This page from my master list of all Las Vegas articles I wrote while developing Vanabode as the best travel vehicle for cheap easy long term road trips.

Rio Suite Hotel Las Vegas

Rio Suite Hotel Las Vegas has four different styles of suites to choose from, so if you are not staying in your Vanabode, you have a lot of options. As a matter of fact, every room in the Rio is a suite. They boast panoramic views in over 2,500 guest rooms. You can ask for a suite that is 600 square feet or 1,600 square feet.

The Rio is off the Strip and rooms are smaller than the Bellagio or the Venetian but it's still a fun place to stay. Just about every room has floor to ceiling windows and an incredible view. The Standard Suite has a separate changing area, a refrigerator and lounge area. The Cariocas Suite is 1,100 square feet with a Jacuzzi, walk-in closet, wet bar and refrigerator.

Las Vegas valley at sunset from the top of the VooDoo Lounge at Rio in Las Vegas.

Their Super Suite has a large bathroom with marble tops, Jacuzzi, 25" TV, wet bar, 1 ½ baths and more. The largest suite at 1,600 square feet is the Masquerade Suite including a separate dining room, wet bar, Jacuzzi and walk-in shower. My friends tell me you want to stay in the Ipanema Tower. The beds are more comfortable, bathrooms are large, clean and they have internet access. I was told one of the other towers doesn't have internet access so be sure to ask if you need it.

If you're staying at the Rio Suite Hotel Las Vegas with your kids, don't bother asking for more than 6 pillows. They won't give it to you. Besides that, I hear room service is very good. They'll come in and set up your table with white linens and fabulous food. Definitely worth a try.

For relaxation, try the spa and salon at the Rio Suite Hotel Las Vegas. It's not as luxurious or as big as the spa at the Bellagio or the Wynn but you can get the basics like massages, facials and body treatments. The salon is equipped for haircuts, perms, manicures and more.

Overview: One of the absolute best views of the Vegas skyline and strip
Location: just off the Las Vegas Strip near Palms on busy Flamingo road
Restaurants: Voodoo Lounge hooked to a great steakhouse, go to the back of the All-American Bar & Grille for the best service and fireside atmosphere, best thing for the money is the aged beef over salad for about $12, the Carnival World Buffet is known all over Vegas for a serious buffet for the price - very good, Gaylord Indian cuisine is very romantic but the most expensive Indian food in Vegas I think, The Village Seafood Buffet costs usually over $36 actually has lobster, crab and harder to find items like special oysters, scallops and weird shrimp, on the cheap side the Wetzel's Pretzels has this great little pretzel in some dough called a "pig in the blanket",
Nightclubs, Lounges: Voodoo Lounge is the best but there are others for the women when they spill out of the Chippendales show like the all-male staffed Flirt Lounge. Lots of guys hang around it thinking the girls will come out of the show all would up to get with a guy.
Casino: 125,000+ square feet, including Blackjack, Caribbean Stud Poker, Craps, big smoky Keno club area, Baccarat, Pai Gow Poker, Poker, Roulette, more than 1,500+ slot machines, and poker room, large race sports book has seats for 150+ people with 150 TV's and 5 big screens for viewing major events.
Entertainment: the bowling alley is popular with locals called Lucky Strike Lanes, free low commitment Masquerade Village shows play out overhead throughout the day and night like the ones they do at Circus Circus only substantially bigger and with less clothes, Chippendales which only allows women in, and Tony 'n' Tina's Wedding is a fun Broadway style act.
Extras: easy parking, free little interactive shows every 2-3 hours in casino that you can join in for $20 riding an overhead party tram all over the casino
Pools: 4+ acres with 4 good curvy pools, one with sandy entrance, 4 nice hot tubs hidden in the palm trees and surrounded by rocks and waterfalls, actually a very nice pool scene for an off strip hotel.
Health Club or Spa: both reasonable sized plus a hair salon
Shopping: the Wine Cellar Tasting Room was not a good experience for us as it was too expensive and deserted, otherwise just small shops.
Wedding chapel: none, you might be able to talk them into a poolside wedding for less than 100 people
Childcare facilities: None
Pets allowed: No
Parking garage: free indoor parking garage plus limited outdoor parking for oversized vehicles like rv's and buses.
Shuttle service to the airport: back and forth to the airport by a private company, cab service also
Shuttle service to Strip: free throughout the day to and from Harrahs
Hotel amenities: Typical amenities, plus valet parking, arcade, safety deposit box, salon, laundry, luggage handling, electronic check-out.
Miscellaneous: Check-in time is 3 pm and Check-out time is 11 am. The minimum age to reserve a room is 21 years and there is a maximum number of guests per room of four. Must provide a credit card for incidentals. Ask for a room in the Ipanema Tower as they are big and right by the elevator. They have sofas and lounge chairs, separate dressing areas and refrigerators.

The Rio has at least 16 distinct places to eat plus a few coffee shops. Not bad for a smaller casino that's off the Strip. You can find the Rio on West Flamingo near highway 15 and the Strip. It's a short cab ride from McCarran International Airport.

The sign on Flamingo of the Rio Hotel in Las Vegas features their free Masquerade Show in the Sky, concerts, and headling show of commedians Penn & Teller. The All-American Bar and Grill is good and inexpensive. If you like your steak or burger fixed on an open mesquite grill, you'll like this place. It's a casual place with 10 plus plasma TVs in their sports bar. On the pricier side, you have Café Martorano started by Steve Martorano, caterer to the Sopranos. He serves fine Italian cuisine with a Philly twist.

If you're a wine connoisseur, you will love the Wine and Cellar Tasting Room at the Rio Hotel in Las Vegas. 50,000 plus wines to choose from including vintage wines from the 1800's to the present like bottles of Chateau d'Yquem. You can also try as many as 100 wines by the glass or select from their food and wine pairing menu. They think of everything including oversized couches and chocolate tastings. Can't wait to go back.

The Seafood buffet is more specialized and more expensive. It's famous for its crab legs, sushi, lobster and fresh catch. The crab legs are just as tasty as the delicious ones at the Bellagio buffet. R.U.B. is for barbeque lovers. Chef Paul Kirk has brought his fine flavors and sauces from New York City to Vegas. If you want to try it all, ask for the Taste of the Baron which includes a quarter rack of ribs plus beef, turkey, chicken, pork, pastrami, ham and sausage. As you can guess, it's their most popular dish.

For free entertainment check out the Masquerade Show in the Sky with a wild carnival theme. Floats are suspended from the ceiling and 'float' around the casino with dancers throwing Mardi Gras beads to visitors watching the show. Below, on an open stage, a group of male and female dancers put on a high-energy choreographic show. If you're looking for a fun casino, visit the Rio Suite Hotel Las Vegas.

American Road Trips - reviews & pictures of places we visited on $20 a day - food, gas and lodging.

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