text: OK, full disclosure: I'd NEVER pay the freight for Aria. I was there on a comped stay. Just saying you might want to know that while you read the review.\n\nThe Place: Location is utterly perfect, next to Bellagio, across the Strip from Planet Hollywood, close to everything else. City Center is a flat-out beautiful space. Ostentatiously spacious with soaring ceilings, gorgeous floors and lots of other fine fixtures in between. Art, art, art everywhere, some of it really good.\n\nThe Hotel: We arrived at 5 pm on Saturday and did not have to wait in line to check in. At a couple other times during our stay, there were some lines at check-in/out, most noticably at about 11:30 on Tuesday morning.  The elevators are separated into banks for the differrent floor levels, which makes the rides quicker. Never waited for an elevator. The room was spacious, well-appointed, clean (it better be for a 6-month-old hotel). One complaint: Someone on the staff had obviously used the room to smoke pot in just prior to our arrival. Bedspread sat on, hand towel used, wrapper from a spray-can of air freshener in the trash. Front desk offered to move us, but the view was so nice, we stayed. The remote-controlled-everything was fun after a bit of figuring out. Very nice bathroom with separate WC and walk-through shower to the soaking tub. Excellent room overall.\n\nThe Casino: Well-designed, spacious, plenty of tables for everything (I hate slot machines, but there were a million). $10 limits during the day, up to $15 at night. Friendly dealers. Not as smoky as most. \n\nThe Restaurants: Skip the buffet. As noted above, I got it free, but still not very good, except for the desserts. Best bet is the Jean Paul Patisserie--great sandwiches and sweets.\n\nThe Pool: Plenty of space, three big pools and three big hot tubs. Am I still a little kid or is it too much to ask for water somewhere in one of those pools that is more than 3.5 ft. deep? There were lifeguards.\n\nThe Staff: All very polite and competent, just not very \"friendly.\"\n\nBottom line: I'd go there again and again if it was free every time.