Despite its giddy Carnaval theme, the all-suites Rio is overshadowed by the action at the Palms across the street. The corny Masquerade Village occupies the first two floors of Rio's towers. During the free Masquerade Show in the Sky , Mardi Gras floats, suspended from tracks in the ceiling, parade above the gaming tables, while costumed performers gyrate, lip-synch and toss bead necklaces. The fun is infectious.
Occupying most of the 'village' is a 100,000-sq-ft casino decked out with a colorful Rio-esque motif. It has more than 1200 slot machines, 80 table games and a full-service race and sports book. The Rio's cut-throat poker room is home to the World Series of Poker finals . An innovative new bar system guarantees you won't go thirsty: iPad-wielding 'Beverage Ambassadors' take your order, then 'BevErtainers' bring your drinks in between doing 90-second song-and-dance numbers back on the main floor. Ringed around the casino are run-of-the-mill retail shops and superb buffets . The crowd-pleasing comedy duo Penn & Teller , draw in fans from far and wide to their resident show here.
There's no Ipanema at Rio, but guests will find VooDoo Beach beside one of the resort's four swimming pools. Fifty floors above the village, atop one of Rio's towers and reached by a glass elevator, is the VooDoo Lounge , a lively but relaxed indoor-outdoor dance club where revelers bop around to '80s music while drinking in the views – and some seriously gigantic cocktails.
Free shuttles can get you here from Harrah's on the Strip.
