1. Welcome to VegasMessageBoard
    It appears you are visiting our community as a guest.
    In order to view full-size images, participate in discussions, vote in polls, etc, you will need to Log in or Register.

RIO May 1-4

Discussion in 'Vegas Trip Reports' started by azbob, May 7, 2014.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. azbob

    azbob MIA

    Joined:
    Mar 6, 2013
    Messages:
    575
    Location:
    Las Vegas
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    220

    My Trip Report

    Was in town for a job related meeting and stayed over at the Rio for three nights. I don't give CET much business anymore, but the rooms were comped and I still have plenty of credit there so it is hard to pass up for a short stay.

    Room was surprisingly nice, clean and had a great view of the pool and strip.

    Typical CET frustrations kick in at that point a) $24 per day, plus tax resort fee and on top of that they charged me $1.25 for an 800 call b) shower had very low water pressure and, even with hot at full blast, was lukewarm c) VP on the bar top pays 6:5 for double double d) a personal issue, they don't even offer Canadian Club whiskey if you are at the tables (not on the menu anymore).

    I will say the staff were much more friendly that usual so that is a plus.

    The biggest issue I had was at 7am on Saturday (Kentucky Derby Day) the only place to get breakfast was Hash House. Even though I could get it comped, breakfast for $20 is not that appetizing especially when their approach is quantity versus quality of food. The American Grille had a sign that it opened at 11am and the deli opened at 8. The Starbucks cart was open with a line. Thankfully the buffet is no longer open for breakfast...now if they would only close for lunch and dinner it would spare the uninitiated the horror of eating there.

    A lot of the dining options on the first and second floor at the opposite end of the casino are closed...not much action going on down there.

    Went to the CG for the day on Friday. Everything there was great colored by the fact that I hit a royal. Good meal at the steak restaurant and the bars and sportsbook was very busy.

    All in all, if it's free...I can still put up with a few days sleeping at a CET property but, eating and gambling will occur somewhere else...so day they may catch on but, the offers keep rolling in.
     
  2. breanna61

    breanna61 Super Moderator

    Joined:
    Aug 6, 2008
    Messages:
    17,816
    Location:
    Ontario, Canada
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    130
    Has the Rio closed Sao Paulo Cafe? It used to be open 24/7. Congrats on the Royal.
     
  3. leo21

    leo21 VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Jan 9, 2010
    Messages:
    6,477
    Location:
    Chicago South Suburbs
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    25
    Sau Paulo was replaced by HHAGG and hadn't been 24/7 in a long while,
     
  4. Rush

    Rush MIA

    Joined:
    Aug 31, 2010
    Messages:
    2,983
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    76
    It amazes me that anyone can find anything remotely wonderful about any CET joint anymore. There are zero good gambles on machines, they are not "24hr" establishments from what I hear, and they nickel and dime you to death!

    Where's the draw?
     
  5. stackinchips

    stackinchips VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Jul 13, 2009
    Messages:
    1,202
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    9
    Free rooms for most people who gamble at least $100-$200/day?

    I started at CET when first going to Vegas, but as my bankroll grew, I realized that while the free rooms came easy at CET, getting anything else took serious play. I do actually like playing at a couple of their properties, but MLife gets most of my play now. I'd say it's about 90/10, but my 10 is still enough to get a free room at CET in case I need it for some reason. Mlife has better properties pound for pound, I have better luck there, and my comps ALWAYS include F&B, and FP in addition to my room comp. Usually I get transportation and/or shows thrown in as well. Add in the express comps that keep building and backend comps and it's not even close.

    Like I said though CET still throws out room comps to even the smallest gamblers (which is 70% of vegas visitors), and for most people a comped room is the biggest/most important comp they can receive.
     
  6. breanna61

    breanna61 Super Moderator

    Joined:
    Aug 6, 2008
    Messages:
    17,816
    Location:
    Ontario, Canada
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    130
    It's been quite a while since I stayed at Rio. CET certainly does take great properties and ruin them.
     
  7. Rush

    Rush MIA

    Joined:
    Aug 31, 2010
    Messages:
    2,983
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    76


    Well, they can stick their "free rooms", IMO. It aint free if I have to pay over $20 for it in "fees" a night for that room. That's a disgusting, sad joke.

    I get their offers still, and I always click on them to see if anything has changed.....and nothing has. I can get three nights "COMP" at the lower end dumps, and when I go to reserve, there is a tidy little total of around a hundy for my "comp" stay.

    I just see more and more folks complaining about CET, yet they still eat it up. I don't get it?
     
  8. casinokid68

    casinokid68 Caesars Diamond Member

    Joined:
    Sep 25, 2013
    Messages:
    2,934
    Location:
    brooklyn, ny
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    90
    I love my CET!!

    I am Platinum with CET, and I never pay for rooms or get charged any resort fees. I am once again heading to Vegas in the summer, and have 5 nights comped completely free of charge at PH for a Friday thru Wednesday stay. No resort fees at all. Have never paid one. And last year I made 3 trips to Vegas from NYC. In July, October and December. So no complaints from me here. And at the end o every stay, they always take off some restaurant charges that I accumulated.:beer:
     
  9. sybgal

    sybgal VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Apr 19, 2004
    Messages:
    6,261
    Location:
    Indiana
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    36
    Unless CET sells our local riverboat, we will continue to be pretty loyal to them. We stay Diamond each year with only reasonable losses of our "fun money". Get 5-6 nites comped in LV twice a year with no resort fees, keep enough comp $$ to more than cover all food on each trip, get 2 free show tickets each trip and sometimes 4 when we are there at the end of the month thru the beginning of the next one, get free slot play good everyday of the month at the local casino plus make use of the Diamond Lounge in LV & at home....especially on the free alcohol nites. We just can't get enough comped at Mlife properties with our play twice a year in LV.
     
  10. Mitkraft

    Mitkraft VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Jul 6, 2012
    Messages:
    2,604
    Location:
    Houston, TX
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    13
    CET is certainly not a swanky as most of the MGM places (Except for Caesars which I still say is comparable) however I still like them for two very important reasons:

    1. They are the only casino chain in LV where I can reliably get comped or very discounted Pet friendly rooms. MGM apparently believes only high-ish rollers should be able to bring their dogs so they only allow them at TheHotel and Vdara. On a rare occasion I can get a comp or casino rate room at TheHotel but even on a free room I have to pay $75/night when you add the resort fee and $50/night pet fee. At CET I can stay in a pet room often for exactly $0.

    2. CET is also one of the only places where I can regularly string 3-5 comp nights together to make a decent stay. We like to be in Vegas for a week or more at a time. I think the most comp nights in a row I've had at any MLife property (that I'd be willing to stay at) is 3.

    Also aside from a few notable exceptions we've had pretty good experiences and service at CET properties. I'd say the good and bad is about on par with the good and bad we've experienced at the various MLife properties.
     
    Last edited: May 8, 2014
  11. tringlomane

    tringlomane STP Addicted Beer Snob

    Joined:
    Jan 21, 2013
    Messages:
    31,301
    Location:
    Chicagoland
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    28
    6/5 DDB on the bartops? Seriously? I hope CET isn't starting another round of cuts at the bartops. The CET properties strip were consistently 8/5 DDB and had been that way for awhile now.
     
  12. TheCanoe

    TheCanoe Low-Roller

    Joined:
    Apr 2, 2013
    Messages:
    256
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    5
    Rio may not be a 24 hour establishment but PHo is.

    I booked my GF, her sister, and sisters husband at the Rio for all of our first Vegas trip when I turned 21. They wanted to kill me :(
     
  13. Bigcasino

    Bigcasino Low-Roller

    Joined:
    Oct 19, 2013
    Messages:
    335
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    18
    Don't understand

    I am puzzled about this . We are average players and always have up to 6 nights each per month comped. Never pay resort fees, use my platinum card at any food establishment to eat comped. Get deep discounts on show tickets. And have always had a great clean room with no issues.

    Also I have played often at the Shutters bar and always get comped any drink we want even top tier. Just ask. And they do have 8-5 DDBP and 9-6 Aces. We do good there. There is one game that's 6-5 but I don't play it. If you try the Heart bar at PH they even have 10-6 Triple Bonus poker and have done well there also but be prepared to stand the Downs with the ups . Can be a wild ride .

    Just wanted to give my experience that I have every time so you all know it's not all bad there.
     
    Vegas!
  14. Minnesota3

    Minnesota3 Tourist

    Joined:
    Apr 17, 2014
    Messages:
    91
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    9
    For me, the draw is definitely the comped rooms for hardly any action. I play more heavily at the Boyd Properties however.
     
  15. SandsFan

    SandsFan VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Aug 12, 2010
    Messages:
    3,034
    Location:
    Texas
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    125
    I don't have the TR credit card but I understand you are automatically platinum and get the platinum benefits. It would seem getting the free credit card would alleviate the resort fees and make it worthwhile.
     
    The 3 P Trip (Paris and Palms)
  16. SandsFan

    SandsFan VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Aug 12, 2010
    Messages:
    3,034
    Location:
    Texas
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    125
    If you saw my last trip report you know the draw for us is winning and the comps we get. Petite Suites, Masquerade suites, no resort fees, comped spas, comped meals, great show tickets, friendly service and called by name.

    Resort Fees suck and lowering payouts suck. We were harrahs and IP 25 cent VP players long ago for the free rooms. We upped our play about the time resort fees came in so never really had to pay them. I understand with the TR credit card you are platinum and don't have to pay the resort fee but not sure.

    Although the payouts are lower, I have had so many hits and tax forms the last two years at CET properties on bar tops. I've given up on payouts and gone with my gut on picking machines.

    MLife may give us better comps for this level of play but we haven't really tried since we upped our play. We should probably give it a try.
     
    The 3 P Trip (Paris and Palms)
  17. jamesxnj

    jamesxnj VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Oct 12, 2009
    Messages:
    2,296
    Location:
    TN
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    17
    I'm happy with CET still..Comped rooms midweek for a low-roller..and offers from Boyd for free nights or cheap Fr/Sat..
    So what else am I going to do? Book the Cosmo(or other properties) and pay through the nose coming in off the street? Then hope offers come in for the next trip? Not hard to plan a Vegas trip when your biggest up-front cost is airfare..

    And speaking of the closed Sao Paulo Cafe...and the Gold Coast had the EXACT same restaurant across the street..Open 24 hrs,same menu decor and decent meal... GC brings in Friday's in that location and the Rio brings in HHag...
    Same type deal with Harrah's AC..Now their Reflections cafe is an upscale burger joint and pretty shitty btw..

    So just roll with the changes..
     
  18. queentata

    queentata VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Sep 20, 2005
    Messages:
    1,012
    Location:
    Crosby, TX
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    28
    I love CET, too!

    Same here. One of us, sometimes both, are Diamond. Stay at Paris in red rooms or Calais suite. Most food taken off in the end. Love the Paris and Bally's casino. Am digging the new Quad casino.

    We do split some time with Aria, as I LOVE those beds, but CET, and Paris in particular, will always be our home away from home.

    Unless I start to get WAY more comps from Mlife.:)
     
  19. casinokid68

    casinokid68 Caesars Diamond Member

    Joined:
    Sep 25, 2013
    Messages:
    2,934
    Location:
    brooklyn, ny
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    90
    I don't have the credit card. I actually earned Platinum with my play, but it is true that if you get the Total Rewards credit card, you get all the benefits of a Platinum player, which includes no resort fees.
     
  20. marcianofan

    marcianofan High-Roller

    Joined:
    Mar 24, 2009
    Messages:
    841
    Location:
    portland, or
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    50
    "The biggest issue I had was at 7am on Saturday (Kentucky Derby Day) the only place to get breakfast was Hash House. Even though I could get it comped, breakfast for $20 is not that appetizing especially when their approach is quantity versus quality of food."
    I don't get the hash house critique, the one at the plaza has a good breakfast for $8.99, eggs, biscuit, ham and potatoes. Very good IMO...
    The criticism of Harrahs , rio et all I absolutely get tho I seldom visit them anymore.
     
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.