The Rio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas presents a unique stay experience, particularly as it undergoes significant transformations. Guests often find it to be a compelling option, especially when seeking value and a slightly removed, yet accessible, location from the bustling Las Vegas Strip. Our analysis of recent guest feedback highlights both its notable strengths and areas where improvements are still needed, painting a picture of a property in transition.
Key Strengths 👍
The Rio garners praise for several aspects that contribute to a positive stay for many visitors:
- Exceptional Value & Loyalty Perks 💰: A significant highlight, especially for World of Hyatt Globalist members, is the incredible value offered. Guests report waived resort fees, low room rates (as low as $50/night), and substantial point bonuses. Complimentary breakfast for two, valued around $40, further enhances the deal, making it feel "almost like staying for free" for some. This makes the Rio a strong contender for those looking to maximize their loyalty benefits.
- Spacious Accommodations 🛏️: A consistent positive is the sheer size of the rooms. Even unrenovated rooms are described as "very large" and "clean." Some suites boast an impressive 1600 square feet, offering ample space for guests. While older sections may be "outdated in some aspects," cleanliness is frequently cited as a redeeming quality in these rooms.
- Amenities & Entertainment 🎲: The resort offers a variety of amenities to keep guests entertained. The pool area receives high marks for both its quality and service. Guests appreciate the "great food choices" within the resort, a fun Kiss Mini Golf experience, and a wide array of gaming options in the casino.
- Convenience & Accessibility 🚗: Practical aspects like parking are well-regarded. The Rio offers free parking, with two parking garages and a large lot in the back, alleviating a common concern for Las Vegas visitors. The rideshare pickup area is noted as "easy to access" and includes seating options, which is a thoughtful touch for waiting guests. Elevator service, even with one out of four for floors 1-20, was efficient, with minimal waiting times reported.
Areas for Improvement ⚠️
While many find their stay enjoyable, several points indicate where the Rio could enhance the guest experience:
- Renovation & Maintenance 🛠️: The distinction between renovated and unrenovated sections is crucial. Older rooms, despite their size, can feel "underwhelming" with "stained carpets" and "dirty" bathroom floors. Maintenance issues like flickering lights and unaddressed repair requests (e.g., bathroom lights) have been noted. The panoramic strip views, while potentially "outstanding," are often marred by "dirty and glare" on the windows, preventing good photography. Guests strongly recommend opting for the "newer and remodeled section" or the Villas for a superior experience.
- Casino Environment 💨: One reviewer specifically mentioned a "strong smell that reminded me of marijuana smoke" in the casino area. This could be a significant deterrent for guests sensitive to such odors, prompting advice to "steer clear of that part of the property."
- Specific Section Issues 🚧: The "Masquerade section" of the hotel was described as giving off "extremely shady, creepy vibes," with "off-putting" individuals near the elevators. Restaurants in older sections also received negative feedback regarding their appeal and staff demeanor.
Location Considerations 📍
The Rio is located slightly off the main Las Vegas Strip, a factor that influences guest movement. While a walk to the Strip is "definitely doable" (around a mile or 20 minutes), many guests prefer to use rideshare services like Uber to "save our energy." This off-Strip location contributes to its competitive pricing and often less congested environment compared to central Strip resorts.
Dining Experience 🍜
Beyond the general "great food choices," specific culinary highlights include "Ramen noodles with the pork pieces" and "Chicken dumplings" with "tremendous sauce," receiving high ratings for taste. However, observations about crowded dining tables suggest a need for management to "have a few more open," especially during peak hours.
Conclusion
The Rio Hotel & Casino offers a compelling option for visitors to Las Vegas, especially those seeking good value, spacious rooms, and a slightly quieter base away from the immediate Strip frenzy. It excels in providing generous loyalty program benefits and convenient amenities like free parking. However, prospective guests should be mindful of the current state of renovations; opting for a remodeled room or understanding that older sections may come with noticeable wear and maintenance shortcomings is advisable. Despite some drawbacks, for many, the Rio delivers a satisfying and enjoyable Las Vegas experience, and its ongoing improvements suggest a promising future.
We had a great time staying here. Having already stayed at many hotels on the Strip and experienced the excitement there, we decided to try something different this time—and it turned out to be a great choice. The hotel's proximity to Chinatown allowed us to enjoy a variety of delicious and affordable food options. The hotel itself has been renovated, and our room was spacious and beautiful.As a Hyatt Globalist, I appreciated the waived resort fee, complimentary breakfast with generous portions, and the late checkout. While the hotel did feel a bit understaffed at times, the overall value for the price was excellent. I would definitely stay here again.
Honestly was a bit worried about staying here because of the mixed reviews I've read online. We also did not stay in a renovated room so I wasn't sure what to expect. Was very surprised and happy to have had a great trip with no issues! The room was clean and very large. Outdated in some aspects but it was clean and that's what matters. We had a nice view of the strip as well. 3 out of 4 elevators for floors 1-20 were working, and we never had to wait more than 5 minutes even when there was other groups waiting. Great food choices, Kiss Mini Golf was fun, and lots of gaming options in the casino. The rideshare pickup area is easy to access and has seating options while you wait. Free parking with two parking garages and a huge lot in the back as well. The strip is about a mile walk away, definitely doable but we opted to just take an Uber instead and save our energy. I really enjoyed our stay here and would love to stay in a renovated room for my next stay just to see how much improvement they've made to the rooms.
I stayed at the Rio in Las Vegas for 5 days and had a great experience overall—especially as a World of Hyatt Globalist member. Because of my status, the resort fees were completely waived, and I booked the room for just $50 per night. On top of that, I received a 3,000-point bonus, which made the deal even sweeter. Honestly, when you factor in the points, it’s almost like staying for free.One of the best perks for Globalists is the complimentary breakfast for two. The breakfast was solid, and the fresh orange juice was a nice touch. Normally, this would cost around $40 for two people, so it’s a significant added value.Now, the rooms are decent—nothing extravagant, but clean and comfortable enough. The only downside is the casino area, which had a strong smell that reminded me of marijuana smoke. So if you're sensitive to that kind of thing, it's best to steer clear of that part of the property.Overall, for the price, the Globalist perks, and the bonus points, I’d definitely stay here again. It’s a great value play in Vegas if you’re looking to stretch your points and status benefits
For the price, this place wasn't bad. We stayed on the 21st floor with a panoramic view of the strip. This view would have been outstanding if the floor-to-ceiling windows were clean. I can't take any good pictures out the windows because of the dirt and glare. The room had to be outstanding back in the day, but even with the 1600 square foot space, it felt underwhelming. The carpets are stained, and the front bathroom (the room has two bathrooms) floors were dirty, even though housekeeping came up to clean them for us while we were there. We requested that the light in the bathroom be fixed, but no one came to fix it. The separate room with the toilet had a flickering light, as if it had a short. After about an hour, it came on, so we left it on. We stayed in the Masquerade section of the hotel. To tell you the truth, that section of the hotel gave off extremely shady, creepy vibes. These guys were hanging out in front of one of the stores, not far from the elevators. They kept calling us over, trying to hand us something, and were extremely off-putting. The restaurant on that side of the hotel, on the way out to the parking lot, was very unappealing...the restaurant and the staff.The newer and remodeled section of the hotel was a lot nicer.The walk from the hotel to the strip wasn't bad at all.If I stay at this hotel again, it will be in the remodeled section or the Villas.
It's definitely trying to come back to life. I will say the rooms were clean and newly renovated. I checked for bed bugs, and my room had none. The room was slightly stuffy, and it felt like the ac wasn't working like it should, but it's manageable. The rooms were very inexpensive so I can't complain too much for what I got. It has everything you need. Different eating spots. A few bars, and a nice pool area. They also have an adult pool area. I just wish they wouldn't allow people to play with footballs inside the pool. We were in a corner, afraid to swim and get hit, and we still got hit. A lady got hit hard in the face, and the lifeguards did nothing. I probably won't go back, but for the price, it's not bad.