STAYING AT ARIA IN A FEW WEEKS, ANYONE STAYED THERE ??

Aria/City Center is not "Vegas"....not the way that you know it.

Even The Wynn/Encore is less tech/art/shopping than Aria. Do not expect the sportsbook to be "warm" and full of raucous fun....expect more of a lounge affect; make your bets, then go somewhere else.

If you have serious coin, you should appreciate the level of the stores at Crystals....which will be one of the top 3 shopping venues in the world within 5 years. The restaurants match the level of shopping...but service, with the exception of Mastro's, is still up and down.....except at Mandarin Oriental.

Frankly, the new Cosmopolitan, next door, might be more interesting....and Cantor Gaming, as I mentioned here a while ago, is running the sportsbook...can't get better than that. PS: They are now running the book at The Tropicana also....construction is almost finished.

VG- did I hear you say that Tropicana is redoing their book? Wow, talk about a place that needs a facelift. I've loved the Trop for gambling and sometimes even staying over the past few years that I have visited, but it has recently (IMO) been crossing the line into what I'd consider just plain trashy and dirty. Now I'm not just referring to their book, but that is certainly a good example of this overall picture. Exception is the pool... I'd still consider that above average.

btw VG- your description above about the ARIA is spot-on. Many Vegas visitors who remember and love the old style Vegas complain about these new mega-resorts sprouting up over the past 10+ yrs such as Bellagio, Wynn, Mandalay, etc. I myself even share these thoughts to a certain extent. Now I'm not old enough to remember visits to this town during the days where the big hotels where Hacienda, Stardust, Dunes, etc, but I do recall Monte Carlo and the Luxor being the hottest new things. It has certainly changed a lot since that time in the late 90's/early 00's even.

ARIA seems like it takes this mega-resort/shopping/dining extravaganza to even the next level. It is not what most people think of "Vegas" to be I would argue that this new theme needs to be toned down if Vegas is gunna still be Vegas in coming years.

I certainly do not want to go to Vegas so I can shop and eat expensive dinners. There's plenty of that close by here in SoCal. I go to Vegas to party and gamble and that's about all that matters!

The Tropicana is being completely redone...physically and image-wise....Trying to go after the "South Beach crowd".. ...young, hip.....The sportsbook is totally Cantor Gaming's book....the old director, Chuck Esposito is now at the Venetian...So, things should be pretty hot in the new book..action-wise....

As to CityCenter.....The money from Texas, Canada, Asia, Latin America, South America is going there and..for the most part..loving the shops & food options. Take Rodeo Drive in Cali, add Saville Row in England, throw in a good part of Milan, and top it off with 5th Avenue in NYC.... THEN put it on steroids...that's Crystals at City Center...

The beauty to this town, as I have said many times in this forum, is that there is room here for the Riviera's and Sahara's of the world as well as the Aria's, Wynn's and Bellagio's also....and throw in Fremont Street downtown in "Glitter Gulch"....Vegas exists for one reason only....for the enjoyment of everyone...and for whatever their enjoyment calls for...and there is no place else in the world, sports gambling or not, that can offer that.

Yeah man it just all depends on what you want out of a book imo.  I was in the Aria book about a month ago on Sunday for football bc I like the blackjack tables there.  It's pretty chill to me.  Not the Hilton, which I think is the best book overall, but it's a good spot if you want to just kick back and enjoy some games.  VegasG is right, it isn't exactly the most rowdy, huge book, but ppl were having a great time, myself included.  The thing I dislike the most about the Aria book is the size and the cost of the drinks.  They give you tickets when you place a bet, much like other places, but once you run out of tickets get ready to pay.  I tip well and still couldn't catch a break on drinks.  Not sure how it is in football offseason, but it fills up rather quick during and getting a good seat can be difficult.  It's really just all about what you want out of a book.  If you want to suck down cigarettes and keep an eye on lines the whole time you're watching games, Mandalay Bay might be your thing.  If you want the super book experience, MGM or the Hilton might be better.  Check different ones out though man.  It's not like you have to place a bet to go in them, or travel long distances from spot to spot.  I honestly have a good time wherever I am in Vegas.  It's all about what you make of it and what standards you have set for yourself