Transport Question
 

Hey all,
Forgive the crazy question...I haven't been to Vegas in several years and don't quite remember how close everything is together. I'll be coming in tomorrow night and staying at the Aladdin, and was wondering if I'd be better off renting a car, or taking a cab for the 3 days I'm there...for the areas on the strip, I'm almost positive everything is in walking distance, but for the off-strip hotels and such, would it be cheaper to take a taxi or to get a car? Someone told me that there is a lot of traffic and cabs are expensive. True? False?

FWIW, cars are running about $50 a day ~
TIA,

Aladdin is on strip. Unless you want to go off strip somewhere like downtown, everything else is pretty much walking distance.

Yes traffic is crazy there. If you're not used to that kind of driving it can be nerve wracking. Yes cabs are expensive in LV, but unless you are going to be doing an awful lot of running around I think you would be better off money wise taking cabs, not to mention the convenience.

SNOW

Everywhere is walking distance, if you have the time (Steven Wright) :D

Seriously,

I find it is cheaper and easier to rent a car if you want to do any exploring. You can usually get one around $25-30 per day. One round trip cab ride just about anywhere will equal this. I like to wander, go downtown, etc. so I like the flexibility of a car.

The strip traffic can be bad, but most casinos have entrances in the back. Use Koval east of the strip and Industrial Road west. I think it is the book "The Unofficial Guide to Las Vegas" that has a section on the sneak routes into casino garages.

If I want to be center strip I'll park at the Flamingo or Barbary Coast and walk to Ballys, Paris, Bellagio... from there. South Strip I ususally use NYNY for parking. I don't wander the north strip too much. Main Street Station for downtown.

If drinking, the car stays parked.

Thanks for your quick responses, fellas.

How bout the monorail? Is that any good? I'm used to the big city driving and the crazy driving in Vegas (drove there last time a few years back), and being on the strip is nice, but wouldn't mind venturing out to the shopping areas and the Palms and other places off-strip.

Thanks again !
cheers~

I have not tried the monorail since it was extended. I have taken it from MGM to Ballys, and I really think I walked FARTHER going all the way through MGM to get the the station at the back, and then all the way back to the strip from the back of Ballys.

Traffic is absolutely INSANE on the Strip. You couldn't pay me enough to drive on it. With all the transport options, I really don't think you need a car unless you are wanting to go to Lake Mead or some other day trip type place. The Monorail will get you all the way over to the Sahara and from there you can take the bus to Downtown and Fremont street. If you want to go to Rio just take the Shuttle from Harrahs. There are lots of options that I really don't think a car is a necessity. Do you really want to pay $40 a day to have it sit in the parking lot at the Aladdin?

Sam, here is a website for the las Vegas Monorail:

http://www.lvmonorail.com/

It gives the route, the casinos on the route and the hours of operations and ticket prices. I have used it on my last two trips and I have found it to be very good transport.

Also, keep in mind, you can buy the tickets once you get there if you decide to do the Monorail thing. You don't have to buy them in advance online. The only one I don't think you can buy there is the 3 day pass for $40 (which is really a good deal). That one you do have to buy online. The others you can buy at kiosks near the Monorail entrances.

Traffic is bad especially on weekends and even worse on holiday weekends like the one beginning tomorrow. Taxis will be expensive if they drive on the strip to take you to your destination since the traffic is bad you'll sit in traffic and watch the meter go up. If you want to go downtown consider taking The Deuce bus transportation.
http://www.rtcsouthernnevada.com/deuce/route_info.htm

True, but with all the Construction going on, even Koval is kind of messed up.

Thanks for the info, hlburi!

Cheers~

Cars are nice if you are going off the strip with the exception of d/t. I can't believe unless I missed it someone hasn't mentioned the bus. You can get an all day pass on the buss for I believe 5 bucks. That is a pretty good deal and the bus stops quite frequantly so it is real easy to get on and off how ever many times you wish all for 5 bucks.

Greg

I have never taken the bus. Mostly because every time I've seen that double decker bus, it's been sitting in that Gawdawful traffic on the Strip. Can somone who has taken the bus educate me as to how long it actually takes to ride it from say, the MGM end of the Strip to Las Vegas Hilton or Downtown? I'm curious.

One thing to remember about the Deuce is it stops CONSTANTLY! If you go during an off peak time then its ok, but during peak you can literally stop every other block between South Strip and Downtown. It's so slow you swear you could walk it that fast.

See...and that is my issue with driving down the Strip. The cars seem to be in constant standstills. You can walk faster than the traffic moves on the Strip. Koval or one of the other backroads are definitely the way to go if your goal is to get around quickly.

I like to partake of those "free" drinks you get while I'm in Vegas. That rules out a car for me. :D