Las Vegas: Rio All Suites, off the Strip but not out of mind

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Rio All Suites Hotel & Casino

Address: 3700 West Flamingo Road, Phone: 702-777-7777, Web site: www.riolasvegas.com

Quick facts

The Rio is an interesting property. It’s one of the largest resorts in Las Vegas, yet it’s not located on the Strip. It features one of the best buffets in town and top-of-the-line entertainment (I’m talking about Penn & Teller, not Chippendales). Most unusual of all is that the hotel/casino features 2,522 suites. There are no hotel rooms, just suites.

Now, that distinction is slightly deceiving. Yes, every suite is spacious and roomy (the minimum size is 1,100 square feet), but not every option is as swanky as the ritzy suites at the top properties in Las Vegas.

Still, the Rio is an interesting property and worth the trek from the lights of Las Vegas Boulevard. Talking about “trek,” the annual Star Trek convention is held here.

Entertainment & Nightlife

Penn & Teller, whose style of cerebral antics has been a staple of Las Vegas for years, perform Saturday through Wednesday at 8 p.m. According to the buzz: Expect to be blown away by clever magic acts and their hilarious straight-man/goofball dynamic.

Dining

Let’s get right to it: Yes, the Rio features two of the best buffets in Las Vegas. The Carnival World Buffet and Village Seafood Buffet have earned impressive reputations for offering an unbelievable amount of variety across many cuisines. Head to the Carnival if you’re interested in international food, and head to the Village if you’re interested in fish.

The Village Seafood Buffet is unbelievable to behold. The offerings are diverse and tasty. There’s a motley variety of fried selections and raw choices. Obviously, the fresh lobster and king crab legs are the highlights.

Note: Expect long lines at both of these restaurants. Many tourists travel from the Strip to the Rio simply to eat at these veritable eateries. Try to hit the buffets in their first hour or their last hour of operation, if you want to stay away from the crowds. On the night we enjoyed the Village Seafood Buffet, the wait was about 45 minutes.

A decent deal for ambitious diners is the Buffet of Buffets, an extensive dining program run by Caesars. Here’s the deal: You get access to six buffets at Caesars’ top properties, including Caesars Palace, Flamingo, Harrah’s, Imperial Palace, Paris and Planet Hollywood. For extra money, you can get access the seafood buffet at the Rio.

To take full advantage of the offer, you’ll need to start with a late dinner and work your way through breakfast, lunch and another dinner (this one a little early). Also, be sure to check for room/buffet packages. Recently, Caesars is running a deal where if you book two nights in any of their hotels, you get two Buffet of Buffets passes.

There is also a variety of restaurants and smaller eateries. One of the coolest is the Whopper Bar, which is a branch of Burger King that only sells its signature sandwich, but in many modified ways.

Location

We’re big fans of the Strip, simply because it allows diners, show-goers and gamblers the flexibility of moving from resort to resort. Because of this, the Rio feels lost on its own oasis. One can walk there along Flamingo Road, but it’s not advised. You’ll need to cross over the highway and traverse dark sidewalks.

A better choice is to take a taxi (expensive) or grab a seat on the free shuttle to Bally’s and Harrah’s.

Gambling Options

The Rio features more than 120,000 square feet of casino floor space, and it’s smartly split between two gaming areas. This makes for a lot of room and many available tables and machines.

Room & Pool Options

The aforementioned suites are definitely a plus to the Rio property. You can either grab one with 1,100, 1,200 or 1,600 square feet. The best of the best are the Palazzo Suites, which range from 4,000 to 13,000 square feet.

Shopping, Spas & Salons

There is a spa and fitness center, but guests need to pay $22 for access. Not much shopping is featured, but it should be mentioned that the Rio has some of the best convention space in town. The ballrooms and enormous convention floor equal more than 160,000 square feet.

Cleanliness & Service Level

The Rio is kept in tip-top shape, but there is definitely a difference between the newer sections and the older ones. One nice feature is that the ceiling is fairly high in the casino, so cigarette smoke doesn’t spread like fog among the gamblers.

Attractions

The Rio features the popular “Show in the Sky,” which can be viewed from several restaurants, stores and on the casino floor. Fantasy floats glide around the ceiling like New Orleans’ Mardi Gras, while dancers perform choreography along a centrally located staircase.

Overall Rating: (7.3)

By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com

Please note: All of this information is subject to change. This is Las Vegas, after all. Restaurants, lounges, attractions and shows open and close almost every single day. Be sure to check official Web sites and call the resort for details.