Q: negative

A: Leonardo Da Vinci - Genius. Me - Not so much. Clearly, I am not a mastermind like Da Vinci because I actually paid for the Da Vinci - The Genius exhibition at the Venetian Hotel's Imagine Exhibitions Gallery. Olivia and I thought we were getting a deal, but even with a $5 coupon (from those little "welcome suckers...I mean tourists" booklets in all the taxis) the discounted $22 per person simply isn't worth it. The 20 minutes it takes to walk through the display slowly while reading each description means you are paying more than a $1 a minute. So, what exciting DaVinci artifacts do you see for that rate? None. Like most things in Vegas, the exhibits are just replicas or small versions of the real thing. The exhibition has two narrow rooms with the first detailing the timeline of historical events during Da Vinci's life and then exhibiting modern replicas based on some of his drawings. Many of the exhibits are hands on, so, be ready to touch and play. Da Vinci was a true genius and this portion makes it very clear. The second room has a large wall projection of the Mona Lisa and a list of secret facts uncovered during an HD image capture of the famous artwork a few years ago. Is it cool to see sections of the Mona Lisa highlighted and oddities pointed out? Sure. Is it nice to see what the painting probably looked like before age faded her beauty? Sure. Is it worth $27 (or just $22)? No, it isn't. The last part of the final room has a large wall projection video of DaVinci's Last Supper painting. It was short and didn't offer any new insight. It seemed to be experiencing technical difficulties with playback and color when we went through. Everyone should admire, celebrate, and respect the life and creativity of Da Vinci. His impact as an inventor, artist, architect, engineer, and true renaissance man is probably unparalleled. My advice is to do so, but just not at the Venetian Hotel Imagine Exhibtions Gallery unless you are super bored with everything else Vegas has to offer for fun, entertainment, or relaxation. I'm not sure if Da Vinci was the first to say "There's a sucker born every minute.", but he probably was. Don't be that sucker by forking over cash for the Da Vinci - The Genius exhibit.

Q: negative

A: Awful... Never ever again. Two of the most uncomfortable synthetic pillows I've ever seen in a hotel. A light flashing from the ceiling right by the bed every 5 seconds. Not clean. One towel, one washcloth. Awful, lumpy mattress badly made up by what is clearly an apathetic housekeeping crew. Honestly, I'm not a picky traveler, and I travel on business about 3x a month, but this was the worst hotel experience I've had in years. I normally stay in a residence inn or CY type place - not fancy. I think a Motel 6 would beat this place. I could go on and on about the bad outlet placement, the lack of spare pillows and blankets or the just plain weird closet. Run, don't walk, away from Aloft Tempe.

Q: negative

A: The attitude of the staff was unlike anything I have experienced in this area. And I don't mean good! We were met with by a rude hostess who directed us to the bar where we waited 20 for a drink. There were 5 other tables - all of whom seemed to be getting attention. We returned to the hostess when the restaurant dining opened and were told to pay our bar tab and wait by the railing. We did that. We requested outside seating, but were told by the hostess that she "didn't have her sheet yet". Not sure what that meant, but we were not seated at any of the many open tables outside. Several parties were seated out there as we dined inside and watched. We also sat and watched as all the tables around us were served bread, but we did not get a bread basket until we were 1/2 way through our entrees. Two people in our party of 6 were brought the wrong meals, so rather than giving them the option of eating the mistake or waiting for the correct meal, the incorrect meals were whisked away.. We were told we could only put everything on one check....which is ridiculous! They seemed kind of angry that we even suggested a check for each couple. The food was ok but sub par compared to other restaurants . If you want to see the view, drive up and take a look, but skip the restaurant.

Q: positive

A:
If you're needing a good cheap rub down and you're leery of those Asian massage joints like I am (what if I don't want a happy ending?), this is the place to go. Every few weeks they do a 2-for-1 special and you get an hour long massage for $16! Granted, it is a hit or miss because these are students and you may be their first guinea pig. Naturally you won't get the calming ambiance, eucalyptus aroma, and plush robe like you'd get at Encore spa. They bring you into this dimly lit room where everyone is separated by curtains. You may get the person next to you who moans and groans a little too loud. On my first visit, I got a girl who was so skinny that I could break in half so when I said I wanted a lot of pressure, it felt like I was being tickled by a feather. On my next visit, I got this butch woman who pressed down so hard I thought she was going to break her table. She was phenomenal and I was her first client ever. Keep in mind, they are students so try to give constructive feedback. It's a gamble - but if you have that creak in your neck that won't go away, it is well worth it for $16! And gratuities are not accepted!