The cover price seemed pretty steep to us (and totally unfair to guys), but Voodoo Lounge's location on the top floor of the towering off-strip Rio Hotel & Casino provides about a 280-degree view of the Strip and the rest of Vegas. This awesome view is almost worth the cover price in and of itself! All the casinos look so amazing when you can see them all lit up in one view, and the lights of Las Vegas houses extend far out into the blackness of the desert.

My boyfriend and I went on a Friday during the slowest week of the year (before Christmas) from 12 to 12:45am. There were lots of people, but they were mostly older adults in dressier attire (with some ladies in evening gowns), whereas Club Rio downstairs had more of the 18 to 21 crowd.

Voodoo Lounge has a separate martini bar and a full bar both inside and outside on the patio. Inside a live band was playing rock cover songs I've heard played at many other bars in the US, but they were a pretty good band. There were lots of tables and couches open to everyone but almost all were filled.

Outside on the patio was a DJ spinning Top 40 dance songs much better than the Club Rio DJ. It was a chilly night, but they had several heaters on the patio so that you could stay outside and enjoy the awesome night view while dancing. There was also a hired girl dancing on a short podium on the patio right near the edge. It was interesting to watch her because the lit-up night skyline of the Strip created a very unique backdrop, almost scary. Although, if you are afraid of anything falling over the edge, don't worry - there is a wider patio one floor down to catch any falling drinks, cameras, people, etc. (Read: No suicidal leaps possible).

Voodoo Lounge is definitely worth spending a whole night at, but since it was our first stop of the night, we didn't stay very long. If you are staying at the Rio and are planning to stay out past 1am, then I highly recommend Voodoo Lounge so you don't have to pay for a cab ride back to Rio (the last free shuttle trip from Harrah's leaves at 1am.)

It opens at 5pm, with live music and dancing starting at 9pm nightly.

They have some specialty drinks that you might want to check out. I think the most popular is called the Witch Doctor's Brew. If you want to get the view of the Ghostbar without the long wait, I'd suggest heading here.

Access used to be free, but now there is a $20.00 cover charge. Puleeze! I have never paid a cover in my life and I still don't pay. Make nice with the people at the door and you can get right in.