Hotels Near the Rio

[Penni-piper]

Re: Hotels Near the Rio

An armed escort would give me a warm and fuzzy, but I would be content with at least one other person walking with me. I am also considering taking a cab at night. The estimated cost is $6.00.

I am a local and you should totally be fine. I stay there every year for my birthday and i am staying there for the con. If you need an escort I am totally willing to walk the .3 miles with you , I am a girl I can distract them while you run and get help.

[Obi-Wan]

Re: Hotels Near the Rio

Hi,
i am newbie to DEFCON and missed all the Special Price announcements to RIO or Bally's.
Therefore i searched a little bit and decided to stay at Imperial.
I know, it is not the best one but very cheap (340,- $ for 8 nights). So i can save much mony and can spend it in Tools, Shirts, Party or whatever.
I only need a Bed to sleep and therefore it doesn't matter where (was long enough in German Army to learn to sleep anywhere it's possible).
Why i have taken it:
I attend the BH training and conference and Imperial is just Door by Door with Ceasars. (its also a few meters to walk, but ..hey. Its my morning workout.)
So walking to the Hotel or taking the Bus/cab should not be the problem, even when it is 110 F outside. I often work in other Desert regions of the World.

Currently i am also thinking for the Room sharing thing. Maybe i will do it.


Maybe someone is also in Imperial?

May the force be with you
-----------------------------
Obi-Wan

[I.T. Warrior]

Re: Hotels Near the Rio

Welcome to Defcon
You will certainly enjoy it!

Bbox,

Thanks for the information. As for a posse, this is my first Defcon, and most of you guys, I am meeting for the first time, here, in the forums.

[inert]

Re: Hotels Near the Rio

I am a local and you should totally be fine. I stay there every year for my birthday and i am staying there for the con. If you need an escort I am totally willing to walk the .3 miles with you , I am a girl I can distract them while you run and get help.

Well if you put it that way, I would enjoy the company!

[lzdexic]

Re: Hotels Near the Rio

Well if you put it that way, I would enjoy the company!

Me and a buddy are staying at the Gold Coast as well, we'll be coming in Wednesday evening, always up for meeting others and happy to walk over / back with them as well.

[PopePeter]

Re: Hotels Near the Rio

Things to pay attention to if you are on a budget in Vegas and looking at different hotels (especially for first timers who don't know what to expect).

• Make sure they don't have resort fees - many of the hotels in Vegas will tack on a $25+ per night resort fee to the rooms (often hidden in fine-print)

• Transportation costs - you probably aren't going to want to walk any distance in Vegas in 110-degree heat, and maps can be deceiving on distances. If you are too far away you will probably need a taxi. Be aware - Taxis are significantly cheaper if you pay cash - if you choose to pay with a card you are looking at $10-$15 for the 3-5 minute ride. Multiply that out by at least 2x a day (there and back) and possibly more and transportation costs can soar.

• Food - everyone wants to eat... but some places are much more expensive than others and as a whole eating in Vegas is no longer cheap. Some hotels have the option of kitchenettes for not much more than a standard room - if you have transportation you can buy and prepare your own food pretty easily.

• Bottled Water - drinking fountains are few/far between. Water at the Rio is generally expensive.... the exception being the Harley Davidson apparel store which I believe was $2 a bottle last year.... or about $2-$4 per bottle cheaper than anywhere else. Best bet is buy some at a grocery if you have the option - otherwise check out your hotel if you are staying somewhere else, and remember you can buy one bottle and refill as well.

• Drinking cheaply - if you are like many attendees, you like to drink... a lot. It can get expensive to do this. While there may be some open bar options - you can't necessarily count on them (oh, and while the alcohol may be free... you will have to pay for non-alcoholic bevs, $5 a water is about normal.
  You can purchase your own alcohol at stores nearby - Costco is great if you are looking for volume...
  Having extra if you can afford it can be a great way to make friends. This is how I have met many of my friends at the event. I have also seen people score room space this way as well - so if you are in a big pinch - this may be an option (not saying it should be your first option).

Some factors to be aware of if you stay at the Rio (overflow hotels can have similar issues): While staying at the Rio for the event is likely to be fun, there can be some things that annoy you about it. Parties at the pool can go very late and be very loud - which if you wish to party that long is great... but they can also make it difficult to sleep if you are on that side of the hotel. Also, there is a high-chance that you will get locked out (penny hack, etc) have late-night calls, or drunken door knockers and people begging for rooms. This is all part of the fun, and looking back is generally quite funny - but not everyone will feel that way. Also, Eating at the Rio can be difficult, because everyone seems to want to eat at the same time and very expensive... I believe the cheapest food was at the Defcon food area last year.... a sandwich and a soda/water would set you back about $15. I didn't see anything at the Rio for less than that. Also, expect very, very long lines during any of the normal eating times - so plan accordingly if you do want to eat there.

And please remember, showers with soap and water are important if you want to make friends...

[Deviant Ollam]

Re: Hotels Near the Rio

Thanks, PopePeter for some great advice. Seeing those sorts of budgeting tips makes me think of DEFCONs from so long ago, when all of my friends and I were crashing in whatever rooms we could muster, making a pilgrimage to local Stop N Shop stores to stock up on booze and mixers and some bottled water pre-con, then skating by for the weekend on the 3,2,1,∞ rule...

3 - hours of sleep
2 - meals
1 - shower
∞ - drinks until your liver taps out

... follow that rule everyday and you'll have a fine DEFCON. do it with supplies and lodging acquired off-site and you'll have a genuine homeless hacker con experience. (although i can't imagine staying off-site for DEFCON anymore. maybe the Gold Coast is an option... just don't walk between that and the Rio if you are alone or late at night)

[Dionysus]

Re: Hotels Near the Rio

Cheers! Might finally have the guts together to go this year, but I'm trying to plan ahead as safely and affordably as I can. Lone female and first time traveler from the east coast, so safety is the top priority. People have mentioned hostels, but nobody seems to have mentioned the Hostel Cat? Nothing came up in a forum search, so I figured I'd ask about it. Is it a popular place for attendees? Is there a reason nobody mentions it? Will I be able to take a cab door-to-door? $80 for a five day stay sounds fantastic, but I don't know if it's perhaps infamous and I can expect to be mugged. If I'm carrying four flasks to make peace offerings, I'd like to leave with four flasks even if they're empty :)
Thanks!!

[TheCotMan]

Re: Hotels Near the Rio

Cheers! Might finally have the guts together to go this year, but I'm trying to plan ahead as safely and affordably as I can. Lone female and first time traveler from the east coast, so safety is the top priority. People have mentioned hostels, but nobody seems to have mentioned the Hostel Cat? Nothing came up in a forum search, so I figured I'd ask about it. Is it a popular place for attendees? Is there a reason nobody mentions it? Will I be able to take a cab door-to-door? $80 for a five day stay sounds fantastic, but I don't know if it's perhaps infamous and I can expect to be mugged. If I'm carrying four flasks to make peace offerings, I'd like to leave with four flasks even if they're empty :)
Thanks!!

Though hostels are often a cheaper way to travel, there is greater risk of your stuff being stolen at them. Many hostels include many people sleeping in a shared room, not like hotels where you have a room and a key to "keep people honest." If with a group of people you trust, the Italian idea of a "pension" (pen see ohn) where your group gets its own room but shared a communal bathroom is better... you still never leave stuff behind in your room when you go out for the day.

If you have nothing worth stealing, hostels can be a cheap way to travel, but if you have tech its probably not a good bet. I've stayed at hostels in many places in the US and other countries, and everyone that was with me had something stolen from them at one hostel or another... T-shirts, bathroom bag, towel, electric razors, but mostly tech, and nobody present, "saw a thing," or knows where they went.

On the plus side, I've not seen or heard any in-person complaints in hostels when travelling of violence or sexual assault in any of the hostels I've visited. Many hostels separate people by sex, which can help, but is not total prevention. This doesn't mean it doesn't happen, just that it is probably not nearly as common as theft.

Resort Hotels are no guarantee of freedom from theft, either. There always seems to be someone at con that complains about stuff being stolen from their hotel room, no matter which hotel they are staying.

I have no experience with "Hostel Cat"

[I.T. Warrior]

Re: Hotels Near the Rio

Though hostels are often a cheaper way to travel, there is greater risk of your stuff being stolen at them. Many hostels include many people sleeping in a shared room, not like hotels where you have a room and a key to "keep people honest."
If you have nothing worth stealing, hostels can be a cheap way to travel, but if you have tech its probably not a good bet.

Even if you are coming with nothing; at the con, you very likely will want to purchase stuff: t'shirts, very cool & discounted hardware etc., and if you leave it at your hostel, you risk them to be stolen. I also noted the bus route, according to Google, it's about 51 minutes taking Deuce and 202, but, in reality will be a little more; buses are extremely SLOW!! It is exasperating to see how it stops for each dog and cat and you just want to reach not to miss a talk. I don't especifically know the area the hostel is, but, you could end up in a high crime area, like for example the one behind the Stratosphere. The buses from there could end up costing you something like $15 a day. I recommend you to find something around the Flamingo Road area, in that case, you would only need one bus each way (like $5 a day). A good hotel is the Quad, 4 blocks from Flamingo Road, 1 mile away from Rio and good rates. You can take Bally's shuttle which starts at 10 am or regular bus, or even walk the mile if you really dare (very early in the morning, or in the evening is better) Last year the party was so cool, I stayed at Rio until 1 or 2 am, there were plenty people walking back to the Strip.

[Dark Tangent]

Re: Hotels Near the Rio

From the www.defcon.org home page a couple weeks ago:

For attendees still looking for accomodations, there's a block of discounted rooms available at Bally's. There's also a convenient shuttle from Bally's to the Rio throughout each day.

Room rates are $59.00 for week nights and $120.00 for Friday & Saturday. Act now as this block will fill quickly! Use Group Code SBDEF3.

Bally's Las Vegas

[Dionysus]

Re: Hotels Near the Rio

Thanks for the feedback! Plane and hotel are booked!

Ended up going with the Quad, based on what you've had to say. Hostel Cat is only $80 for the 31st-5th, but it's an 8 person mixed room and as a solo traveler who'll be following through on the ∞ drinks rule... I'll play safe for now :)

Let the countdown begin!

[Dolfan]

Re: Hotels Near the Rio

Getting ready to cancel a Rio reservation for July 31-Aug 5.

Daily rates are as follows:

07/31/2013------$36.00 USD
08/01/2013------$345.00 USD
08/02/2013------$374.00 USD
08/03/2013------$374.00 USD
08/04/2013------$36.00 USD

Total: $1405.6 USD

I know the Rio is sold out right now and figured I'd see if anyone in the community was interested in having it transferred to them before I let the room go. If I don't hear from anyone in a couple of days i'll assume no one is interested and cancel the reservation.

[mwerte]

Re: Hotels Near the Rio

The Rio is across the freeway from Caesars. It's about 2 miles front door to front door.
It's a bitch to walk it in the Summer... in 110 degrees F.

I hiked that at 5am just as the sun was coming up, and it was annoyingly hot even then. Can't imagine what noon feels like. Even the hike across from the Gold Coast is a challenge.

That being said, there is a side door out the Rio, and it puts you right out onto Valley View Boulevard. Across that street is the parking garage for the Gold Coast, with it's fantastic shade.

I've stayed at the Gold Coast 2 years now, and while the casino is a bit dated, the hotel rooms are nice, and with a bit of planning, you only have to walk back and forth once per day.

Edit; just saw the postings about the muggings going on between the GC and Rio. I've never felt threatened, even though I almost always walk alone. Keep your head on a swivel and be alert.

[Quiet]

Re: Hotels Near the Rio

For people still looking for a room near the Rio...

It appears that the Gold Coast hotel/casino and the Palms hotel/casino are both booked out during DefCon.

0.3 miles from the Rio...
The Extended Stay America hotel (East Flamingo, Las Vegas) appears to still have rooms available.
Wed 07-31 = $74.99
Thu 08-01 = $74.99
Fri 08-02 = $84.99
Sat 08-03 = $84.99
Sun 08-04 = $74.99


EXTENDED STAY AMERICA
Las Vegas - East Flamingo
1550 East Flamingo Road
Las Vegas, NV 89119
(702) 731-3111