The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Vdara Hotel & Spa: $119
Total after taxes and resort fees: $191.61
■ Background: Vdara, which opened in 2009, is a rebel. The MGM property is part of the Aria campus and does not have a casino or theme, nor does it allow smoking. The gleaming 57-story hotel could easily fill a gap in an urban skyline.
■ The rooms: Once again, I showed up early, but unlike Caesars, the front desk attendant allowed me to check in early for free. Another staff member also granted me a late checkout for no extra charge.
My room on the 43rd floor was sophisticated but cozy. I could work and lounge in equal measure. The studio had a kitchenette with a two-burner stove, microwave, fridge and small table for dining. The kitchen cabinets were bare, so I requested utensils, a bowl, a mug and a tea kettle. “Can I get you anything else?” the concierge thoughtfully inquired. “A robe? Slippers?”
The couch overlooked a large picture window that framed the twinkling lights of Vegas and the mountains beyond. In the bathroom, I could soak in a free-standing tub accompanied by a rolling cart piled with soft towels. The furniture had a few scuff marks and stains, but the bedsheets were as white as a snowdrift.
■ Restaurants and shops: Vdara keeps it simple. Its Market Cafe sells sandwiches and pastries, as well as meals for in-room dining, such as frozen pizza and pints of ice cream. The Vice Versa Patio & Lounge serves breakfast in the morning and alcohol accompaniments – flatbreads, sliders, truffle fries — in the afternoon and evening. For more dining and shopping, plus gambling, follow the art-lined walkway to the Cosmopolitan Hotel or walk across to Aria.
■ Highlight attraction: Guests can buy a spa day pass that allows them to steam, bubble and sauna from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Access costs $75 or $100, depending on the day.
■ Did we get what we paid for? The price was spot-on. I’d book Vdara again. It helped me recover from Vegas without having to leave the city.