Stayed at Aria last week. Was a great experience, definitely recommend.

Second time to vegas, first time for swop and poker trip. I am coming solo and will most likely be playing most of my poker at bellagio, aria and rio. I will be playing 5-10+ PLO. Where should I stay ? Should I stay at Aria or Vdara? Opinions?

Of the two, I prefer Vdara:

-lower rates especially on hotwire if you book ahead a few weeks
-has a kitchenette w/ fridge
-don't recall having a problem with the black out shades

Is the MGM poker room construction finished?

Stayed at Monte Carlo, just basic room:
It's not a 4* hotel by a mile. It felt like a old 3* - Also very strong smell they put in the AC that made me hate the place more by each day I spent there.

Location is good, and it was cheap, so I got pretty much everything I paid for but my fail was perhaps expecting more than it is.

Ive stayed at wynn/encore before but have heard some really good things about Mandarin Oriental. Im not really a spa/serenity kind of guy... i was wondering if this is a good hotel to bring hookers/meet random girls at... or am i better off staying at the wynn if that is the case?

i feel like partying it up... is mandarin oriental bad for that?

Read every post in this thread, what a great help you've all been.

Me and a friend have booked 4 nights in the Flamingo and it seems to suit what we are looking for (on a budget, not fussy about the quality of room/hotel, want good location, pool facilities)

We are going to be arriving on 5th of September, see you in Vegas!

Yes

Finally got a chance to stay at MGM over memorial day weekend. Great Hotel.

Very nice modern looking room with a TV in the bathroom mirror. Great restaurants and gaming selection. Must nicer and cooler then the other strip 4* i have stayed in. Check in is a bit slow but this was a busy holiday weekend so its to be expected. Buffet is not very good but other restaurants are great.

Stayed May 2013, traveled as a couple

Stayed at the Aria a few weeks ago. Just absolutely lovely.

Hotwire has two North Strip 5 star hotels available from 9/26 - 10/1. One is for 105 a night (assuming Trump there). The other is for 126 a night any guesses as to what that is? Maybe Vdara?

Vdara is in the South Strip zone (well, I assume so because Bellagio is). It's a guess between Wynn, Encore, Palazzo, and Venetian. Go to www.betterbidding.com, and the amenities list might help narrow it down further. I wouldn't assume the cheap one is Trump, though.

Oh cool that's very helpful thanks!

I'm headed to Vegas for the 1st time for a bachelor party - 4 guys - 3 days

What do you guys think of me getting the Aria Suites vs Cosmo or Palazzo suites?

I'm looking to fit all 4 of us in one room, mainly to chill together and party together one last time before my boy gets married.

I dont mind spending good money especially if the rooms are going to be sick.

If you don't mind spending good money, aria or Cosmo. Their suites are pretty awesome.

Thanks, would you recommend the SkySuites at Aria or would you think that the regular 2 queen bed suites work as well ? They also have these corner suites that look interesting...

If # of beds is a priority, you're never going to want to be in a suite since so few of them have multiple beds. You won't get more than one bed per bedroom in a suite at Aria, whether it's in the SkySuites tower or a corner suite in the regular tower.

Correct.
If all 4 want to be on a bed, just get a double queen at Venetian.

I haven't stayed in sky suites in a few years, one bedroom penthouse. It was spacious but cell service sucks up there. I hear its been fixed since then.

If you want to go ham, get the wrap around at Cosmo. Awesome suite + pool party views.

Last year was my first year going to Vegas for about a week during the WSOP. Both last year and this year I stayed at Aria. There's a lot I like about Aria and most importantly, I've been happy splitting my time between Aria's poker room and the Rio, however, both years I've had a few complaints:

1) I couldn't get the room cool enough for my liking
2) The Internet service included in the resort fee was painfully slow
3) While the tablet control for the room is cool at first, I find the interface a bit tedious and would rather just have a standard TV remote, light switches, etc.

Anyone else have these same complaints or is it possible that I just got unlucky each year with my rooms?

I'm thinking of trying a different place next year (yes, I'm already thinking about next year). I feel a little locked into M Life properties, since I should be able to get favorable rates, so I'm thinking of maybe trying Bellagio. This way I can easily walk to Aria, if I still want to play there. I suppose the Venetian and Wynn are options too.

Any thoughts?

^Vdara

Bellagio rooms aren't all that. They're remarkably ordinary considering the class of hotel.

Yeah I'm done with Bellagio. Among other things, it takes forever to walk to the room after you enter the hotel. Trying out Mandarin Oriental next trip with high expectations.

Perhaps my standards are lower but stayed at the Gold Coast 6/1 and played a few WSOP events. Clean, comfortable, good food (Ping, Pang Pong is the nuts) short walk over to the Rio. $35/night with one night comped!!

Any reviews of Sam's Town? I'd assume its most comparable to Gold Coast?

Sam's town is pretty nice actually just a ways east of the strip on boulder highway