Just returned from 4 nights at the RIO with the following observations (since Harrahs takeover.) Room rates seemed abit higher (of
course the NASCAR race had something to do with this I am sure - however; more hustle seemed to prevail than before) The shuttle now runs between the RIO and HARRAHS - every
20 minutes - it should be noted that Harrahs
has a table set up trying to lure customers into a property touring scheme. "Survey taking people" are in the RIO (AND shuttle buses) taking surveys (to what end, who knows) Colorful beads are given away during the parade in the sky - ONLY if you obtain certain slot scores on the machines. (They are free at the Orleans) Nevada nickles have
been removed and one employee said she lost her seniority when Harrahs arrived?? (Looks
like the union could have prevented this??) They would willingly take you $5.00 elevator fee to the VOODO lounge even though the observation deck was closed, no tables were
available, and even standing room was hard to come by. IMHO, some operating procedures could stand improving - otherwise, I enjoyed
my stay. Best Regards: Wendell

Wendell,

I just received a note this week from the Rio stating that the shuttle running between Harrahs and the Rio was on an on-demand basis and that there was no set pick-up schedule. Hopefully, the note was wrong and you are right that the shuttles are now running every 20 minutes. Could you verify this for me. Is it possible it was only because of a busy NASCAR week?

Sounds like you have a nice trip. Hope you returned home with some of the casino's money.

Beth

Beth - It does run every 20 minutes. It departs from the RIO at the taxi pick-up point and arrives at the RIO at the parking garage (masquerade village area). Arrival and departure points at Harrahs are in the valet parking area. Last runs are at 1:00 a.m. Sounds like you are about to have a little fun yourself. ENJOY. Best Regards: Wendell

------------------

Wendell

Last week I was checking room rates for our May trip on the LVRS web site. Sun. - Thurs. the Rio is $59.00 a night and Harrah's is $49.00. These were the casino rates seven years ago the first time I stayed at the Rio. Up until last week or so the Rio rates on LVRS were $109.00 weekdays. What gives?

------------------
John B.
jblersch@optonline.net

JohnSr,
Maybe someone noticed a drop off of hotel guests? That would be my first hunch. I think they need to tone it down a bit, and relize they are not on the strip, they are not the #1 property in LV, and the rooms are not suites! They are very nice large rooms, with a sofa and some tables to make a second room.
The Bell, Mandalay Bay, Paris, Venetian, they are slowy pecking away at the crowd they draw.


------------------
Lee-PA
Moderator, What's New Forum
lee@talkvegas.com

Wendell, does the Rio still have a shuttle over to the Polo Towers area or did the Harrah's shuttle replace that?

Wendell --

Very interesting. You say they are giving beads away during the Parade in the Sky based upon slot play?!?! That seems bizzare. I always thought it was strange enough that people would lunge for them when the beads were just being dropped from the floats. Now there is a "bead-obtaining procedure?" That's wierd.

As for there being a charge to go up to the Vodoo Lounge, my first reaction was that that's just another annoying attempt to gouge a few more bucks -- and it probably is. BUT, I've found that a few dollars as a cover tends to thin things out a bit, and opens things up for people who actually want to be at a nice place and order a few drinks. Heck, the drinks there are expensive enough so that $5 bucks won't make much of a difference -- perhaps, though, they could give a free drink coupon with the charge for the elevator ride.

I've heard they've also instituted a cover for the dueling pianos at NYNY, which also might aleviate the "gawker" congestion at the place.

Thanks for the info!

------------------
Mark L. in NJ

Mark, there is a cover charge for the dueling pianos at NY NY. I don't remember if it was $5 or $10. But, the night we were there the place was packed and we were lucky to find seats. We eventually did get good seats and then Lee Ann made a spectacle of herself, but that's another story.<G>

------------------
John
Moderator Dining Forum
john@talkvegas.com

Daisy - Shuttle runs between th RIO and Harrahs ONLY. It looked like the old shuttle station in the Polo Towers area was being dis-mantled. Mark - They even have a nicely dressed announcer hustling the slot play for beads aprx 10 minutes prior to the parade in the sky show time. (NOTE: While in the orleans gift shop, I spotted several boxes of beads behind a cash register and asked the clerk what one had to do to received beads - she just reached back and handed me a hand full. The hustles at the RIO and Harrahs were somewhat annoying but nothing major. Best Regards: Wendell

John --

Funny how quickly news travels of good entertainment. I was at NYNY a few weeks after it opened, and had little trouble getting a seat to see the dueling pianos. Next time, couldn't get near the place. Now there's a cover and it sounds like its still tough to get in. Still, I'd gladly pay $5-10 to see that act.

Wendell --

So I guess that means they've stopped tossing beads from the floats. I guess now we won't be seeing full-grown adults crawling over one another to snatch five-and-a-half cents worth of plastic from the air!

------------------
Mark L. in NJ

Last time I looked, the Dueling Pianos cover charge was $10 per, only on weekends though. This could have changed already, though, since it was changing regularly every several weeks.

Even if you have to pay $10, it's worth it. I wonder if you got there early, say an hour before the show started, if you could get in without paying the cover charge?
Also, I don't remember, did they offer appetizers? I don't remember if food was available.

------------------
John
Moderator Dining Forum
john@talkvegas.com

John,
...and that was after only two glasses of wine. <vbg>

John: On Friday or Saturday if you get inside by 6:45 you can avoid any lines and the charge.

I don't ever recall any food being served.