We have visited vegas many times and have stayed at numerous places. TI, Mandalay Bay, Monte Carlo, etc, but our favorite was the Rio. We are harrahs loyals and visit their properties in Lake Tahoe and Reno several times a year. This trip to the RIO was much different than any other. we were traveling with about 11 freinds/famly. I raved about the rio and had some discounts so I booked 4 rooms. In the past i have never had to leave them a deposit, and this time they wanted one on each room.. Not a typical hotel deposit for the first nights stay. A deposit of 300.00 per room for incidentals charged to the room. After informing them that I we would not be charging to the room, they reduced the deposit. Mine was 200.00 @ of the others were 100.00 and the 4th was 300.00. Why they go up and down like that I have no idea.To say the least I was very disappointed as i was not expecting to pay an additional 1200.00 for hotel rooms. Shoot, I would have booked the Wynn if I had.
Checking in was a nightmare becasue of the 4 rooms. 2 of them were comp, so i guess you get what you pay for right? When we get to the front desk 1 of the 2 comp rooms is coming up with charges, they make me talk to the supervisor Scott, who was able to pull the tapes of my phone conversation when I booked the room, and verify that I was not trying to pull one over on them. Anyways he did comp the room and was very nice about the whole matter.
Well we get up to our room in the masqurade tower, and there is a large (what looks like remnants of sex) stain on the couch, the room was not an updated room, and there was no comforter on the bed, just sheets. I called down and they said this is their new look. the 3 sheets.. Which were white, and the remainign decor was that bright old vegas color. looked awful. Anyway Scott changed our rooms for us. He was absolutely wonderful. Next we were put into the impanema tower. By then It didn't matter anymore I was just happy to be going out to dinner as everybody had arrived by then and was finished checking in.
Our room, was better than the last one, but not nearly as good as the other 6 times we stayed at Rio. the carpet was shredded up.. I mean strands of carpet pulled up.
Also, by the internet cafe by starbucks there was this one I'll just come out and say it.. HOOKER.. that was there every night. She would be signaling men to come over to her. We caught her being turned down 3 times. Then there was another time we were in the elevator with one who had to have been 21 and the john was at least 50.. disgusting.

Rio used to be a classy place, and my favorite place to be. we love the atmosphere in the casino it is different then the other boring ones, but we have never liked to eat there. For some reason, the food there to me, is all way overpriced for mediocrity. One of our favorite things to do in vegas is have nice dinners. We don't mind paying the a la cart prices, but I can't stand paying too much money for something that leaves you disgusted afterwards. So usaully we never eat at the rio. On this trip however, because there were so many of us, you have to consider everyones budget, and 6 of us were looking to eat. Well the two old ladies in the group (my mom and my aunt) decided they wanted to stay at the hotel and eat, so after walking around undecided we settled on McFaddens. We went up to the host, and he said you have to wait for the hostess she is inside. So about 10 minutes later she comes out. This was on Saturday June 27th in case her boss is reading this. She informs us that there is a party and we can't come in. the house was not full by any means adn it was about 9:15. After my girlfriend was talking with her a while she comes back and says well "we can seat you but you'll have to be done by 11:00." Mind you my friend who was talking with this young lady is african american. I could only have imagined how she must have felt. I don't believe the young lady was racist, but we sure did percieve it that way. Perception is reality. Anyway, we declined her not so inviting invitation to eat in their resturaunt, and decided on RUB.. I kept telling my mother, mom i don't want to eat at the rio we need to go somewhere else, but the boys wanted BBQ so the 6 of decided on RUB.. OH MY GOD.. our waiter seemed very attentive at first then distracted. He would ask me if i would like a refill, and when I confirmed he would walk away and right in front of us at the hostess stand, be palying with his iphone. He would then come back around ask how everything was, and then still not bring me my drink. And the food.. Come on.. Famous daves has better BBQ than this place for half the price.
Anyway, we will not be staying here again, i am sure my husband will remain a harrahs loyal in the reno/tahoe area, as those hotels are really so much nicer than the ones in vegas. But we all agreed we will NEVER stay at the RIO again.. Free or Not.. we recieve offers from the MGM properties as well, but rio was our favorite. Its like a love affair has ended..