4/23/2010
After canceling 2 reservations because of bad reviews I bit the bullet and stayed at the Aria early this week. I go for poker and usually stay @ Bellagio. In 3+ days @ Aria could not get a 4-8 limit game so played over 20 hours @ Bellagio which is my favorite room for poker. Aria has a beautiful poker room with very nice people. The poker rate is $99 during the week hard to beat. If you play poker ask for Kathleen in the poker room. That $99 includes invited guest check in, late checkout and $2 comps per hour in poker room. The hotel, as most say, is really beautiful. The coffee shop is gorgeous. Service is much faster than Bellagio. There is a Breeze Cafe in the pool area that is very pleasant for breakfast. They serve the pastries from Pierre which are awesome. However I was underwhelmed by the crepes.

Checkin was a snap. That is just a matter of luck at any hotel even with VIP checkin. The standard room is very nice, a smidgen smaller than Bellagio and more than a smidgen smaller than Venetian and Encore. Still plenty of room. The remote gadget which does everything but brush your teeth took me a half hour to semi understand. Then again I'm still struggling with an I phone.
The physical hotel is beautiful and yes thgey seem to have cut corners at the end of their building. Men's room facilities do not measure up to Wynn-Encore.

Valet service at check in leaves much to be desired. No greeting, no bellman offered.
Valet check out also has no service. Wait can be avoided by calling for car from room.
Everyone I dealt with was very nice. However, very few employees know much about where anything is. After 4 months they should be better trained.
Pretty pool, no service. Open only 9-6
Room service is more expensive than any of the 5 star hotels in LV.

Bath towels could be softer. Shower could have more pressure. Housekeeping very good and available.

No electric outlets at bed. Maintenance guy with an attitude. Only bad apple in whole barrel of service people.
I will go back in May. If MGM avoids bankruptcy City Center will improve for them. If not someone else will profit on what ,right now, appears to me to be a white elephant.