Las Vegas - How busy will the LAS taxi rank be at 8pm on Friday 6th May?

Hi,

This will be my first time in LAS on a Friday ( coming in from PHX and LAX on AA at 730pm) - staying at the LV Hilton.

How busy will the taxi lines be at that time (i'm expecting -very busy)

I will be leaving on sunday moring ( 1015 AA flight to LAX ) in F out of the D gates so I will be allowing 2 hours at LAS- that should be sufficent time ( I hope)

Many thanks

TBS

How busy will the taxi lines be at that time (i'm expecting -very busy)



1. Does it matter? What's Plan B?

2. I wouldn't stay at the LV Hilton for nada.

3. Remember to always split 8's.

Hi,

This will be my first time in LAS on a Friday ( coming in from PHX and LAX on AA at 730pm) - staying at the LV Hilton.

How busy will the taxi lines be at that time (i'm expecting -very busy)

I will be leaving on sunday moring ( 1015 AA flight to LAX ) in F out of the D gates so I will be allowing 2 hours at LAS- that should be sufficent time ( I hope)

Many thanks

TBS

Expect big lines at that time. A little trick if the lines are crazy is to get a skycap to help you with your bags and most times they get you to the front of the line. Tip accordingly. I haven't tried this in a couple of years so not sure if it still works.

3. Remember to always split 8's.

You forgot aces.

You forgot aces.

A complete cheat sheet.

http://www.online-casinos.com/images/blackjack-chart.gif

First off, it's probably too optimistic to think that you'll land at 7:30 and have your bag and be ready to go by 8 :) For some reason, baggage service at LAS is incredibly slow.

Instead of taking a taxi, you might want to consider taking an airport shuttle. There are numerous companies with shuttles, and it's typically something like $10 to head to a strip hotel (not sure if it would be more for the Hilton). They will make multiple stops, but you should still be at your destination within 30-45 minutes or so. Last time I took a cab, I believe it was more like $20.

If you're asking more about the taxi stands at the hotels, they will have ridiculously long lines at that time of night.

I haven't stayed at the LV Hilton myself, but from what I've read on FT, I'd definitely avoid it. Since it's your first time in Vegas, you might want to consider a strip hotel. The range of prices at the various properties should fit any budget.

Hope you have a great time! ^

Instead of taking a taxi, you might want to consider taking an airport shuttle. There are numerous companies with shuttles, and it's typically something like $10 to head to a strip hotel (not sure if it would be more for the Hilton). They will make multiple stops, but you should still be at your destination within 30-45 minutes or so. Last time I took a cab, I believe it was more like $20. To me the shuttles are a pain in the neck. You wait around the airport until they fill the van, then you trail all over town until they finally reach your hotel. If you are heading for the LV Hilton you're probably close to the end of the line. What's the value of your time? If it's more than $10 per hour, take a cab.

Since it's your first time in Vegas, you might want to consider a strip hotel. The range of prices at the various properties should fit any budget. I think TBS said it was his first time landing in Vegas on a Friday, not his first time, period. LV Hilton would not be my choice, especially since certain hotel/casino managers have been sending out anti-Obama political tracts using the hotel's email system (see this thread (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/hilton-hhonors/1206480-las-hilton-emailing-right-wing-political-anti-obama-statements.html#post16243869)), but I presume the OP knows what he's heading into.

Friday night the cue at the LAS cab stand will be busy! But it moves very fast! Besides if you are staying @ LV Hilton a cab will be faster than a shuttle since the hotel is off the strip.
You might want to consider a hotel on the strip unless you will be spending all of your time in the Hilton. The only good thing about that place is the sports book. All the other action is on the strip! Find a hotel between Tropicana and Desert Inn. Good Luck and press the hard way!

Hi,

Thanks for all the advice. It is much appreciated^

I have been in Las Vegas numerous times but it is my first time at the weekend.

I do like the Wynn/Encore or Mandalay Bay but a lot of the strip hotels are charging about $600 ( Wynn is about $700) for the 2 nights.
The Hilton is only charging $360 ( inc free breakfast in the Resorts club room).
I would be having a quiet friday night in then on saturday take the monorail to the MGM, walk through the MGM and walk back up the strip via the casinos/shops and then leave early on the Sunday back to PHX.

I have stayed at the LV hilton quite a few years ago ( not the best hotel these days but should be ok) - Plus with the triple mile promotion on with Virgin I get 3,000 miles for the 2 nights.

Regards

TBS

Hi,

Thanks for all the advice. It is much appreciated^

I have been in Las Vegas numerous times but it is my first time at the weekend.

I do like the Wynn/Encore or Mandalay Bay but a lot of the strip hotels are charging about $600 ( Wynn is about $700) for the 2 nights.
The Hilton is only charging $360 ( inc free breakfast in the Resorts club room).
I would be having a quiet friday night in then on saturday take the monorail to the MGM, walk through the MGM and walk back up the strip via the casinos/shops and then leave early on the Sunday back to PHX.

I have stayed at the LV hilton quite a few years ago ( not the best hotel these days but should be ok) - Plus with the triple mile promotion on with Virgin I get 3,000 miles for the 2 nights.

I arrive around 10am'ish on Friday, May 6th.

It's a fight weekend (among other things); and while the outcome is rather predictable ;) the Pacquiao vs. Mosley fight is one of the biggest (if not the biggest) of the year (and the reason why I'm traveling to Vegas that weekend).

Things will be absolutely crazy around MGM from 4PM till around midnight on Saturday night, you have been warned! :D

Hi,

Thanks for that baccarat_king!^

I was not aware there was a fight on at the MGM ( although I have heard of Pacquiao before)

Regards

TBS

Hi,

Thanks for that baccarat_king!^

I was not aware there was a fight on at the MGM ( although I have heard of Pacquiao before)

PACQUIAO VS MOSLEY
May 7th, 2011 : Grand Garden Arena
Boxing's number one pound-for-pound box office attraction and fighter of the decade, Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao and three-division world champion "Sugar" Shane Mosley will go 12 rounds live at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Doors open at 3pm. First televised bout begins at 6pm.

While it's sold out, you can still obtain tickets (stub-hub and such) if you are interested (always easier, if you just need to obtain one ticket). In any case, the vibe around MGM will be *amazing* that evening. If you are around, send me a text; perhaps, we'll grab a late evening cognac. :cool:

You can also buy tickets to an MGM sanctioned simulcast at most of their other properties; that usually runs around $50 (or so).

Hi,

Thanks for all the advice. It is much appreciated^

I have been in Las Vegas numerous times but it is my first time at the weekend.

I do like the Wynn/Encore or Mandalay Bay but a lot of the strip hotels are charging about $600 ( Wynn is about $700) for the 2 nights.
The Hilton is only charging $360 ( inc free breakfast in the Resorts club room).
I would be having a quiet friday night in then on saturday take the monorail to the MGM, walk through the MGM and walk back up the strip via the casinos/shops and then leave early on the Sunday back to PHX.

I have stayed at the LV hilton quite a few years ago ( not the best hotel these days but should be ok) - Plus with the triple mile promotion on with Virgin I get 3,000 miles for the 2 nights.

Regards

TBS
I agree with your not great but a decent room to sleep in. I stayed there for a convention in Nov 2010.

Also, since you are Hilton Gold, be sure to use the Hilton HHonors checkin line and ask for your Gold goodies.

Im heading there for the the fight as well does anyone know how much the tickets for the fight are running...

Im heading there for the the fight as well does anyone know how much the tickets for the fight are running...

I believe the fight is technically sold out. That is not to say you can't get a ticket by some other means. StubHub, casino host, etc.

I believe the fight is technically sold out. That is not to say you can't get a ticket by some other means. StubHub, casino host, etc.

It is sold out. But, lots of tickets (as with every event in Vegas) will be available from 3rd party sources.

Its been a year since I've been in Vegas but the last few times I went I've had some rough times with the cab drivers. It seems much more common for them to rip off customers. I guess the economy went bad so they think it is ok to rip off the people visiting. Such as going through the tunnel while staying at Monte Carlo or Bellagio. Take a $14 fare and turn it to $21+.

For a number of years I visited Vegas and rarely had any issues. While the shuttle is a pain, at least you won't get ripped off money wise, just time wise :)

My next trip involves a limo :cool:

Taxi drivers think I'm a natural target for the tunnel due to my (English) accent. I've learned to get in tell them my destination and add "no tunnel". Amazingly every time I arrive in Vegas there is a major accident on the non tunnel route to the Strip...... and equally amazingly those accidents have disappeared into thin air by the time the taxi gets to that point o the journey. <eye roll>

I've learned to get in tell them my destination and add "no tunnel". Amazingly every time I arrive in Vegas there is a major accident on the non tunnel route to the Strip...... and equally amazingly those accidents have disappeared into thin air by the time the taxi gets to that point o the journey.

Here's a great marathon FT thread on the stupid tunnel (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/las-vegas/713003-has-tunneling-become-sop-td.html) which unfortunately degenerated into a fistfight. Lots of fun info there though. Always tell your driver "Let's stay out of the tunnel" as you roll away from the airport terminal curb.

Hi,

Just got back from las vegas. The lines were a lot shorter than i expected ( only 10-15mins). We did go via the tunnel ( about $30).
Rerurning on sunday we just headed straight down the road an it was about $17.
Some taxi's now have a fuel surcharge listed on the door ( 20 or 30 cents per mile IIRC)

Regards

TBS

The tunnel is the fastest way to get to most properties (basically anywhere on the west side and it's a toss-up for Venetian and points north). It adds around two miles to the trip. It's really not a big difference in taxi fare in and of itself.

QL

The tunnel is the fastest way to get to most properties (basically anywhere on the west side and it's a toss-up for Venetian and points north). It adds around two miles to the trip. It's really not a big difference in taxi fare in and of itself.

QL

I usually use the shuttle buses, they use Paradise or Koval (which parallel the strip) and then use one of the major E-W streets, like Flamingo or Tropicana to ultimately reach the strip. There are also "secret" shortcuts (via casinos on the east side of the strip), using routes that go under the casinos or lanes which delivery trucks normally make use of, which ultimately exit out to the strip; these avoid the snail like traffic on the strip.

We did go via the tunnel ( about $30).


To the LVHilton? :td:

Ouch, tunneled to the Hilton. I'm pretty sure heading up Paradise is probably both quicker and cheaper.

I normally stay at Imperial Palace (the only place I can normally get comped) and I have been tunneled 100% of the time I have not given instructions. For awhile I would wait and see if the driver would try to take the tunnel exit from the airport. If they started to veer off for it I was say "No highway please." You would think I had called them a lying, cheating, scoundrel by the ridiculously angry reactions I would get. I mean they were POd. I decided to amend my method to avoid confrontation.

The new method is to say "Take Koval please" when getting into the cab. While I really mean "don't rip me off dirtbag!" I am not actually saying that and just giving me preferred route. Say "no tunnel" is a little more accusatory, even if 90%+ of the time it is justified.

The best solution I have found is I now have a taxi driver on call. I can call him on the train from the terminal and he will pick me up and not rip me off. The jokes on me in that I throw in a generous tip for the personal service and not having to wait in the taxi queue. It would be cheaper to get long-hauled :) If you can make friends with a cabbie this is the way to go.

I will have a stress free ride to the IP when I arrive in LAS tonight.

I will have a stress free ride to the IP when I arrive in LAS tonight.

your ride to the IP might be 'stress free' --- but, ANY STAY at the IP, is filled with a LOT OF STRESS! :p:p:p:p

(sorry, couldn't resist!)

your ride to the IP might be 'stress free' --- but, ANY STAY at the IP, is filled with a LOT OF STRESS! :p:p:p:p

(sorry, couldn't resist!)

you do have the benefit of hash house being in the building though

Caesars occasionally will comp me at a place other than IP. A few months ago I got a sweet room at CP with a nice view of the fountains. Before that Bally's gave me a nice room.

I turn down Harrah's and Rio based on location. Harrah's is next door to IP, but Carnaval Court feels like it takes an hour to traverse.

I just need a relatively clean place to sleep in Vegas. I spend most of my time at the poker tables at IP and PH, which unfortunately are not very close to each other.

Now, if the IP elevators are malfunctioning again this trip I will blow a gasket.

Off to IAD to catch my flight now (or VDB if I'm lucky).