LAS is the only city I've visited where you can't hail a cab on the street.

What's with the 60 minute wait for cabs at the hotel? It appears that the passengers AND the drivers have to wait.

Logically, there's either more supply or more demand. Whichever it is, there should not be a wait for BOTH parties.

I mentioned this to a cabbie who mentioned that LAS is run by the owners of the major casinos, and that's what they wanted.

But why? People waiting 60 mins for a cab means they're gambling or spending money 60 mins less in the casino, as well as being annoyed and less likely to return.

FWIW, I walked down to the street from Bellagio, found a cab waiting at the lights, and offered him $40 to take me to the Rio. He was very nice, and offered to take me for just the metered fare, but I gave him the full forty anyway.

60 minutes? The longest i've ever waited on a cab at a hotel is about 15 minutes and that was on a Sunday morning when everyone was flying out. And the last thing Flamingo Dr. or LV Blvd. needs is slower traffic with people hailing cabs.

You could have just walked up to any of the guys who handle opening the cab doors for passengers (@ the hotels) ... just approach discreetly and mention you are in a real rush, and here is a $20 for the help --- slip said $20; and you will get the next cab. The cab dude (for lack of a better term) will hold back the next people in line.

FWIW, Vegas is a tip and access city. Tipping or having Elite status at a hotel property will often eliminate or reduce any waiting significantly (for cabs, restaurants, clubs etc. etc. etc.)

Personally, it makes total sense you CANNOT hail a cab on the strip. Cabs can get in real trouble for that --- and imagine the additional chaos if folks were constantly jumping in and out of cabs on an already over congested strip.

FWIW, $35 to $40 is the going casino rate from point to point in and around the Vegas strip. Always store your hotel's VIP services number in your phone. Even if you are NOT a big player, you can always call and request a limo to be sent for pick-up (and charged to your room). Though, you really should give a bit of advance notice (at least 1/2 hour) --- call while having dessert, and the limo will be waiting out front --- works great if you want to time a nice dinner before a show, and not feel rushed to get from property to property.

Two very useful pieces of advice - thanks.

$35 to $40??? Don't know where you're going, but it should run under $20. You need to be sure the driver goes around the back of the Strip on Koval Lane - it saves time (and $$$) and you get where you want hassle-free. Also, try the Monorail -- an easy and inexpensive way to travel. Or -- walking on the Strip is fun for people-watching and a bunch faster than a cab. There's always an air-conditioned casino to drop into and walk through if it's too hot. You may even get lucky like I did and win a few grand along the way.

(1) Diamond card members in Harrah's system have a special cab line at all of their strip casinos (+ Rio.)
(2) Harrah's also runs a free shuttle between their strip casinos and Rio--they run every half hour (and frequently more often.)

I was referring to the price for limos NOT for cabs. If you are getting point to point on call limo service for under $20 per trip; then please share your limo source.

Bellagio and MGM sometimes have the longest waits for taxis in my experience. The longest time I've waited for a taxi was 20 minutes at MGM after a show had let out.

Only once have I waited 60 minutes for a cab--and we live way out at the edge of town. That time involved the dispatcher making a mistake with the street name. Why he didn't call instead of pouring over the map when he was directed to a nonexistent street I don't know.

Couldn't you just go to a bellman beside the one running the taxi stand and tell him you'd like a private car and end up paying the same for a private car without having to cut the taxi line? If I was ready to spend $20 more, I would think that would work, but have honestly never tried it (since I've never had to deal with such bad lines).

You would need to have the time for that, since they wouldn't just have a limo sitting there waiting for you. It might take 10 or 15 minutes. The only way to have a limo waiting and ready is to either hire it for multiple hours (and just have the driver wait) or call a bit ahead so they can dispatch a car. If you are in an absolute rush, and need to be in a car immediately -- the most efficient way to make that happen is to tip at the taxi stand (unless, you are at a HET property, where they allow Diamonds & 7*'s to go to the front of the taxi line)

My personal preference, if I am hopping casinos on a busy Saturday night is to just hire a limo for 3 or 4 hours, then I don't need to worry about coordinating transport form place to place. If you are a group of 4 or more, this is a really efficient way to travel around the strip --- and, you have the added advantage of drinking multiple bottles of Champagne along the way.

Las Vegas taxi fares are among highest in the nation. They're going even higher Oct 1st.

Article from today's LVRJ: http://www.lvrj.com/news/9731347.html

Interestingly, and unknown to me, is that the hailing of cabs on the street is forbidden at more than just the strip. I was at a restaurant on Flamingo, at least 3 miles from the strip, in the direction opposite from the Palms, and we tried to get a cab at a redlight. The cabbie told us to get in quickly, and that he isn't supposed to stop there either.