Las Vegas - LAS daytrip, getting to the strip.

I decided to bite on the MKE-LAS deal for OCT 31.
Anyways, I get in at 11am (NW) and leave at 6:30pm (YX)

What is my best bet for getting into the strip?, I'm looking at just hitting up a few hotels, NY NY and several around the area.

I've been looking at airport shuttles for around $11 roundtrip, however many of them seem to require 24hr pick up notice for the return to the airport.

Any ideas?

Thanks

Please continue to follow this thread in the FT Las Vegas Forum.
Thanks..
Obscure2k
TravelBuzz Moderator

Cab it. $13 one way to NYNY. Maximizes your time at the casino for your day trip.

Cab it to MGM Grand. $10 one way. Advise using MGM Grand as your arrival point since it's the first strip hotel you'll hit and you won't have to deal with crossing LV Blvd (it's an extra 1/2 mile drive or so, so you'll save some money that way).

Say hi to the bartenders at ESPN Zone at NYNY for me if you choose to stop in.

rent a car, many low prices nowadays that would be cheaper than roundtrip taxi fare. Check Thrifty.

Not a bad idea about the car, but I think I could be wasting some time waiting in line and getting the car and dropping it off and taking the rental car shuttle back and forth. I check thrifty like you said it was $17 after all taxes, though they would probably nail me with the $25 under 25 fee.

I think I may do the cab to MGM.

I am glad you have decided not to do the airport shuttles for this type of trip. I tried this once. I had reservations for one to pick me up at a hotel and 30 min after the scheduled pick up time decided to catch a taxi back to the airport with a group of others that were waiting for the same shuttle.
A friend of mine had a taxi take him around the airport on I-15 and it cost him quite a bit more than the $10 people on this post have said it would be. You may want to ask the driver how much it will be or ask them to take you on Paradise Rd to the MGM (this is the route that should be close to $10).

If this is your first trip and you want to see some of the strip you might want to consider the central part of the strip - Bellagio, Caesars, Mirage. The south end that you are talking about - MGM, NYNY, Luxor area is cool too.

A friend of mine had a taxi take him around the airport on I-15 and it cost him quite a bit more than the $10 people on this post have said it would be. You may want to ask the driver how much it will be or ask them to take you on Paradise Rd to the MGM (this is the route that should be close to $10).

NEVER, EVER, EVER have a taxi take you on I-15 if going anywhere on the main part of the Strip (from the Wynn south). That's getting long-hauled and will add at least $10 to your trip going through the Tunnel to I-15.

I often stay at South Strip resorts and when I get in the cab, I will say "NYNY, Take Tropicana." I've occasionally had cabbies tell me that it's congested and taking the freeway is faster - I quickly respond that I come out here once a month and know that taking the freeway is longhauling and I'll report them to the appropriate authorities. Quickly changes their attitude. Vegas taxi drivers are required by law to take the routing their passenger desires.

For MGM, I would say "MGM, take Tropicana." By far the fastest route to the airport.

For any South Strip properties (MGM, NYNY, Excal, Luxor, MB, Trop, MC), I say just that - take Tropicana. If you're staying a bit further up on the Strip, have them use Koval as a substitute for Las Vegas Blvd, as there's nowhere near as much traffic on Koval as there is on the Strip (you can be waiting for quite some time there). Use Harmon and Flamingo to cut over to the Strip and minimize time on Las Vegas Blvd.

This may be a stupid question, but can I wear a backpack in the casinos? I don't see why I wouldn't be able to but, you never know.

This may be a stupid question, but can I wear a backpack in the casinos? I don't see why I wouldn't be able to but, you never know.

Yes, of course, but only LV backpacks (http://www.louisvuitton.com/info/catalogue-en/catalogue-6568755.htm) are allowed in the Salon Privé while playing baccarat. :cool::cool:

This may be a stupid question, but can I wear a backpack in the casinos? I don't see why I wouldn't be able to but, you never know.
You can wear it, but why would you want to? Check it with the bellhop, $1 tip buys it back when you're ready.

Something you might not be allowed to wear: A Halloween mask.

Thanks for all the help. I took the cab to MGM, it was about $15 w/tip or so, via tropicana. I did MGM, NYNY, Excalibur, Tropicana, then Hooters. From Hooters I took a cab back to LAS, cab was about $11 w/tip.

Could anyone tell me the best route to taxi it from airport to Flamingo? Tropicana? Koval? Only been to Vegas once before, so fairly lost!

Could anyone tell me the best route to taxi it from airport to Flamingo? Tropicana? Koval? Only been to Vegas once before, so fairly lost!

Paradise to Flamingo. Saves you from having to make the left turn onto Tropicana (which can take a while at times), and it can get backed up leading into Koval. Paradise is pretty smooth sailing, and because it runs on a diagonal, it's marginally shorter than Koval/Flamingo.

It is not unusual for one to see non employees carrying firearms in the casino. A backpack will be a non issue. ^

If you mean the Flamingo Hotel, you'll want to enter from the rear. So take the airport exit, cross Tropicana, follow the signs to Paradise (you will jog left), then turn left on Flamingo and right on Audrie (under the monorail). The entrance is poorly marked on the left.

QL