JohnnyQ
JohnnyQ
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March 27th, 2014 at 5:42:25 PM permalink
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.
There's emptiness behind their eyes There's dust in all their hearts They just want to steal us all and take us all apart
Nostron
Nostron
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April 3rd, 2014 at 8:26:20 AM permalink
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.
DJTeddyBear
DJTeddyBear
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April 3rd, 2014 at 12:50:48 PM permalink
Quote: Nostron

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

Neither of you made the pit stop at Gold Coast?
I invented a few casino games. Info: http://www.DaveMillerGaming.com/ ————————————————————————————————————— Superstitions are silly, childish, irrational rituals, born out of fear of the unknown. But how much does it cost to knock on wood? 😁
JohnnyQ
JohnnyQ
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April 3rd, 2014 at 4:36:50 PM permalink
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.
There's emptiness behind their eyes There's dust in all their hearts They just want to steal us all and take us all apart
terapined
terapined
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April 3rd, 2014 at 7:12:00 PM permalink
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.
JohnnyQ
JohnnyQ
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April 3rd, 2014 at 8:05:37 PM permalink
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).
There's emptiness behind their eyes There's dust in all their hearts They just want to steal us all and take us all apart
Venthus
Venthus
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April 3rd, 2014 at 9:00:20 PM permalink
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.
SanchoPanza
SanchoPanza
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April 4th, 2014 at 5:23:20 AM permalink
Quote: terapined

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

It is Las Vegas's answer to Atlantic City's lunatic parking fees.
terapined
terapined
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April 4th, 2014 at 5:54:32 AM permalink
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.
Mosca
Mosca
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April 4th, 2014 at 6:05:52 AM permalink
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
A falling knife has no handle.
rainman
rainman
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April 4th, 2014 at 6:10:16 AM permalink
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.
Mosca
Mosca
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April 4th, 2014 at 7:37:59 AM permalink
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.
A falling knife has no handle.
rdw4potus
rdw4potus
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April 4th, 2014 at 7:48:33 AM permalink
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.
"So as the clock ticked and the day passed, opportunity met preparation, and luck happened." - Maurice Clarett
Mosca
Mosca
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April 4th, 2014 at 12:13:00 PM permalink
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.
A falling knife has no handle.
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