Two pool-view kings, one floor apart, from a local who stayed in both.
Aria vs Bellagio is one of the closest calls on the Strip, so I stayed in both, in nearly identical rooms: a pool-view king on the 20th floor at Aria and a pool-view king on the 21st floor at Bellagio. They’re next-door neighbors under the same MGM umbrella, but they feel completely different. Aria is modern, calm, and surprisingly warm at check-in. Bellagio is classic, elegant, and right in the middle of everything. Here’s how they compare, category by category.
The quick answer
Aria or Bellagio: Which Should You Book?
Honestly, it’s a tie, and I’d happily go back to both. Book Aria for the warmer welcome, a soaking tub, and a modern, very quiet room. Book Bellagio for the center-Strip location, the Conservatory, and that timeless Vegas elegance.
The Rooms We Stayed In: Pool-View Kings, One Floor Apart
Aria
- Room
- 20231
- Floor
- 20th
- Bed
- King
- View
- Pool, then south toward Mandalay Bay and Allegiant Stadium
- Bathroom
- Soaking tub and rain shower in one marble wet room
- Style
- Modern and warm
Bellagio
- Room
- 21098
- Floor
- 21st
- Bed
- King
- View
- Pool
- Bathroom
- Shower only, no tub
- Style
- Classic and elegant
Aria vs Bellagio at a Glance: Side-by-Side
| Aria | Bellagio | |
|---|---|---|
| Check-in | About 10 minutes, wine spritzers and water offered | Not crowded, friendly agent |
| Room feel | Modern, very quiet | Elegant, quiet, peaceful |
| Bathroom | Soaking tub and rain shower | Shower only |
| Elevator security | Tap your key at a security stand before the elevators | Show your key to a guard at the elevator bank, then tap it inside for your floor |
| Standout detail | Floor-to-ceiling corner window | Motorized shades that close with a light touch |
| Pool hours we saw | 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. | Open until 8 p.m. |
| Location | Set back from the Strip | Center Strip, fountains out front |
| Don’t miss | Proper Eats food hall | The Conservatory and Sadelle’s |
Check-In: Aria’s Warm Welcome Wins
Both check-ins were easy. At Bellagio, the line wasn’t crowded and the agent was friendly. Aria went a step further. With roughly ten agents working, my wait was about ten minutes, and a cocktail server offered wine spritzers to guests in line. My agent offered water, asked what brought me to town, asked about my floor and elevator preferences, and knew the pool hours off the top of his head. That welcome set the tone for the whole stay.
The Room: Modern Aria vs Elegant Bellagio
This one comes down to taste. Aria’s king feels modern and warm, with wood-panel walls, a floor-to-ceiling corner window, and a room so quiet I never heard the hallway or the Strip. Bellagio’s king feels classic and elegant, quiet and peaceful, with motorized shades that close with a light touch. Both beds were comfortable, and both rooms were restful.
The Bathroom: Aria Has the Tub
This is the clearest difference between the two rooms. Aria’s bathroom is a glass-enclosed marble wet room with a soaking tub and rain shower together, plus a double vanity and a separate toilet room. Our Bellagio pool-view king had a shower only, with no tub. If a soak at the end of the day matters to you, that settles it.
The View and the Pool: Both Excellent
Both rooms looked down on the pool, and both pools were a highlight. Aria’s pool was a pleasant surprise: lush, shaded by palms and pines, guests-only with a room key, and calm by late afternoon. During our stay its pools were open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. At Bellagio, the pool stayed open until 8 p.m. during our stay, and I spent a couple of relaxing hours in the hot tub. Hours at both change with the season, so check before you go.
Location and Beyond the Room: Bellagio Wins
Bellagio sits right on the Strip, in the middle of the action, with the fountains out front. Aria sits farther back from the Boulevard, which is part of why it feels so calm, but it means a longer walk to the Strip. Bellagio also has two things I’d go back for on their own. The Conservatory gets a brand-new theme several times a year, for spring, summer, fall, the holidays, and Lunar New Year, and as locals we make a point of seeing each one. And breakfast at Sadelle’s is a must: get the smoked salmon, and make a reservation, because walk-in waits can run 30 to 45 minutes. Aria’s Promenade has good casual options too, including Starbucks, Pressed Juicery, and the Proper Eats food hall.
How Each Feels: Calm and Modern vs Classic and Elegant
Aria · Overall energy: Low-key
Arrival & Check-InWine spritzers in line and an attentive agent. It feels upscale but light.
In the RoomVery quiet on the 20th floor, with no hallway or Strip noise.
Pool SceneGuests-only, shaded, and calm by late afternoon.
Bellagio · Overall energy: Balanced
Arrival & Check-InNot crowded, with a friendly agent.
In the RoomQuiet, elegant, and peaceful on the 21st floor.
Pool SceneRelaxing, with a hot tub and evening hours.
Who Should Book Which: Aria for Calm, Bellagio for Classic Vegas
Book Aria if: you want a modern room, a soaking tub, a warm welcome at check-in, and a calm resort that feels removed from the Strip’s chaos. It’s great for light sleepers and couples.
Book Bellagio if: you want the iconic center-Strip location, the fountains and the Conservatory steps away, a great breakfast at Sadelle’s, and timeless elegance. It’s great for first-timers and special occasions.
Skip either if: you want a party pool scene or a budget stay. Both lean upscale and relaxed.
Final Take: A True Tie, and I’d Go Back to Both
I really can’t pick a loser here. If I had to lean, I’d lean slightly toward Bellagio, because it has always been my favorite Las Vegas hotel and nothing beats its location, the Conservatory, or breakfast at Sadelle’s. But Aria genuinely surprised me. The warm welcome, the soaking tub, the modern room, and the pool made it feel just as special. Choose the one that fits your trip, and you’ll be happy either way.
Aria vs Bellagio FAQ: Tubs, Location, Winter Pools, and Which Is Better
Which is better, Aria or Bellagio?
It’s close. In our back-to-back stays in pool-view kings one floor apart, Aria won on check-in, the bathroom, and a modern room, while Bellagio won on location, the Conservatory, and classic elegance. Pick Aria for a calm, modern stay and Bellagio for the iconic center-Strip experience.
Does Aria or Bellagio have a bathtub?
Our Aria king had a soaking tub and rain shower together in a marble wet room. Our Bellagio pool-view king had a shower only, with no tub.
Which has the better location, Aria or Bellagio?
Bellagio. It sits right on the Strip at the center of the action, with the fountains out front. Aria sits farther back from the Boulevard, which helps keep it calm but means a longer walk to the Strip.
Are Aria and Bellagio rooms quiet?
Both of our pool-view kings were quiet and peaceful at night. Both hotels check room keys at the guest elevators: at Aria you tap your key at a security stand, and at Bellagio a guard checks your key at the elevator bank. That’s a big part of why both room floors feel so calm.
Are the Aria and Bellagio pools open in winter?
Yes. Both hotels keep select heated pools open through the winter, but fewer pools are open and hours are shorter than in summer. Exact hours change by season, so call the hotel before you plan a pool day.
Also on VegasUnscripted
- Aria Las Vegas Review: A Quiet 20th-Floor Pool-View Stay
- Bellagio Pool View Room Review
- Waldorf Astoria versus Vdara: Which Las Vegas Hotel Wins?
VegasUnscripted is an independent Las Vegas guide written by a 24-year local. This post may contain affiliate links, at no extra cost to you.