If you are a smoker, then only come here if you get exceptionally low rates because there are better places to stay. When I get home, all the clothes will have to be dry-cleaned. However next year I will probably skip the conference or consider staying at one of the newer hotels with better ventilation even though it means having to cab it over early in the morning. If we weren't stuck here for a conference, we wouldn't be here. The conference area which is supposed to be non-smoking still has pockets where people sneak their ciggies. We are coughing, it's not good for our health and we can't open a window to breathe. And even though it is a non-smoking floor, one employee told us that the suites can be 'smoking optional.' Another employee told us they are non-smoking if it's a non-smoking floor. They said it could be coming from the ventilation from the floor below or above. Our non-smoking room has smoke in it most of the time.
But the worst thing for a non-smoker, especially those with any health issues, is the ventilation is quite poor.
Shops are vacant and it's rather sad and empty. The Masquerade Parade is now gone - closed for good.
We stayed at the Rio from Aug 9th - Aug 17th. This is an old hotel that used to be better even two years ago. Shuttle: The hotel is off the strip and there is a free shuttle running to the other Harrahs casinos (Caesars, Harrahs) They run on the half hour headed out and at.