MtM Vegas – Terrible Rio Las Vegas Experience
Update: Check out our follow up episode as well where I detail even more craziness that happened with my Rio stay after I recorded this episode.
Happy Christmas Eve! This week I had quite the disappointing stay at Rio Las Vegas and I’ll tell you all about it. Before we dive in don’t forget to subscribe to the Miles to Memories YouTube channel to see every episode plus our Vegas reviews, guides and tours!
This Week’s MtM Vegas
This week I recorded the episode live from the Rio where I nearly walked out after being lied to and downgraded rooms without being told. From being given the wrong room to misinformation from management and a very dated feel, the entire experience simply doesn’t measure up.
We also discuss some dining news including pod dining in Vegas, a brand new Raiders restaurant, Olive Garden on the Strip and the very cool story of how something placed under a Vegas park bench 10 years ago turned into a $10K prize. Don’t forget to comment on the video to let us know what you think!
Bottom Line
I probably won’t be staying at Rio again any time soon, but I lived to tell the tale so all isn’t lost I suppose. From now on I think I’ll stick to Caesars’ on-Strip properties though. What do you think about my stay or any of the other stories we covered? Let’s talk about it!
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Shawn – The Wild West casino was part of Bally’s. Also, the new sports book (which is really nice) was built in that area right next to the Wild West casino and the poker room was located there as well. I guess the thought was they would be between Caesars and Bally’s so people at both properties could more easily access them. With the sale of Bally’s pending (think it is actually still open (at least the casino part but I haven’t been to AC since last March so can’t confirm) I got an E-mail recently that the Wild West casino was now part of Caesars. Makes sense to keep that area (and certainly the sports book/poker room) so when Bally’s closes (don’t think it will be a casino after the sale and wind down period) the Wild West will live on as before which is nice.
Aside from being in the middle of nowhere; they haven’t put a nickel in that place since Prince performed there back in 2006 …
Yup and it is really starting to show.
I watch the whole viedo ! it so sad about vegas,,, Theres one thing you did not mention,about the rio ! is the resort fee! I am looking on line,did they drop the resort fee? the resort fee is more then the room?? thanks,,,
Good point Lenny. I’ll make sure to include it in the review, but in my case the resort fee was waived because of my Diamond status. Normally it is $38.50 plus tax. I knew the fee would be waived going in so that isn’t included in the price I said.
Thanks for reply !! I was there 6 years ago ! for 5 days,,the same time a CES, show,convention was in town,,extra 60,000,,people !! feb 7th to 11th ! wow was it busy ! Took 5 hours to get check inn,at harahs, Everything was so expensive,,,But was exciting to see las,vegas ! I really enjoyed your viedo,, !! thank you !
They are still trying to live off their reputation of years and years ago…doesn’t work like that….Upgrade or sell…..NOW!
I do miss the old Rio.
I am sure they will miss you.
Haha that’s kind of not the point. It’s a big picture kind of thing. They don’t miss one customer but thousands of ones = a lot.
I first stayed at the Rio in the mid 90s a d thought it was a very nice property. The only other time I stayed there was an 11 night stay during the World Series of Poker in June 2019. It was a dump! No money had been out into it. The furniture was beat up, paint was peeling off the building and the elevator stopped between floors twice with me on board.
I knew it had been for sale but very disappointing stay. Like you I will never stay there again.
BTW Bally’s in Atlantic City was similar in state of disrepair before it was finally sold.
Doesn’t Bally’s have that little Wild West casino? It’s crazy that things probably didn’t change much at Rio from your stay in the mid-90s until your stay in 2019. Rooms were probably the same.