Was looking at rates for June and they had rates of $160 on weekdays/$246 weekends for double queen rooms (before resort fees and taxes). The promotion included free buffet and $100 in resort credit for the room.

Wife and I are talking about a trip to Vegas to mark the 15th anniversary of our one and only previous visit there back in July 2003. We'll probably arrive either on July 2nd or 3rd, and stay 4-6 nights. Yes - we realize it will be blisteringly hot. That does not bother us in the least.

We both work hard and this is our one non-weekend trip as a couple all year (two kids), so we want to treat ourselves well, and thus aren't opposed to paying $500+ per night but would prefer it to be at a place that's nice enough to feel nice but also where $500 gets us a pretty darn nice room with a decent view.

Last time we did Bellagio, so no interest in returning there. Was thinking Wynn or Aria or perhaps Cosmo. We walk a lot, so mid-strip isn't mandatory.

Thoughts? Promo codes?

i like palazzo. the rooms are large and impressive.

My only experience is a week in Palazzo, its really good. Heard good stuff about Cosmo as well.

My concern is back when we were there in 2003 there was this perfumy smell in and around the Venetian that my wife couldn't stand. If that is still the case and it would be in play at the Palazzo, then that would be out.

Aria Sky Suites. Better location than Wynn and not a zoo like Cosmo (but if you do a buffet go there, Wicked Spoon). No heavy perfumes or smoke since newer property w better ventilation. Nice to have the lounge access and an over better feel for an anniversary trip imo.

Find a friend w Mlife status that is Plat or Gold and have them book a shared room at their discount.

I don't know if you'll get into Aria Sky Suites for the price (this is sort of a holiday weekend) but it is quite nice. Can also do a corner suite at regular Aria. All that being said- Aria has the weakest views of any luxury hotel on the strip. It's basically freeway view, pool view or "city view" which offers a great look at their portico.

Don't go to Palazzo if she doesn't like the smell, since you will be spending more time in the Venetian if you stay there. Not worth it.

Wynn and Encore are the nicest of the bunch.

If you want quiet luxury (and the kind that measures up to luxury hotels in other cities), check out Mandarin Oriental.

Great points above, the view at Aria is lacking for sure. My platinum rates for that week are about $500-600 per night before tax and resort fees.

That being said, if you look at something non-gaming like Mandarin Oriental, an alternative is the executive corner suite rooms at Vdara at about half the price/twice the space. You can request to overlook the Bellagio fountains and you have an L shaped 800 sq foot suite of windows. You lose the casino in the lobby however you are steps away from Aria and Bellagio. Wynn and Encore are very nice but seem to cater more to the Asian clientele-not bad, just jealous.

Vdara lobby does smell however most people buy the fig scent sticks for home because they love it. Agree V is nauseating.

Not a full review - wife and I had 3 comped nights at the Bellagio Mon-Wed - on arrival we were offered a suite upgrade for $100 a night and they dropped the resort fee, making it $65 a night or so. Very much worth it, big suite with 2 1/2 baths. Might see if the upgrade is available when you arrive.

Got a cabana for a day - $200 vs the $400 we usually pay in the fall/football season. 71 and sunny, with probably $50 or so in junk food/soda/fruit plate thrown in.

MM MD

I stayed in the Palazzo last year during World Series and the room and surrounds were awesome. Better than the V and I preferred it to the Wynn.

Depends on your age but I would actually probably stay at Cosmo if I took my wife - feels a little more fun and ‘younger’.

Thanks to all for your great replies - I knew I could count on 2+2 for superb advice.

Since we're both 47, I think Cosmo is a bit out of our element. Aria sounds pretty great, but Vdara is something I hadn't considered and might look into. I had figured that with all the gambling I'm likely to do (poker, plus tables) I'd have preferred to go to a place where I might be able to get some of my room cost shaved off plus future offers, but if Vdara is plenty nice, with a good location, and a cost likely to be at or even below what my reduced rate for Aria might be, it could end up swaying us in that direction. And I'll still get future offers from Aria and other places based on my play.

My hope is to do a TR, so you'll see where we end up and how it works out.

I’m a big fan of Aria and Vdara. From a price point, they are almost always cheaper than any of the top tier properties. The last few years I’ve stayed at Vdara because it’s nice to get downstairs and not hear slot machines non stop and not walk into smokers since it’s a non smoking hotel. While you do have to walk to get into a casino, it’s a very short walk. Maybe 2-3 minutes to get into Aria, 5 or so minutes to get into Bellagio, about the same to get into Cosmo. You have three great places to gamble and lots of food options between the them. Vdara has its own rooftop pool as well.

If the wife is coming with me we now tend to stay at Wynn. She loves the pool there and spends her day reading and drinking by the pool. We aren’t big into pit games, so the casino portion isn’t as important. I play poker while she’s at the pool and then in the evenings we get out for dinner and maybe a little gambling.

TBH, I'm not sure what my wife will prioritize. She's likes to people watch for sure and will hang with me at the tables here and there, plus walk and use the fitness facility. But I'm not talking crossfit or anything like that - any gym would suffice.

I also think she'd want to be able to a "day pass" at a spa, if that's even a thing in Vegas - where she pays a price and can use anything in the spa facility area (pool, sauna, jacuzzi, etc.) but doesn't get a specific treatment. All the better if that's available in our hotel's spa, but no harm if she has to venture elsewhere. Otherwise, she'll be most interested in meals and just soaking up the Vegas vibe - she's easy to please.

She sounds a lot like my wife. I would look into the Aria spa and see if it would work for her. While I think Wynn is nicer than all other casinos, it is at the north end of the strip and a little isolated, but when with the wife it’s not a problem.

You really can’t go wrong with any of the top tier properties. It’s just about what are you looking for and how much are you willing to spend.

For 500/nt you can get easily a room at the Mandarin Oriental, even at your dates. That is prolly at least one step up compared to the properties you are considering and it's much more central than Aria/Vdara too. I've never been there but I heard it was nice for couples

This is one place we've never stayed, but I want to. I've heard nothing but amazing things about this property. It, like Vdara, doesn't have a casino, but I think that is part of the attraction.

Depending who is working the desk, as a Vdara guest you should be able to use the Aria gym as well as Bellagio and occasionally the Aria pool. Vdara gym is small but good facilities but usually pretty busy (we have been there over the 4th for 5/6 years)

You will have a full kitchen and washer dryer in the exec corner. The dining/living room is completely seperate from the bedroom so it is nice to have a place to eat breakfast and not feel like you are in a hotel bedroom.

I think Vdara is a great choice that is very nice, low key, not crazy expensive, on the Mlife system and central for the better poker rooms.

One thing I'll add to the discussion about Vdara suites vs Aria suites- the former does kind of feel more like an upscale apartment while the latter feels like an upscale hotel. If that distinction is important to you, factor it in. Personally if I'm just spending a few days on vacation, I want the hotel and not the apartment.

A very accurate point. The corner suite at Vdara is compartmentalized, as compared to the corner suite at Aria which is more open and flowing. Also, Vdara has a kitchenette, fridge, and a table in it. It's nice if you are going to eat in your room, but I've never used any part of the kitchen.

Yeah, if that's the "vibe" of a Vdara room, then it won't work. Plus, from some of the online reviews it looks like quality and attention to detail is slipping. The $$ savings is tempting, but Vdara probably is off the short list.

I can't see us at Mandarin Oriental either, but interesting idea.

One thing we considered was Four Seasons, although from what I can gather that's often the go to place for families who want a nice spot, since parents get the white glove treatment and kids can use the Mandalay pool.

In the end, I'm guessing we'll go Aria or Wynn. Thanks again for all who chimed in, and by all means others should please add their thoughts.

There's also Delano, which I guess used to be The Hotel. It's also in the Mandalay Bay "complex" and thus, bargain priced at the moment for obvious reasons.

I've stayed at the Four Seasons (years ago), and if you know what they do in other locations and are good with that, you'll like it in Vegas. Basically, a very well-appointed but ordinary room and service that can't be beat. They also have their own pool and a very underrated steakhouse.

Going to my first WSOP in June and looking to book my hotel this week. Got it narrowed down to RIO, LINQ, or Harrahs I think. All showing about the same price for me (average of about $100/nt after resort fees and taxes)

Will be by myself
Will be for 5 or 6 nights
Playing one bracelet event will probably play most of my cash games elsewhere.
Dont care about any kind of view, pool, amenities, ect
Will be in hotel just to sleep and shower (6ish hours a day)
Wont have a car
Plan on spending some time at Wynn, Belligio, Aria

Thanks.

Rooms at Rio are certainly serviceable but dining options are limited. Not sure if they still have the shuttle to the strip running or not...I know it was still up and running when I took mom to Vegas last February, but it was not always the most reliable option. As such, even if it IS an option, expect to spend more on cabs or ride-share.

Cannot speak to rooms at the other two you mention, but at least Linq didn't have the constant stench of stale cigarettes as you walked through the casino floor...cigarette smoke, yes, but not like it had never seen filtered air since sometime in the late 60's.

Given your statement of playing cash games at other properties, I would be inclined to say take a Strip property for the room and ride over to Rio when you needed to be there. Everything else is walkable...

Harrah's has a recently renovated tower that I've heard is solid for the price point. YMMV with the other towers. Linq is all fresh and new but it's quite busy and the elevators were slooowwww during last year's WSOP. Advice itt after that experience was to get a floor on the low level of the elevator bank, but I can't recall if there's more than one. That said, overall I liked Linq a lot.