My Number 1 Vegas travel tip

I live in Las Vegas and regularly have friends and relatives fly in to visit. One piece of advice I always give, and for which they're always grateful, is to rent a car.

A lot of out-of-towners think renting a car in Vegas is a waste because a) attractions are very concentrated on the Strip (i.e., walkable) and b) there's not much to see off-Strip.

What they often don't know is that garage parking is free at all but one major casino (the Golden Nugget downtown); that car rentals here are dirt-cheap ($10/day or so); and that taxis are expensive and a pain because of long waits outside casinos. In Vegas, a rental car really does pay for itself.

Having a car also allows you to take off in the daytime and get out of the eat-drink-gamble death cycle. You can go see Hoover Dam or Red Rock Canyon or the Liberace Museum. Plus, most of the best gambling in the area can be found at casinos off-Strip.

Really, I can't think of one good reason not to rent a car.

Quote: nyuhoosier

I live in Las Vegas and regularly have friends and relatives fly in to visit. One piece of advice I always give, and for which they're always grateful, is to rent a car.

A lot of out-of-towners think renting a car in Vegas is a waste because a) attractions are very concentrated on the Strip (i.e., walkable) and b) there's not much to see off-Strip.

What they often don't know is that garage parking is free at all but one major casino (the Golden Nugget downtown); that car rentals here are dirt-cheap ($10/day or so); and that taxis are expensive and a pain because of long waits outside casinos. In Vegas, a rental car really does pay for itself.

Having a car also allows you to take off in the daytime and get out of the eat-drink-gamble death cycle. You can go see Hoover Dam or Red Rock Canyon or the Liberace Museum. Plus, most of the best gambling in the area can be found at casinos off-Strip.

Really, I can't think of one good reason not to rent a car.

Ha! You REALLY can't think of ONE good reason not to rent a car? Okay. I'll give you the reason that I don't rent a car in Vegas, despite the fact that everything you said is absolutely true. It's because I'm drinking the entire time I'm there. And I'd bet a buffalo nickel that my reason is also the reason most other tourists don't rent a car. But, for those with healthier lifestyles, your advice is good. Of course, if you are a health freak, what the hell are you doing vacationing in Las Vegas?

Quote: Jumboshrimps

I'm drinking the entire time I'm there.

Well, then bravo for not renting a car. Right move. I don't want to see Hoover Damn or hike Red Rock Canyon. The sights I want to see involve piles of chips being pushed my way, or a gorgeous broad bringing me a cold drink. I might want to get to some of the outlying casinos for a visit and some better odds or lower limits or slower dice games however chances are the car is just going to sit in some strip casinos garage and even if its free, I just won't be getting any value out of it. So frankly even if the rental car were free, I still would not want it. Just dealing with their clerks is an ordeal.

Quote: nyuhoosier

I live in Las Vegas and regularly have friends and relatives fly in to visit. One piece of advice I always give, and for which they're always grateful, is to rent a car.

A lot of out-of-towners think renting a car in Vegas is a waste because a) attractions are very concentrated on the Strip (i.e., walkable) and b) there's not much to see off-Strip.

What they often don't know is that garage parking is free at all but one major casino (the Golden Nugget downtown); that car rentals here are dirt-cheap ($10/day or so); and that taxis are expensive and a pain because of long waits outside casinos. In Vegas, a rental car really does pay for itself.

Having a car also allows you to take off in the daytime and get out of the eat-drink-gamble death cycle. You can go see Hoover Dam or Red Rock Canyon or the Liberace Museum. Plus, most of the best gambling in the area can be found at casinos off-Strip.

Really, I can't think of one good reason not to rent a car.

I've done it both ways, but the last trip out there that I rented, I was totally ripped off by Hertz. Gross overcharges were made on my Visa card and I had to fight like heck to get it cleared later. It's a nice new central rental facility there, though. And I agree with the points about getting away from the Strip in a vehicle.

Quote: nyuhoosier

Having a car also allows you to take off in the daytime and get out of the eat-drink-gamble death cycle.

Daytime? Out of the eat-drink-gamble death cycle? BLASPHEMY

I'm wary of renting a car because of the price of insurance. In Orlando I got a great deal with Alamo, but the insurance was about 12/5ths of the rental fee. Of course I can rent withuot taking insurance, but then I'm at the mercy of any drunken idiot who dents a fender or worse. For thsoe of you who don't know, the rental company determines the cost of all repairs, and will stick you with at least a close-to-full rental fee for the time the car is in the shop (and if it's totaled, you're liable for the replacement cost).

I admit it might be worth it because 1) the Deuce, while convenient, takes a small eternity at many stops (not at each stop), 2) the traffic on the strip tends towards heavy, 3) the monorail is fast and has no traffic worries, but the walk from station to strip or even to the casino can be very long (see the MGM), 4) I've yet to try other bus routes but I suspect they'll suffer the same problem as the Deuce and 5) cabs are very expensive.

A note on point 2. A rental faces the same traffic problems, naturally, but a little time studying a map and, if available, a GPS gadget, plus some info from friendly locals (such as the ones in here) can get you alternative routes. Of course there's Nareed's First Law on Traffic: "An attempt to take an alternative route B to avoid traffic in area A has a better than even chance of getting you stuck on the traffic of area B. (For the record, Nareed's Second Law on Traffic states: "When you leave early on a much-travelled holiday to beat the traffic, chances are 99.999% that everyone else had the same bright idea." Third Law states "Traffic is unavoidable under most conditions.")

renting a car for us would bring its own problems. As under 25 year old international visitors, we not only would lack any sense of direction (which admittedly a satnav could fix, we would also not have a clue about us traffic laws, (such as the one where you can turn right at a red light, i think) so we could end up with a ticket for driving too fast as we dont know the speed limits etc etc.

While this does limit our options somewhat, most places off strip are serviced by CAT to some reasonable degree, which is something we are looking into for our next trip.

My last trip I wanted to rent, but the line at the airport rental facility was nuts.

This year, I'm gonna rent, but only for a day or two. I have plans of certain things to see and do (see other threads for ideas).

My other days I have a convention, so if I stay at a monorail casino, I'll be fine.

Any ideas which strip hotels have rental agents in them?

Quote: Croupier

...not have a clue about us traffic laws, (such as the one where you can turn right at a red light, i think).

FYI: Except for New York City, if there's no sign saying you can't, you can make a right at a red light anywhere in the US. Just be sure to come to a full stop and make sure it's clear.

And make sure you stay on the right side of the road (You did say you're in the UK, right?)

Yup, here the left side is the right side. But its things like that traffic light thing that we only know about through nearly being hit by cars, that make my wife nervous at the thought. and i dont drive. yet.

I'd have to agree on this one. Utilizing a car to see all that Vegas and the surroundings has to offer, and to get to better games is definitely worth it. Especially if one plans to feed the evil reel games. Seems like the casinos that serve the locals tend to pay back more.