PRICE:
Frommer's Highly Recommended

Rio bills itself as a "carnival" atmosphere hotel, which in this case means hectic, crowded, and noisy, and an apparent edict requiring the Most Scantily Clad Waitresses in Town to burst into song and dance in between delivering beers. The Masquerade Village is actually pretty pleasant, with a very high ceiling, but the older section's low ceilings seem to accentuate only how crowded the area is in both the number of people and the amount of stuff (slot machines, gaming tables, and so on). This party atmosphere, by the way, is strictly for adults; the hotel actively discourages guests from bringing children. The hotel touts its room size. Every one is a "suite," which does not mean two separate rooms, but rather one large room with a sectional, corner sofa, and coffee table at one end. The dressing areas are certainly larger than average and feature a number of extra amenities, such as fridges (unusual for a Vegas hotel room) and small snacks. Windows, running the entire length of the room, are floor to ceiling, with a pretty impressive view of the Strip, Vegas, or the mountains (depending on which way you're facing). The furniture doesn't feel like hotel-room standard, but otherwise the decor is fairly bland. You might consider checking out the Wine Cellar Tasting Room, which bills itself as "the world's largest and most extensive collection of fine wines," and hyperbole aside, it's certainly impressive and a must-do for any wine aficionado. Penn & Teller, the smartest show in town, is here, as well as as the Voodoo Lounge and other clubs. The casino, alas, is dark and claustrophobic. The party/carnival theme gets a distinct R rating with the newly reconceived Masquerade Village in the Sky, the Rio's free show. Sort of an homage to Rio Carnival, courtesy of floats that move on grids set in the ceiling above the casino, it now includes sets such as spas and 17-foot-long beds, with "performers of seduction" gyrating to the Pussycat Dolls. Performed Thursday through Sunday in the evening. Out back is a pool with a sandy beach, and two others in imaginative fish and shell shapes that seem inviting until you get up close and see how small they are. It could be especially disappointing after you have braved the long, cluttered walk (particularly from the newer tower rooms) to get there. Three whirlpool spas nestle amid rocks and foliage, there are two sand-volleyball courts, and blue-and-white-striped cabanas (equipped with rafts and misting coolers) can be rented for $250 to $500 per day. The 18-hole championship Rio Secco golf course, located on the south side of town (transportation included), was designed by Rees Jones. Facilities: 12 restaurants; sports book dining; casino; showrooms; 4 outdoor pools; golf course; health club; spa; concierge; car-rental desk; business center; shopping arcade; salon; 24-hr. room service; in-room massage; laundry service; dry cleaning; executive-level rooms

Copyright: Excerpted from Frommer's Las Vegas 2009, (c) 2008, Wiley Publishing, Inc.

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