Using City Buses in Vegas
 

One can use city buses, but a bit complex.

If you are over 60, you can get cheap bus pass. ie. 3 day $7.50 (vs. $15 regular)

Here is how:

1. You need to get a Transit issued ID. To do so you need to get to a Terminal (Downtown or South Strip) and present a picture ID with date of birth. They will take pic and issue Transit ID good for 5 years.

From airport, there is a city bus to get to South Strip (109A). But as bus only comes by every 23 minutes, easier to take Rental Car shuttle and walk the 2 long blocks (toward the Hotels) to the South Strip Bus Terminal -- unless you have lots of bags.

2. At Terminal, get Transit ID (above) and you use that along with cash or credit card at automated terminal to get your single ride /24hr / 3day / 30 day pass. The automated system is a bit complex, so do it carefully. Usually the Bus Terminal agent can help you.

3. You get your Pass and can use it on any bus by waiving it thru a scanner on bus. You do not need your Transit ID then, only to get tickets.

4. NOTE: There are 2 price levels. One (cheaper) does not include the DUECE that goes up and down the strip nor the MAX express to North Vegas. The higher level pass includes all city buses. Prices above are higher level.

5. The DUECE runs often and nice to travel 3+ blocks on strip. Also goes to South Strip Terminal. But often crowded and travels slow as it takes time to pick up passengers (who need exact change if they have no pass) and the traffic on Las Vegas Blvd. is very slow.

6. Get a Free Pocket Guide from Bus Terminal that shows all routes, frequency, etc.

This can be a cheap way to get around. Not as fast or efficient as cabs, but can be interesting way to wander around the city.

PS. If not over 60, cost is $7 for a day (24 hr clock) or $15 for 3 days and no need for the Transit ID -- but need to buy at automated machines that are only located at a few spots (there is one near bus stop near MGM Hotel on L V Blvd. northbound).

Besides using the 109A to the SST and then changing to the DUECE, you can take either the 108 North or 109A North and then change to one of the east-west buses which run along Tropicana (for MGM area), Flamingo (for Bellagio-Caesars etc.) area. Often walking on the strip one can outpace the DEUCE busses, the strip traffic crawls(:p) and each strip stop can consume as much as 10 minutes with people getting on and off.
The passes are 24 hours from the time of activation (first use on a bus) so get a full day on the general day passes and 3 days on the senior passes.

[A few years ago, one could transfer from one bus to another on one fare--too bad that feature is gone.

I got a full three days for my senior three day pass. Activated 11am on Mon and expired at 11am on Thur.

Agree that walking often is faster than the DEUCE on parts of the strip -- but for tourists, lots of things to look at from that upper deck. And walking from NYNY to Encore is quite a hike and tiring. I don't think you can get a regular three day pass on the bus (ie. from airport) -- but our bus driver let us ride 'free' to South Terminal as we said we were getting a 3 day pass. But, as I said, can take Rental car shuttle free and walk to South Terminal.

I realize most use cabs - but the bus is an alternative way and your really save a lot of money (it takes longer so less time to gamble :D)

The CAT bus system in some ways is faster than taking the shuttle buses. The last time I used a shuttle, I had to wait 20 minutes for one to arrive, 30 minutes to fill up, and 30 minutes before I was dropped off (I'm always the last one no matter where I'm going:confused::td:.)
Once I was heading to the airport from Bellagio, the taxi line (on a Sunday night) had over 100 people waiting--I immediately walked to the nearest CAT bus stop and was in the airport in <45 minutes.