The Aria Express is an elevated train that connects Park MGM to the Bellagio. It opened December 1, 2009 in conjunction with the City Center. Here is an interesting observation: City Center doesn't have a business listing. At any rate, over the years MGM has subtly rebranded City Center as the Aria. One of the ramifications of this rebranding was renaming the City Center Tram as the Aria Express.
The Aria Express tram dates further back than City Center. Once upon a time there stood on the land where City Center is today a hotel casino called The Boardwalk, a massive parking lot, helicopter tours landing area, and stores. In the far back was a tram connecting the back of the Monte Carlo to the Bellagio. I remember it being a far less impressive tram.
Today the Aria Express runs along a 2,100 long elevated track. In my opinion it is more of a visual statement than a functional ride. The majority of the ride is 6 to 8 minutes through the heart of the City Center on a route that serves three closely spaced stops. The southernmost stop is at the back of Park MGM where the resort transitions into the Aria. The mid stop is the Shops at Crystal's. And the north stop is the Bellagio and Vddaro.
The dot map below shows the Aria Express route:
Aria Express Route _______\. North
Approx. 6 minutes /
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Stop 1. Stop 2. Stop 3.
Park MGM/ Crystals. The Bellagio /
Aria. The Vdarra
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I have ridden the Aria Express several times throughout the years. From all the years riding it, it does not save much time in comparison to just walking along the Las Vegas Strip. The reality is that it is a far walk deep into Park MGM and The Bellagio that in some parts is closer to Interstate 15 than the Strip. The walk brings you west, then north, and then east to meet up with the Strip. Vice versa for the other direction. This walk leads west through the totality of the Park MGM casino, then north along a hallway near the conference center, makes an s-curve, then goes east along the hall overlooking the pool and north up an escalator leading to the Aria. Then another escalator south leads to the elevated station. At the worst the wait could be 8 minutes. After a 6 to 8 minute tram ride it is a long walk through the Bellagio. After two sets of escalators, it is a walk through a long hall making s-curves by the south tower and convention center. It continues northeast past the conservatory and registration where it continues through the casino and high end mall that returns to the Strip.
The following dot map shows the indirect walk in conjunction with the Aria Express. The circles are the walk. The "x" s are the Aria Express. And the "~" is the Las Vegas Strip.
Dot Map of Aria Express with walking:
_____\ North
/
*Aria
°° ° ° [ ×××× × ×× ] °°
° ° ° °*Bellagio
* Park. ° ° *Crystal's. °
MGM °
° °
~~°~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~°~
Las Vegas Boulevard
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The reasons that I take the tram is the perception of safety and enjoying a tram ride. When I really do not want to deal with the panhandlers and other elements on the Strip, especially at night, I partake in this walk and ride. The reality is that it is an enjoyable walk through attractive properties. The tram itself is attractive. It travels along a picture postcard diorama of the Aria and through Crystals. It reminds me of a Disney World tram. And in the most brutal days of summer the air conditioning in the contiguous hotels and the tram is helpful. The seats are also comfortable. Despite the perseption of safety there have been a couple of times that I saw some Loony Toons on the tram. Fortunately they were not violent Loony Toons. I say this because I have yet to see one security guard all these years at the stations or in the tram.
When I am walking on the Las Vegas Strip between the South and Mid to North Strip, the Aria Express in conjunction with a walk through Park MGM and Bellagio has been an enjoyable alternative to solely walking the Strip. Without a doubt it adds to the quality of life for the Visitor local on the Las Vegas Strip. I will return! read more