#Rio Las #Vegas was the last of the #Caesars Entertainment properties to re-open. The all-suite hotel swung open its doors again to guests on December 22, 2020 having been closed for about 9 months and I was there!
During my stay I had tons of issues and I found out that they were purposely selling rooms they didn’t have in order to downgrade guests without telling them. It is a sneaky practice and one that soured my stay at Rio.
In this Rio Hotel & Casino Las Vegas review I’ll do my best to describe the issues, but also show you why you may want to stay at Rio and why you probably shouldn’t. We’ll walk through the casino, tour my hotel room and criss-cross this giant property. Is Rio past its prime?
I recorded a live episode of our MtM Podcast from the room where I describe what happened in greater detail –
My Room – Carioca Suite – Comp due to issues (Note: My resort fee was waived due to my Caesars Diamond status I get through Founderscard.)
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Have you ever stayed here? Share your experiences with Rio Las Vegas in the comments! I’d love to hear about them!
0:00 Welcome to Rio Las Vegas
0:28 Arriving at Rio and casino in the afternoon
1:12 Heading up to the Carioca Suite in the Ipanema Tower
2:30 Rio Las Vegas Carioca Suite room tour
7:00 Rio Las Vegas Strip & Downtown views at dusk
7:25 Rio las Vegas Sportsbook and casino
8:05 Carnival World buffet
9:45 Rio Las Vegas exterior at night
12:17 Rio Las Vegas front entrance & Masquerade Tower at night
13:39 Panoramic Strip Views & why Masquerade Tower is uniqe
14:42 Masquerade Village tour
16:50 Masquerade casino walkthrough & tour at night
18:11 Many closed restaurants & showrooms
19:43 The future of Rio Las Vegas – Sold recently
20:47 Palazzo Suites Villas at Rio
21:00 Why I don’t recommend Rio Las Vegas
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44 comments
I loved the carnival world buffet!! So sad to see it that way. 😢
We had our wedding reception at an italian restaurant in the Mardi gras area. They had the parade in the sky. That went away? Bummer It was so fun. Is the Orleans still there?
Well so sad just looks like a ghost hotel. I remember when it was a lively atmosphere with people all over. I guess that's why they are selling it. So sad indeed😪
I had a reservation here; was looking forward to it cause I got a great rate for a large room with whirlpool tub for 7 days, but then they sent me an email my reservation was moving to Ballys cause RIO isn't open all week, only Thur-Sun. I wasn't looking for a strip room, not really going to be a tourist just visiting family mostly and thought RIO would be less crowded.
All American Grill had the best burgers in Vegas. Great Steaks and Chicken too. Used to love the back rooms of the All American Grill with the fire and the large screens.
I used to go to Rio all the time and it was my go-to hotel. This resort will always be one of my favorites and it's heartbreaking to see it's current state, I truly hope they don't close it soon and management improves. The masquerade show made this resort SO lively, I have two bags of the necklaces they used to toss at guests that I use as ornaments for my christmas tree! I have so many fond memories of this place, it truly is like a second home to me. They used to serve delicious chocolate chip cookies at the VIP check in too during early mornings and the Pho counter-service restaurant they had was top tier. Felt as if I was walking through the resort myself, thank you for the awesome tour!
Not sure what this guy is complaining about?
What do you want for 69 bucks a night?
Stay home
I could teach a class on how to run a property into the ground based on Caesar's ownership of this property. It was once the place to be.
In December of 2017 my girlfriend and I went to LV with other friends to see the first-ever game between the Golden Knights and Penguins. I had been to LV a few times and wanted to stay at the Rio for the price and the KISS mini golf. When we checked in and got to our room we notices the "oldness". The furniture was chipped and delaminated. My girlfriend works in the hotel laundry business in Pgh. She checked the bed linens as soon as we arrived. There were blood stains in the sheets that obviously did not get washed out thoroughly. She called for new bedsheets and went down to the front desk. We booked two nights and she offered to pay for the first night we were there but we were going to leave and check in elsewhere. The woman said that we would not be charged at all. Very nice customer service. We stayed at Bellagio, where I have stayed on other visits. We did go back and play 18 holes at the Kiss mini golf and the employee played both Kiss songs I requested.
Playing Casino
I also remember the Rio of yesteryear and it was so awesome! Those shows in the sky were great and I actually got to ride a float once (paid for the privilege lol).
I love your mask with the poker chip! Where did you get it?
So… no Mardi Gras parade in the sky? Wow… I think this was stuck in time when I last visited Vegas. 1997
Oops, if they stop maintaining it that is the death toll right there. The last shot of the exterior looked terrible. i loved that place.
Last I read the new owners said they’ll renovate the rio and the rooms to be a more modern representation of “THE RIO LIFESTYLE” …..I hope that’s true
Thanks for the info. Great video.
It will become HYATT REGENCY
The view from the bar on the top of Mascarade tower I guess is floor 52 is AMAZING
No need for the mask if you are outside
I would bet money that The Rio will be leveled down to dirt – everything, towers, casino, parking structures and something new will go in to mirror the new properties on the Strip, like Resort World. And I bet the neon signs get incorporated into the new resort. Right now, Circa and the Plaza Hotel in downtown Las Vegas seem to have more going on. Maybe something that goes hard for the family vacation dollar – not Circus Circus, or Mandalay Bay, but something like that. That's my guess and anyone else's is likely to be better.
We went to Rio back in the 90's and thought "this place is the bomb!" Sad to see it now. Didn't they used to have a show on the ceiling?
Should I make any correlation between how ill-fitting and crumpled the uniforms are on staff in the video and how little they are being paid? I'm amazed how the staff looks isn't on anyone's radar? It's a dead give way to me that something isn't right with a brand
I just need a room where the bathroom and the lights, outlets, and air conditioning works. What I care about is how the staff treat me. That's my number one.
This feels like a hybrid "Shuttered Vegas" and "Hotel Review"
I wish there was a"1940s-50s" style Casino where the staff dressed and acting in period fashion.
I feel your "Bye!" at the end was a collective "Goodbye" before implosion.
Stayed the 27th of December in the Masquerade suite. It was nice and clean and I enjoyed it.
Great video. So sad to see how The Rio has fallen.. I stayed there 15-20 years ago and really liked it. Met Vince Neil from Motley Crue at the bar. Planning to make a stop by in June. Just want to visit one more time before it gets remodeled or torn down.
And I'm sorry, but I had to laugh at the fact that they gave you dining credit, with no dining options open.
I stayed in the real Masquerade Suite in December 2019 and it was fantastic. I have 2 nights booked for the end of May in the same room. I'm confused why you didn't insist on the correct room or an upgrade to a more expensive room if they sold out of the room you booked. I would have been right back at the front desk and settled for nothing less than the room I booked, or the 2 story Penthouse Suite room.
I feel like I've made a mistake booking a room at the Rio for my first time being in Vegas in September
I'm here now and the service is terrible. Been here 4 days and they haven't cleaned my room once. They were cleaning the room across from me today and yesterday and I even mentioned I was leaving and they still didn't clean it. Tried to call the front desk and room service and was on hold forever so I hung up. Buffet is closed permanently. Saturday and Sunday night the halls were sooo noisy all night and morning. And to top that off maintenance decides to work on the room next door at 1am and made a bunch of noise and woke us up. I heard they've been bought out so I guess they don't care.
Buffet is closed permanently.
stayed here in april 2021 for 4 nughts .the only negtive was lack of plug in s as for the staff they did a more than over welmeing job as when i was their friday and saturday nights this place was full up to the 19th floor the pool waspacked and the casino was fine .he is right for places to eat smashburger in the rio . i ate at dennys accross the street it was excellent and their a del taco and a c fa lay..and i got most all of my drinks for the 4 days that ran 23 .00
im fine with rio.
as for the staff THEIR NOT ENOUGHT EMPLOYEES .DUDE
Do you have a referral code for the card
I certainly hope all the bad reviews ive heard will not be the same for us. We will be staying there July 5th to the 9th. Looking forward to a fun vacation. Much needed. Have heard good things too. I guess we'll see.
This reviewer is all butt-hurt… RDS – Rio Derangement Syndrome. I'm looking at prices now of about $50 average for 7 nights. That is a HUGE value for the location alone. I really doubt it is bad as he says.
Perfectly fine hotel. Older but still very nice. Video actually has a ton of compliments about the RIO.
WE JUST GOT OUT OF A PANDEMIC HELLO.
You must have a big grudge against the Rio, to hit them during a pandemic was not fair. You lost some credibility on this post.
I think you have been reviewing hotel rooms a little too long. I cannot believe you would have any complaints about this room at only $69. I would feel like a celebrity if I had a room like this so cheap with a bathtub overlooking the town plus a separate living room all with massive views. Who cares if it is dated or doesn't have a usb hook up? You don't need that anyway. There were plenty of plugs. Who doesn't have a plug to use with their usb cord? I am sure there are some hotels with more up to date rooms which is why you are so critical but realize that not everyone goes to Vegas several times a month or even year. For most people this room would be like they hit the jackpot.
So nice good to watching
I stayed here about eight years back it felt dated then I came back just to ride the zip line it’s cool but not worth the $$$