Rate Vegas

On September 02 2008, Brent N. wrote:

Stayed at the Rio 8/30-9/1 over the Labor Day weekend.

Bottom-line, it was nice. Nothing to rave about, but all in all, my wife, 11-year old daughter, and I had a very nice time.

The room was comped by Harrahs Total Rewards so I really can’t talk about value for the money (since I didn’t pay anything). We had a premier suite in the (older) impaniero (sp?) tower. We checked in at about 3:00 PM and the hotel clerk took a few minutes to find an available non-smoking room with two beds. Our room was clean, spacious, and the beds were comfortable. There was a small coffe maker (one cup at a time) and a fridge for guest use in the room (nice). When we checked in the safe was locked so I called maintenance and in about 5 minutes (tops) the guy was there to open it for us.

Housekeeping did a good job and responded to my request for some extra shampoo with 5 bottles.

The casino was OK…table limits were 15-25 with a few $10 games (not blackjack….let it ride, etc…)

It was a bit smoky, but as long as they let people smoke in the casinos…that’s the way it is.

The “masquarade” show above the casino goes nightly on the hour at 7PM and is a lot more adult themed than it used to be (basically a strip tease where they keep the naughty bits covered) so it wasn’t the best thing to bring my daughter to.

We bowled at Lucky Strikes…it was fun, but not as nice as the Lucky Strikes we’d been to near Seattle. There was a 20% coupon in the room so we did save almost $18.

Shuttle service to the strip was easy and prompt. Although I was amazed at the rudeness of some folks who walked up and cut the line…or the cheapness of some who didn’t tip the driver.

We ate all of our meals elsewhere (except pizza at Lucky Strikes which was good…and huge) so no restaurant comments.

All in all, we had a nice time and would stay again if we couldn’t get a comped suite at the Venetian.

On August 11 2008, Lisa wrote:

Love the casino and buffet, the rooms are not at all what I expected. The bed was AWFUL, room kind of worn down and we could hear EVERYTHING from the people next to us. Won’t be staying here again.

On November 15 2005, RateVegas.com User wrote:

room was very nice and clean,view not the best,but you aren’t in the room that much.everyone was very helpful
dolores

On November 05 2005, RateVegas.com User wrote:

Stayed here forslot tournament at end of October. Got a renovated room. Was very nice, but bathroom was very small. Only a skinny little ledge over the wash basin for your personal stuff. There was a make-up area and wash basin just outside the bath which made it a little more convenient. Had fridge, large closet but no coffee pot. 32” TV. Furniture was all new. The room smelled of new carpet.
View was of air conditioning, the Gold Coast and the Palms-not exciting. May or may not stay here again. Depends on whether or not we can get it comped.

On September 27 2005, RateVegas.com User wrote:

Holed two friends here back in 2002.This place has really few things to be left impressed about.The rooms are not suites,period,they are just a little bigger than average rooms equipped with old and stinky couches.The casino is boring and it really tries hard to be entertaining….bikini dealers speakabout….pathetic.It offers a lot of good dining options tho,so just come here to dine.Do not stay at the Rio.It’s really worth to spend those extra few bucks and stay on the Strip,even if your room does not have any view.

On June 19 2005, RateVegas.com User wrote:

Had 5 comped nights. Room was nice and big but the decor stunk. The room was done in beige. Looked like a high roller room from way back when. View was okay of the pool area and parts of the strip. Our room was in the Ipanema Tower and the Masquerade Tower blocked our view of much of the strip. Bathroom was small. Did have separate dressing area, but the enclosed bath was tight. No separate shower. However, the water pressure in the shower-tub was good. I asked for an upgrade since I am a Harrahs Diamond member and they told me that none were available because of the WSOP and several trade shows that were being held there. Will probably stay at Harrahs in future.

On February 13 2005, RateVegas.com User wrote:

Please be advised Rio has remodeled rooms, which are very nice, and their older rooms-which look it. Tip at checkin is big help to get a view, etc. Rooms are big!, with fridge, separate vanity from toilet area- a big plus if with wife
Stayed 4 times and never a bad experience!

On January 31 2005, Golddigger wrote:

Stayed at the RIO over New Years 2005 and it was quite an adventure. Up to New Years Eve, the trip was great. I liked the room and the Carnival Buffet. I found the Seafood Buffet overrated and too expensve. On New Years Eve, the Rio lost power in the casino and Masq. Tower. Although we were frightened, I found the staff very reassuring and they calmed me down. We choose to stay on until January 5th (many guests left on January 1st due to the power failure) and we really enjoyed our stay.

On December 21 2004, RateVegas.com User wrote:

I agree with the earlier review that the Rio is nothing more than a glorified motel. I was comped 2 nights. I got in late on the first night but I knew immediately I had to get out of this place. Furnishings were old and worn. The room is NOT a suite, it’s just a large room with old furnishings. I thought the casino was tacky. I checked out first thing in the morning after my first night, skipping the second comp’ed night. I’d rather at another hotel than stay here for another night. If you want to save money, go to the Monte Carlo. It’s a heckuva lot nicer, has a better location and is still a bargain. Possibly the best value on the strip. And if you can afford better than the Rio, don’t even think of staying here—go to Paris, Mandalay, Bellagio or Venetian. Rio can’t hold a candle to those places.

On November 09 2004, RateVegas.com User wrote:

I love the Rio. Hit $3300. jackpot. The music and carnival atmosphere keeps a smile on your face all the time. The rooms are big and have all the things you need. The Total Rewards players card is good at all Harrah’s properties so it is easy to build up comps. They send a lot of great special offers in the mail too.

On October 09 2004, RateVegas.com User wrote:

Not happy with the way we were treated upon check-in by “Danielle”. We were treated rather poorly because we requested a non-smoking room. She informed us that because we decided to go “the cheaper route” and book through Expedia that we had no choice on what room we were receiving. I wasn’t asking for an upgrade, I just didn’t want to sleep in a room reeking of cigarettes. We checked in at 10AM and she told us that we couldn’t get our room key until 3 because they weren’t able to assign rooms so early, if that was the case how did she know there were no non-smoking rooms available? At 3PM we went to another desk to get our key and the clerk informed us that when we 1st checked in we were already assigned a smoking room…..interesting…..they need to get their facts straight. My husband then requested a room change to a non-smoking room and we were granted the request in about 30 seconds from a “manager”.

The rest of our stay was quite enjoyable, except for when we 1st checked in.

On August 19 2004, coleslough wrote:

nice size suites, but the furnishings and carpets are worn.

restuarants are only fair. buffet is not very good.

bikinis nigh club is great eye candy.

high roller pool(other side of rock waterfall) has several topless babes using it while we were there.

On August 19 2004, coleslough wrote:

nice size suites, but the furnsihings and carpets are worn.

rstuarants are only fair. buffet is not very good.

bikinis nigh clbb is great eye candy.

high roller pool(other side of rock waterfall) has several topless babes using it while we were there.

On August 10 2004, kingfishx wrote:

Stayed at Rio April ‘04 and had a great room in the Masquerade Tower. Fabulous views! Pool area was quite nice too, and had a sandy beach. Bathroom was funky but functional (love the ‘shower window’). Great food and entertainment at the Rio, but the gaming has tightened considerably since their merge with Harrah’s. So…a great place to stay, but gamble elsewhere (like the Gold Coast next door).

On June 25 2004, samovila wrote:

Rooms are nice in relationship to the value. They have remodeled some rooms but others are still “old.” Try and get a newer room if you can.

On March 12 2004, biegs wrote:

Like the rooms. Play enough to get free nights, but spend most of our time elsewhere

On February 23 2004, swanboy333 wrote:

Very nice large room. Very nice people and helpful. Stayed in Masquerade Tower. Elevators were right in front of Club Rio which was awesome. Plenty of room and pool was nice and had some sand near pool which was cool. Has refrigerator in room and mini bar. Couch was really comfortable and so was bed. Lots of room for horseplay. Had a wrestling match in the room and didn’t run into any furniture. I like this hotel alot and recommend it.

On February 22 2004, jakedduck wrote:

The Rio is nothing more than a gloified high rise low class motel. It is obvious the people rating this establishment are not familier with high or even good quality hotels. The Rio advertises their hotel as “all suite” which is misleading since neither of our rooms were suites. Just one big room. Room are noisey. We had a party on one side and screaming crying kids on the other. Called security, no response until I reminded them of the ffinancial consequences of having unattended children in a room. Then they arrived within 7 minutes.

On June 07 2003, rio14 wrote:

We stayed at Rio once overlooking the strip. The rooms were gorgeous and at night the outer wall is one big window and you can lay in bed and see all the lights on the strip. It is amazing.

On June 06 2003, wolfman1953 wrote:

We’ve stayed here several times. (Go elsewhere to gamble) This place is fun. Voodoo Lounge, parade in the sky, “pervert rooms” (there is a window in the wall between the sleeping area and bath tub/shower). The rooms are little larger than average. The bathroom is average, with a second sink outside of the bathroom with the fridge.

On May 28 2003, lzcutter wrote:

This review is for the Caricocas Suites available in the Ipanema Tower. These suites are at the end of the hallway. I believe they are approximately 1100 square feet.
There is a double door entrance and doorbell. There is a wall of floor to ceiling windows offering a view of the Strip.
Upon entering, there is a closet on one side and a guest bathroom on the other. The soap and lotion are of a higher grade than you get in the standard suite.
As you walk into the room, there is a wet-bar with sink and refrigerator. The living room has a sofa and two chairs, coffee table, 27” television, a desk table and chair. There is a two line phone with a data port. If you do not have a laptap there is wireless internet access that costs roughly $9.00 every 24 hours. The television offers only the most basic of cable- A&E,the Discovery Channel, TBS, TNT, a number of sports channels, financial channels and news channels in addition to the local channels. No Premimum movie channels though you can order Movies on Demand for a nominally fee.
Off of the living room is a set of french doors. Through these doors is a large bedroom with a California king bed, a divan with reading light, a 27” television, but best of all, a large soaking tub with jets in front of the wall of ceiling to floor windows. The placement of the television armoire could be better if trying to view the tv from the tub. However, the view of the Strip from the tub is great. Off the bedroom is closet area that leads into the bathroom. Their is a two line phone as well.
The bathroom has a separate make up area with chair, two sink vanity, separate shower and the toilet is in a room of its own with a phone.
Room Service is efficient and quick. Robes are available upon request.
The decor in the living room is a bit odd in that the blackout curtains are wildly tropical and do not match the sofa and chairs. The wrap around windows offer stunning views of the Strip, downtown and Battle Mountain.
A good room for entertaining a small group.
The bedroom is the keypoint of this suite and the soaking tub with a view is dynamite.

On May 28 2003, lzcutter wrote:

This review is about the large Masquerade Suites in the Masquerade Tower. These suites are at the end of the end of the hallway and have double door entry along with a doorbell. The suites are huge. When you walk in, there is a foyer with a closet on one wall and guest bathroom on the other side.
Directly inside the room is the sitting area with a 27” television and entertainment center with CD player,speakers and VHS deck. There is a two line phone with a data port. If you do not have a laptop, there is wireless internet access that costs roughly $9.00 for 24 hours. There is a comfortable sofa and two overstuffed chairs. The room is highlighted by a wall of ceiling to floor windows with a views of the Strip.
Off the sitting area is a dining room with a large table that seats four comfortable, a wet bar, cadenza and refrigerator. There is also a coffee maker. Again, ceiling to floor windows with a view of the Strip.
Off the other side of the sitting area in a room all its own is the bedroom with a California King bed, 27” television, entertainment center with CD changer, speakers and VHS machine.
Again, ceiling to floor windows with a view. Another two line phone with data port.
Directly from the bedroom is a huge long bathroom. There are two separate sinks with vanities, a make-up area with chair, a separate closet area with chest of drawers as well.
The toilet is in its own room with a phone.
A large soaking tub with jets and a view out the ceiling to floor window. There is a separate shower as well. The towels are big and fluffy and don’t smell of starch.
The sitting and dining area of the suite is very well proportioned, especially for entertaining moderate groups. Room Service is quick and efficient and won’t break the bank. There are separate air conditioning controls in the sitting/dining area and another control in the bedroom.
The suites are tastfully done in tropics decor. There is turn down service at night and chocolates left on your bed. Robes are available upon request.

On May 28 2003, lzcutter wrote:

This review is for the Super Suites available in the Ipanema Tower. The Super Suites are located on the 21st floor and are accessible only by a separate key in the elevator.
The 21st floor used to have a conceriege on it. While the conceriege is gone, there is room tastefully decorated for reading and it is here that the ice machine is located. I suspect they used to have wine and cheese laid out for those staying in the Super Suites but that practise, like the conceriege, is gone. Still a nice room for the ice machine.
The Super Suites have a double door entry. The foyer offers a large closet on one side and a guest bathroom on the other. The soaps and lotion are a higher grade than offered in the standard suite. The living room offers a sofa and two chairs with matching coffee table. There is a two line phone with data port. If you need wireless internet access the fee is roughly $9.00 every 24 hours. There is a wall of floor to ceiling window offering views of the mountains, the north Strip or the South Strip. From some of the rooms you get a partial view of the Bellagio Fountain show. There is also a large dining table that sets eight and a wet bar and cadenza. There is also a large glass bookcase that remains lighted 24/7 filled with tasteful decorations. This room has its own air conditioning control.

The bedroom is in a separate room and offers a 27” television, divan, a day bed for sitting and gazing out the large picture windows, a California King bed, two line phone with data port and separate air conditioning controls. Be aware that the Super Suites with a Southern Strip view get the most sun during the day. This means in the summertime it will take them longer to cool down if you leave the curtains open. As with all rooms in the Rio, there are no premimum movie channels though there is Movies on Demand. Cable is only the very basic offering A&E, the Discovery channel, all sports channels, financial channels, news channels, TBS and TNT in addition the local stations.
There is a closet with a chest of drawers area that leads into the bathroom.
There is a makeup vanity area with chair, a spacious two sink vanity, soaking tub with jets, a separate shower and a toilet with a room of its own and its own phone.
Robes are available upon request and there is turn down service as well.
The rooms are well decorated and run the gamut from light and tropical to provincial to dark wood.
If staying in a Super Suite ask for one near the elevators as some of them are so far from the elevator you will feel like you have walked to Outer Mongolia by time you get to your room.
Each Super Suite seems to have a one bedroom Suite next to it with an adjoining door.
The keyed access at the elevator means that if people want to come up to your room you have to go down to the first floor and bring them up. However, people are intriqued in the elevator when you put the key in and press the 21st floor button.
Room Service is efficient and the maid service is very accomodating and friendly.

On May 28 2003, lzcutter wrote:

This review is for a Standard Suite in either the Ipanema or Masquerade Towers. The standard suite consists of a combined sitting area and bedroom. There is a large sofa sectional and coffee table. There is also a small desk table and chairs. A 27” television that can be swiveled to accomodate viewing from the bed or the sofa. The beds are either California King or two queens. There is a wall of floor to ceiling windows offering views of the South Strip, North Strip, Battle Mountain, the Spring Mountains or Mt. Charleston.
There is a refrigerator in addition to the honor bar but no coffee maker. Some rooms especially in the middle of the hallways have two vanities. There are two closets. The bathtub/shower are in the same room as the toilet and there is a door between that and the rest of the bathroom offering some privacy while you do your business.
The rooms in the Ipanema Tower are the oldest and original rooms but are wearing their age well. The rooms in the Masquerade Tower are more brightly decorated. The rooms in the Masquerade Tower offer longer walks from the elevator.

At both towers there is guard in the evenings and late night on weekends that you have to show a key to. At the bottom of both towers there is a small pastry and coffee bar. If staying in the Ipanema Tower use the parking garage on Valley View, as parking in the newer garage will mean a very long walk.
If staying in the Masquerade Tower, use the new parking garage that is accessible either from the front entrance or the back entrance off Polaris. Parking anywhere else will mean a looong walk.
A few things to keep in mind if staying in the Masquerade Tower, the Parade in the Sky runs every half hour almost every night and especially on week-ends. This is a very loud and, on week-ends, crowded spectacle. If you have been at a trade show or a noisy enviroment all day, walking into the Masquerade Village while this is going on can be very off-putting. If you like a more subdued entrance, I would recommend staying in the Ipanema Tower.
The rooms, which pioneered the all suite concept, are worth their value.

On April 28 2003, dsavilla wrote:

Stayed for friends wedding. Was exceptional experience. Excellent room and entertainment.

On February 28 2003, Hunter wrote:

Nice large room with a big TV and a comfy bed. Great room value at the Rio.

On November 05 2002, RateVegas User wrote:

rooms where very nice and clean ,staff was friendly.Great resteraunts,and free show.

On November 19 2001, RateVegas User wrote:

I recently returned from my first stay at the Rio, and I was very impressed! It is a big, beautiful, fun hotel and casino. Rooms are very large and well-equipped. If Vegas was not such an exciting place, I would have been content to lounge around in the room all day! The casino is very festive and upbeat. There are several good bars and restaurants. The Village Seafood Buffet is absolutely not to be missed! The staff was friendly, although housekeeping could have been better. While it’s true that the Rio is off-Strip, it is a wonderful place to stay, and you really don’t even have to leave it! We had a rental car, but we hardly spent any time on the Strip at all because we enjoyed the Rio so much. I would recommend it to people who have already been to Vegas a few times and have seen the major Strip attractions.

On September 22 2001, RateVegas User wrote:

We were there during the World Trade Center disaster and were treated very nicely and given lower rates as we had to spent three more night than planned (9/12/01-9/18/01) due the cancealed flights home. The Masquerade Tower is better than the Ipanema Tower. We did have a very nice room and found that their room service offered as good or better food than did many of their resturants. We will return again.

On August 10 2001, RateVegas User wrote:

Upgraded upon arrival to a deluxe suite which was wonderful. 3
seperate rooms and a huge bathroom. We had a wonderful view of
the pool and strip. Would retu

On July 29 2001, RateVegas User wrote:

The rooms here are great and a good value. I have been staying here for years and haven’t really seen any negative changes since Harrah’s took over. The service is top notch, I have always been treated really well here which is why I keep going back. I especially like the coffee pot and the refrigerator and all the space in the room.

On July 04 2001, RateVegas User wrote:

What a boring place, big, yet boring rooms. Plus, this play is way off the strip and getting to the shuttle bus that takes guests to the strip is a LONG walk. I won’t be back there. I don’t see what all the fuss is about with this hotel (I will admit though that the buffet was a 10!). So, don’t stay there, just haul it to the buffet, chow-down, and bust a move back to one of the strip hotels….

On March 13 2001, RateVegas User wrote:

we have been going to the Rio for 5 years, since last November 2000. the place has gone down hill !!! Harrah’s bought it out and changed everything. Used to be the best now it’s one of the worst. Big business takes over and hurts the average working guy and even the higher middle class people, I would advise going to another hotel unless they go back to being the old RIO soon !!

On January 23 2001, RateVegas User wrote:

Stayed in the old Ipanema tower .Big room ,but do not expect something fancy .They should stop calling them suite .A pyramid room at the Luxor is quite more nice .

On September 06 2000, RateVegas User wrote:

Probably the best value in Las Vegas. Rooms are equal to, or surpass many of the best at a fraction of the cost. One of the best pool areas . Casino is attractive if tight. Great food options. A real Vegas treasure..

On May 28 2000, RateVegas User wrote:

I give the rooms a seven because they are definitely large and have great views.They are not really suites though,but rather big rooms with a couch,chair and dressing area.The bathroom was diappointing,especially when I compared it to my next stay at Mandalay Bay.A good choice if you get a decent price($65-$85) and don’t mind being a little off the strip.