Photo courtesy of Caesars Entertainment

Over the next 25 days, Hollywood Soapbox will rank the Top 25 Las Vegas Resorts.

Our scores come from several editorial trips and include input from a network of writers. We have not seen everything or stayed everywhere; we will only offer our opinion on those features we have experienced. We are much more interested in educating our readers on their options.

Like our choices? Hate our choices? Leave your thoughts in the comment field below.

#20: Rio All Suites Hotel & Casino

Address: 3700 West Flamingo Road, Phone: 702-777-7777, Web site: www.riolasvegas.com

Quick facts: The Rio is an interesting property. It's one of the largest resorts in Las Vegas, yet it's not located on the Strip. It features one of the best buffets in town and top-of-the-line entertainment (I'm talking about Penn & Teller, not Chippendales). Most unusual of all is that the hotel/casino features 2,522 suites. There are no hotel rooms, just suites.

Now, that distinction is slightly deceiving. Yes, every suite is spacious and roomy (the minimum size is 1,100 square feet), but not every option is as swanky as the ritzy suites at the top properties in Las Vegas.

Still, the Rio is an interesting property and worth the trek from the lights of Las Vegas Boulevard.

Entertainment & Nightlife

The Rio will get the ladies hot and steamy with its world-famous Chippendales revue. Don't worry, no Chris Farley bodies here. Performances run Sunday through Thursday at 8 p.m., and Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. Note: Chippendales is the rare Las Vegas show that features a performance every single night of the week.

In addition to a theater and nightclub that offers rotating concerts, the Rio has one of the best comedy/magic acts in town. Penn & Teller, whose style of cerebral antics has been a staple of Las Vegas for years, perform Saturday through Wednesday at 8 p.m. Expect to be blown away by clever magic acts and hilarious straight-man/goofball dynamic of the comedy duo.

Dining

Let's get right to it: Yes, the Rio features two of the best buffets in Las Vegas. The Carnival World Buffet and Village Seafood Buffet have earned impressive reputations for offering an unbelievable amount of variety across many cuisines. Head to the Carnival if you're interested in international food, and head to the Village if you're interested in fish.

The Village Seafood Buffet is unbelievable to behold. The offerings are diverse and tasty. There's a motley variety of fried selections and raw choices. Obviously, the fresh lobster and king crab legs are the highlights.

Note: Expect long lines at both of these restaurants. Many tourists travel from the Strip to the Rio simply to eat at these veritable eateries. Try to hit the buffets in their first hour or their last hour of operation, if you want to stay away from the crowds. On the night we enjoyed the Village Seafood Buffet, the wait was about 45 minutes.

A decent deal for ambitious diners is the Buffet of Buffets, an extensive dining program run by Caesars. Here's the deal: For $44.99, you get access to six buffets at Caesars' top properties, including Caesars Palace, Flamingo, Harrah's, Imperial Palace, Paris and Planet Hollywood. For $15 extra, you can get access the seafood buffet at the Rio.

Photo courtesy of Caesars Entertainment

To take full advantage of the offer, you'll need to start with a late dinner and work your way through breakfast, lunch and another dinner (this one a little early). Also, be sure to check for room/buffet packages. Right now, Caesars is running a deal where if you book two nights in any of their hotels, you get two Buffet of Buffets passes. Click here for more information.

There is also a variety of restaurants and smaller eateries. One of the coolest is the Whopper Bar, which is a branch of Burger King that only sells its signature sandwich, but in many modified ways.

Atmosphere

The Rio has an odd feel. Because it's off the beaten track, it attracts a different type of crowd. I wouldn't say seedier, but definitely not as top-class as the new casinos in CityCenter. Sometimes you also get a spillover of younger gamblers from the Palms across the street.

Location

We're big fans of the Strip, simply because it allows diners, show-goers and gamblers the flexibility of moving from resort to resort. Because of this, the Rio feels lost on its own oasis. One can walk there along Flamingo Road, but it's not advised. You'll need to cross over the highway and traverse dark sidewalks.

A better choice is to take a taxi (expensive) or grab a seat on the free shuttle to Bally's and Harrah's.

Gambling Options

The Rio features more than 120,000 square feet of casino floor space, and it's smartly split between two gaming areas. This makes for a lot of room and many available tables and machines.

Room & Pool Options

The aforementioned suites are definitely a plus to the Rio property. You can either grab one with 1,100, 1,200 or 1,600 square feet. The best of the best are the Palazzo Suites, which range from 4,000 to 13,000 square feet.

The property features four pools, including the European-style facility known as The Voo. Guests for this watering hole need to be 21 and older because, well, you're allowed to get rid of ALL those tan lines.

Shopping, Spas & Salons

There is a spa and fitness center, but guests need to pay $22 for access. Not much shopping is featured, but it should be mentioned that the Rio has some of the best convention space in town. The ballrooms and enormous convention floor equal more than 160,000 square feet.

Cleanliness & Service Level

The Rio is kept in tip-top shape, but there is definitely a difference between the newer sections and the older ones. One nice feature is that the ceiling is fairly high in the casino, so cigarette smoke doesn't spread like fog among the gamblers.

The service level is some of the best in Vegas.

Attractions

The Rio features the popular "Show in the Sky," which can be viewed from several restaurants, stores and on the casino floor. Fantasy floats glide around the ceiling like New Orleans' Mardi Gras, while dancers perform sexy choreography along a centrally located staircase.

"Bang-for-the-Buck" Value

There are no resort fees at Caesar properties, which is a great perk. As far as regular rates, they fluctuate drastically. You can find them as low as $60 or as high as $179 (sometimes even lower and sometimes even higher). It all depends on the season and availability.

Overall Rating: (7.3)

By John Soltes / Publisher / Joh/em>