http://www.travelpost.com//hotels/Rio_All_Suite_Hotel_Casino/hid31461 TravelPost.com - Hotel reviews, information, and rates from thousands of websites http://www.travelpost.com//hotels/Rio_All_Suite_Hotel_Casino/r444433 The hotel at the Rio is great (see my other review). The casino at the Rio leaves much to be desired. I found the craps dealers and croupiers to be uninterested at best and rude at worst. On several occasions I heard the dealers making offensive comments about women as the walked by. EX: ("Man is she fat, better lay off the crispy cremes"). On another occasion I heard one of the craps dealers say: "I'm glad I'm not working the black jack tables, too many gxxks." To say the least, this is not the kind of treatment I expect at a good casino. I can only comment on the conduct of the craps staff as that is the only table game that I played at the Rio. Also, the odds on craps are not as good at the Rio as they are on some of the other casinos on the strip. For the best odds, you need to go down town. Recommended: Yes http://www.travelpost.com//hotels/Rio_All_Suite_Hotel_Casino/r444433 http://www.travelpost.com//hotels/Rio_All_Suite_Hotel_Casino/r444413 My wife and I stayed at the Rio recently. We were very pleased with the room and the level of service that the hotel offered. The rooms were large, but I wouldn't call them a traditional suit. Basically, they are a large hotel room with a sofa. The room was well laid out and the view was great, we had a view of both the mountains and the strip. The amenities were good, it was nice to be able to go down to the casino shops in the morning and get juice and a roll to bring up to the room. The valet parkers were very nice, and I would highly recommend renting a car if you plan to stay here as the hotel is off the strip and the walk to the strip doesn’t seem very safe due to traffic. Overall, I have to say that the hotel at the Rio is the best hotel that we have stayed at in Vegas. On the other hand, the casino is a different story. I am handling the casino in a separate review, as I don't want the score that I am giving the casino to affect the score I give to the hotel. In short, STAY at the Rio, gamble ELSEWHERE. Recommended: Yes http://www.travelpost.com//hotels/Rio_All_Suite_Hotel_Casino/r444413 http://www.travelpost.com//hotels/Rio_All_Suite_Hotel_Casino/r444412 Ahhh. . .the Rio. But is is off the Strip, or just slightly mis-attached? Its location seems close enough that you could walk, but far enough away to miss all the traffic and pedestrians of the strip casinos. Will you like it? I think so. It's clean inside helps add to your relaxation. Plenty of table space and tables help assure that you'll forget you're in a casino (until you REALLY start winning or losing, of course!) And who can ever pass up their buffet. Taste of the World. It is incredible, to say the least. Everything from a Texas steak to a 50's diner hamburger, to a Chinese feast. And all of it is authentic, I'll grant you. The experience is well worth it, if you ask me. A short drive (or even walk) off the Strip, and you're down in Rio de Janeiro, enjoying a long bask in the sun and fun at the tables. The courteous wait staff will help ensure you enjoy your time there, and I'm quite sure you will. Recommended: Yes http://www.travelpost.com//hotels/Rio_All_Suite_Hotel_Casino/r444412 http://www.travelpost.com//hotels/Rio_All_Suite_Hotel_Casino/r444376 I went to Las Vegas 2 or 3 years ago and while there I visited (did not stay at) the Rio. They have all the usual casino stuff and a ton of rooms but two things really stick out, one especially. The first is that there is a carnival atmosphere all around, even affecting the people. This overflows into the stores in the hotel which form something of a mall. That is all well and good but is is vastly overshadowed. The second and main thing that stands out in my memory is the buffet. This is by far the best buffet I have ever been to in my life. It is a huge thing offering food from all over the world. American, Italian, Japanese, Mexican, Chinese, whatever; you name it, they have it, and it is good too! It is really huge. The selection is unbelievable. I had to make 3 or 4 trips to the buffet just to cover the thing once and I think I might have skipped a few places. The buffet costs more than other buffets, but it is worth it. If you plan on going, plan accordingly. If you want to eat there for lunch, don't eat breakfast. If you want to eat dinner there, eat a small breakfast and don't eat lunch. This place is unbelievable. You must go there if you are in Vegas! Update: I wrote that first paragraph in 2001. Its now 2008, and I have to update this review. I have been there on 2 separate trips to Vegas within the past year, drawn mainly by the buffet. About that buffet, it costs about $25 per person. Not cheap, but you are [potentially] getting a lot. There is now a separate seafood buffet at the other end of the gaming floor that costs like $39, though the one I wrote about, World Carnival, does have things like fried shrimp, clams, scallops and also crabs legs. Anyway, the main thing I want to say in this review is that the quality has slipped. Yes, the World Carnival buffet still has the variety it did 10 years ago, but its just not as good. Dont get me wrong, its not bad, its just kind of there. Even now though, the dessert section of the buffet is still great, with a good selection of high quality cakes and things, and they also have great gelato. A few other thoughts on the Rio: when entering from the parking garage, the World Carnival is hard to find, all the way at the other end of the casino. There is also a cool looking bowling alley next to it. There are stores on the 2nd floor above the gaming area. They do have free shows in the gaming area every so often, so you can check that out. I did find the decor to be rather gaudy, considerably more so than at other casinos. Finally, there is a place on the roof of the casino where you can get a great view of the Strip. However, its part of a club, which means you will have to wait in line and pay $30-40 to see it. I was told I could see it without waiting (or maybe even paying?) if I came between 7-8PM, though that might not always be possible; I know I tried at least once unsuccessfully. There are cards you can easily get for free admittance to the club, called the Voodoo Lounge, but you still have to wait in line and there is a dress code. In the end, its 2008, the casino has a large but mediocre buffet, it looks gaudy, and its location off the Strip makes it inconvenient to get to. You wouldnt be missing anything by skipping it. Recommended: No http://www.travelpost.com//hotels/Rio_All_Suite_Hotel_Casino/r444376 http://www.travelpost.com//hotels/Rio_All_Suite_Hotel_Casino/r444411 I find the Rio casino as one of my favs. I am a regular gaming person and enjoy going off to play 5-10 times a year. This place tops the list as one of my favorites. The facility is great, the personnel are nice and their uniforms are colorful. My favorite time to be in the casino is at 9 at night when the show starts - and goes on - suspended from the ceiling. Great music and fun as you pull slots and look up to see smiling and happy musicians. The parking is easy and the food is great. There are many and varied slot machines. I love the layout and have a high personal comfort level while there. One of the reasons I avoid other places is I deplore spending time waiting for machines to become freed up. I seldom have that experience at Rio. One of my favorites in Vegas. Recommended: Yes http://www.travelpost.com//hotels/Rio_All_Suite_Hotel_Casino/r444411 http://www.travelpost.com//hotels/Rio_All_Suite_Hotel_Casino/r444419 I've been going to Vegas for many years, have gambled in every casino and stayed in several. Pound for pound, the Rio is the classiest place to stay and gamble in Vegas. Over the years, I've noticed that a corporate mentality pervades each hotel/casino, even down to the dealers, affecting every facet of one's experience there. The dealers at the Rio are universally fun, friendly, pleasant to work with. Other hotels' dealers can range from pleasant to indifferent to rude (remember Chevy Chase's Las Vegas Vacation?) but the Rio dealers and staff are first class. Regarding other less important (for me) but still significant features, the rooms there are larger than all but the Venetian, the Casino's small enough that you don't get lost for hours as can happen at Mirage, the food's the best on or off the strip and even the waiters and bartenders make you feel at home. As a Vegas Veteran, my vote's the Rio all the way!!! Recommended: Yes http://www.travelpost.com//hotels/Rio_All_Suite_Hotel_Casino/r444419 http://www.travelpost.com//hotels/Rio_All_Suite_Hotel_Casino/r444391 OK, there is a reason the Rio's Buffet has one so many awards. It is simply the BEST buffet you can find for the money. The lines may be long, but the wait is worth it. The buffet set up is different than most. Instead of a long table with all the foods set up on it, the Rio has stations. Each station serves a different type of food. They have a pizza station, diner food station, sushi and teppan-yaki station, italian food station, seafood station.... about 12 different stations altogether. It's really great. They also have a bar inside the buffet so you can enjoy a margarita with your enchiladas. The drinks are really reasonably priced too. My personal favorite station has got to be the sushi/teppan station. They have sushi chefs make rolls while you wait. They offer tuna, salmon, veggie, and california rolls, along with 1-2 other rolls. Great stuff. The teppan is delicious too. They offer chicken, beef or veggie, and cook it for you on the spot. It does take a few minutes, but it's nice to eat food you know has been made just for you. Don't forget to save room for the dessert station. They offer various desserts like cakes, pies, mousses, cream puffs, eclairs, jellos and cookies. Everything is cut into miniature portions so you can try a couple different ones. The Rio buffet is an excellent value for the money. We always make it a point to eat dinner here once on every visit to Vegas. They offer every kind of food you can think a buffet should have and a few that might surprise you too. Recommended: Yes http://www.travelpost.com//hotels/Rio_All_Suite_Hotel_Casino/r444391 http://www.travelpost.com//hotels/Rio_All_Suite_Hotel_Casino/r444369 The RMS TITANIC, exhibition is something else. The strange feeling one gets while in the presence of the fascinating artifacts is something straight out of the Twilight Zone. Everyone has seen the TITANIC Movie and the documentaries when it was first discovered as they were bringing up the artifacts from some 2.5 miles below the Atlantic Ocean where the RMS Titanic has rested since 1912. The ominous image of that once beautiful ship sitting there in the black of the deep ocean was an experience in itself to be watching on TV. I could just imagine the feelings that these treasure hunters experienced when they were viewing her live. And seeing the items in front of me while recognizing a few items that I watched being brought on board the recovery vessels, was like a deer in the headlights of a car. All I could do was stand there and just stare at the artifacts as though I was waiting for them to speak out and to tell me their story. As you enter the exhibition hall, the background music is playing, the same as the band played as the Titanic sank. Then your first view is of an amazing full scale re-creation of the Titanic's Grand Staircase, then the re-creations of the state rooms. Each one having a story playing about the occupants and how they spent their last minutes aboard her. The survivors of the tragedy, give you their reports of what they saw and endured that night and the emotions are overwhelming. All of the stories are just as interesting as the artifacts themselves. The hall is decorated in the era, and looks fabulous against the staircase, making you feel like your on board her in almost all the areas of the exhibition. I have seen mostly every resort show in Las Vegas, and this is one that is definitely in the top ten. I would recommend to anyone. It is more than a good value for the price, and the host resort is excellent to its visitors and guests. The TITANIC Exhibition is located at the Rio Suites Hotel, 702-252-7777 for tickets. There is a local discount offered to Las Vegas residents, which is rare. The show is open daily from 10am - 10pm. And tickets cost $15.00 for adults and $9.95 for children under 14. Take your time while looking at all the exhibits, there is a lot to see and learn. The hosts do not rush you through, so you are able to really get the feel of that fateful night and the sinking of the Titanic. I would see it again and again. Because I know there would be more to see that I missed the last time. And it would be a new experience each time I would visit. Recommended: Yes http://www.travelpost.com//hotels/Rio_All_Suite_Hotel_Casino/r444369 http://www.travelpost.com//hotels/Rio_All_Suite_Hotel_Casino/r444407 My husband and I decided to go Las Vegas for our anniversary. Through a close friend the Rio was highly recommended. So since her husband is a big gambler and very particular, we booked our trip. We went in April. We had such a great time. The casino's were clean and the food was out of this world. We even won a couple of nights. The rooms were unbelievable. The hotel is away from the main hussle and bussle from the strip, but you really never needed to leave the hotel for anything. Since it was our first time their the experience was totally pleasurable. The staff was very helpful, always with great suggestions. I would say if you were planning a trip out their, you would want to stay at the Rio Suites. I would definately like to go back in the near future and sit pool side drinking the pina colada's. The entertainment at the hotel was also pleasurable. So if anyone is planning a trip to Las Vegas or is revisiting. Make no mistakes, you will definately get more than your moneys worth at this hotel. Recommended: Yes http://www.travelpost.com//hotels/Rio_All_Suite_Hotel_Casino/r444407 http://www.travelpost.com//hotels/Rio_All_Suite_Hotel_Casino/r444382 The Rio is a great casino and hotel! I absolutely loved it! The rooms are great! They are very spacious and super clean! They have an awesome view of Las Vegas! One whole wall is glass that overlooks the strip. What a spectacular site. The rooms have large bathrooms and safes. The rooms cost a little more than some of the other hotels but its definitely worth it! The Casino is lots of fun. The Rio provides just the right amount of quarter and nickel slots. There are even cars to be won on nickel slots! We have had a good experience every time we have visited this casino. On our first visit we won a large jackpot on a progressive slot machine! We have always won a nice chunk of money at this casino! The Rio's keno machine are very nice to you! The cocktail waitresses are scantily dressed and very attentive. The Rio has several restaurants to choose from. We ate at the buffet several times. It offers a great selection of food for a decent price. The lines are a little long especially since it is boasted to be the best buffet in Vegas. Rio has a Mardi-gras theme and there are floats that parade from the ceiling every hour. It's fun to watch the first time but after that it gets a little annoying. The Rio also has a great club and Voodoo lounge. With the Rio being a little bit off the beaten path many locals and celebs tend to hang out there. We saw the Lakers on one of our trips there! Rio provides a free shuttle to and from the strip which is helpful since you could never walk from here. The Rio is great! You have to check out this place! Recommended: Yes http://www.travelpost.com//hotels/Rio_All_Suite_Hotel_Casino/r444382