GREGRIO Dec. 2-7, PALMS/RIO

[GREGRIO]

One trip a year, I like to stay one night at the PALMS.
I play most of my video poker there, accumulate my points over
the year, activate the LVA POV 3xPoints and 50%OFF coupons and
I stay for no charge.
Most of my time spent gaming happens during the day, so the
louder/crazier atmosphere of the PALMS late night crowd isn't
a problem...(it isn't a problem with me any way...it's fun)
The Standard Rooms/origional tower works just fine for me...the
beds are still great and as some folks have mentioned, the room noise
has never been an issue with me...I've never heard/been bothered with
any noise during any of my stays.

I made reservations for their new Italian restaurant 'Nove' (no-vay)
Floor to ceiling windows, wonderful views, various sections and levels,
46"plasma screens double for picture frames and rotate classic paintings
from the 'Masters' throughout the evening...one pic fades into the other,
then another, and another, etc. Looks pretty cool!
Service was excelent and the menu choices were many.
I decided on Caesar Salad, Lamb Chops, Cheese Cake and water.
Total w/tip was eightyfive bucks.
I requested, and got, on the guest list for the PLAYBOY CLUB later that night.
Addmission is $20. mid week, $40. on the weekends but...if you eat at Nove
a free pass seems the norm.

Nove, the PLAYBOY CLUB and MOON Nightclub, are on the top three floors
of the new tower (in that order)...I visited all three.
Escalators connect each floor and it's easy to move from PLAYBOY CLUB to MOON, and back again all night long.

MOON was just another Las Vegas club to me...Great sound system blasting
the usual Las Vegas dance music. I was surprised how small it was...RAIN,
their main club/dance venue, is four times the size.
Theres a couple bars, main dance floor, and a small lounge-get-away area
off to one end.
Temps were in the 40's and their outdoor terrace and retractable roof (dance
under the stars) were closed due to the cold.

The PLAYBOY CLUB was kinda neat. It was quite dark in there...lots of
black leather and mohogany hard woods gave it that rich,old, origional
Chicago Playboy Club feel.
Several bars and levels, windows all around...and BUNNIES.

The main gaming choice is table games, with BUNNY dealers and BUNNY
Cocktail Servers. The 'pit' takes up the main center floor, a large row of
VP machines along the base of the upper bar level, and a half dozen flat
screen PLAYBOY slot machines along the upper lever and thats it...they
want you to play table games with the BUNNIES.
All machines were $1.00 denominations and up.
I played Bonus Poker, $200. in and took a little over $600 out.

Checked into the RIO on Monday...still lots of Cowboys and Cowgirls around.
Got my favorite room, my redneck Polynesian friend Pat was working the
Room Service phones and she sent up my carrot cake and my server friends
would bring my coffee up each morning at 6:30AM...I was a happy camper.

The skyline is a changin'.............Looking North, TRUMP has half his highrise
covered in golden glass like MANDALAY BAY. It looks as tall as WYNN and has
blocked most of the view of the old STARDUST.
Between TRUMP, TURNBERRY PLACE, and the VENETIAN, large construction
cranes dominate the Northern view from my room.
From t.i./MIRAGE to the BELLAGIO, it looks about the same.
These large, full building advertizing draperies seem to be the latest thing to hang on your property...remember the way they draped the LUXOR
with "Hair Spray"?
"LOVE" covers the MIRAGE, "Cavalia" hangs over one side of BALLY'S, and
the East side of RIO's Masquerade Tower glows with the 'symbol' of PRINCE
along with a 3121 add.

Below my window in the RIO's Convention Center parking lot, were the
tents of "Cavalia" and looked quite cool. The Show will move on by the
end of the year and I'm sorry I didn't see it this trip...second time it's
been in town, second time I haven't chosen it, and heard nothing but
great things from folks who had.
Sunrise from my room is always wonderful but man......the haze and smog
is really getting bad. From what I could see, at least 7 cranes hovered
around the MGM/MIRAGE Civic Center construction site...Vegas just keeps
gettin' bigger and bigger and bigger...

The Danny Gans/Scintas/Ronn Lucus Theatre now has 3121 plastered all
over it. Friends around the RIO say PRINCE sells out each night he's there,
and so far...so good.
His new "3121 Jazz Kitchen" is right across from "Gaylords India Restaurant
and quite pricey. My choice is still the Steak, Lobster, Shrimp combo up top
VooDoo Cafe.

I didn't use the shuttle this trip to visit Caesars video poker area there in
the Colosseum gaming area. Harrah's finally 'nixed' the last of the decent
pay scheduals there (the last of any that were worth playing...)
There in now NO video poker at ANY Harrah's property (any denomination)
worth playing! Tooo Bad, Sooo Sad.

Other than that...SOS at the RIO, good trip, lots of fun, and the March
trip is all set up and paid for.
I took a 3k bankroll, played all I wanted for almost a week, and brought
home $2,200.00.
SHOW THOUGHTS in 'Shows and Entertainment' (some new/some repeats)

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Last edited by GREGRIO : Today at 02:06 PM.

[FL Mary]

I also posted a response on another board, but again Thanks for the report. You did well in the gambling area if you brought most of your money home. 5 days til I go!

Greg,
Great trip report. I especially enjoyed the description of the Clubs and "Nove" since I've never visited there.

I think Rio is definitly your home away from home. Service like that can't be beat. I noted your observation of the haze and smog, I noticed a big change when I was there last also. Too bad, for I remember the days of crisp blue skys every morning. Alas....change.

I hate what Harrah's has done to vp. It is the same in Tunica, they have managed to kill any decent percentage on vp. They seem to be making a tidy profit in penny and nickel video machines, because they are replacing everything with them. I've been playing mostly bj, but I still like to sit down to a reel machine to relax. Seems we have to hunt for them now.

You sure did well with your gambling money. That's a winning trip for sure.

I just got back last week from Tunica and it was a blood bath...lol. I knew I was due a losing trip since I've done well the last few times. But this one was brutal. Oh well....gambler that I am, next time!
Thanks for the card....
:-D