Las Vegas - Best, worst Vegas cab drivers

Worst: As we arrive at LAS the guy looks at the bags sitting on the curb and he will not load them until I carry them from the curbside to the trunk of his cab. Next, he tries to longhaul me through the tunnel. I tell him not to do this and to take Tropicana and Koval instead. He goes totally ballistic and gives me the big-traffic-jam story. Intersection of Tropicana and Koval, he is in the wrong lane to make the turn and I have to remind him again. He shouts at me, why didn't I tell him before he was supposed to take Koval. (Where would he have taken me??) We arrive at our hotel, having somehow missed the nonexistent Big Traffic Jam. He throws our bags out of the cab.

Best: We mention to the cabbie we havenot eaten in 8 hours because of flight delays. He gives us his lunch, which his wife has cooked for him and packed in tupperware.

Later, I tell another cabbie about the bad apple (above). He says some interesting stuff:

-- The night time cab drivers are called Vampires. Many of them are interested only in taking men to clip-joint strip clubs where the cabbies receive a $20/pax kickback.

-- All cabbies in Vegas are employees (no owners or lessors). They get about 40% of the meter minus payroll deductions.

-- If the state taxi authority (http://taxi.state.nv.us) decides someone is a bad apple, their trip logs will be scrutinized for longhauling and they might be given a $150 citation in the mail.

-- If you are overcharged (i.e. you go through a tunnel and are charged $25 instead of $15), take it up with the doorman at your hotel who will be happy to call the taxi authority and the metro police. Pax win nearly all of these disputes.

This is why I tell everyone I know visiting Sin City to rent a car. I had to take a cab from the airport this weekend and was long hauled, basically to the Orleans (I was talking to someone and not paying attention when I noticed we were in the tunnel). Vegas is an easy city to get around in, and traffic isn't too bad. Most places offer free valet parking. Rental cars are usually cheap, too.

IMHO

One of the reasons I really enjoy Vegas is because I can get away from driving. Getting a cab/limo in Vegas is usually really easy and prompt.
Also when in Vegas we tend to drink a bit more than normal
and driving is just a pain when trying to enjoy the party atmosphere.

Other Issues:
Trying to find the car in some giant casino parking structure.
Waiting for the Valet.
Checking the rental in and out at LAS.
Not worth all the hassel and time in my opinion.

As far as the long haul cab issue. When I get in a cab I tell them
"I am a local". As soon as they make a wrong move let them know you know the "program" and you will not pay the extra charge on the meter.

Going this weekend. Dont have to worry about the airport and the cab.
Got the MGM to send the Maybach for us.

bltserv

Some drivers are a little more smart now. They'll immediately start asking some questions making it look like small talk like where are you coming in from, how long was your flight or what airline did you come in on. For me coming in from LAX and on a short WN flight they get the idea that I'm a regular and lo and behold I get the Koval route without me having to tell the driver where to go. But then again it probably is just a small percentage of the drivers who have gotten wiser.

-- If you are overcharged (i.e. you go through a tunnel and are charged $25 instead of $15), take it up with the doorman at your hotel who will be happy to call the taxi authority and the metro police. Pax win nearly all of these disputes.

Does the Metro Police really respond in a timely matter on this? I just can't imagine this being a priority for them in the scope of things.

Rent-a-cars are fine, but...

-- 40% tax
-- You might be too tired, etc. to drive safely
-- Takes time to ride the shuttle buses to and fro, especially to one of the far-away facilities such as National/Alamo or the soon-to-open Soviet-style central rental facility

Does the Metro Police really respond in a timely matter on this? I just can't imagine this being a priority for them in the scope of things.

From what I've seen yes. I've even see the TA stake out the tunnel and pull over cabs left and right.

On my most recent trip, it appeared that we weren't taking the most direct route, and I found that the mere mention of the word "longhaul" got the cabbie to respond with "Please Sir, I thought this way might be faster, but pay whatever you want"

Full Disclosure - I did determine that under the circumstances, it turned out to be slightly cheaper to take the expy back from Mandalay Bay to the Flamingo, rather than the Koval/other parallel strip road we took on the way over. Felt bad about my false accusation, so I gave the guy an extra tip.

Some times, they really DO know what they're talking about, but I was jaded by too many trips through the infamous airport "tunnel."

It's not the extra $5 or so that matters, I just hate feeling like a sucker BEFORE I even get to the tables. :p

It get's to the point where I'm too paranoid to get a cab because I literally
explode with anger the moment they make that "tunnel turn" from the airport - I've started taking shared rides or even the bus if I am going downtown. Some recent charges were $38 airport to Stardust (tunnel) and $27 from Freemont Experience to Wynn when I was taken on the Interstate in an incredibly roundabout journey. When I asked why he didnt take LV Blvd back to Wynn, he cited traffic (it was 10pm compared to the 7pm trip down the Blvd. which cost about $13).

...and you paid for these rides? The advice above regarding the taxi police is spot on!

Well, I have new information here now! - normally it's a matter of gritting your teeth, not tipping and making sure he can see you write down his name and number. I've never really considered not paying - a lot of the time I just want to forget about it to avoid ruining a night out.

OK.....I have been to LAS many times but I must admit I have never cared which route the cab driver took to my hotel "flamingo, mirage & belliago".. What is the famous tunnel that you guys are refering to? I want to be aware when I return "hopefully" in december.......thanks for the info

A taxi driver took offense when I requested that he uses the "tropicana way" to the airport, and asked me "do you mean there is another way". He claimed that he never use the tunnel way and he was so insulted with my reminder that he could have "thrown me off his cab". The fare from Bellagio to the airport was only $11+ and I didnt tip him as I found his remarks to be very hostile.

Another driver took the freeway (instead of the Strip) from Stratosphere to the Bellagio eventhough it was late at night and there was hardly any traffic along the Strip. Alright I could live with a slightly higher fare but what really shocked me was that at the end of the journey he asked for a 40% tip because he has "no other source of income".

I dont like Las Vegas taxi drivers :mad:

OK.....I have been to LAS many times but I must admit I have never cared which route the cab driver took to my hotel "flamingo, mirage & belliago".. What is the famous tunnel that you guys are refering to? I want to be aware when I return "hopefully" in december.......thanks for the info

The tunnel goes under the runway, to the 215, then to the 15. This is the longhaul way. The only execption I would say is to the south strip, but then they should take 215 to LV Blvd and NOT 15.

A taxi driver took offense when I requested that he uses the "tropicana way" to the airport, and asked me "do you mean there is another way". He claimed that he never use the tunnel way and he was so insulted with my reminder that he could have "thrown me off his cab". The fare from Bellagio to the airport was only $11+ and I didnt tip him as I found his remarks to be very hostile.

Another driver took the freeway (instead of the Strip) from Stratosphere to the Bellagio eventhough it was late at night and there was hardly any traffic along the Strip. Alright I could live with a slightly higher fare but what really shocked me was that at the end of the journey he asked for a 40% tip because he has "no other source of income".

I dont like Las Vegas taxi drivers :mad:


IIRC Taxi drivers make about $12/hr + tips + 40% of the fare.

Last year I was at an event at Caesars & got a cab. He was told by bellman & by me when I got in the cab the Hilton timeshare next to the LV Hilton. I thought it was a bit strange he took the freeway - and then we ended up at the timeshare I'm staying at this year. I told him wrong one & pointed out the LV Hilton & said the one next to that. I also said I'd pay him his fee to the timeshare & a tip, but that I wasn't paying the extra fee from the wrong timeshare to the correct one.

So when we got to the correct place I gave him what the original meter had said & a tip. He goes ballistic & said the meter says more. I say tough, I'm not paying extra given you screwed up on the location, & try to open the door to exit. He keeps it locked. Calls dispatch who confirms the fare to the correct place matched what to the wrong place was & I shouldn't have to pay the dif. He STILL keeps the door locked. I told him if he didn't open it I'd call 9/11. He did, but then he got out of the cab & chased me to the front door of the hotel! I called the LV Cab Authority who didn't call me back. The cab driver the next day was very upset & told me to f/u, so I did. Made verbal contact, told them what happened - never heard from them again.

I'm going to be in Vegas in late April for a trade show. I expense cabs, but still hate the rip-offs. If I'm staying at the Hilton timeshare that's near Circus-Circus/Sahara, which route should I tell the cab to take? I'm meeting someone who's coming in later than my flight, so my guess is we'll be catching at cab about 10:45pm on a Friday night.

Cheers.

Great thread! We usually are in Vegas with my daughters, and one of our "family rituals" is to get a stretch at the airport, go to In and Out Burger, and then stop at a store to stock up on items for the room (sodas, liquor, whatever), and then ride up the strip, so we don't usually run into the regular problems with cabs (but its great to know)!

But on one trip, hubby was taking daughters to the mall (great daddy lol), while I stayed behind. During the cab ride, cabbie was on cell going on and on in Spanish about the "spoiled little girls" and "obnoxious rich tourists" in his cab, etc. What he didn't know is that my daughter speaks fluent Spanish. She kept quiet the entire ride (except for some apparently shocked facial expressions), but when they arrived at their destination, she had some "select" comments for him (in Spanish of course). They tell me the look on his face was priceless!

Robin

Does the Metro Police really respond in a timely matter on this? I just can't imagine this being a priority for them in the scope of things.
It's not the metro police, it's the Livery Commission, who drive cars similar to police cars, and they even pack guns.

Being that Vegas is a tourist state, they take cabbies that break the rules VERY seriously. That's why a cabbie must write to/from on his clipboard and their GPS units are audited.

Always complain when this happens. 98 percent of cabbies do it by the book, there is no reason why the 2 should get away



-- All cabbies in Vegas are employees (no owners or lessors). They get about 40% of the meter minus payroll deductions.

One cabbie said this is due to the organized crime that existed back in the day, and still kinda exists to this day.

A taxi driver took offense when I requested that he uses the "tropicana way" to the airport, and asked me "do you mean there is another way". He claimed that he never use the tunnel way and he was so insulted with my reminder that he could have "thrown me off his cab". The fare from Bellagio to the airport was only $11+ and I didnt tip him as I found his remarks to be very hostile.
You deserved to be spoken to in a hostile fashion. Accusing someone of ripping you off before they even come close to ripping you off is just insulting. And even by saying " he claimed that he never use the tunnel way", you're still asserting that all cabbies rip off their pax

You probably drive up to squeege kids and say "don't kick my hubcaps" or a homeless man and before he asks for change, you say "I don't have any drugs for you"

Unbelievable.

You deserved to be spoken to in a hostile fashion. Accusing someone of ripping you off before they even come close to ripping you off is just insulting. And even by saying " he claimed that he never use the tunnel way", you're still asserting that all cabbies rip off their pax

You probably drive up to squeege kids and say "don't kick my hubcaps" or a homeless man and before he asks for change, you say "I don't have any drugs for you"

Unbelievable.

Indeed...this is the most unbelievable post I've seen yet on FT.

Exactly how is saying to someone "take the Tropicana way" accusing anyone of anything? And since when is it ever acceptable to speak to anyone in a hostile fashion for any reason?

The only person denigrating cabbies in this thread is you, by comparing them to squeege kids and homeless people.

I'm imagining cur as a casino cashier...

Me: Here's my chips. I'm cashing out. I think it's $462.

Cur: What!? How dare you count the money before I do! That's my job! You think I'm going to rip you off? Stop insulting me!

It's not the metro police, it's the Livery Commission, who drive cars similar to police cars, and they even pack guns.

Being that Vegas is a tourist state, they take cabbies that break the rules VERY seriously. That's why a cabbie must write to/from on his clipboard and their GPS units are audited.

Always complain when this happens. 98 percent of cabbies do it by the book, there is no reason why the 2 should get away


One cabbie said this is due to the organized crime that existed back in the day, and still kinda exists to this day.absolutely (tho it's the taxi authority :) )-take a look at my posts (#24, 26, & 28) in this thread (sorry, i don't know how to link an indvidual post, only the thread): http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=459161

I arrived on a Sat. afternoon and there was absolutely no taxi line. We walked right up and got in a waiting cab. Normally there are huge lines when we arrive on a Fri night. I made the comment to my wife when I got in the cab, "this is the first time I've seen this"

Well, the taxi driver must have picked up on "first time" and proceded to take us to Paris via the tunnel at noon on a Saturday. I confronted him when we got to the hotel as to why he took the tunnel. He said it was faster. I told him that I come to Vegas at least 4x per year and I know that's not the case. He still insisted that the tunnel was faster. I summoned the bellman to confirm this and the taxi driver said to just pay him what I want and leave it be. I gave him $12 and he sped away. I just didn't want to start my trip filling out "taxi authority" reports so I didn't report him.

If he tunnels you, I'd ask for a free trip or a call to the authorities, his choice.

QL

If he tunnels you, I'd ask for a free trip or a call to the authorities, his choice.QL
Pay the fare and report the facts. Taking a $10 hit in revenue won't stop them from doing it again.


The only person denigrating cabbies in this thread is you, by comparing them to squeege kids and homeless people.
DenverBrian's thought pattern:
Post: Your opinion of bus drivers based on your encounter that they'll give you an expired transfer is rude. You seem like the kind of person that would spit on a homeless person.
DenverBrian: YOU'RE RUDE! You're comparing bus drivers to homeless people!


I'm imagining cur as a casino cashier...

Me: Here's my chips. I'm cashing out. I think it's $462.

Cur: What!? How dare you count the money before I do! That's my job! You think I'm going to rip you off? Stop insulting me!
HAHA! That's the crappiest, most half-assed attempt of a comparative argument.

Sharing with a cashier your count of chips the same as asking a cabbie to not rip you off (under the assumption that he's out to rip you off) before even leaving for the destination. Bra-vo.

This one is more effective:
Denver: count these chips the normal way
Cur: :rolleyes:

PSharing with a cashier your count of chips the same as asking a cabbie to not rip you off (under the assumption that he's out to rip you off) before even leaving for the destination. Bra-vo.


Looks like we disagree. Remind me not to get in your cab.

You deserved to be spoken to in a hostile fashion. Accusing someone of ripping you off before they even come close to ripping you off is just insulting. And even by saying " he claimed that he never use the tunnel way", you're still asserting that all cabbies rip off their pax.

Suggesting a particular route to a taxi driver is not an accusation that he was going to cheat me (at least in most parts of the world that I have travelled to). I didnt tell him not to take the tunnel, I just suggested to him to take the tropicana route. Although I am not American, I am not aware of any American tradition against suggesting a particular route to a taxi driver. If I have been ignorant, could my fellow FlyerTalkers please correct me.

Though I did express my disgust at Las Vegas taxi drivers in my previous post, I did not assert that all cabbies rip off their passengers. I did not have good experience with taxi drivers in Las Vegas; and my assessment of taxi drivers is not confined to whether they rip off their passengers. Intimidating foreign tourists, demanding hefty tips and refusing short trips with less than $10 on the meter, are just not acceptable to me; especially in a civilised society.

BTW are you a Las Vegas taxi driver ?

Edit : :eek: I just realised from reading the other posts that you are indeed a Las Vegas taxi driver. That explains the unfavourable reputation of cabbies over there ;)

Looks like we disagree. Remind me not to get in your cab.
Good one. Really!

Edit : :eek: I just realised from reading the other posts that you are indeed a Las Vegas taxi driver. That explains the unfavourable reputation of cabbies over there ;)
Another zinger on the forum! Very funny! VERY original!

You get in a taxi because its the cabbie's job to get you from A to B in the quickest and shortest way. It's obligatory, and there's no need to tell them the quickest way. Benefit of the doubt anyone?

You get in a taxi because its the cabbie's job to get you from A to B in the quickest and shortest way. It's obligatory, and there's no need to tell them the quickest way. Benefit of the doubt anyone?

You're wrong and, what's more, you're being needlessly hostile.

QL

You get in a taxi because its the cabbie's job to get you from A to B in the quickest and shortest way. It's obligatory, and there's no need to tell them the quickest way. Benefit of the doubt anyone?

The problem here is that the quickest way and the shortest way are TWO different things here for this LAS->hotel route. One is quicker, but is actually a longer distance, hence higher cost, while the shortest way, the lowest cost way, is a few minutes longer.

The taxi authority has then said that cabbies should take the SHORTEST route, unless he/she asks, and the client accepts, taking the QUICKER route.

By saying to the cabbie, when you get in to the taxi, that you want the shortest route, via Tropicana, there is NO DOUBT that you want the shorter route. Given the past experience of many people getting ripped off by being "tunneled", I would agree that by stating your preferred route when you get in the taxi would be the best way to protect from being ripped off. This works the same in Bangkok, or Manhattan, etc.

And a cabbie, being in the service industry, being rude to customers is a great way to do business :rolleyes:

You're wrong and, what's more, you're being needlessly hostile.

QL
You guys attempt to insult me by calling me a cabbie and you find that reply hostile? You guys don't get out much, do you?

"Take the honest way"
"Why are you telling me this? I may as well throw you out of the taxi right now!"
"I never said you were dishonest!"

That's the argument you guys are making. But I'm wrong and "needlessly hostile"!

:D

Ok, to get this thread back on track & away from who's hostile & not. Does anyone have an answer to the question I posted above, which is:

"If I'm staying at the Hilton timeshare that's near Circus-Circus/Sahara, which route should I tell the cab to take? I'm meeting someone who's coming in later than my flight, so my guess is we'll be catching at cab about 10:45pm on a Friday night."

Thanks for the input! Cheers.

Ok, to get this thread back on track & away from who's hostile & not. Does anyone have an answer to the question I posted above, which is:

"If I'm staying at the Hilton timeshare that's near Circus-Circus/Sahara, which route should I tell the cab to take? I'm meeting someone who's coming in later than my flight, so my guess is we'll be catching at cab about 10:45pm on a Friday night."

Thanks for the input! Cheers.
Probably down Paradise or Koval.
http://local.google.ca/
5757 Wayne Newton Blvd. Las Vegas, NV
2535 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV

Ok, to get this thread back on track & away from who's hostile & not. Does anyone have an answer to the question I posted above, which is:

"If I'm staying at the Hilton timeshare that's near Circus-Circus/Sahara, which route should I tell the cab to take? I'm meeting someone who's coming in later than my flight, so my guess is we'll be catching at cab about 10:45pm on a Friday night."

Thanks for the input! Cheers.

The tunnel to the freeway will be fastest. Paradise will be cheaper.

QL

Probably down Paradise or Koval.
http://local.google.ca/
5757 Wayne Newton Blvd. Las Vegas, NV
2535 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV

10:45 on friday night is probbaly the worst traffic you'll find on city streets, bumper to bumper everywhere. The hwy on the other hand will be moving at 65mph.

Yikes, thanks for the reminder re: strip traffic on a Friday night. Highway it is then! Cheers.

10:45 on friday night is probbaly the worst traffic you'll find on city streets, bumper to bumper everywhere. The hwy on the other hand will be moving at 65mph.
Paradise is not that bad at all. It isn't like the Blvd.

And if you don't mind paying an extra $5-10 just so you can zoom down at 65 and save 5 mins feel free.

Paradise is not that bad at all. It isn't like the Blvd.

And if you don't mind paying an extra $5-10 just so you can zoom down at 65 and save 5 mins feel free.

If you say so...

Hey everyone,

great thread so far. I was unaware of the "longhauling" in Vegas. Only my second time there, and a first of many now that I am in CA. Anyone know what the cheapest route would be from LAS to MGM on a Saturday morning? I am assuming the "Tropicana" or the Koval route would be the best.? Thanks for all the input.

Hey everyone,

great thread so far. I was unaware of the "longhauling" in Vegas. Only my second time there, and a first of many now that I am in CA. Anyone know what the cheapest route would be from LAS to MGM on a Saturday morning? I am assuming the "Tropicana" or the Koval route would be the best.? Thanks for all the input.


MGM is one of the closest casino hotels to the airport. Definitely take Tropicana. If they take the tunnel on this one it would be ridiculous.

The cheapest way to get from LAS to MGM is to walk. With no bags, or just a rolling carry-on, and if it's not too hot outside, it's a nice 20 minute walk. Or a $7 cab ride down Tropicana.

The cheapest way to get from LAS to MGM is to walk. With no bags, or just a rolling carry-on, and if it's not too hot outside, it's a nice 20 minute walk. Or a $7 cab ride down Tropicana.

What about south Strip, like Mandalay and Luxor?

What about south Strip, like Mandalay and Luxor?

The only properties I would consider walkable are MGM, Hooters, Tropicana, Excalibur and NYNY. It's a fairly long walk. Mandalay and Luxor are a couple of blocks farther. Please don't attempt this unless you have either no luggage or one rolling piece, and then only if it isn't real hot. I wouldn't want you to get heatstroke and then come and cap my a**.

In my younger days, I would sometimes punish myself for a losing trip by making myself walk from one of the above hotels to LAS.

The only properties I would consider walkable are MGM, Hooters, Tropicana, Excalibur and NYNY. It's a fairly long walk. Mandalay and Luxor are a couple of blocks farther. Please don't attempt this unless you have either no luggage or one rolling piece, and then only if it isn't real hot. I wouldn't want you to get heatstroke and then come and cap my a**.

In my younger days, I would sometimes punish myself for a losing trip by making myself walk from one of the above hotels to LAS.

ROFL! (at work even)

So for a cab ride, would it actually be cheaper to take the tunnel or still the Tropicana route?

Got into Vegas a few Fridays ago. Arrived about 9:45pm. Got in a cab from LAS to Flamingo, requested "no tunnel." Cabbie shot back: "How do you want me to go then?" I said something like "surface streets." He insisted it would be more expensive because of "all the traffic and waiting time." I gave in and said do whatever he wanted. Only about a 10 minute ride to the hotel it seemed like but of course $20 or so. Was he right about the traffic at 10pm on a Friday night?

There's a lot of traffic but I doubt it would be more expensive than the tunnel to take Koval. Even taking the tunnel there's usually a long wait to make a left turn onto the Strip from Flamingo.

QL

The worst cab driver I had was on my first trip to Vegas. Going from LAS to the Tropicana, our cabby decided to take us through the tunnel, doing at least 80+ mph while talking on the phone. When we hit traffic on I-15, he kept repeating "F*** traffic. F***" in his eastern european accent to whoever he was talking to on his phone. Didn't unload bags out of the trunk. Needless to say, no tip.

Got into Vegas a few Fridays ago. Arrived about 9:45pm. Got in a cab from LAS to Flamingo, requested "no tunnel." Cabbie shot back: "How do you want me to go then?" I said something like "surface streets." He insisted it would be more expensive because of "all the traffic and waiting time." I gave in and said do whatever he wanted. Only about a 10 minute ride to the hotel it seemed like but of course $20 or so. Was he right about the traffic at 10pm on a Friday night?

No. The Vegas traffic-jam and big-accident stories are always BS unless it is New Years' Eve. But, as in any city, you need to know the route or be at the cabbie's mercy. And as in any city the cabbie will call your bluff if you merely say "Take the Midtown Tunnel" without knowing something more about the route from JFK to Manhattan. (OK, so JFK to Manhattan is now a flat rate. But you get the idea.) Moral: Look it up on Mapquest or Google before you get there.

Got into Vegas a few Fridays ago. Arrived about 9:45pm. Got in a cab from LAS to Flamingo, requested "no tunnel." Cabbie shot back: "How do you want me to go then?" I said something like "surface streets." He insisted it would be more expensive because of "all the traffic and waiting time." I gave in and said do whatever he wanted. Only about a 10 minute ride to the hotel it seemed like but of course $20 or so. Was he right about the traffic at 10pm on a Friday night?

You definately had a money-grubbing a$$hole. I would have simply said the shortest, cheapest way. There would be absolutely no tip with that kind of attitude.