments can be interspersed with time in a private jacuzzi and lounge. Aria also has dedicated Japanese Ganbanyoku stone beds which are said to accelerate metabolism through gentle heating. Alternatively, the Kalologie MedSpa offers a selection of medically formulated procedures including IV hydration therapy, B12 injections, Micro-needling and Neurotoxins, for when you want your inner glow to radiate outwards and have you looking and feeling your best. Other features include a hair salon and expansive fitness centre, complete with a rock climbing wall where you can break a sweat individually or as part of a group session with a personal trainer. Retail therapy is also on tap. The Shops at Crystal include a glittering array of high-end boutiques and art galleries designed to give your credit card a serious workout. For golfers, MGM Resorts owns and operates the ultra-exclusive Shadow Creek Golf Course, located a half-hour drive north of the Strip. For a pretty US$600 per person, hotel guests can secure a tee time Monday through Thursday, return limousine transfers, a golf cart and caddy for their round of eighteen. Weekend access is invitation only. One much-maligned nuisance frequently vexed by travellers to Las Vegas is the dreaded resort fee. Be prepared for this impost to the tune of US$45 per day, plus tax which will take the charge just north of US$50. For this, you’ll receive access to the hotel’s fitness centre, local phone calls and in-room wireless internet, which most hotels these days offer for free. This annoyance aside, Aria Resort has slotted into its place on the strip in wonderful fashion. Whether you’re in town purely for an indulgent holiday or book-ending your business trip with some of Vegas’ glamour and excitement, it will leave you feeling like you’ve hit the jackpot, even if you don’t. The writer stayed as a guest of Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority
Just one of several grand entrances to Aria Resort Las VegasLocation & Impressions
Aria's entry ring-road is where most guests make their entrance.
The Aria Express is slow, but it beats walking in the desert heat.Room
Sky Suites guests will be picked up from the airport in this luxury vehicle.
Our one-bedroom penthouse included separate living and dining rooms.
It's a fantastic view from up high on the 51st floor.
Our spacious bedroom is adjoined to a similarly sized ensuite.Work
If sports are your game, catch them at Aria's sports bar.
Test your luck on more than 2,000 slot and table games.
The Sky Pool is exclusive to Sky Suites guests during the warmer months.
Private cabanas are expensive but for larger groups, removes the hassle of finding seating together.Eat
Sink your line into seafood creations at 'Catch', found near the main hotel lobby.
Renowned across Asia, Din Tai Fung is heralded as having perfected the culinary art of Xiao Long Bao.Relax
The Aria Spa hydrotherapy pool overlooks the resort's main pools.
Aria's fitness centre features a rock climbing wall.
Premium tee times at Shadow Creek Golf Club are available to Aria hotel guests.The Verdict
The back entrance exclusively for Sky Suites guests has been used by many a celebrity.
07 Mar 2022
Total posts 65
Trust me if you haven't stayed at the Aria Las Vegas you don't know what life is about right down to the great elevator music. #Enjoy Life 101
QF
11 Jul 2014
Total posts 1010
I rate Aria 6 star an amazing place to stay can't fault anything about it. My wife and myself where in Europe and we missed the Celine Dion concert in Sydney. Later that year I had to be in San Fran so we went via Las Vegas as a surprise for my wife so we could go to the Celine Dion Concert at Caesars Palace. We walked from the Aria to Caesars Palace for the concert only to find out it had been cancelled due to Celine having an ear ache 😕
Lucky for me the Aria was an amazing place to stay in Las Vegas.
If anyone knows Celine I'm happy to try a third time.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
01 May 2019
Total posts 38
Stayed there with my family. At 1 am someone was trying to batter the door open. With my family crying and security witnessing some lunatic threaten to kill me and my family..... Aria did nothing! Our door was broken and remained so until we departed. I'm certain others can speak well of this establishment, but for our family it was and remains a house of horrors.
QF
11 Jul 2014
Total posts 1010
Maybe Cruising is a safer bet for you, would be horrifying
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
24 Aug 2020
Total posts 13
I've done the ARIA SkySuite thing - it was great. Loved the limo pickup at LAS and the private Check-in. I remember the huuuuuge chocolate dipped Strawberries in the Club Lounge. I've been to Vegas a few times (from Australia), stayed at a different hotel each time and the ARIA comes out on top so far for me.
02 Jun 2022
Total posts 8
with the Hyatt/MGM partnership if you are explorer/globalist with HYatt you can get gold? tier with MGM and avoid resort fees.
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