My Observations on RIO

Tonight is my 3rd and last night here. Here are a few thoughts that come to mind about my stay:

THINGS I LIKED
==========

Easy to Park.

Room is nice and large but is definitely showing some wear and tear.

Floor to Ceiling Windows.

Comp rates are available for semi-low rollers if you play at the Caesars family of casinos around the country.

Check-in was easy and was able to get into the room by 12:30-ish pm on a Tuesday.

The good paytables at PALMS are an easy walk away !

Mini-Fridge in room.


THINGS I DIDN'T LIKE SO MUCH
====================

$ 20 resort fee to "cover" internet access, etc.

Generally lousy VP paytables ( 98 % per VPFREE2 ).

A little sign at the Kuerig single cup coffee maker says that the K-cups are $ 8 for 3 of them from the mini-bar.

Drink service on the casino floor was spotty at times although it looks like they are trying to come around with an IPOD or tablet computer to process orders, which seems like a good idea.

We just stayed at the Rio for 4 nights as well. As long as you go in not expecting the Wynn I think you are fine.

We had great beverage service 3 of the nights and then awful the 4th so i guess that kind of depends.

Liked the short walk to the Palms as well for something different.

Quote: Nostron

...Liked the short walk to the Palms as well for something different.

Neither of you made the pit stop at Gold Coast?

No, but I walked through their parking lot a few times. I would have gone there for a cheapie lunch buffet but got over-ruled on that one.

Quote: JohnnyQ

THINGS I DIDN'T LIKE SO MUCH
====================

$ 20 resort fee to "cover" internet access, etc.

Generally lousy VP paytables ( 98 % per VPFREE2 ).

That's my biggest Vegas gripe. No free wifi.

For video poker, walk to the Gold Coast or the Palms. If you stay on the Strip, video poker sucks, at least by staying at the Rio, good video poker is just a short walk away.

Boy, that huge Rio sign outside is really fading, in very bad need of a paint job.

And if you look at the building itself, years of sun and wind have faded and even completely chipped away at the paint in some spots.

Speaking of Video Poker, I would have thought that being off-strip AND right next door to 2 casinos with decent paytables would have required you to at least offer some good ( not necessarily even great ) paytables to keep up with the competition. But nope, not at RIO (Ceasars).

Quote: terapined

That's my biggest Vegas gripe. No free wifi.

I don't know if Gold Coast offers it, but some of the other Boyd properties offer free WiFi for residents now. The Orleans and Sam's Town I can confirm specifically.

Quote: terapined

That's my biggest Vegas gripe. No free wifi.

It is Las Vegas's answer to Atlantic City's lunatic parking fees.

Quote: Venthus

I don't know if Gold Coast offers it, but some of the other Boyd properties offer free WiFi for residents now. The Orleans and Sam's Town I can confirm specifically.

Stayed at a Boyd Property last Dec, Freemont downtown, no free wifi, had to step out of my room, take the elavator down and go under the freemont canopy to get a free service. Unfortunately that free wifi under the Freemont canopy does not reach my room in the Freemont last Dec or my room at the 4 Queens last week.

Quote: terapined

That's my biggest Vegas gripe. No free wifi.

Use PDANet and FoxFi to turn your smartphone into a wireless hotspot. Doesn't work on Android 4.4.2 and later, but almost everything else is covered.

The website is http://www.junefabrics.com

Quote: Mosca

Use PDANet and FoxFi to turn your smartphone into a wireless hotspot. Doesn't work on Android 4.4.2 and later, but almost everything else is covered.

The website is http://www.junefabrics.com

How did I not know about this! This is perfect for me. Your the man Mosca.

Quote: rainman

Quote: Mosca

Use PDANet and FoxFi to turn your smartphone into a wireless hotspot. Doesn't work on Android 4.4.2 and later, but almost everything else is covered.

The website is http://www.junefabrics.com

How did I not know about this! This is perfect for me. Your the man Mosca.

I think it's $20 for the laptop part, the app itself is free. FoxFi is free with limits, I think $5 or $10 unlocks the limit. Whatever, I've been using it for years, I got more than $30 out of it. But I just got a new phone, and PDANet doesn't work, as I mentioned Android 4.4.2 has it blocked somehow. I grudgingly moved up a level of data with Verizon that included the hotspot. In return for that I am now streaming Pandora and Netflix as much as I can.

Also, set a strong password. The hotspot is open otherwise, and susceptible to poaching.

Quote: Mosca

I grudgingly moved up a level of data with Verizon that included the hotspot. In return for that I am now streaming Pandora and Netflix as much as I can.

How do you find the netflix streaming to be? For me, I can stream Pandora or MLB14 radio but netflix and Hulu are too choppy via the phone hotspot.

Quote: rdw4potus

How do you find the netflix streaming to be? For me, I can stream Pandora or MLB14 radio but netflix and Hulu are too choppy via the phone hotspot.

I got a buffering during a TV show the other night, but when I switched to my normally reliable iPad it also buffered, so it might have been a network thing rather than a phone thing. Here at work I get 50mbps/sec on 4G, the cell tower is in the parking lot. At home both wireless and 4G are about 13mbps.