Las Vegas - What's near the Rio?

Hi, all - I'll be in Vegas July 31-Aug4 for a convention being held at the Rio. While there is a discounted rate available at the Rio for conventioners, I'd love to spend less. Since it's off the strip, are there any other hotels nearby, or does the Rio run shuttles to any other hotels?
Thanks,
Stephanie

The Rio does have a shuttle to the strip but I'm not sure where it drops you these days. It used to drop you at Caesar's, but it changed. The Rio is near the Gold Coast which also has a shuttle that drops you at the Barbary Coast on the strip.

The Rio tram drops you off at Harrahs. I think it runs until midnight.
Here's a map of the Strip with some distance between the various intersections on it. http://www.vegas.com/map.html

The Gold Coast has some great food that isn't too expensive as well.

[This message has been edited by BCMike (edited 06-05-2003).]

Gold Coast and Palms are very close. Bellagio and Caesars Palace are the closest Strip hotels, about a mile away over the freeway.

QL

The rooms in the Rio are fantastic.
Across the street is the Gold Coast. Although it is a dive (by LV standards), sometimes they have a good band in their comfortable lounge (no cover).
Definitely walk over to the Palms. Great place to do some people watching.
So walk from Rio to Gold Coast to Palms (always ask a worker for directions; they don't mind - if you walk out the wrong door you could add a half mile to your walk).
VooDoo Lounge up high on the Rio is great place to get a drink. They may have a cover. Bar has outdoor and indoor area with great views of Vegas.
The shuttle bus goes back and forth from Rio/Harrah's (both properties have the same ownership). Go to Rio.com and Harrahs.com to see if you can get some good coupons.
The Range is a great steakhouse at Harrahs. Harrahs also has a great outdoor bar with live music and a lot of electricity in the air. If your watching expenses the international buffet and seafood buffet are outstanding (so I'm told).
You need a pair or two of good walking shoes for the convention and the walk on the strip (you'll be doing a lot of walking).

Sorry, just re-read your thread.
Stay at Harrah's or Flamingo (which are cheap and on the middle of the strip). Then take the free Harrahs shuttle over to the Rio. If it is a popular convention, there might be lines for the shuttle. Also check if the convention is providing their own free shuttle service.
The Gold Coast is also very cheap, but I think you'll enjoy the strip better (and the Gold Coast is not as nice).

Actually, the rooms at the Gold Coast are better than average. They have all been redone in the last couple of years. I stayed there in March and was quite happy.

There has also been quite a bit of remodeling to the casino and other public areas.

While the GC still doesn't have the glitz of the Rio or the Palm, it is far from a "dive, and one of the better bargains in LV.