Cab or Rental in Vegas

[queen of hearts]

OK I have a question about traveling to Vegas and hopefully someone here will be able to answer it for me.

I have mentioned before that my sweeties parents travel to Vegas at least twice a year. They have always rented a car while they were there.

I was just wondering if there is so much to do right on the strip and if that is where their hotel room is would they really need to pay out for a rental car?

I am really curious about this but didn't really want to ask them cause that would be a little rude I think.

I know that the Vegas strip is very long and most likely not something that a person would want to walk, but wouldn't getting a cab be less expensive to use rather than getting a rental car??

[winbig]

I think with all of the sites to see and things to do on the strip and closeby, a rental car is pretty overkill. Since everything is so compact there in the city, cabs are fairly inexpensive. Another option, if you're traveling along the strip, is the Deuce. It's a double decker bus that runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. From 9am until 11pm, there's one that comes by each stop every 12 minutes. The fares are $2 a trip (or $5/24 hours) and I'm sure you can get a multi-day pass if you're going to be in Vegas for awhile.

Here's their schedule and map: http://www.rtcsouthernnevada.com/transit/route/deuce/deuce%283-28-10%29.pdf

edit: also, there's the monorail, which is pretty nice: http://www.lvmonorail.com/

Also, if you're staying at a casino within the Harrah's group such as Bally's, Harrah's, Caesars Palace, Rio, etc., they have a shuttle that runs between all of their properties during the day and evening and is free as long as you show your room key. It's also free if you hold one of their Platinum, Diamond or 7 Stars players cards, even if you're not staying at one of their properties. If I remember correctly, there's one that runs every half hour.

[winbig]

Ahh, one last thing - you don't even need a rental car or cab to get from the Airport to your hotel/casino. There's a million shuttles outside of the Airport that cost between $5 and $7 each way, and you can of course get a round trip ticket when you arrive so you don't have to worry about the trip back to the Airport. The times I was there, they had me call the night before I was ready to leave and let them know what time I needed to be picked up.

If you do purchase a round trip fare, be sure to keep your receipt in a safe place where you won't lose it!!! If you lose that, there's no way of proving that you paid for that trip and will have to pay once again...:p Some places even give you what looks like a black, $100 casino chip as a 'bus token' to give the driver when you get on the shuttle, which is pretty cool.

Also keep in mind that as with most jobs in Vegas, drivers make very little in hourly wages. So be sure to tip your drivers, no matter if it's a cab driver or shuttle driver, as long as the service was good, of course :)

[queen of hearts]

Thanks a bunch for all the great information Winbig. I thought that things were pretty close together in Las Vegas and the use of a rental car would be an expense that wasn't needed.

I think using the areas shuttles and cabs is a great idea and of course helps others to make ends meet where as renting a car doesn't really do that.

I am sure that my first trip there I am not going to going off the strip because everyone has told me that there is so much to do right there that it would most likely take more than one trip to see and experience everything there right on the strip.

I didn't know about the shuttles to and from the airport. That is some information that sure will come in handy.

I also like the idea of riding on a double decker bus. That is something we don't have where I live and that alone I think would be a neat experience to have.

Thanks again Winbig you have been a big help!!!

[vegasrocks]

I wouldn't want to attempt to drive up mand down the strip with all of the traffic and walkers so for me, if I needed a ride I would go with a cab. That way I can kick back anmd relax and not worry about all of the hustle and bustle.

And I like what winbig said, always tip. People work hard and don't get paid very much so always give something!