Rio Las Vegas is an all-suite hotel and casino near the Las Vegas Strip, Nevada. The Rio first opened its doors in 1990, under the wing of its parent company — Caesars Entertainment. This hotel & casino aims to conjure up the distinct look and feel of the tropics, while still providing an unmistakable Sin City experience.
Every suite at Rio incorporates floor-to-ceiling windows, offering a breathtaking view of Vegas. The hotel’s convenient location, along with free parking, make it an excellent starting point for anyone who wants to explore and experience everything the city has to offer.
However, the shuttle service that used to take guests to and from the Strip is, unfortunately, no longer available. So, unless the only trip you’re planning on is from your suite to the casino floor, you will end up spending a considerable sum on Uber or taxi.
The hotel features an expansive 120,000 square-foot gaming floor. Avid gamblers can enjoy an overabundance of their favorite real money casino games, including over 1,000 slot machines and 75 table games. Additionally, Rio is an excellent destination for poker lovers, since it is home to the annual World Series of Poker Summer tournaments.
When planning your trip to Vegas, keep in mind the different resort fees. In the case of Rio Hotel & Casino, the mandatory resort fee is $36.28 per room, per night.
Rio Suite Hotel
Although most guest reviews of Rio would characterize it as a nice hotel, rarely anyone would say that they had an “unforgettable” stay here. Admittedly, it’s not amongst the most attractive hotels in Vegas. Some of the rooms are somewhat dated, and the storefronts are often half-empty.
As a result, Rio can give off a “ghost town” vibe. Naturally, this isn’t something you would fondly remember. It certainly is not an experience most people are looking for when planning a trip to Sin City.
Moreover, some guests state that they’ve experienced multiple problems during their stay at the Rio Hotel & Casino. Namely, some of the rooms were dirty and contained broken beds or other damaged furniture. Instead of refurbishing the suites, or replacing the furniture on the spot, the casino’s management typically resolves these and similar complaints by merely moving the guests to a different room.
That’s not to say that the Rio Hotel & Casino is bad by any means. In fact, there are over 2,500 different suites available at Rio. We understand that people come to gamble at the casino, not gamble on whether their stay will be comfortable and without issues.
However, managing that many suites isn’t exactly an easy endeavor, and guests are bound to run into some problems eventually. However, the professional and friendly staff at Rio works hard to promptly find a satisfactory solution or an acceptable alternative.
The Suites
The 20-story Ipanema Tower offers Carioca suites, Super suites, and Masquerade suites. The smaller, Samba suites can be found within the 51-story Masquerade tower.
Apart from the standard suites, the hotel provides luxurious accommodations in the form of 3,100 square feet Rio Penthouses and presidential suites. The “VooDoo Collection” of single bedroom suites features beautifully decorated 2,400 to 3,000 square feet rooms with exquisite amenities.
The complex also encompasses a vast wine cellar and tasting room, housing over 50,000 bottles of the finest variety.
VooDoo Beach
One thing we must single out regarding Rio since it immensely increases the appeal of the hotel is the VooDoo Beach. This magical pool complex features four outdoor pools, three whirlpool spas, and two open bars.
Apart from basking in the Nevada sun and cooling off in the pools, you can participate in exciting weekly cornhole tournaments. Daily events include a $100 bottomless drink package and $50 local bottle special.
The entry to VooDoo beach is free, with ample parking readily available to the guests of the hotel. There are over 500 lounge chairs available, and you can make reservations online anytime.
The area consists of parts — Voo and Doo, hence the weird spelling with the capital D. The Voo pool is an adult-only area, with DJs and cocktail service available Thursday through Sunday.
Casino Gaming Floor
The casino at Rio spans across nearly 120,000 square feet. It’s chock-full of contemporary slot and video poker machines. The floor also accommodates as much as 75 tables of popular Las Vegas table games.
If you’re more of a fan of traditional betting, Rio has you covered on this front as well. The casino incorporates a sizeable Race & Sports Book, with 60 HD flat-screen TVs.
Want to put your poker skills to the test? Then join one of 14 poker tables inside the spacious Poker Room. Although its doors are open 24/7, you’ll struggle to find a game in the morning or midday. Aside from when hosting the WSOP tournaments, Rio’s poker room isn’t all that busy.
However, that’s not for the lack of effort on the casino’s part. They do hold daily tournaments with a $65 buy-in and a $500 guaranteed prize pool. Additionally, Monday through Thursday players can leverage the “highest hand bonuses” twice a day, at 11am and noon, and win $100 on top of the pot.
Overall, there’s plenty of action at the Rio casino. With so many options, you’ll have no trouble finding a game of chance you’ll enjoy. Likewise, joining your favorite table game shouldn’t be a problem either.
Slots
There are over 1,200 slot machines scattered all over the casino floor. Although some of them are old and eclipsed by the visually impressive 5 and 6-reel slots and thrilling progressives, they do have nostalgic value.
Caesars never endeavored to make gambling at their casinos an overpriced hobby. The bulk of available titles cater to the average gambler, with betting limits ranging from a penny to $1.
Simultaneously, the casino features a high-limit slots room with an abundance of contemporary and classic slots alike. Some of the titles to be on the lookout for are Cleopatra and the high-paying Wheel of Fortune.
Here, slots are strategically placed and the limits gradually increase as you gravitate closer to the center. The machines on the ‘outskirts’ of the room allow for a $1 maximum bet, while slots further in the range from $10 to $100.
So, high rollers who feel the thrill only when the stakes are high will have plenty of options in Rio’s high-limit slots room. Apart from slots, the room houses a collection of high-limit video pokers, with limits gradually increasing from $1 to $5, $25, $50, and $100.
Video Poker
Speaking of video poker, there are a total of 350 machines spread across the casino floor. Literally, every video poker type is represented, so you’ll never run out of options.
Furthermore, some variants offer fantastic payouts. Namely, Jacks or Better video poker has an RTP of 99.54%, which is as close as it gets to a game with no house edge. On the other hand, even the ‘lowest paying’ Bonus Poker offers a decent payout at 98.01%.
Race & Sportsbook
In recent years, Rio invested in an overhaul of its Race & Sportsbook. Today, it is on par with the rest of the casino, featuring 60 flat-screen TVs, evenly split between the two.
There’s ample seating here, including a lush VIP area, as well as twenty comfortable pristine leather chairs, with cupholders. One drawback of Rio’s Race & Sportsbook is that it isn’t tucked away, as sportsbooks in casinos normally are. Although not off-putting in and of itself, the outside noise can be somewhat annoying.
Now, when it comes to food & drinks, the sportsbook is minutes away from Carnival World and Seafood Buffet, which offer plenty of delicious and refreshing options. Moreover, the adjacent delicatessen can accommodate a decent number of people. So, you can get a delicious cooked meal, lean in a comfortable chair, and watch the games play out.
Free drinks, on the other hand, are a thing of the past. Today, you must place a $50 wager on sports or bet $10 on horse races to receive a drink ticket. Although it might sound like backsliding at first, this is actually one of the better deals available.
Entertainment
There are plenty of exciting venues and thrilling attractions at and near the Rio Hotel & Casino. From comedic acts that will make you cry with laughter to world-class performances from various rock icons, there’s never a dull moment at Rio.
The Penn & Teller theater regularly hosts live shows where the two master magicians consistently blow the minds of everyone in the crowd. Despite often showing how a particular trick is performed, their acts won’t leave you indifferent.
The Rock of the Ages Theater will take you down the memory lane. Journey back to a time when some of the unforgettable rock classics were first created. After the visit to the theater, if you’re feeling the urge to join the mosh-pit, head over to X Rock for breathtaking live performances from rock ‘n’ roll giants.
If you’re into slightly more provocative performances, that will get your blood pumping, X Rock also features some of Vegas’ sexiest showgirls. Alternatively, the Chippendales Theater allows you to enjoy the best male strip show in Vegas.
There are plenty of options that will get your heart racing and make you gasp in amazement, so take your pick and enjoy the show(s).
Attractions
Other forms of entertainment available at Rio include the VooDoo ZipLine and the amusing Kiss by Monster Mini Golf course.
The zip line offers an exhilarating experience, not for the faint of heart. You’ll be soaring more than 400 feet in the air, allowing you to marvel Sin City’s beauty from a whole new perspective. You’ll “take off” from the VooDoo lounge, atop Rio’s Masquerade tower, and reach the Ipanema tower after a thrilling 70-second ride.
If you’re not a fan of heights, you might enjoy the KISS-themed 13,000 square foot mini golf course. This 18-hole mini golf course is a timeless tribute to one of the greatest rock bands and features crazy special effects resembling the band’s live shows. Other amenities include an event room, a KISS gift shop, a museum, and an iconic KISS wedding chapel.
Marrying in Vegas might be a cliché, but no true rocker would say no to starting their married life while listening to “Heaven’s on Fire.” And, since KISS band members tend to drop by from time to time, your marriage might just be blessed by one of these rock icons.
Wine & Dine
There are plenty of exquisite wine & dine options just minutes away from the Rio Hotel & Casino. We wholeheartedly recommend the All-American Bar & Grill, Carnival World & Seafood Buffet, and the must-visit Hash House A Go Go.
The latter is one of Sin City’s most visited eateries, and for a good reason too. The Hash House is loved by guests due to its oversized portions, unique & imaginative menu, breathtaking presentation, and exquisite dishes made exclusively from the freshest ingredients.
If you’re a connoisseur of ‘grape juice’ then you must set aside some time during your vacation to pay Rio’s Wine Cellar & Tasting Room a visit. It sports a mind-boggling collection of over 50,000 bottles of the finest wine. There are over a hundred wines you can indulge in at the Cellar’s wine bar. Of course, the wine tasting experience wouldn’t be complete without delightful cheeses, served alongside freshly baked bread.
Summary
Rio is an excellent hotel, with a spacious casino, superb staff, and plenty of events to keep you entertained during the day and night.
Admittedly, some of the accommodations are a bit older, but that rarely takes away from the overwhelmingly positive overall experience. The vast majority of guest reviews have words of praise for the casino’s customer service. The staff is genuinely welcoming and friendly and will ensure that you have a pleasant stay.
If you’re a fan of the exotic Brazilian theme and are looking for a decent hotel with a comprehensive casino floor, near the Strip — then we believe Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino is definitely worth a visit.