Please review Rio Vs Flamingo

Going in July.

Tell me the difference between the pools and the rooms.

How hard is it to get to the strip from Rio - options?

Thanks

 

Don't stay at Rio without a car. You can't really walk to the strip. They probably have some kind of shuttle, but it's probably not a reliable form of transportation... and you have to be on their schedule. Also everything there is outdated, the rooms the casino, everything and half of it's closed... I wouldn't bother. Unless it's a last resort type situation.

Flamingo has one of the best pools... the rooms are updated, and you are on the strip. Not my favorite place, but in comparison, it's better than Rio!

 

There is a shuttle, but its a pain and doesnt run very late. Its not worth the price diff to lose the convenience of the strip unless you intend to never hit the strip. the only thing Rio has over Flamingo is the bigger rooms with great mountain views. You didnt mention casino, so I wont comment there.

 

Pools at both hotels are very good. Push IMO.

Rooms at the Rio are larger than Flamingo, better than the standard rooms at the Flamingo, on par with the Go rooms at flamingo as far as bang for buck goes, and maybe a little behind Go Room with view, if view is important to you. If view is important, you may end up behind Donny or Maries nose anyways.

Location wise, Flamingo beats Rio hands down being center strip.

The Rio does have 2 shuttles that run every 20 minutes or so. One goes to Bally's and the other to Harrah's. They seemed fine to me. People mention that the shuttle doesn't run late enough, and that may be true. However, being older now, I personally have no problem with getting the 11pm-ish shuttle back to Rio and finishing up my gambling there. Besides, also in my younger days, it seemed I was to far away from my hotel at the end of the night and ended up cabbing it anyway.

Rio has recently been my latest favorite to stay at, this being my 3rd time in a row staying there. Before that I stayed at Flamingo, for about 6 times in a row. I like them both, but for different reasons. The buffet at Rio is very good, the buffet at Flamingo is very below average.

 

Normally my answer would be - do not do the Rio. Hotel is fine, but it is not on the strip.

Since you have been to Vegas at least 8 times, you know better than us what you prefer to do.

 

This statement is a good one.

If you like to be on the Strip past ~midnight, don't stay at Rio unless you want to pay for cabs or stay sober enough to drive back to the Rio.

 

Just from the way you worded your questions, I can tell the Flamingo is the one for you. I love the Rio, but a car is a must, and it doesn't have the "strip feel" at all. Pools are great at both. Rooms are fine at both. You'll be happier with Flamingo. Have a good time.

 

I've stayed in both hotels, but more recently the Rio in May (i haven't stayed at Flamingo since 2002), but i do know if you choose Flamingo, make sure it's the GO room.
My stay at Rio was a pleasant one even though i'm a Strip guy. I had a Strip view in the Ipinema Tower which was very convenient to the shuttle. But as others have said, if you don't have a car, you may be limited if you are an early riser or late night person because of the schedule.
I can tell you the pools at Rio were awesome, especially the topless pool....LOL.
If you do have a car, i'd choose Rio. They have larger rooms, free fridge, and you can walk to Gold Coast and Palms.
If you stay at Rio without a car, ask for the Ipinema Tower..........if you will have a car, do the Masquarade Tower.

 

On the contrary the shuttles run frequently, every 20-30 minutes, they have two of them, one back and forth to Harrahs and one back and forth to Paris. Quite convenient. Not sure where the "half of it is closed" comment comes from... The Flamingo has a great pool (Rio pool is very nice too) and location but otherwise there's nothing there that would make me want to stay there. I don't like the Flamingo casino at all. IMHO.

 

MUSIC at the pools is very important to my wife as she'll spend the majority of her time there.
At Flamingo, the pool scene WAS for the mid-20's party crowd with a lot of Hip-hop style music. As we are NOT in that demo (aged 64 and 52) we now call RIO our new home.
Can anyone note if this is still the same?

Many rooms at Rio are renovated in Masquarade Tower, and called Samba Suites...and will be there again in 140 sleeps.
The car is rented thru Total Rewards Alliances (Full size $109 for 8 days) Check my thread at "Getting there and Getting Around".
Soooooo...if the pool party scene is important to you choose Flamingo. If you want a quieter pool, choose Rio.

 

I was at the Flamingo about 2 years ago and the younger party crowd was still at the pool. I am late 30's and felt out of place when I walked out there. I love the Flamingo as a hotel, and pool is beautiful, but a bit young for me. Maybe the pool is calmer int he middle of the week, not sure as it was a Sunday morning when I took a stroll out there!