The Hopeful Traveler: The Cosmopolitan Las Vegas: Reception Lobby & Video Pillars

Note: Post updated on 5/19/12 with additional photos.

The modern design of the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas is immediately striking as guests enter the reception lobby. Video screens installed on each side of the lobby's pillars and the reflective polished black floors and ceilings give the feeling of walking through a work of art. Your eyes are immediately drawn to the fluid video works of art that changes every few minutes.

Like being displayed on a black canvas, the elements of the lobby's design pops: from the red Louis XIV resort registration desks which utilizes mirrors to give the optical illusion they are hollow beneath; white chandeliers; and video screens running the entire length of reception on which the video artwork of the lobby's pillars is also showcased.

Because of the sheer number of rooms (2,995), I can imagine that this reception lobby is not immune to the long lines during peak check-in hours that is common at other mega resorts on the Las Vegas Strip. But it's after midnight so there is only person ahead of me in line and three desks open.

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(photo credit: TheHopefulTraveler)

The red reception desks are clean and void of any clutter. Guests register by signing their name using a finger on an iPad. My check-in experience is not as simple or smooth however. Keep in my mind that I was already frustrated earlier in the day when my flight was delayed and I had to switch airlines causing me to arrive at midnight rather than at 7pm. In addition the taxi driver tried to pull that long-hauling trick.

I experienced something similar when I checked into the Paris Las Vegas last month where I had to spend one night in a room designated as smoking. But the hotel made it up by giving me a corner upgraded "Red Room" for the remainder of my stay.

When I knew I may be arriving after midnight, I called the hotel to note that I will be arriving much later than expected. This apparently did nothing to help. When I reached the front desk employee does something on the computer then steps into a side room. I am told that my room choice, a Wraparound Terrace Suite, is sold-out. Keep in mind that I also pre-paid for my hotel. The front desk says they can give me a Lanai Suite which would be fine except I'm told it will cost me an extra $200 a night. The front desk tries to promote the offer but saying it has immediate access to one of the hotel's pool. But here's the catch I told her: I don't swim. She doesn't say anything except to excuse herself to again step into that side room.

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(photo credit: TheHopefulTraveler)

She returns after a minute to let me know they do have a Wraparound Suite available. So I exclaim a little loudly "so you do have a room available." Rather than arguing the matter, I take my room keys and head to my room in the hotel's East Side Tower. The elevators that are adjacent to reception all lead to rooms in the West Side Tower. So it takes a trek through the casino with luggage in tow to head to the correct tower.

Now I can understand that Las Vegas properties would like to save their best rooms and keep rooms available to their high rollers and for this hotel in particularly, Gold and Platinum members of the Marriott Rewards Program. But the way I see it if you book a room and you pre-pay for it and you call to say you'll be arriving late, there should be a room available. And if they're sold out of that room, it shouldn't cost you anything to be upgraded to a more expensive room.

But the front desk employee kept a smile and was helpful in giving me a map of the hotel and explaining where layout of the casino and where some of the restaurants as well as the East Side Tower is located. And I have to admit I was still dazzled by the chic modern surroundings of the Cosmopolitan. I knew I probably had to eat something before heading to bed since my last meal was more than five hours ago on the plane during the flight from Honolulu to Vegas. The employee direct me to the hotel's 24-hour restaurant, The Henry, which is just a few steps away from the East Side Tower's elevator lobby.