Check out of the Palazzo all okay, got a reasonable
amount of comp's knocked off the bill, so relatively happy. Got a cab to the Aria. The
Aria is in in the heart of the new city center development, sandwiched
roughly between the Cosmopolitan / Bellagio and the Monte Carlo -
depending on the route you take.
We tried the $20 trick, but it did not work on this occassion - certain Casino's seem to have different rules to others even within the MGM group of resorts - the young chap manning the front desk just returned the tip and declined graciously but I left it for him anyway as I was so pleased that he managed to get us a room adjoining ours with 2 separate queen sized beds each for the boys, as well as good a view as you can reasonably get on a relatively high floor and very polite about it all, so I thought that deserved a tip anyway.
Well the check-in guy was right we got a very nice city view,(Rio, Palms Vdara, Cosmopolitan) did get the 2 queen beds and one of the rooms was ready for us to unload our bags into immediately, while waiting for the other to be setup for us. We got adjoining rooms on the 19th floor - so very pleased with the Aria arrival - our 1st time here!
Lesley did not like the full on electronic room controls console, as whatever she did seemed to disable everything, like turn the TV off and shut the curtains, so for her manual is best. Personally it was right up my street where everything seemed to be on one single "hoofer doofer" - fantastic (boys with toys stuff I know). The rooms were smaller than we have had in Las Vegas, but the beds and pillows were so incredibly comfy - seemed like that memory foam type material used.
We tried the $20 trick, but it did not work on this occassion - certain Casino's seem to have different rules to others even within the MGM group of resorts - the young chap manning the front desk just returned the tip and declined graciously but I left it for him anyway as I was so pleased that he managed to get us a room adjoining ours with 2 separate queen sized beds each for the boys, as well as good a view as you can reasonably get on a relatively high floor and very polite about it all, so I thought that deserved a tip anyway.
Well the check-in guy was right we got a very nice city view,(Rio, Palms Vdara, Cosmopolitan) did get the 2 queen beds and one of the rooms was ready for us to unload our bags into immediately, while waiting for the other to be setup for us. We got adjoining rooms on the 19th floor - so very pleased with the Aria arrival - our 1st time here!
Lesley did not like the full on electronic room controls console, as whatever she did seemed to disable everything, like turn the TV off and shut the curtains, so for her manual is best. Personally it was right up my street where everything seemed to be on one single "hoofer doofer" - fantastic (boys with toys stuff I know). The rooms were smaller than we have had in Las Vegas, but the beds and pillows were so incredibly comfy - seemed like that memory foam type material used.
Anyway,
we quickly dumped all our bags and headed off to the Bellagio
buffet. Great buffet as usual but our server was very grumpy and
everything was too much
trouble which soured an otherwise great start - not just with us but
seemingly for his little section of customers even a lady with a baby in
a push chair seemed to set him off. This was totally out of character
with all our previous visits here at the Bellagio. Everyone is entitled
to a" bad hair day" though. Will check it out again, but not this
holiday.
The below is the Rio scene from our window here at the Aria in context for the above zoomed in shots.
Aria - Quarter Million$ - instant spins - bonus win
Going through the Casino area our 1st stop was one of our favourite slots Quarter Million$ as we knew where this would be and straight away was awarded 3 instant spins of the wheel - we like the Aria and enjoyed this tidy Bonus! just to ease our selves into things for this next stop on our 15 night extravaganza tour of the Las Vegas strip.
Monte Carlo - Megabucks Win
Had a bit of a chill down, then headed off next door from the Aria to the Monte Carlo. Always have a great time at the Monte but this was a bit more special and 2 spins in snagged my single best Megabucks hit to date in Las Vegas.
Monte Carlo - Diamond Quick Hits win
Following on from my nice Megabucks hit I went onto the Quickhits machine to play for the bonus but went straight into a Wild Blue win, so swiftly moved on from there. Unlike many folk I tend to do one or two "spin out" goes and then move on before I end up just putting it all back in the same slot machine.
Headed back to the Aria to take in the view before shutting down for the night.
Vegas Day 6 - Friday 11th May 2012
We were up and off around 11ish, headed off to
the Cosmopolitan (Cosmo) on foot as its not a bad toddle.
As you can see we took the scenic route to the Cosmo on foot.
As we entered the Casino from the next floor up you can't escape the dazzling famed crystal chandelier.
This angle shows the view down through to the Casino floor area.
They serve the best
cocktails in town, (Chocolate Martini’s and their namesake "Cosmopolitans" are absolute must try's and in our view the best)
Cosmopolitan Las Vegas - Super Times Pay 2X3X4X5 free spins Bonus Win
We all had a really good time in the Cosmo' as usual - the Cocktails there are absolutely top notch (during the daytime - at least) their "Cosmopolitan" namesake is absolutely excellent. Their cocktails are made only with high end shots of spirits, the best dessert Cocktail is their Chocolate Martini, the service almost makes the slot wins a side show...great atmosphere and fun, and the wins continuous...
We had too many
again, so headed off to their (Cosmopolitan) buffet for a champagne brunch, not forgetting
that I had had some very nice wins, so up on the day. Lesley left us boys in the
Cosmo and headed off to Walgreens to get Hefty bags, creams and bits and bobs.
For the first time she said felt a little unsafe walking between Planet Hollywood and
Walgreens, passed the Hawaiian market, etc, you need to take the stairs to get
to the bridge to cross the road. At one point she was in the stair well on her own, followed by
a chap. This made her feel uneasy. Next time she thinks she will remember to go in the building, I think
its via Mc Donald’s to get to the bridge?
Chilled in the room for a bit, Then headed of
to the Monte Carlo for a few spins.
Stars & Bars Quickhits Jackpot win
Arrived at the Monte all set for another great night. Started out with the Stars & Bars Quickhits - and duly quickly hit with 6 of them at Max bet. Nice start, fingers crossed for more...
Platinum Quickhits - free games bonus + retrigger Slot Win
after various ups and downs along with the the free flowing beers and cocktails the Platinum Quickhits certainly ensured we were still well up on the day.
Vegas Day 7 - Saturday 12th May 2012
In the morning we headed out to the Planet
Hollywood, Lesley to check out the Miracle Mile, this is a mile of shops, us
boys went into the Casino. We all met up, some of us up for food some not and some not bothered either way, anyway went next door
to the Paris, to see if the rest of us could work up an appetite with a few
spins.
Paris Casino Las Vegas - reel Winners Instant Spin Bonus
The Harrahs group (Total Rewards) of Casinos generally are not very lucky for us on the whole, compared to the MGM (MLife) Group. I am not sure why though?
This didn’t really work for those still not in need of sustenance. So I thought if we went to check out the buffet at the Paris the sight and smells might nail it. The clincher was that it was coming to the end of the Champagne brunch, but dinner would follow, so we went for it - as there was no time limit and we could just enjoy the moment.
Ollie not happy as he felt he could not eat anything, champagne came fast
and furious, so had several glasses
before this stopped, dinner foods were beginning to arrive, we all tucked in.
Ollie ate heaps! On reflection it was probably the best buffet so far of the
trip. Especially the delectable crème brulee’s. Brunch / Dinner lasted for for quite some time - as you may have guessed.
Back to the Aria for the Elvis show, great
show, a cirque arrangement, thoroughly enjoyed it, which seeing as some of our group were not
Elvis fans, was pleasantly surprising.
Next we headed off to the Monte Carlo after for a few spins Lesley won $500 on the dollar wheel of fortune, she was on her own and unfortunately did not take a photo, must have been in shock, this is her biggest single win so far. (we have since booked ourselves into the Monte for our next trip, in November)
Next we headed off to the Monte Carlo after for a few spins Lesley won $500 on the dollar wheel of fortune, she was on her own and unfortunately did not take a photo, must have been in shock, this is her biggest single win so far. (we have since booked ourselves into the Monte for our next trip, in November)
Ollie did not get a good cocktail service in
the Monte tonight, so he headed back to the Aria, I found the cocktail waitress serving the area he was in and found she was on her way back with his as well as my drink and found that she was having to cover her area as well as someone else who was unable to do her shift. So after giving her a tip for both the drinks, I legged it after Ollie as fast as I could without spilling anything.
I finally caught up with him but this was half way across the Aria. So we settled there for a while and got a few more drinks and a number of spins. Spud and Lesley came back shortly after. Simon had won $300 on the quick hits at the Monte, then won a couple of hundred dollars on the video poker in the Aria. Lesley went to bed we followed, much later.
I finally caught up with him but this was half way across the Aria. So we settled there for a while and got a few more drinks and a number of spins. Spud and Lesley came back shortly after. Simon had won $300 on the quick hits at the Monte, then won a couple of hundred dollars on the video poker in the Aria. Lesley went to bed we followed, much later.
Vegas Day 8 - Sunday 13th May 2012
Had a few spins first, Ollie won over $100 on the video
poker , he was very pleased, the win happened just as I was
approaching to say time for Brunch. This time it was Champagne Brunch at the Jasmine in the Bellagio. So we set off again to
the Bellagio.
We had booked a fountain view table for 11.30am, nearly said lets not bother as it does
look a bit posh, but we went for it.
Well we had unlimited Rose Champagne (Lucien
Albrecht Cremant Alsace rose) lovely, as soon as your glass was half empty it
was filled again, and the food was out of this world, loved it all. Lesley was not
keen on Oysters or Caviar, but the short ribs, chicken dumplings, Peking duck,
salads, and of course the dessert room was definitely her.
Lesley went off to the shops in the
Bellagio after the brunch, on the way she passed a 25c davinci dymonds machine,
worked it out whilst in the shop that it would be around $5 a spin, so thought she would do 5 spins, hey presto on second spin won $325, an excellent payout.
Ollie and Lesley headed back to the Aria, Simon and I had a few more spins in the Bellagio before heading back to the Aria.
Lesley checked
out the pool with Ollie, it looked very nice, he went off to get his swim gear, Lesley said she would join him when Simon or I returned, so they could look after
passport etc, but we never arrived. Ollie got back 2 hours later from his swim.
Aria Hotel & Casino Las Vegas - LOTR Balrog Bonus Slot Win.
On arrival back at the Aria with Simon I had my 1st Lord Of the Rings Bonus ever....this one was called the Balrog Bonus.
Diamond Wild Blue - Quickhits free games bonus win
Still at the Aria , having a great time as usual. We had a re-trigger after getting an initial free 15 games ie a wild paired off with 2 matching 10's and we picked a wild +5 spins all x 2.
Following one of our rules of the "spin out" (just a couple) after a win, this one hit again giving another 10 free spins which was nice. The Aria continues to be good to us...
Our last day staying at the Aria before moving onto the Mandalay Bay which is the next stop on this 15 day tour in Las Vegas. This was the 3rd time we had a spin of the wheel - this was the best win of the 3.
Diamond Quickhits slot bonus free spins win (2)
Following one of our rules of the "spin out" (just a couple) after a win, this one hit again giving another 10 free spins which was nice. The Aria continues to be good to us...
Pink Diamonds slot win - free spins bonus
Still at the Aria Hotel/Casino this was a handy little win on the 25c Pink Diamonds slot machine - 16 free spins bonus - although it did not seem clear at the time what we exactly won, we had gone through unlimted champagne over a 2hr+ brunch and a number of beers and Cocktails up to this point - but excuses to one side it does say £37 on the machine.
Aria - Wheel Of Fortune bonus win spin of the wheel
Our last day staying at the Aria before moving onto the Mandalay Bay which is the next stop on this 15 day tour in Las Vegas. This was the 3rd time we had a spin of the wheel - this was the best win of the 3.
We
eventually got back to the room, having had a a fair few wins (gambled for 4 hours on $20 a
piece).
All in bed at 7pm stayed there until 9am the
following day what a waste of a night in Vegas, but the body was just weak - you only part on for so long before needing to rest a bit and the beds at the Aria are actually second to none we have ever experienced in the world. While chilling we watched a bit of the USA TV- Duck Dynasty and Storage Wars were a real hoot.
Continued... in part 3 of this May 2012 Vegas trip report - The Mandalay Bay Hotel
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