Golden Nugget or Rio

I am going to Vegas in November with my friend. I had suggested staying at the Golden Nugget because I read very good things about the casino. My friend is against staying there because he seems to think that it is a very old casino and it is downtown. He suggested staying at the Rio(I stayed there about 10 yrs ago and it was nice). So my question is which casino would you prefer to stay at? If you could, please provide the pros and cons of both.

I stayed at the Rio a few years back and they only good thing I can say about it is that it is close to the Palms and the Gold Coast. It is probably an age thing as I though the casino was way, way to loud and the gaming was very poor.

I have never stayed at the Golden Nugget but would bet their rooms are more updated that the ones at the Rio. Given the choice I would stay at the Nugett

ick.
There are way better choices than either of these-- will you have a car?
Stations: Red Rock, GVR or Aliante/ how about M?
or if you need close try Cosmo.
Gees.. explore a little.

Again, depends on what you are looking for. A good thing about downtown is if you don't have a car, it's fun to walk to all the different casinos. I do like the Golden Nugget. I also like the RIO but would want a car.

These are two good low to mid price choices.

So what's wrong with old casinos?

Sorry, my bias is showing. In answer to your question, I've stayed at several casinos downtown, but the Golden Nugget isn't one of them. Based on what I've seen from the casino and heard from others, the pros are: the rooms are the nicest downtown (and some of them are even new! Tell your friend THAT!) and they cater well to medium and high-end players. The cons are there's better odds elsewhere downtown and lower minimums most everywhere downtown. Basically it's a mid-level Strip joint that's located downtown. How badly you want to stay there depends on how good a deal you can get (and sometimes they can be good, especially for the older towers - but your friend probably won't like those) and how much you like downtown. I like downtown a lot, but I'll readily admit it's not for all tastes.

As for the Rio, I've stayed there twice. The rooms are nice and roomy. They can be inexpensive during the week (don't ask about weekends). The service seems OK if you don't push too hard. They have some decent dining options, if pricey. And, as mentioned, it's near the Palms and Gold Coast, which have better gambling, among other things. Those are the pros. The cons are the casino games are pretty bad. Basically this is another mid-level Strip joint, but it's off the Strip.

I'd prefer the Four Queens downtown and the Gold Coast off-Strip to your choices, but I guarantee your friend won't like either of them.

Golden Nugget, without question. Nicer place, more fun all around, and easy to hop a cab or Express Bus down the strip if need be.

Seriously, go Golden Nugget.

Stayed at both in april. Golden Nugget only for a few hours, flight came in around midnight. Room was ok, gambling better than the Rio. Rio suites are very large and clean.

I've never stayed at the Rio but my wife and I love the GN. The Rush Tower rooms are very nice with extremely large bathrooms. I think they opened in 2009. The whole tower is non-smoking, has a separate check-in area that is rarely busy and the beds are very comfortable. Tehy have a very good selection of restaraunts but some of them are a little pricey. Very nice pool area if that's important to you. Like Chilcoot said, it's very convenient to the city bus to the strip. I play tables most of the time and the dealers and pit supervisors are vary nice especially in the high limit room.

Been loyal custoemrs of GN since 1997 and have stayed at the Rio. Rio was a 2 day deal and we really did not care for it. Both buffets in my opion are bad. Gambling mostly crap and a little BJ like the GN the best for that. GN easy to move from one place to the other and people wathcing it is great. We always have a car and hit outside casino daylight hours and play downtown the rest of the day. GN is cleaner--friendly they about a tie--food GN choices are better---and like I said not tied to just one casino.

I agree with what fremont4ever says. I just want to emphasis his point that the Golden Nugget has one of the newest hotel towers in Las Vegas (built in 2009). If you stay there, make sure you request them. The Rio's rooms are overdue for a remodel and a little worn (but still nice big rooms).