Originally Posted by suranyi
Why does it cost more to go by way of the tunnel? When I was in Las Vegas last time it was clearly faster to go that way, at least to my destination, as it allowed me to bypass the incredibly clogged intersection of Tropicana and Las Vegas Blvd. But I was driving a rental car so I didn't have to think about taxi fares.
Because cab fares run "per distance driven" (per 1/8 mile or whatever), the longer distance through the tunnel costs more. It may (or may not) be faster in time, but it is definantly longer - so more cost!
With a rental car, you have unlimited mileage, so time doesn't matter. You will go the fastest route. But with a cab (using distance for the fare), you want theeeee shortest distance for cost. A rental car cost (say) $30, but a cab can cost (say) $15 using a direct route or (say) $20 using the tunnel.
One way to cross the Strip and avoid the congested corners at Tropicana, Flamingo or Sahara is by using Desert Inn. From Paradise (near the Convention Center), DI runs UNDER the Strip!
So you can get from (say) the LV Hilton to the Rio without the traffic on the Strip. The same thing from the airport to (say) the Palms. You don't need to go on the Strip if you don't want to.