Six months before my retirement, I went to my last professional conference at Aria in Vegas. I got in late on a Saturday and stood on line while the handful of desk agents waited on other guests. Some were guests seemed to be not happy and were mildly fuming. "Soon come", I told myself. An agent waved me up to the desk. "Let's see if we can find you room." What? There are 4,000 rooms at Aria! The agent fussed and mumbled something to the effect that "you're going to like your room."
Alll they had left was what she called a Sky Suite. She handed me a map so I could find the special Sky Suite elevators. They were right around the corner from the heart of the casino. After clearing security and riding the non-stop elevator to the 50th floor, I presented my key card to the proximity reader and the door swung open, the lights aome up, smooth jazz started playing and the curtains started to open. The view of Vegas at 11pm on a Saturday was spectacular. There were two huge bedrooms with adjoining baths: jacuzzi, two sinks, rain forest shower/steam room, walk in closet with slippers and robes and a "real" throne room with $10K toilet (heated seat, wash you front and back, blow dry). There was also a large living room and bar/dining room with a dozen chairs at the table. Sixty inch LED HD TV's in every room except the baths. That was disappointing.
I had never fallen into such a lap of luxury in my life, but I'd still take any room at Blue Cave Castle over a Sky Suite at Atria or any other resort in Vegas. The difference? It's easier to get to Jamaica and when you get there, you're not in Vegas!
