Velikolipovskiy Vacations from $137

Great

Since it’s not directly on the Strip, the Rio is a little calmer than many of the other Vegas casinos, which we actually really enjoyed. We came to watch quite a few sports games, and the less-crowded casino and sportsbook made it much more comfortable to hang out, watch the games, and relax. Overall, the hotel was pretty clean and well maintained. We booked a standard high-floor king suite with a Strip view. The room and bathroom were both very spacious and clean, although nothing felt particularly fancy or “newly renovated.” The large bathtub was nice, but it looked like it may have had jets at one point that were removed. The shower itself was nice, but the water pressure was pretty minimal. Our biggest gripe was the fact that there was NO coffee machine in the room. I’ve traveled all over the world and genuinely don’t think I’ve ever stayed in a hotel without some way to make coffee in the room. It honestly feels like a money-grab—and you best believe it worked, because we ended up at the Starbucks right off the elevator every morning. The canteen was convenient to have nearby. However, on our last night, five of the six restaurants were closed by around 4 p.m., despite being listed as open until 10 p.m. We couldn’t get food anywhere, and even the restaurant bar had stopped serving before 10. That was frustrating and definitely something the hotel should address. Despite those complaints, I would stay at the Rio again. It was overall affordable, clean, & comfortable.