50 Weeks At The RIO (WHAT...NO T-SHIRT!)

Posted by gregrio on 06-12-2005

Well...almost fifty weeks, I only stayed at the RIO two nights this trip,
but I'm counting it as my 50th weeks stay.

Thanks to the LVA's POV 50%OFF and 3x'sPlay coupon...along with my
46,000 points, I had a Junior Suite for three nights at just $40. TOTAL.

The PALMS is as good as ever, 7th floor, two walls of windows, corner
room overlooking the RIO.
Played lots of STAR WARS (very cool), 9.7 Double Bonus and Triple Play.

WSOP was ON at the RIO...but you'd never know it except for all the signs
directing you way, way, WAAAY down to the very far end of their
Convention Center complex.
It was a GIANT hall with, what seemed to be, hundreds of tables.
The spectators and television crews all gathered round the favorite
TravelChannel Poker celebs.
'BUZ' around the RIO was after McHARRAH'S completes their CEASARS
deal, the WSOP might move to BALLY'S.

There's new and improved TITO redemption machines all over the RIO...
...they make change too:
20's for 100, 10's for 20, 5's for 10, and 1's for a 5.
They're slick and quick.

WYNN LAS VEGAS:................................it was nice

BUT...I feel no need to visit it again. It's congested as hell, especially
the fron enterance area. The circle drive is small. Taxi, Limo, Valet, all
compete for the same space.
People comin' bump into people goin', bump into Valet drop off, bump into
Valet pick-up.
I was surprised the planning was as poor as it is...

It's beautiful inside, great color concepts, marble and tile work...but it's
just another expensive casino.
VP machines I played looked good...
Double Bonus, 9.6, slant tabletop. The background screen is totally black
which makes the cards really stand out and looks great...BUT the pay
schedules are terrible if you play 50, 25, or 5 cent machines...save your $$$
Dollar and up are the only VP games the are worth playing.
We played a Red White & Blue and Double Diamond quarter slot,
one 'Jackson' in each for 45min. with hardly a miss on a hit!
Cashed out even or ahead on both before it was time to catch
the 'Lake Show'.

Now.............Steve Wynn had a 'Lake' at BELLAGIO
he's got a 'Pond' at WYNN LAS VEGAS.
Be prepared for a 3min. disapointment.

At the bottom of his spiral escalators, there's a bar area with restaurants
left and right. All three have outside table areas to view the Lake entertainment. The only way you can be outside to view, is to be a
paying customer.
We waited 25min. in line to get an outside bar table.
1-Jack&Giner, 1-Coke, $13.00 and I had to ask our server FOUR TIMES for
my change.

The show consists of the 'Waterfall' turning into a video screen...
...very unimaginative images of women running thru a jungle, a 'CIRQUE'
type head (ala Mystere) raises up from the water onto the screen, colored
flood lights shine on the Mountain trees (looked like Christmas), while
smoke and more lights covered the Pond..............I mean Lake.
3min. and it's over (and I was still waiting for my change)

2-bowls of French Onion Soup, 1-BLT, 1-Tuna sandwitch, 1-tea, and
1-Coke...........$48.00 in the Cafe.
It wasn't anything about the overpriced EVERYTHING...that's the kind of
place it is and you accept that.
It was just that nothing was special/WOW! and I don't feel I need to
go back at this time.

GEORGE CARLIN was great in his new home at the STARDUST. It's a total
CARLIN CROWD at the STARDUST and that's just the way George likes it
and it showed.

LA FEMME's new show at MGM was as good as ever! It's still the
smartest Adult Show in town. 13 vignettes total.

DINNER at 'The Top Of The World', STRATOSPHERE was as expected.
Food was OK/View was great...terribly over priced.

ZZ TOP at the LVHilton was GREAT!!!

CAB DRIVER PROTEST!
There's a 'clause' in a new 'bill' that prohibits Gentelmen's Clubs, Brothels,
Golf Courses, to 'tip' cab drivers lots of money for convincing riders to
visit their properties...(any more)
Drivers argue it's unfare, they're loosing lots of money while Limo drivers
are still allowed to do so.
Off and on all week, they'd cruze the Strip around 9PM, honking and slowing
down traffic for about an hour. One day, some refused to pick up fares
at McCarran.
...hope they work something out soon, getting a cab after my shows
was a bitch!

I took a $1,600. bankroll down, brought $600. home for 6 days of FUN.

Posted by Grant

Great report.

Nice detail on the Wynn, I am will check it out on Tuesday, but doens't sound like my type of place. Did you happen to check out the sportsbook there??

Posted by misterKeno

good quick TR, greg--glad you got that AWESOME room (s). Carlin sounded like a hoot!!! Ya know i had Wynn's hotel faciing me last week for 3 days out my window---but i just didnt go over---figured i'd take the advice from others that its all 'hype'.

OOOPs grant--i meant HYPE IS A good word,,,but wynns hype just stinks, lol.

$48 for soup and sandwich, holy crap !!!

mK

Posted by ladydancer

Nice report. I second the "HOLY CRAP"!

Posted by grannyvegas

Wynn is just another big over priced hotel/casino. Do they still have the fake grass by the sidewalks on the strip? That really turned me off.
Sounds like you had another great trip.

Posted by gregrio

Didn't see the Sportsbook...(or any single/double zero Roulett)
Checking it out is FREE and well worth a look-see...everybody should
have their own first hand opinion and judge for themselves.
We cabbed over Granny...I'm sure the AstroTurf is there.

Posted by Bluejeans

Nice trip Greg. The days of cheap food on the strip maybe numbered. Us "Po folk", will be packing peanut butter and crackers....LOL Sounds like the "Wynn", will be a little rich for my billfold. As you said we must do a look see for ourselves. Glad you had a nice getaway from work. Nice bit of take home $$, get the next gambo pot jump started for the next trip. You didn't see as many shows this time, or just didn't cover them all in your report?? Always a good read and thanks for sharing...

Posted by gregrio

Funny you mention PeanutButter Jean......at WYNN's cafe, I had to try
the FrenchOnion Soup...he uses the same recipe as Bellagio and I love theirs.
I was a bit torn though....I heard the Chili is great there too.

This goes waaaaay back, but I love Chili and PB&J's, but they didn't
have any PeanutButter. The friend I went over with couldn't walk around
too much (her back problems) so I've got to go over again and REALLY see
the casino (only saw a small part)
I'll try the cafe again AND BRING MY OWN PEANUT BUTTER & JELLY sandwitch
.......ireallywill! LOL

forgot to mention....had my first IN 'N OUT BUTGER this trip!