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Renting a car, is it worth?

Renting a car, is it worth?

Old Aug 5, 2011, 8:40 am
  #1  
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Renting a car, is it worth?

Mrs. Lovecraft and me are travelling to Las Vegas from 29/8 to 2/9, we'll be staying at the MGM Signature.
Is it worth to rent a car? Or would be public transport + occasional taxi enough? Is it easy to find parking wherever you go?
We don't gamble, so we'll be mostly visiting attractions and shopping, and on one day we'll do a full day excursion to the Grand Canyon (plane or helicopter).
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Old Aug 5, 2011, 8:55 am
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Totally worth to rent. Cabs are very expensive. Valet parking is free. Cars are about $20 to $30 a day. One way from LAS to MGM would cost you around $ 25-30. Im also a non gambler so having a car comes handy. Have fun
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Old Aug 5, 2011, 9:19 am
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Originally Posted by johndadevski
Cars are about $20 to $30 a day.
I normally use Priceline for rentals in Vegas. I just picked up a Premium Car for $20 a day for a 5 day trip next month. I think I paid $18 a day for a Convertible on my last trip, Compact and Mid-size often for $12-14.
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Old Aug 5, 2011, 9:26 am
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Originally Posted by johndadevski
Totally worth to rent. Cabs are very expensive. Valet parking is free. Cars are about $20 to $30 a day. One way from LAS to MGM would cost you around $ 25-30. Im also a non gambler so having a car comes handy. Have fun
Agree and disagree.

Agree for your agenda -- for outlet shopping and scenic areas, it will be helpful to have a car -- should consider Hoover Dam and Red Rocks national recreation area.

Disagree to the extent you're thinkig of driving everywhere. I would avoid driving on the Strip in the evenings and weekend days -- that's one way to derail your schedule and happiness. And, of course, if you are drinking, you'll be able to have more fun without the driving duties.
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Old Aug 5, 2011, 9:37 am
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Thanks for the comments.
Well, we'll be there from Monday to Friday, so no weekends. And we don't drink, so no problem in that department.
So I think I'll go ahead and rent a car.
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Old Aug 5, 2011, 10:18 am
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Definitely rent a car, alamo is usually where i get it at. However, the rates have been weird lately. It seems cheaper to book 3 days + 1 day, than to book 4 days. Anyways, use alamo with coupon codes. Cheers!
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Old Aug 5, 2011, 12:40 pm
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Originally Posted by Yahtzee
I would avoid driving on the Strip in the evenings and weekend days -- that's one way to derail your schedule and happiness. And, of course, if you are drinking, you'll be able to have more fun without the driving duties.
I would drive the strip in the evening once just to see the lights, but expect it to take some time. I find it fun to cruise it once a trip (on arrival if at night or else first night if not).

For the rest of the time, study a map and learn the streets Koval, Paradise (east of strip) and Sinatra/Martin (west of strip on either side of I-15) and avoid the strip at all costs.
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Old Aug 6, 2011, 9:23 pm
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I go to vegas a few times a year and almost always get a car. It is very inexpensive and valet is free everywhere. If you dont drink and want to leave the strip during your trip, you must get a car or you will spend a fortune on cabs. have fun.
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Old Aug 7, 2011, 4:45 pm
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Do you guys rent your cars at the big rent-a-car warehouse or do you go to a local place? Last trip to Vegas I reserved a car at the "airport" which meant having to take a shuttle to the huge building were all the rental car companies are located. It was a mess.
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Old Aug 7, 2011, 4:55 pm
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Last year I rented at the "warehouse".
The shuttle seemed easy,
and the rental and return was easy.
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Old Aug 7, 2011, 7:06 pm
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No drinking or gambling?

Skip Vegas.

NYC has better entertainment and food.

No rental car necessary.
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Old Aug 7, 2011, 9:56 pm
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From the upper deck of the Deuce Bus (city bus which covers Las Vegas Blvd.) one can get a really nice view of the strip--better than with a car--since you are riding atop), This saves the hassle of dealing with a car at a fraction of the cost.
If you don't have much luggage, getting to and from the airport using city buses can save time over the shuttle; a few times I've gotten from the airport to Paris casino using 108 NB connecting to 202 WB in 20 minutes (I lucked out with super connections). The shuttles take 30 minutes to fill up and then with drop-offs another 30+ minutes.
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Old Aug 9, 2011, 3:13 pm
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Originally Posted by sonofzeus
No drinking or gambling?

Skip Vegas.

NYC has better entertainment and food.

No rental car necessary.
Been a few times to NY already. And I still think there's enough to do and see in Vegas without drinking or gambling.
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Old Aug 9, 2011, 4:03 pm
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Originally Posted by MrHalliday
Last year I rented at the "warehouse".
The shuttle seemed easy,
and the rental and return was easy.
Maybe I was just unlucky the onetime I rented there. It was a mess. Long lines, slow shuttles, etc.
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Old Aug 9, 2011, 9:28 pm
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I made the mistake of waiting in the long lines at the "warehouse" once. Then I realized that with Hertz, I could "skip the counter". Now, I just jump off the shuttle and go right to my car. It really is easy. The only thing is you have to leave a little more time to return the car when you are headed to the airport.
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