Touring the “Worst Resort in Las Vegas”

Las Vegas may be associated with showgirls, high rollers and a terrifying giant blinking eyeball projected onto a 366-foot-tall dome, but Sin City can also be pretty depressing, a fact the Rio Hotel embodies all too well according to TikToker @vegasstarfish.

The travel creator recently got candid about just how much the once-famed hotel has come to embody all that’s wrong with the neon beacon in the desert, definitively dubbing it “the worst resort in Las Vegas” during her most recent viral video. “This is The Rio and even with rates as low as $8 a night, which I’m gonna show you in a minute, you don’t wanna stay here,” she explained.

Beyond citing the resort’s several falls from grace — including its now tarp-covered buffet (“This used to be the best buffet in the city,” @vegasstarfish mused over images of the now-dilapidated eatery) and abandoned poker room — The Rio’s guest relations also leave quite a bit to be desired. “People and their luggage are camping everywhere because it’s better out here than in the rooms, but there’s still a line to check in here,” she added, highlighting the incredibly long queue meandering through the halls and lobby of the hotel.

Also, “half the pools are blocked off,” @vegasstarfish noted, taking care to point out “the saddest cabana” she had “ever seen.” “The ones that are open are a safety nightmare,” she continued.

Even though there are still a few high points — namely Chippendales and the Comedy Cellar — The Rio’s state of disrepair speaks to what can happen when operators throw in the towel. “So much of this place has been given up on, and it’s a shame,” she lamented.

Other travelers shared her disappointment in the comments. “100% correct. kinda makes me sad. 20+ yrs ago this was my spot,” wrote @vegas_mario, adding that the abandoned “buffet was outstanding.”

“This place used to be so fun!” remembered @carrieryanart. “Sad to see it now.”

“We stayed at the Rio in 2016,” added @nicolereyn01. “It’s so sad; it was such a lively hotel.”

The Rio: Where $8 truly gets you what you paid for.