Hotel review: Rio Hotel and Suites Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States

I’ve never been in Rio de Janeiro, but the Rio Hotel & Suites in Vegas surely portray the festive mood that precedes everything I’ve heard about Brazil.

The brilliant colors everywhere, the sexy uniforms of bar waitresses, the loud music that moves your body even when you are not aware that you are tapping your feet and moving your hips to the to the rhythm makes you upbeat in an instant, even if you’ve been driving all day to get there. (We drove from Rockport Texas to Vegas in two days)

Planning a wedding is a stressful event, prior, during and after. But when you are planning a wedding in Vegas and you live in the opposite coast, it could have gotten out of hands “anxy” but I have to give credit who credit deserves. The Rio made it all perfect! and with no hussle at all.

We decided to marry in Vegas because I had never visited the town before, and also because my fiancee had a three night, four days complimentary stay. I spent a whole month visiting on line every restaurant available in Vegas in a circumference of on or about 5 miles from our hotel. There were many fine options for our wedding reception, yet one stole my heart and got my attention: The All American bar and Grill at the Rio.

Because we, and most of our guests were from Texas, a good grilled steak seemed appropriate for all taste buds, bride and groom included. Reservations were made, voucher was opened, contract was mailed, and the eventful day finally arrived.

because I had been married before, I was sure of one thing, I did not want to spend my wedding day, organizing seating arrangements, decorating the long table we chose near the fireplace, etc. I wanted to be able to enjoy my wedding reception. It surpassed all my expectations!

The menu not only was delicious but served with care and on a timely manner. Presentation of the dishes was artistic to say the least,and the service rendered by the waiter was out of this world. Not only he was “Cruise” level professionalism ( I’ve traveled to more than 71 cities around the world, and the best waiters on earth are the ones who serve on a cruis ship) His timing was precise, his manners and memory; perfect.

While we were palating our desert (carrot cake with cream cheese icing with a kiwi sauce) our waiter gave us a glimpse of his dreams: to be an ilussionist. He performed three tricks for us twenty comensals, and although they were “simple” so I was told, his enthusiasm and spontaniety were welcome and appreciated. I guess that if New York and Los Angeles are the house of actors/waiter, Las Vegas has its share of entertainer/waiters as well.

Usually one you travel, even in the best of trips there is most of the time one or two issues that kind of somehow spoil the perfect trip, not this time, I can’t think of anything that was out of time, out of place or out of budget. Suites were beautiful, slot machines were abundant, tables ( my husband won $700 dollars on our wedding night at the Craps table)were Zizzling Hot! and although I always made fun of vegas slogan: “What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas’ in my case it is true; My heart stayed in Vegas as one of my favorite destinations in this part of the world. The Rio? NUMERO UNO in hotel experience.