Aria opened in 2009 as part of the CityCenter complex in the south-central area of the Vegas Strip. The individual parts of CityCenter (Aria Resort and Casino, Mandarin Oriental, Vdara, and Veer Towers) are now referred to individually instead of “CityCenter.” Aria remains attached to the Crystals Mall but the mall has been sold and is no longer technically a part of CityCenter.
Aria is a large casino-resort with over 4,000 hotel rooms and a massive 150,000+ square-foot gaming floor. This moderately priced luxury resort has some of the most technologically advanced and beautiful hotel rooms in Las Vegas. The Sky Suites at Aria is a Forbes Five Star hotel. It is treated as a separate hotel inside of Aria.
The hotel is positioned as a luxury property, although it might be priced otherwise. You can often find midweek prices that rival those of lesser hotels on the Vegas Strip. The same can’t be said for the restaurants. Las Vegas doesn’t have many casino-resorts with as many high-end dining restaurants as Aria. Not only is there a great variety of restaurants to choose from at Aria but many of these restaurants are at the top of their category in Las Vegas.
Hotel rooms
Choosing a room at Aria is simple. You can choose from three options including the 520-square-foot deluxe room, a Tower Suite that’s up to 2,000 square feet or the Forbes Five Star Sky Suite. The entry level rooms at Aria are a notch above many of the entry level rooms at casinos in Las Vegas. These large rooms have 300-thread-count bedding, room for work or relaxation and are among the most technologically advanced rooms in Las Vegas. The 42” HD LCD TV connects to all of your personal devices to the entertainment center. All rooms include a separate tablet to control lights, temperature, and so forth.
The Tower Suites are a step above the typical hotel room on the Vegas Strip and they’re still not the highest level of a hotel room at Aria. When you get to the Aria you’ll check-in from the Tower Suites Lounge where complimentary espresso, tea, juice and soft drinks, light pastries and seasonal snacks are available every day until midnight. The suites vary in size from 920 to 2,000 square feet. Book a corner suite or larger in the Tower Suites and receive luxury round-trip airport transportation to and from the airport.
Last, and certainly not least, are the Aria Sky Suites. These rooms have received the AAA Five Diamond award and are among the best accommodations in Las Vegas. Like the Tower Suites, the Aria Sky Suites have their own check-in lounge. Unlike the Tower Suites, everyone in these suites receives turndown service, personalized concierge, luxury round-trip airport transportation and has its own separate pool from the rest of the hotel. Suites range in size from a 1-bedroom suite that’s just over 1,000 square feet to a 2-story 2-bedroom suite that’s over 2,000 square feet.
Dining
Most casinos on the Vegas Strip are full service and offer different restaurants for every mood. However, Aria has some of the best restaurants in every category of food under one roof. Even with the fine dining, they have something that will work for most price ranges.
Casual
- Aria Cafe – Traditional casino cafe that has something for every craving
- Buffet – Recently redesigned and moderately priced buffet
- Burger Lounge – Quick serve burger restaurant near the poker room
- Five50 Pizza Bar – Pizza by the slice or by the pie
- Jean-Philippe Patisserie – Pastry shop serving crepes, sandwiches, and sweets
- Pressed Juicery – Fresh pressed juices
- Starbucks – Everyone needs a quick cup of coffee in the morning
Between casual and fine dining
- Herringbone – This ocean-to-table restaurant focuses mostly on seafood
- Julian Serrano – Traditional Spanish food served as tapas
- Lemongrass – Thai-inspired Asian dining
Fine dining
- Bardot Brasserie – French cuisine with a twist from world famous Chef Michael Mina
- Blossom – This restaurant has over 100 Chinese dishes, many with an American twist
- Carbone – A modern take on the classic Italian-American restaurant
- Javier’s – Fine Mexican cuisine with large tequila selection
- John George’s Steakhouse – This steakhouse has three different types of beef from around the world
- Sage – Contemporary American cuisine from James Beard Award-winning Chef Shawn McClain
Casino
The casino has 150,000 square feet of gaming space. The main gaming floor is divided by Alibi Lounge and the high limits gaming area. These dividers help make massive space appear cozier. The casino floor is laid out with the customer in mind and is intuitive to navigate. The table games are in the middle and surrounded by slot machines toward the lobby end of the hotel. The poker room and sports book are set to the side and have a more private feel than many on Vegas Strip.
One of the best features of the Aria casino is that it offers natural sunlight. You’ll find actual sunlight surrounding the main casino floor and skylights in the high limits room. Despite the natural light, the decor still makes the casino feel somewhat dark even though it’s lit by thousands of new slot machines.
One of the benefits of staying at an MGM Resorts hotel is that you don’t even have to leave your hotel room to gamble. You can take part in the low-roller EasyPlay slot tournaments on your mobile device or place sports wagers with you PlayMGM app that offers all the same wagering opportunities as the sports book.
Nightlife
Aria has just enough nightlife to offer something for everyone. That said, the lounges, bars, and nightclub aren’t huge and are often more crowded than comfortable. Yes, they’re popular but the spaces might be under-serving the customer. This is rare to see at such a busy casino on the Las Vegas strip. Here’s a look at the nightlife you’ll find at Aria.
- Alibi – This bar offers a relaxing lounge experience combined with traditional casino bar with video poker
- Baccarat Lounge – Relaxing lounge is hidden from the main casino floor
- Gem – Casino bar made for video poker players
- High Limits Lounge – Excellent getaway from the main casino floor
- Jewel – One of the newest nightclubs on the Vegas Strip always attracts A-List talent
- Liquid – Dayclub for when you’re in the party mood when the sun is out
- Lobby Bar – A great meeting place just off the main lobby
- Lift – Located just off the casino floor serving craft cocktails and offering video poker
- Sports Bar – Small bar located by the sportsbook where you can play video poker and watch the games
Entertainment
Aria closed their showroom to add convention space to the hotel. The casino doesn’t have any show entertainment, but it’s a quick walk to the Park Theater at Monte Carlo and T-Mobile Arena at The Park. If you’re looking for entertainment inside Aria you’ll have to enjoy one of the many bars or nightclub detailed above.
Pool
Aria has a complex of three pools. While this may seem like a lot, these pools are smaller than some other casinos on the Vegas Strip. Lounge chairs are limited and you may have to pay to rent one for the day. Since the hotel has such great service, your best deal at the Aria pools might be to rent a cabana for the day.
Must see attractions
- Experiment with the in-room tech – The technology available at Aria is unmatched by any hotel in Las Vegas. In-room tablets let you control everything from electronics to ordering extra towels from housekeeping. You don’t even have to wait to get to your hotel to try the tech. Just check into your room from your mobile phone before arriving at Aria.
- Enjoy the art – Aria has paintings, sculptures, and art installations from acclaimed artists as part of their Fine Arts collection. You can find artwork inside and outside of the hotel, casino and the rest of CityCenter.
- Get a room near the elevators – The tower hallways at Aria are curved and among the longest in Las Vegas. Save yourself a few minutes each time you walk to and from your hotel room by getting a room closer to the elevator.
- Visit Jewel – This is one of the newest nightclubs in Las Vegas. Jewel is managed by Hakkasan Group and has a constant flow of A-List talent come through the beautiful new nightclub.
- Try Absinthe for the first time – There are very few bars in America that serve Absinthe. Sage not only has an Absinthe Bar but they have an Absinthe cart that comes around for tableside service.
Aria loyalty club
MGM Resorts International owns and operates Aria. Their loyalty club, M Life Rewards, is one of the largest casino loyalty clubs in Las Vegas. MGM Grand Detroit, Beau Rivage (MS), Gold Strike (MS) and MGM National Harbor (MD) also accept M Life Rewards. The club will expand to Borgata (NJ) soon and MGM Springfield (MA) when it opens.
These casinos outside of Las Vegas make M Life Rewards one of the biggest casino loyalty clubs in the country. You can earn points and credits at any M Life Rewards casino to use at Aria in Las Vegas. M Life Rewards has an array of partnerships that allow you to both earn and use rewards outside of the casino.
M Life Rewards can be slightly confusing since you earn different types points at two different rates. You can ear tier credits that allow you to climb status to earn specific benefits. Points accumulate for Express Credits that can be redeemed for shopping, dining, Free Play that can be used in slot machines, and gift shopping points.
Tier levels
Here’s a look at the different Tier levels and how many credits you’ll need to achieve the coinciding benefits for Las Vegas:
- Sapphire – Entry Level, everyone starts here
- Pearl – Earn 25,000 Tier Credits
- Gold – Earn 75,000 Tier Credits
- Platinum – Earn 200,000 Tier Credits
- Noir – Invitation only
Tier credits
In addition to gaming, you can earn Tier credits, express comps, free play, and holiday gift shop points from spending money on gaming, dining, entertainment, hotel rooms, shopping, spa treatments and golf at any MGM Resorts property. Here’s how Tier credits and points are awarded:
- Slot machines – 1 point and 10 Tier Credits for every $3 you play (You also earn 1 cent in Express Comps and 1 cent in FreePlay.)
- Video poker – 1 point and 10 Tier Credits for every $10 you play (You also earn 1 cent in Express Comps and 1 cent in FreePlay.)
- Table games – (blackjack, three card poker, etc.) – Varies on the type of table game you are playing, your average bet and how long you play
- Non-gaming – 25 Tier Credits for every $1 you spend
Different tier levels earn points at a different rate:
- Sapphire – No bonus
- Pearl – 10% bonus
- Gold – 20% bonus
- Platinum – 30% bonus
- Noir – 40% bonus
Tier Credits earned from October 1 to September 30 qualify you for your tier beginning each October 1. If you advance to a higher tier at any time, you’ll enjoy those benefits for at least one full year.
Tier benefits
Each tier you reach with M Life Rewards brings greater benefits. The benefits are only incrementally better since you have 5 tiers. M Life Rewards offers discounts and pre-sale ticketing opportunities for all levels. Being a member has benefits even if you’re just visiting to see a concert and staying elsewhere.
MGM Resorts is the first casino operator to charge for parking on the Las Vegas Strip. If you’re a Pearl member or greater the fees for self-park are waived. Valet fees are waived for Gold members and above. These daily parking fees range anywhere from $8 to $18 per day depending on the property and type of parking. The parking discount is one of the best benefits, along with Tier bonuses and increasing retail discounts. Here’s a look at the benefits for each Tier:
Sapphire
- Dedicated reservation line
- Access to M Life Moments
- Personalized offers at MLife.com
- Earn Express Comps
- Special offers from partners
- Earn Points and convert to Free Play or Express Comps
- 5% discount at participating retail shops
- Earn Holiday Gift Shoppe Points
- Pre-Sale Ticket Access to Select Events, Concerts, and Fights
- M life Flat Rate Pricing for select MGM Resort shows
- Avis Rental Car Discount (at on-property rental counters)
Pearl
- Same as Sapphire plus the following
- Invitations to Members-Only Events and Tournaments
- Extended Expiration For Points and Express Comps
- 10% Tier Multiplier Bonus on Points Earned at all M life Resorts
- 10% Tier Multiplier Bonus on Express Comps Earned at M life Resorts
- Exclusive Room Discounts or Comps
- 10% discount at participating retail shops
- Buffet Line Pass
- Exclusive Seating at Arena Events
Gold
- Same as Pearl plus the following
- 20% Tier Multiplier Bonus on Points Earned at all M life Resorts
- 20% Tier Multiplier Bonus on Express Comps Earned at M life Resorts
- Room Upgrades (view, corner or suite subject to availability)
- Priority Hotel Check-in Line
- 10% discount at participating retail shops
- Cafe Line Pass
- Fine Dining Priority Reservations
- VIP Line Access to Nightclubs and Pool Day Clubs for You and a Guest
Platinum
- Same as Gold plus the following
- 30% Tier Multiplier Bonus on Points Earned at all M life Resorts
- 30% Tier Multiplier Bonus on Express Comps Earned at M life Resorts
- Priority Access to Pool Cabanas and Bungalows
- Spa / Salon Priority Reservations
- Platinum Experience upon Check-in
- 15% discount at participating retail shops
- Priority Valet Service
- Priority Taxi Service
Noir
- Same as Platinum plus the following
- VIP Lounge Check-in
- Guaranteed Hotel Reservations
- 15% discount at participating retail shops
- Guaranteed Dining Reservations
- Guaranteed Show Reservations
- Complimentary Limousine Service To / From Airport
M Life Rewards partners
M Life Rewards offers members many benefits that extend beyond MGM Resorts hotels and casinos. This program has a large group of preferred partners where you can earn or use rewards for both loyalty clubs.
Current partners include Hyatt, Southwest, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, Avis, Pinnacle Entertainment (casinos), Cirque Du Soleil, Thunder Valley Casino, Reflection Bay, and Morgans Hotel Group. You can find more information at the bottom of this M Life Rewards overview.
The Hyatt-M Life Rewards partnership is one of the best non-casino partnerships in Las Vegas. You can you earn Tier Credits at over 600 hotels and resorts worldwide. Even better is that M Life Rewards members can get their tier status matched as a Hyatt Gold Passport. This is a great way to climb status without even being in Las Vegas.
Partner properties
M Life Rewards connects 12 casinos around the country including these Las Vegas casinos:
- Aria
- Bellagio
- Excalibur
- Luxor
- Mandalay Bay
- The Mirage
- MGM Grand
- Monte Carlo
- New York-New York
M Life Rewards online
The M Life Rewards website was recently rebuilt. It now looks and feels similar to the rest of the MGM Resorts’ websites. This is a welcome change from previous versions of the website frequently had bugs. The new website looks great and is easy to use.
The current version of the M Life app looks similar to the individual MGM Resorts casino websites but offers information for every property. The app is quick, smooth, easy to read and intuitive. You can sort information in the app by each casino or by the category of information you’re looking for (shows, restaurants, etc.).
This app doesn’t assume the user is an M Life Rewards member and offers all the information you could want. In addition, the app links to all related apps such as MyVegas, PlayMGM and easyPLAY. This is probably the best looking and most functional Las Vegas casino app around.
M Life Rewards best bets
- Sign up – You receive discounts on hotel rooms and pre-sale ticket purchasing opportunities just for signing up.
- Go Pearl or Gold and skip parking fees – The $8 to $18 self-park and valet fees add up every stay. This is one of the benefits you can put a dollar figure on.
- Get Bonus Points – Each Tier level you climb offers greater point multipliers. The rich get richer with M Life Rewards so you might as well enjoy it.
- Priority Check-In – MGM Resorts casino are among the busiest in Las Vegas. Since the majority of customers are entry-level tier status the check-in lines can be massive. Skip the huge lines when you’re Gold or better.