I know a lot of my travel tips are on the beginner to moderate side but here’s one that I bet many expert travelers don’t know. I thought of it during Virtuoso Travel Week in Las Vegas last month when the organizers put us up at the Aria Hotel and Casino, one of my favorite Vegas hotels. I’ve been fortunate to stay there many times including with my late father.
This tip isn’t just for Aria or even Las Vegas hotels. It works at any property that is massive, popular with groups and has multiple elevator banks. I got lucky when the check-in agent assigned me to the 8th floor which was the first stop for the hotel’s second elevator bank.
Their banks run 3-7, 8-15, 16-24, 25-30 and 31-54. Being on the eighth floor was a game changer because I was always the first person off the packed elevator and the last one on when going back down. I could sense the frustration of guests on higher floors who were stuck with “local” elevators while mine felt more like express service.
A few minutes may not sound like much but they add up, especially if you don’t want to waste time stopping at every floor in a packed elevator. That’s why it helps to learn how the elevator banks work before you get your room assignment. Aria (and other MGM properties) as well as many Hilton, Hyatt, IHG, Marriott and Wyndham hotels let guests self-check-in online or with their app so you can pick the floor you want.
If you’re staying at the Aria you’ll want to be on floors 3, 8, 16, 25 or 31 for that “express” treatment. Avoid the higher floors of each bank if the hotel is busy, especially during conferences when everyone heads to their rooms at the same time. This small move will make your stay much smoother.
The only possible downside is if you’re on the lowest floor and trying to go to the lobby. By the time the elevator gets to you it could already be full. I didn’t experience that myself and I was there while the hotel was sold out but I can see how it might happen at other hotels.
