I'm getting asked about "any food, tobacco or alcohol?" almost every time I enter the country (last time was 2 days ago).

Re what he has to lose, I know someone who had to pay $500 because he forgot about a sandwich in his backpack and one of the dogs started barking at him at baggage claim.

Technically, dried fruits aren't allowed (except for raisins, figs, dates) while nuts are allowed.

I doubt anyone is going to check if you say candy and granola bars. And if they do, you can tell them that's what you meant, built your own granola bar.

That is another guy, I don't remember the site or if he still does it.

Is the Horseshoe considered an improvement over The Rio? Doesn't look too bad in photos.

Coming back from Cabo with tuna I didn't declare anything and the customs guy asked "do you have any fish?"-- not any other meat, or drugs, or anything else-- just fish and yeah I didn't lie and told him I had tuna and he looked at my customs form, looked at me, and then let me go.

there are some good and bad comparitively. horseshoe is right in middle of the strip, thus easier access to other poker rooms; rio was about a mile away from and off strip. this also means more food options close by.

one thing i missed about rio was the layout of all the tables, cash and tourney. they all seemed closer together and one location. whereas horseshoe actually splits one half in horseshoe, other half in paris. there is a short, 5-min walk between each area.

Rio still had it's own poker room open (and busy) during the WSOP and side events in those smaller conference rooms around the convention center.

Horseshoe is better overall with a few downsides.

Can't really drive anywhere on dinner break is my personal number 1 downside

5 minute Usain Bolt all out sprint, you mean.

Agreed there are good and bad elements... the good part is that it is in the middle of ALL action on the strip... the bad part is that it is in the middle of ALL action on the strip.

I like the new location on the strip, but the RIO was superior IMHO because it was able to spread out more evenly and there was a LOT MORE room to move around. the new areas are VERY claustrophobic to me personally and when there is a 'Break' it's nearly unmanageable.

The big Paris room was nice, reminded me of Rio a little actually. Bally’s I agree was a low-ceiling claustrophobic pit, perhaps the revamp/renovation to Horseshoe made it better. In any event, Rio hotel rooms were a dump, especially in later years of WSOP there, Paris rooms are very nice (4 star it should be). Didn’t stay at Ballys but I hear rooms were renovated in change to Horseshoe so probably pretty good as well. Both significantly better than Rio rooms.

Enjoyed the vibe more at the Rio for the simple reason that all the rooms were mashed so tight together. You felt like you were in the center of the poker universe. The split nature of Horseshoe-Paris kills some of that buzz, even though the event spaces are still super close.

Pluses? Waaaayyyy better bathroom situation.

Strip location also provides far better dinner break and convenience options.

Just got back from several nights at the Horseshoe and they have built out their poker room and pumped up the branding. Horseshoe carpet. Wall space at the poker room entrance for eventual WSOP champion plaques. Room seemed to be doing good business. Many packed tables last night around midnight.

They've also added a WSOP badge to the main hotel tower, which is kind of neat. Shows they are aiming to make this "the poker casino".

As for the room quality, it's fine. On par with what I expect from a standard Vegas room. To be fair, I'm very easy to please. Anything above Four Queens tier will probably get a passing grade from me. Everyone harped on how terrible the Rio was, but my room there was fine in 2019. Nothing to gripe about really. I don't see the point in obsessing over room quality when you are going to spend 90% of your trip asleep or playing poker, but that's another story.

I drove somewhere on a dinner break....

well... now the RIO has MANY MANY stand alone drive thru restaurants just east of the Palms.

https://public.tableau.com/app/profi...023SummerPoker

Some of them on the info tab have links to the structures.

I’m on WSOP site, question:

How can we see which events are at Horseshoe vs Paris?

Also any Cesar hotels to avoid? RIO? Etc?

It’s not broken out like this, but generally at least for last year if memory serves, Day 1’s were in Paris, Day 2’s and beyond were in Ballys. The bigger massive field events will be spread in both.

From 2006 thru 2021 played maybe 7 WSOP's I stayed at the RIO except for one year. Rio CASINO by Mid teens was dark and unappealing and by 2021 it was something just to walk thru to get to the Tourney area a complete dive. Rooms went downhill over the years (showed their age) but still were very large and mine were always clean.

Horseshoe for 20 days last year. Casino itself was better but nothing special -they were doing a lot of construction in late June,July 2022 and Paris is just much nicer in general. Food selection was MUCH better at Horseshoe/Paris specially with all of the shops just outside the Horseshoe. Rooms are still fairly spacious but about 10% smaller than the RIO. Really decent hotel staff far superior to the RIO even in the earlier years. As to the tourney area that was actually better at the RIO than the split Horseshoe Paris approach EXCEPT the bathrooms are MUCH MUCH MUCH better now than the RIO. Location on the strip is a big plus and several are actually safely walkable. Horseshoe will never be confused with the Bellagio or WYNN but it's a decent mid range hotel and okay Casino floor.

What’s your threshold for hotels to avoid?

The drawbacks to Rio are somewhat obvious, main one being you can’t walk to WSOP. And some may call it a dump, but you aren’t going to get eaten alive by bed bugs or something. At least I would hope not.

Is the route from the hotel portion of Horseshoe to the WSOP clearly defined and easy to find? This will be my first time at Horseshoe and for the WSOP on the strip and I have no idea how to get there from my room.

Take a left. Literally.

Well, at least the tower I was in.

Yes, it's well-signed. If you're familiar with the layout (unless it changed radically with the re-brand), just stay in the walkway on the north side of the casino. Past the check-in desk, gift shop, elevators to rooms, and it's another couple hundred feet down that corridor to the ballroom areas where tournaments are held. Just past those is the cash area.

FYI, the cage was over in Paris. Just before the elevators, turn south and take the little connecting hallway through to Paris, then left once over there. Also well-signed. Some tournaments are over there, not sure about cash--so be sure you're aware which room you're plucked down in.

"Champagne Ballroom" if you're looking for non-WSOP signage.

When I go to Vegas, most on the time its with a crowd and end up not doing a few things you planned on doing cause either there was no time or the crowd has other ideas.

Reason why I usually stay a few more days when the crowd goes back home, lol

Went late last year and it was mostly Paris, would rather stay there or Bellagio TBH

What’s the room temperature like there? I didn’t go last year but I recall people complaining it was too hot. Did they end up fixing the AC issues by the end of the series? I want to make sure I’m packing the appropriate attire.

Apparently they had a fire last night, too.