Where to stay in Vegas for WSOP with conflicting circumstances

[AliasMrJones]

OK, I've read a lot of the "where to stay..." posts, but I have a number of conflicting things going now so looking for what you would do.

Going to vegas 6/28-7/1 for one of the wsop events. My friend and our wives went last year and are going again this year. Last year we all stayed at Mirage and had a good time. This time, he's getting a special deal on rooms at Rio so they are planning to stay there. It would be kind of wierd to stay at a different hotel than our friends since we plan to eat meals, go out, whatever with them. We rented a car last year to get from Mirage to Rio and presumably we'll do the same this year for getting from Rio to wherever else we would go. Since we're playing in a wsop event, this hotel is obviously the most convenient for the event.

6/29 is my wife's birthday. She doesn't like to play poker and doesn't really like Vegas in general, but this the only event that I wanted to play where we could all work out schedules so we're going. Because of this, I want to do everything I can to make it a great trip for her. I've heard the rooms at the Rio are "OK" and wonder if staying somewhere else might be nicer for the wife. She'll probably do the spa and maybe the pool. I know I can get a room at Venitian for only a little more than Rio for that weekend. Haven't checked out any of the other nicer strip hotels yet.

If I don't cash in the wsop event (or maybe even if I do) I'll want to play some late night poker. I've played at Mirage, Mandalay and MGM at various times and all those places were pretty soft. Given a choice, would I be better off playing the cash NLHE games (2/5 probably) at wsop or playing at one of the strip casinos?

So...given all of this and your own experience staying at the Vegas hotels, what would you do? Get a room at Rio and be close to the neighbors and wsop, but off the strip, or get a nicer room on the strip somewhere like Venitian for a little more money, but stay in a different hotel than the neighbors? Given my criteria, if you didn't stay at Rio, where would you stay?

[rageotones]

to try and make the wife happy, i'd go for the venetian. the rio is going to be pretty crazy and crowded, and given that she's not fond of poker, she might find it rather annoying.

the venetian also has a really nice poker room IMO, and all the games are going to be really good during the wsop. frankly, i'd prefer not to play in the rio room b/c it's just the massive convention center.

so, go to the rio when you need to play, stay away and w/the wife to make her happy otherwise.

i also really like CP for their room and location FWIW if that's an option, but i think the rooms are nicer at the V from what i've heard.

[FatalError]

bellagio poker rate

north valet taxi to rio is about 5 minutes each way and 5$

Enjoy the nicer room, better Mid Stakes and High Stakes cash games, and better ammeneties

Do it the right way

[pig4bill]

Poker rate is a PITA to make when you're playing a WSOP event. Even harder to get the hours in if you have to spend time with a wife.