This took me a grand total of 10 minutes. I then walked up to the counter to present my credentials, received my keys and was on my way. The moment I spotted the long line, I logged onto the Aria’s website and started the process that way. Even though there were many staff members to keep the flow moving, it always seems to be a challenge at most Las Vegas hotels to keep the line short.Īn alternative would have been to use mobile check-in, which you don’t actually have to do beforehand. I arrived at the hotel in the afternoon and the main check-in line was excruciatingly long. (For some reason, this entrance was sometimes referred to as the “back lobby.”) There was a walkway bridge here that connected the Aria with the Vdara. The Uber and Lyft stand was located at the north lobby entrance, which was more convenient to the guest elevators. Note that at the Aria, while you could be dropped off by the main lobby or north lobby, you could only be picked up from the north lobby. While this trip required a car for myself, more often than not I find myself just jumping in an Uber. I dropped my car off at the main entrance, pictured below, since I’d be checking in - this valet area was busy though, so if you’re in a hurry, consider using the north entrance instead. There were two valet areas - and why not, it’s Las Vegas! One was located near the north lobby, while the other was closer to the main lobby. Check-In and LobbyĪfter a five-hour flight from the East Coast, I rented my car and made the 10-minute drive to the hotel from McCarran International Airport (LAS). Since Hyatt is a partner with M Life, I was also entitled to Platinum status with MGM, since MGM properties don’t necessarily honor Hyatt status - I had just had to remember to complete a status match. Additionally, I received a 30% bonus totaling 4,387 World of Hyatt points, a value of $79 according to TPG’s most recent valuations.Īside from booking and earning points through Hyatt, I earned 2,376 Ultimate Rewards points since I’d paid with my Chase Sapphire Reserve Card, which gives you 3x points for all travel.
As a result, I earned 5x points per dollar, yielding a total of 3,375 World of Hyatt points for my three-night stay. While I had the option to book directly with Aria, I eventually decided to book via Hyatt so I’d receive the bonus points I was entitled to as a Diamond Elite member at the time - note that Hyatt changed its elite status levels and titles in March of this year. While the rate itself wasn’t too high (considering the international convention), the nightly resort fees of $35 and nightly taxes of $4.20 certainly added up, bringing my total to $792.60 for a three-night stay. I found a great rate of $225 per night just a few weeks prior to arrival.