I don't think Rio has a "problem" at all, he's just a considerate guy.
I echo the strong suggestion to learn some Spanish. This has allowed me to use humor, for instance. A girl who is real trouble, who is banned from the SL (thief) and who probably powders her nose more than is required danced up to me in the KL and said, "que bonito la cara..." (what a beautiful face). I laughed and made a pun. "Mi cara puede ser bonita, pero mi cartera (wallet), no." She laughed and told me that she likes my sincerity.

Another repeat lady from the past four trips simply asked, "When are we going to get together again?" My answer was to kiss her on the cheek and reply "alguna noche." She accepted this, albeit unhappily.
It's also really fun when the shoe is on the other foot. A small Panamanian turned me down in August 2006 for a date, and sort of freaked out about it at the time. I encountered her last Labor Day at the SL, and she made a point of coming up to me at the bar just to inform me that she still wouldn't go with me.

I laughed and replied that here are many cute little fishies in this particular sea, and that I wasn't worried. She pouted as she walked away; perhaps she expected me to try to win her over? As she's gained at least 20 pounds since I last saw her, it wasn't hard to send her little ass away.
The psychology of these women is complicated at best. Just be polite and honest, and as diplomatic as you can be, but as Paco Loco reminds us above...you're the one with the control, the cash. It's your time and money.
