Harrahs has $1 Triple/Five play 9/6 JB and $2 & 5 9/6 JB single line and at
least one of those awful Double Double Deuces machines (quarters) and maybe $1
9/6 single line. Rio has only $5 9/6 JB but more of the Double Double Deuces
plus Sneaky Queens in quarters. If you play dollars, you'll probably find
Harrahs superior for VP.
Obviously rooms at the Rio are nicer than Harrahs. I don't know if you are
going to try to get a free room for this trip or the next. If you are going
for this trip, be aware that 500 points per day should get you a comped room
(point this out to the Total Rewards people - it says so right on the posters
behind them in the booths at both Harrahs and Rio). 250 points will get you
Improv or Skintight tickets at Harrahs; 300 I think gets you Scintas or Showgirls
at Rio.
If you are playing for this trip, play wherever you want the comp room. If
you are only worried about comp food, play either place because apparently you
can now use your comps at either place (at least the Harrahs guy told us we
could get him to write a Rio valid comp).
If you want comps for next trip, probably playing at Harrahs is best, because
once you get on their mailing list you will get tons of invites to slot
tournaments and more which include 2 or 3 free room nights. Some of these offers
may even be for the Rio, since they are doing more cross-promotion now.
I suggest trying to run up 500-1000 points per day to get your room comped
for the trip. This is easy to do at Triple Play $1 at Harrahs. Quarter players
may prefer the Gamemakers at Rio with 8/5 Bonus (near Carnival buffet)
because they are fast machines. Play at this level will definitely generate
future offers.
Use non-Nevada address to generate the most mail.
Play at Rio will generate fewer future offers than play at Harrahs. But if
you do get offers, they may be for either Rio/Harrahs due to cross-promotions.
Frankly unless you really want that room at Rio, I would play at Harrahs and
try to get on their mailing list, and hope that future mailings may include
some Rio rooms.
A free shuttle bus runs between Rio and Harrahs, so of course you could play
at both pretty easily.
Restaurants are better at Rio than Harrahs. The Rio Carnival buffet is one
of the best in town (look for the pancakes for breakfast at the sushi station).
But the Harrahs buffet is quite good too, and under appreciated.
If you hold a Diamond card you can use the Diamond Lounge at either which
has snacks (primarily cold) and drinks and a nice place to sit. Hours are
4pm-10pm Mon-Fri and 10am-10pm Sat and Sun.
Be sure to look at the posters behind the people in the Total Gold club and
asking for any Bonuses for play. Skintight is an excellent "adult" show, the
Improv is always funny (like the Comedy Club, not an improvisation show),
Clint Holmes is excellent (we just saw his new show and he is great) - all at
Harrahs and getting free tickets is pretty easy. If you don't get them for this
trip, you'll probably get some coupon offers for future trips. Scintas at Rio
are great, and tix for them and the decent Showgirls show are pretty easy to
get. Tony & Tina's Wedding and Penn & Teller tickets are never offered as
freebies. Diamond members do get significant discounts for all tickets. Also for
$5.95 you can see the afternoon shows at both places - Mac King comic
magician at Harrahs, and Ronn Lucas funny ventriloquist at Rio. Look for special
$5.95 coupons being handed out or ask at Total Rewards desk for them. Lucas was
better than King, but both are good. You get a free drink with the $5.95.
Don't bother trying to get a comp for these shows - they are not owned by
Harrahs and therefore are not actually "compable" in usual sense, though you can use
your comp dollars for a freebie, but will be charged "list price" for show
instead of $5.95.
Best restaurants - Asia at Harrahs; Rosemary's at Rio. Steakhouse at
Harrahs is only fair. Seafood Buffet at Rio is overpriced and no longer has
lobster. Be sure to have your Diamond/Platinum cards to avoid lines for buffets
(find one on the floor if you don't have a card so you can avoid long lines).
Look for Diamond/Platinum entrance at Carnival buffet.
Rooms - ask for quiet room at Harrahs (not overlooking Carnival Court) and do
not get room next to the elevator. Rio ask for a strip view. Rio rooms are
definitely a lot nicer than Harrahs, but do you really do more in the room
than sleep?
Best restrooms - the ones in the High Roller areas. Also be sure to check
out the world's biggest single person restroom at Harrahs Diamond Club (women
only).
My biggest pet peeve (other than the fact they don't have any decent $1 and
under VP at Rio) - the food that Harrahs serves at all its slot club events
(such as tournaments, shopping sprees, registrations) is always the same! And
it is the same as that in the Diamond lounge. The deserts are always the same.
The food is usually good, but jeez.... it is always the same.
Note the Diamond Lounges now require Photo ID to get in and usually you can
only take 1 guest.
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