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Rio great rates but haven't stayed in years

Discussion in 'Off-Strip Hotels' started by Bernie2, Apr 26, 2022.

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  1. Mirageluvr

    Mirageluvr Let's Ride!

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    Agreed.
     
  2. rhinoman7

    rhinoman7 A Diamond in the Ruff

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    Yes indeed!! For the longest time, it was my favorite buffet for dinner! The last time we ate there in August 2019 was terrible!!! No prime rib, and nothing really tasted very good. And then, came to find out that my favorite thing about this buffet (gelato at the dessert counter) was replaced with self-serve soft serve frozen yogurt and ice cream machines!!!!! Have not been back since!!!!
     
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  3. vinniemac274

    vinniemac274 Low-Roller

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    I know I'm replying to older post but here goes nothing...

    It looks like practically nothing is reopened at the Rio, and I even read complaints online that there's no DJ at the pool.

    I used to go twice a year, but I can't see a value to staying at a place that refuses to open it's biggest draw, it's 51st floor lounge.
     
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  4. vegasvstr

    vegasvstr VIP Whale

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    I'm not sure what the new owners are waiting for.

    Caesars is running what's left of Rio into the ground.
     
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  5. AlPal

    AlPal Vegas Addict

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    After visiting the property again this weekend, please book somewhere else. Such a sad sad place.
     
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  6. vinniemac274

    vinniemac274 Low-Roller

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  7. Jsmile898

    Jsmile898 Addition By Subtraction and Better Off

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  8. GilGunderson

    GilGunderson Classy Degenerate

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    I was last at Rio in 2019 to see stand-up comedy, which was decent, at the outpost of NYC-based Comedy Cellar. Decent amount of poker players and people on the tables, but the masquerade section of the casino seemed completely dead sans a few lit up slots waiting for patrons.

    I've mentioned before on a couple of other threads that the Rio was already on the decline in 2010 but I had an awesome time where it was my home base for 5 nights two years in a row (2010 and 2011). I did more gambling at Gold Coast and on the strip for the most part, as I mostly played tables that were $10 and below (sometimes $15 back then too), and rio slots were super tight even back then. CET really drove it further into the ground in unfathomable ways since. Sad to see it in the state it's currently in.

    I found the Indian restaurant (gaylord, iirc, a SanFranciso-based restaurant) to be excellent, and I currently live in an area with some of the best Indian food in the country (central NJ).
    AABG was pretty good and Mcfadden's (decent rueben and other bar fare, including quesadillas oddly enough) wasn't too shabby, if not short-lived.

    The buffet, while well past its heyday, was decent enough, and at least they still had one of the better dessert stations in town. Seafood buffet was still around then too, as well as Buzio's. I still remember their "Sao Paolo cafe" had good breakfast and THE BEST mini blueberry muffins.
    Pretty much all gone now.

    The pool I found to be pretty underrated too. While certainly not MB or MGM Grand, it was enjoyable and better than many of the pools on the strip.

    This post was certainly a nostalgic trip down memory lane for me. Thanks everyone for sparking that. You can tell many of us had fond memories of the place for a reason.
     
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  9. vinniemac274

    vinniemac274 Low-Roller

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    The pool alone would make me pick Rio over other CET properties on some trips in the past...
     
    Last edited: Jul 10, 2022
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  10. The Rumor

    The Rumor VIP Whale

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    Caesars doesn't really care, they don't own it anymore. They ran it into the ground from 2005-2020, no reason to stop now. The thing is in a holding pattern until the new landlord decides to carry out the refurb. No one is going to invest in a restaurant or whatever in that place until there is a reason to do so.

    but I am surprised Voodoo isn't open, as it is just about the only reason to go there.
     
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  11. nostresshere

    nostresshere Mr. Anti Debit Card

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    Yes. I really see. no reason to stay there. Even if I had to pay to stay over at Harrahs, I would do that.
     
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  12. dmr

    dmr Registered Abuser

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    I got turned off to Rio when they started taking out all of the machines I like, and the buffet went sliding down into the hopper! In some years it was the only one in the CET group where I would be offered decent comp nights.
     
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  13. phantomfj

    phantomfj High-Roller

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    Did a 4 nite stay midweek there last week, will share my experience/thoughts....
    Did what Sgt_Shultz suggested, asked for a room at the end of the hall on the old diamond floor in the ipanima tower, got 1753 with a strip view. The room was in good shape, very clean, comfy bed, good view. The edges of the writing desk were a bit scuffed but not worse than most mid to low end strip hotels, The coffee and end tables appeared to have a granite top added, they both looked great. Tub, shower, toilet , bath countertops and sinks were all in good/great shape. Carpet was old but clean, frayed a bit where it met the tile floor. Couch and chair were worn, but clean. Didn't request it, but housekeeping came in every day. In general, the room was perfectly acceptable, especially for what they charge.
    Limited and expensive dining options, I got in about 830 pm on Tuesday, had to wait around for a while for them to replace the battery in the safe, by the time I got down to the floor to eat the only place open was the Sports deli, ridiculous prices for an off strip joint. Smashburger is open during the day, not sure about its hours.
    Pathetic gambling, but there seemed to be a fair amount of action on the tables on Friday nite and early Sat morning. I don't do tables, the slots and video poker are horrible!
    In short, I was fine with the room, but the other facets of the place are sorely lacking....It appears to have great bones, and the potential is there...I only used it as a bedroom basically, my goal was to spend time at the Palms and get on there radar there....I also did some gambling at the Gold Coast, it is much cleaner than the last time I was there, would consider a stay there too
    Room and view pics
    PXL_20220817_032221027.NIGHT.jpg PXL_20220817_032221027.NIGHT.jpg PXL_20220817_032235406.NIGHT.jpg PXL_20220817_032326082.NIGHT.jpg PXL_20220817_032337672.NIGHT.jpg PXL_20220817_032347062.NIGHT.jpg PXL_20220817_032456611.NIGHT.jpg PXL_20220817_032509719.jpg PXL_20220817_032516415.jpg PXL_20220817_032535938.jpg PXL_20220817_032547678.jpg PXL_20220817_033443581.jpg PXL_20220819_142558039.jpg PXL_20220819_142601281.jpg PXL_20220819_142603800.jpg PXL_20220819_142613251.MP.jpg
     
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  14. DegenasaurusRex

    DegenasaurusRex Short arms , hot dice

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    Penn and Teller was pretty good. I missed the Chippendales :thumbsup:
     
  15. JoeBlack

    JoeBlack Low-Roller

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    I am currently (planning to) staying here for an October trip. My trip starts at Cosmo 4 nights comp'd then over to the Rio for 5 nights comp'd I am expecting a pretty barebones experience and maybe it isnt even worth comp'd to stay there. Other then a bigger room and a bed to sleep on. I would probably uber over to the strip for 10-12dollars each way. Maybe walk over to the Palms 1 day.
    From 3 months ago. youtube video/tour.
     
  16. pirviii

    pirviii Degenerate

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    This has been my take for the last 10 or so years, I hope it gets better with the new owners.
     
  17. Trevler

    Trevler Low-Roller

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    Flip that around. In my opinion, you will be VERY unhappy going from Cosmo to Rio. Always stay at the lower end place first!
     
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  18. breanna61

    breanna61 Super Moderator

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    Agree; I even felt a bit of a let down when I moved from Cosmo to Wynn; missed that balcony.
     
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  19. JoeBlack

    JoeBlack Low-Roller

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    haha. You were right but it was a pain to reverse the already scheduled booking.

    I Had a good time in Vegas but RIO is awful, dead, run down place. Dining is limited and over priced. And dear god, the Rio shop a litre of water is 6.50 and a king size twix 4.45. To be fair, i never visit the hotel shops on the strip since ABC store and cvs/walgreens is just minutes away but it really feels bad to rip off your own hotel customers with insane prices. (there is a walgreens a little walk away from the rio which I made just to avoid the insane prices at rio shop)

    Thankfully, the taxi to the strip from rio is about 10.15 dollars each way.
    I would never ever stay at rio if it cost me any money. However, being 100% comp'd and all strip hotels being crazy prices during the same week, it was my last resort for comp'd rooms.


    I had a nice winning streak at megabucks at Cosmo winning 2k in less then 30 minutes (no taxes yay! small wins!)
    I also had a nice win at let it ride at the Linq (a guy hit a straight flush and won 10k (was 59k an hr prior but someone hit it) and the other players who bet the extra progressive bet won the envy 1500 each)

    Cosmo room with balcony and japanese tub was great. Such a great hotel and room. 100% comp'd and they waived my resort fees which I fully expected to have to pay at checkout . Guess I gambled a few thousand and was enough for them to waive them.
     
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  20. UnclePete

    UnclePete Low-Roller

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    I used to stay at Rio twice a year for the longest stretch. Used to have a blast.

    CET stripped away a lot of the fun however: no more free carnival show, seafood buffet gone, shuttle gone, Voodoo closed and so on.

    Last time I saw Penn & Teller in 2018 @ Rio it was so boring I fell asleep during the show.
     
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