It’s a good deal at less than $80 a night when I’m going.

My previous stays were at the Luxor, MGM, and Venetian.

I know it’s not on the strip but that’s OK.

But is the hotel rooms and the casino clean?

I’ve stayed at the Rio twice, Luxor 3 times and Venetian twice. Never stayed at MGM.

I was checking room rates last week and Rio is almost priced like a budget property which makes me suspect it’s no longer got the reputation it used to have. The "All Suites" idea was fairly unique when Rio first opened.

Anyway… the rooms at Rio are very similar to the rooms in the Venetian. The property itself (casino and public areas) isn’t as luxurious though. I stopped by Rio in August 2007 and bought a hat at a gift shop and ate lunch at the Starbucks. It’s the same as I remember from when I stayed there (mid 90s and December 2000) – it isn’t luxurious like Venetian or Wynn or Bellagio but it also isn’t trashy or run down at all. It’s very similar to Luxor without the Egyptian theme, and has more of a party atmosphere (the parade in the sky with people throwing beads, Rio Rita walking around the casino with fruit on her head.)

Rio is a Harrah’s Entertainment property which means you can check in at the airport instead of waiting in line at the check in desk in Rio’s lobby. I used the airport check in when I stayed at Paris in 2007 and Bally’s in 2005, there was no line at all. The check in office is behind you and to your right as you enter the baggage claim area.

Keep in mind it is an older property , so rooms may be smaller than these new suite-type mega hotels. The Riviera is NOT the Bellagio, nor the Wynn, nor the Venetian. However, if you are looking for a smaller atmosphere and less snooty wannabe crowds, the Riviera is a more down to earth place and easier to navigate. It is far from being a dive hotel that some travelers make it out to be.

Duration : 0:5:43

Technorati Tags: Andrea, Bocelli, Brown, Casino, Celine, Channel, CSI, Dion, Elton, Elvis, fountain, Frank, Great, Greenwood, implosion, jackpot, John, Lee, motel, Night, Presley, Samantha, Samuel, Sinatra, slots, spa, Super, Tour, travel, Video, watershow

Later: The only reason I didn’t say anything was, the reviews on trip advisor are accurate. You will not need a cab from Platinum to the strip it’s only 2 blocks east of the strip on Flamingo . You would walk much further to the "four corners"(intersection of Flamingo & LV Blvd S) if you were staying at the Aladdin.

I was in LV this past December, for a two week stay. I did not stay there myself but ran into a couple that was, and they just raved about the place, said it was the nicest room they had ever stayed in. The rooms are a minimun 900sq ft , they have plasma screen TV’s and their own kitchen. The only reason I figure the place has not caught on is that they have no casino, because the room rates run about half of what they would be at a comparable strip hotel/casino.

The only drawback that I can see is if you’re what I would consider to be a moderately high roller> 4 hours x $100 per hand , you would get at least future comp room offers from any four star hotel on the strip. They "might" not comp your first stay, but they would want you to come back and visit them again.

Duration : 0:3:35

Technorati Tags: Casino, encore, encorelasvegas, Hotel, Las, Room, Vegas, vegastripping, Video, Wynn