mommafrica

Something else that I noticed on my MGM Grand print-out: it doesn't show the days reserved. At least mine didn't. Why is this?

Non-NonRev

If you do break it into two stays, there is a skybridge connecting MGM Grand and NYNY. There areally both escalator and elevator to get you to the upper level to use this bridge.

Jimgotkp

Aria isn't too far from T-Mobile Arena either.. you can walk through the Aria/Monte Carlo connector then through Monte Carlo. Bellagio could work as well if you take the tram over to Monte Carlo/Aria then walk through Monte Carlo.

mommafrica

All great and extremely helpful.

cruisingmickey

I have a reservation coming up. My sister's flight gets in in the morning (me at night). Do you know if she can check in before me? Can I call Hyatt or Aria or Mlife to add her name to the reservation so she can check in while she waits for me? Not sure how this would work. I know with Hyatt I can add her to the reservation, but not sure if I can do that since I booked my room via the mlife site. Thanks.

Visconti

Hm, kind of curious about this too.

Low Roller

Call the hotel and ask (or e-mail [email protected]).

azmojo

Does anyone know if Aria will take Hyatt gift cards?

Bidu

They wont accept hyatt gift card.

smilee

Here is my review of the Aria based on a Hyatt Globalist -> Mlife Gold

Check In

There is a dedicated line for MLife elites. This line is generally shorter BUT there are fewer agents so not sure if in reality if it is all that much better. But still a perk that they list on the Mlife elite page. I tried the $20 tip trick, and after 15 mintues the agent left, went and talked to a manager and was able to get me a room on a high floor but that is it. Stupid me I was thinking suites as they were only listed as $100 more per night, but he said couldn't do. However, this is my first time at this hotel so not sure if that has anything to do with the minimal upgrade offered.

Room

The room is new, clean and has automatic curtains. Carpets were still looking new and bright and clean. Bed was very soft, but comfortable. Pillows were lumpy but I slept very well regardless. As well the linens did not feel very smooth, and my wife thought they felt cheap. However as I said, we both did sleep well.



My biggest gripe with the room is there is no coffee maker? I think this is the first hotel I have ever stayed at without a coffee maker.

Bathroom

Decent size with double sinks which is a nice plus. They have the toilet behind a glass door for privacy.



A plus is there is a separate tub and shower.



Resort Area / Gym / Pools

The hotel has an expensive $39 per night resort fee. I personally feel it is a rip off, as the hotel does not provide in-room coffee maker, paper newspaper (there is some e-paper that you can download some how) and the pool area is small for a resort.

Most of the small pools are included in the $39 fee. To use one of the pools they wanted $150 so I declined and can not comment on it other than it had many available chairs, where the other pools the chairs were packed to the gills and very few free available chairs by 2pm unless you wanted to sit 4 rows back in the shade.

The gym is new and large, but only open only from 6am-8pm so you cannot use after 8pm. Also the pool had limited hours, I think 9am-6pm.

Overall

As a Mlife Gold (from Hyatt Globalist) you don't get much here. I think you get a better rate (as it was about 15% cheaper at Mlife then booking through Hyatt) but very very very little recognition. Also be AWARE of RESORT fee and TAX. Expensive especially as they often will advertise room rates of $100 ish mid week, but taxes and RESORT fee would bring that up about $60 or 60% extra. YIKES.

SanDiego1K

Thank you for the report. I know that those of us who have mLife status from our Hyatt status were to be downgraded on Oct 1. However, I am still shown as platinum. Did your status actually drop to gold? I don't have the sense it will make any difference though.

Did you try either the buffet line or the taxi line where gold/plat status is supposed to give priority? If so, how well did it work? How long was a typical wait in the taxi queue?

smilee

I didn't get status until late August/September as I had no trips planned to Vegas until this year.

As well, the hotel was not super busy. I think the shooting two weeks earlier had made the crowds less then usual for a weekend, i don't know.

I didn't eat at the Aria buffet, but when I walked by it one day, the line had just a couple of people in it. I ended up eating at the Billagio Buffet (with my gold card in hand) but there wasn't a single person in the line.

My point is though. As a MLIFE Plat set your expectations LOW, and I mean really LOW for what you will get.

I think status benefits may come more from how much you spend gambling, the card is just a pretty card.

Low Roller

There is actually a separate buffet line for Mlife pearl or higher. At busy times, there can be 30-40 people in the regular buffet line at Aria or Bellagio and only 4-6 in the Mlife line, so it works very well. They have a similar set up for taxis (separate line for Mlife platinum or higher), but I never used it at a busy time so I can't comment on how well it works.

gooselee

The front-of-line taxi benefit is for Mlife Plat or higher (not Pearl like buffets). And it works wonderfully during extremely busy times. I've skipped 20+ min taxi waits with this benefit...easily the best perk IMO as it is guaranteed where all the comps and room upgrades are really just based on how much you gamble.

To the earlier poster who noticed the separate/empty pool. That was likely the "SkyPool" which is reserved for SkySuites guests. Again a nice perk if you are staying in a SkySuite (or I guess willing to fork over $150...money always talks).

Low Roller

Thanks for the correction - I've edited my earlier post.