Taxi - McCarran to Gold Coast
Any recommendations? I get in extremely late, around midnight, so traffic should be on the light side.
Quote: BeardgoatFrom my experience, cabbies almost always ask if you want to take the freeway (long way) or not.
That's been my experience for the strip (for NYNY they usually just go Paradise), downtown I request the freeway, however I'm just curious if there's something I'm missing considering that I haven't been to this part of Vegas before.
Quote: ahiromuThat's been my experience for the strip (for NYNY they usually just go Paradise), downtown I request the freeway, however I'm just curious if there's something I'm missing considering that I haven't been to this part of Vegas before.
I think that if you are going to Mandalay Bay or Luxor, the freeway is actually shorter. Otherwise, it is a long haul.
When things are quiet, they'll take you to the hotel via Utah. It can be an unreal abuse. It's scandalous.
When they clamp down, taxi operators are all spit-shine and polish.
It's a crap shoot. Welcome to Vegas.
Edit: Film the Ride on your cell phone, and post it, if ANYTHING is funny.
Quote: ahiromuThanks guys, it seems like the ride should be pretty straight forward. Paradise then a left onto Flamingo. It's not worth a whole lot of money, but I care about these little things.
Wait. Differing opinion. I very often recommend Swenson/paradise to trop or flamingo to people staying on east side if strip, and the tunnel freeway to those on the west side. Gold Coast of course isn't on the strip but even further west making it more convenient to the freeway. Here is one minor thing to consider: You said earlier that there should be no traffic problem at 11pm. That is mostly correct. About the only place you could encounter traffic is ON THE STRIP, which you do need to cross if you take the back route. I would take the tunnel/freeway. If it were 11pm Friday/Saturday, it would not even be close.
Quote: kewljWait. Differing opinion. I very often recommend Swenson/paradise to trop or flamingo to people staying on east side if strip, and the tunnel freeway to those on the west side. Gold Coast of course isn't on the strip but even further west making it more convenient to the freeway. Here is one minor thing to consider: You said earlier that there should be no traffic problem at 11pm. That is mostly correct. About the only place you could encounter traffic is ON THE STRIP, which you do need to cross if you take the back route. I would take the tunnel/freeway. If it were 11pm Friday/Saturday, it would not even be close.
Agree with kewlj. I always rent a car, and stay next door at the Rio, and have always regretted when I did not take the highway. Also, if in traffic, the meter runs while you are waiting to move. So your $5 savings may be less.......
Quote: DRichI really wish Las vegas would just go to a flat rate zone to zone system like many tourist destinations do. In that case it would be in everyone's best interest to take the fastest way.
Vegas isn't interested in the fastest or most efficient systems of visitor travel. If they were the monorail would begin AT the airport instead of 1/2 mile from the airport and it would run right down the middle of the strip (access to both sides) and continue downtown. That would eliminate half the taxi's, nearly all the airport shuttle services and half the deuce and strip/downtown express bus traffic, with one easy fix.
Quote: kewljWait. Differing opinion. I very often recommend Swenson/paradise to trop or flamingo to people staying on east side if strip, and the tunnel freeway to those on the west side. Gold Coast of course isn't on the strip but even further west making it more convenient to the freeway. Here is one minor thing to consider: You said earlier that there should be no traffic problem at 11pm. That is mostly correct. About the only place you could encounter traffic is ON THE STRIP, which you do need to cross if you take the back route. I would take the tunnel/freeway. If it were 11pm Friday/Saturday, it would not even be close.
Do you save money going through the tunnel though? There definitely will be traffic on the strip, but will it add enough to the price to make up for the extra miles on the trip? Like my time is worth $30 an hour after taxes, so an extra ten minutes of my time is worth saving five bucks.
Quote: SOOPOOAgree with kewlj. I always rent a car, and stay next door at the Rio, and have always regretted when I did not take the highway. Also, if in traffic, the meter runs while you are waiting to move. So your $5 savings may be less.......
Got it, thanks.
Quote: ahiromuDo you save money going through the tunnel though? There definitely will be traffic on the strip, but will it add enough to the price to make up for the extra miles on the trip? Like my time is worth $30 an hour after taxes, so an extra ten minutes of my time is worth saving five bucks.
Are you under the impression that the meter is not running if you are stuck in traffic and not moving, or stuck at the red light for 2-3 LONG cycles trying to cross Las Vegas Blvd? I am not sure exactly how the meter works, but I do know it still clicks upward even when you are sitting still not moving. I think Even bob owned or ran a taxi company, perhaps he can explain the duel meter thingy.
ahiroma, if you are really that concerned with saving money, and are willing to exchange time for monetary savings I would recommend one of the taxi shuttle vans from the airport to gold coast. It might stop at two or three other casinos before hitting Gold Coast, but it will still be a flat rate about half that of a taxi. You catch those taxi shuttles right at the door to the airport.
Quote: kewljI am not sure exactly how the meter works, but I do know it still clicks upward even when you are sitting still not moving.
The meter increments 20 cents every 24 seconds of standing time.
Quote: IbeatyouracesTake the 202 bus I believe.
202 runs along Flamingo Road, both east and west of the strip and does stop right in front of Gold coast, but it does not connect to the airport. You would need to take the 108 or 109 from the airport north to Flamingo road and THEN connect to the 202 bus. These public transportation buses are not ideal if you have luggage and all and I really wouldn't recommend doing so at 11pm at night.
Quote: IbeatyouracesI edited it after I remembering having to transfer. I had no problems. Nor the WAX to downtown. And that was the last one for the night we caught. Guess we got lucky :-)
Remember, I'm in the Detroit area and walk downtown there day and night. I'm adventurous!
Yeah, but the WAX is mostly utilized by tourist. The 109 which would be necessary to get to the 202 is just a regular city bus, which runs along maryaland parkway by UNLV. Not the worst area of the city but not the greatest either. I just don't recommend that at 11pm at night.
I too am a city guy. Lived in center city Philadelphia for 8 years, using public transportation and my bicycle. I walked the street at 3am. I walked to sugarhouse casino at 3am, which isn't a good area. After moving to Vegas, I used public transportation my first 2 years, at all hours of the day and night, until I gave in and purchased a vehicle (two months before I won one in a drawing...lol).
Quote: Ibeatyouraces
Remember, I'm in the Detroit area and walk downtown there day and night. I'm adventurous! Your buses in Vegas have nothing on DDOT here!
I would say that you are more than adventurous.
Quote: DRichI really wish Las vegas would just go to a flat rate zone to zone system like many tourist destinations do. In that case it would be in everyone's best interest to take the fastest way.
That's what airport shuttles do.
With drawbacks, naturally. 1) You have to wait your turn to be delivered to your hotel. When you're going Downtown or off-Strip, this usually means you get off last. 2) It's expensive for more than two people. 3) On the return to the airport you run the risk of being late.
Quote: DRichThe meter increments 20 cents every 24 seconds of standing time.
Holy bejesus, that's much more than I thought.
I really do appreciate all of the responses guys, thank you.
Quote: ahiromuHoly bejesus, that's much more than I thought.
I think most cabs have the rate rpinted on the side of the vehicle. There's so much for X seconds standing, and this much for 1/X miles travelled.
BTW at every airport and bus depot in Mexico I've visited, cabs charge a fixed fare according to the zone you're travelling to, the city being divided into zones for the purpose.
