LAS "tunnel"
Aug 17, 2005 | 7:22 am
#2
Join Date: May 2004
Location: BKK
Posts: 272
No tunnel!
Originally Posted by philipperv
Ever had a taxi driver "tunnel" you from McCarren to the strip? What were your thoughts?
Tell the cab driver when they pull up where you want to go, and "no tunnel". Last time I was there, I forgot to tell the driver, and sure enough he took me through the tunnel to get to the Monte Carlo.
His tip was adjusted accordingly.
Aug 17, 2005 | 8:17 am
#4
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Desert city where Venice, Paris and NY are within walking distance
Programs: Delta and Hilton make a lot of $$ off me
Posts: 671
Originally Posted by GuyIncognito
Taking the tunnel to the strip is always a scam. It may be faster to get from the airport to any of the strip hotels, north of say, Flamingo Rd (Caesars, Mirage, TI, etc), but it will almost never be cheaper. If there's a lot of traffic, the taxi driver can take Paradise Rd, Koval Ln, or Frank Sinatra Dr.
As for Frank Sinatra, unless you're aiming for the employee parking lots, it's not that useful.
Aug 17, 2005 | 8:17 pm
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Philippines
Posts: 218
Originally Posted by grbflyer
tunnel??
The bypass starts with a tunnel before it connects to the interstate and the taxi drivers love this route because it adds around $4-8 to the cabfare depending on what your destination is. I know this because I drove a Vegas taxi for 3 years.
Aug 18, 2005 | 12:49 am
#7
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: PHX
Posts: 3,794
Here's a map of LAS. The tunnel is under the runways, to I-215. You can then circle around back to the strip. This is, as noted, the long way 'round.
Aug 18, 2005 | 1:23 am
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 13,144
Why would someone op for the longer route via the tunnel when there is an alternative shorter way to get to the strip? Or maybe they were tricked by the cab driver in trying to convince to the passenger that it is the shortest way?
Last edited by Rejuvenated; Aug 18, 2005 at 1:38 am
Aug 18, 2005 | 5:51 am
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2001
Programs: DL GM, AA Gold, Hilton Diamond, Bonvoy Plat
Posts: 12,171
This is a frequent topic on the FT Las Vegas board. Botton line, if you're headed anywhere on the strip, it is a rip off. Don't let the driver talk you into it. If he/she does it without asking, you're looking at a free trip.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?p=3472299
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=349177
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=283824
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=459161
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?p=3472299
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=349177
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=283824
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=459161
Aug 18, 2005 | 6:25 am
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Philippines
Posts: 218
Originally Posted by skofarrell
This is a frequent topic on the FT Las Vegas board. Botton line, if you're headed anywhere on the strip, it is a rip off. Don't let the driver talk you into it. If he/she does it without asking, you're looking at a free trip.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?p=3472299
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=349177
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=283824
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=459161
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?p=3472299
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=349177
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=283824
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=459161
If a cabdriver takes the "tunnel" don't say anything and just demand a free ride at your destination or you will report him to the Nevada Taxicab Authority. Make sure to get his taxi number and his name from his taxi permit which is prominantly displayed on his dashboard. Believe me, the bellman at your destination hotel will help you with this, including the call.
Last edited by philipperv; Aug 18, 2005 at 6:29 am
Aug 18, 2005 | 9:44 am
#14
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Grand County, Colorado
Programs: IHG Plat, HH D, UA GS, Perm BonVoyed
Posts: 2,013
The practice is called long hauling. Highly unethical and illegal. If caught, drives offer a refund of the difference between a long haul trip via the 215 Airport Tunnel Connector and a normal trip. The Taxicab Police (yes, there is such an agency) conducts stings in the Airport Tunnel.
Aug 18, 2005 | 2:05 pm
#15
Join Date: Apr 2001
Posts: 775
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.
Ed
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