USEFUL INFORMATION:
GETTING AROUND:
BY FOOT:
If traveling around the strip, walking is a reasonable option as hotel-casinos are found close to each other. In fact, in most cases, at least two hotels are connected to each other either by bridge or underground or in the case of Excalibur, Luxor and Malanday Bay, by a complimentary rail shuttle. Be aware that during the summer, the oppressive heat during the daylight hours may make walking a very uncomfortable activity.
BY MONORAIL:
The Las Vegas Monorail, +1 702 699-8200, runs on the east side of the strip with stops behind several of the hotels and at the Las Vegas Convention Center. It costs $5 one-way, $9 return and $15 for a one-day pass. Do the math before boarding, it could be cheaper for a small group to take a taxi. Because the monorail stops at the back entrance of the hotels, it takes a long time to wind through the maze of casinos, often taking 30 minutes to an hour to get from one point to another on the Strip - if you're in a hurry take a taxi. The monorail's carrying capacity of 4000 people per hour is woefully insufficient to handle the evening exodus from the larger conventions which have as many as 150,000 attendees. If you are visiting with a friend from Nevada and want to ride the monorail, consider asking them to buy your fare. By showing a Nevada State ID or Clark County Sheriffs Card (issued to all hotel employees) they qualify for the locals fare of $1, this can be purchased from the customer service booths located at each station.
BY BUS:
The city bus line, Citizens Area Transit (CAT), +1 702 228-7433, operates 49 routes throughout the valley. Most routes operate 5:30AM-1:30AM everyday. Some routes operate 24 hours. The fare is $1.25 for adults and 60¢ for kids and seniors for all residential routes. The Deuce, the London-style double decker bus operating the route along Las Vegas Blvd, costs $2 for adults and $1 dollar for children and seniors, and the fare may be paid directly to the driver. If purchasing a child or senior fare, be prepared to show some form of picture ID to prove your age to the driver. During the larger connventions (Such as CES, NAB, and MAGIC) the Duece also opperates on a special one way service from the Las Vegas Convention Center. This Service only opperates in the afternoon from the convention center to the Strip, the bus travels southbound and services all regular stops from Circus Circus onward. It is important to note that when using this service, tickets must be purchased in advance from the ticket vending machines (located in front of the north and south halls). If you will be staying for a long period of time (at least 8 days for adults or 4 for children and seniors) and plan to buy an All access pass, a more economic option is to purchase a 30 day bus pass. These can be purchased from either of the two bus terminals (Both can be reached by riding the Deuce to Downtown terminal, or to the South Strip Terminal), or from any ticket vending machine. Unfortunately the Monorail and CAT bus are separate and a pass from one won't work on the other.
BY TAXI:
One of the easiest ways to get around is by taxi. It is relatively cheap to go from hotel to hotel. The cab driver is required to turn on the meter and to take the shortest route to your destination. There is a surcharge for rides originating at the airport, but not for extra passengers. Taxi lines (queues) are typically found at the front of hotels. You would be unwise to attempt to hail one on the street, especially on the Strip as it is illegal for a cab to stop traffic to pick up or drop off a passenger. The best way to hail a cab outside of a cabstand is to use the following method: if you are wanting to go north on the strip, stand on the east side about 20 feet before a turn off. The cab you want to wave over will have the yellow lights off. Standing like this allows the cab to turn off the road and pick you up. It is customary to tip the hotel taxi dispatcher $1, and to pay the cab driver $1 for every 3 minutes you ride in the cab (on top of the the cost on the taxi meter), and about a $1 per piece of luggage.
BY RENTAL CAR:
Renting a car at McCarran International Airport is fairly cheap and popular. The opening of the new rental car facility has increased the wait time to get your car. All the rental agencies are now located under a single roof and all use the same shuttle from the airport to the facility. There have been reports of an extra 30 min increase in the time it takes to pick up and/or drop off your vehicle, so please add this to any arrival and departure times so you won't be late for anything important. Expect to pay about 50% more for your car rental due to recent tax increases. If you mostly plan to hang around one casino and your time in Vegas is short, you might want to fore go a rental car altogether and just take taxis. On the other hand, taxi fares add up quickly, and with car rental so cheap, anyone staying a few days or longer would be better suited with the flexibility of a car. Not to mention that some of the best sights are located outside of Las Vegas and virtually require driving to. There are numerous car rental offices on the Strip, and therefore it is very easy to rent a car from your hotel for a day trip. Remember to rent ahead of time as it can be busy during the weekends. Driving on Las Vegas Boulevard (the "Strip") on Thursday or Friday nights or all day Saturday is an exercise in frustration: gridlock takes over and you can spend an hour or more just going a couple of miles. Do what the locals do and avoid driving long distances on the Strip altogether. Instead take I-15, which parallels the Strip, and get off at the exit nearest your hotel and park there. Casinos have low cost self-parking (often free for guests) as well as valet parking. On Friday and Saturday nights the self-parking lots fill up fast; consider splurging on the valet to avoid cumbersome delays and endless circling around.
STAY SAFE:
- Given all the gambling and its lure of easy money, Las Vegas attracts a small unsavory element. Some desperate people wind up here who are willing to do desperate things, like rob you, to get money. Be vigilant, and do not leave any valuables visible in your car. If you are lucky enough to win a large jackpot, you can ask the casino to hold your winnings in its safe, or to pay you with a check, to avoid carrying a large amount of money. If you insist on your winnings in cash, all casinos will have security personnel escort you to your car, room, etc upon request.
- Major casinos are generally very safe; casinos take security seriously and have security cameras as well as uniformed and plainclothes security personnel roaming at all times.
- Despite the advertising slogan What happens here, stays here, Las Vegas has laws that are enforced as in any other American city. For example, drunk driving and illicit drugs are not tolerated and will result in arrest. Prostitution is likewise illegal in Clark County, which includes Las Vegas, although it is legal at licensed brothels in some rural counties of Nevada. The closest legal brothels to Las Vegas are located in the town of Pahrump, some 60 miles to the west.
- Remain vigilant while driving. Las Vegas Boulevard ("The Strip") is notorious for fenderbenders and other collisions, due the amount of stop and go traffic and the numerous distractions (pirates, volcanoes, etc) offered to drivers. Many people are also driving intoxicated as well; Nevada has an unusually high frequency of traffic deaths with alcohol involved, and most of them happen in and near this city.
- Expect extremely low humidity and temperatures above 40°C (104°F) May through September. Bring sunscreen and wear loose, light-colored clothing that substantially blocks sunlight. Avoid dehydration by drinking plenty of fluids.
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