![]() ![]() I continually was challenged with a signal going in and out, interrupting email being sent and IM chats. For a $15 charge, I expect that internet access will be solid. The connection was established remotely, causing additional complications down the road, but at least I had access. A call to the front desk, transferred to a tech support company, and over a half an hour and the error loop still couldn’t get resolved. No luck, as I got caught in a error loop that wouldn’t let me log in. I fired up the laptop and tried to log in. Wi-fi is available in the rooms, for a $15 charge (24 hours), and this is where all the emphasis on technology seems to fall by the wayside. The toilet was situated in a separate doored area, and the shower/sunken tub is in the same enclosed area, a layout I had never seen before but seemed to work just fine. The bathroom was equally spacious, offering double sinks and plenty of counter space for two people to get ready at the same time. It overlooked City Center, although hard to enjoy the view with filthy windows (a common complaint I have with hotels), and with both privacy and room darkening drapes, I was able to choose the mood that suited me. The room was spacious and well laid out, with a king size bed, desk and work space, and sitting area. It took some time to figure everything out, and I hit the wrong button a time or two, but it’s pretty handy to be able to control everything from one spot. It served as an alarm clock, too, and the television remote was able to provide many of the same functions. Turn on and off the television, adjust the room temperature, set the music in the room, open and close the drapes? Yep, all handled from the control console. Want to read in bed? Set it from the console. Want a little mood lighting? Set it from the console. The rooms boast state of the art technology, from the flat panel television on the wall to the control console that operated everything in the room. My room was of the standard variety and located on the 24th floor (there are 61 floors). And it works! This fact alone is enough to convince me to make ARIA my choice of hotels in Las Vegas, but ARIA is also a LEED Certified Gold Hotel, meeting additional high levels of eco-standards. Why no smoke? If I was an engineer I could tell you in copious detail all the reasons, but really, all that matters is that it’s a system that draws the air out from both the top and bottom of the room. ![]() This might not seem like a big deal to a lot of people, but as an allergy sufferer, this first walk through the casino is the beginning of suffering for my stay. But what I didn’t see, or smell, was smoke. I looked about and saw plenty of slot machines, restaurants, people, and a shop or two. At first, I couldn’t put my finger on it. Sure, it’s still new and all that (under a year old), but even walking across a portion of the casino floor to get to the hotel elevator bank, was a surprise. The lobby was bright and airy, as opposed to so many dark and dingy casino hotel lobbies. With a fountain in the middle of the circular drive, varying in its dancing display, along with a wall of water on the side of the entry way, walking into the lobby felt more like walking into a resort than a casino. ![]() The City Center complex features three hotels, ARIA, Vdarra, and the Mandarin Oriental, and includes residential condos along with upscale shopping and dining. The Las Vegas Strip is full of impressive architecture (or garish, depending upon your point of view), but once you drive up the ARIA entrance way you’ll quickly forget that you’re even on the Strip. The fare from the airport to the hotel will run about $15-16, including tip and the required airport add-on fee. Like most hotel properties on the strip, ARIA is best reached from the airport via cab. I’m not jaded at everything that the city has to offer, it’s just that I’ve seen most of it and so it takes a lot to impress me. It’s a haven for conference, convention, and trade shows, and at only a couple hours out of Seattle, it’s a popular choice for a quick getaway weekend. Over the years, I’ve spent more than my fair share of time in Las Vegas. Earlier this month, while I was in Las Vegas for Blog World & New Media Expo, I had the pleasure of staying at the ARIA Hotel at City Center.
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