Four-day Vegas Bus Tour
August 31st, 2012 at 7:33:33 PM
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I got into Vegas on a Monday afternoon (8/13) for four (well 3 1/2 by then) days. Those of you who are familiar with my posts know that I usually prefer the bus system to renting a car (among other things, I don't have to worry about remembering where I parked). However, after this trip, I'll have second thoughts next time...
Monday: rather than pay the $7 for a day pass that would only be good for a few hours, I decide to walk from Planet Hollywood to Fogo de Chao (Flamingo, near Paradise); after dinner, walk to the Hard Rock (where I discover yet again that the only sizes they have of the one T-shirt I really want are small and XXL), then from there to Wild Wild West (which requires getting to the south side of Tropicana, as that's the only way across I-15, then back to the north side as that's where the casino is - about 2 1/4 miles), then back to the strip, then north to Aria, which, for some reason, is located well off the Strip (at least Bally's has moving walkways to get you to the casino), before returning to PH.
"I thought you said this was a 'bus tour'" - I'm getting to that.
Tuesday - take the Deuce downtown, then walk up and down Fremont street, plus Gold Spike and MSS (I needed a chip from Gold Spike for my collection - I tried to get one from The D, but they still had Fitz chips at the time (apparently, despite a cashier telling me they wouldn't have them until 2013, they got the D-branded chips later that day) - and I was updating my casino dice collection as well), then back to the downtown terminal, where I take the 109 to Desert Inn, where, after a few minutes of searching for the bus stop, take the 203 to Boulder Station. From Boulder Station, rather than having to cross Boulder Highway each time to catch a bus to travel between casinos that are pretty much right next to each other, I walk from Arizona Charlie's to Boulder Station (about a mile), then to Sam's Town (another mile) - I guess they look a lot closer together on the map than they actually are. Not falling for that again, I skip Eastside Cannery and catch one of the Boulder Express buses (there are two different ones) to Tropicana, then the 201 to Tamarus (the nearest stop to the Pinball Hall of Fame), then the 201 back to the Strip.
Wednesday - again, the Deuce to downtown, where I catch the 206 bus for Texas Station just as it was leaving. Wait a minute...it's the 106 that goes to Texas Station; the 206 that I'm on goes to Rainbow & Charleston. Not a problem; my original plan was Texas Station - Fiesta Station - Santa Fe Station - Red Rock; the 206 stops at the new Sahara Express route, so I take the SX to Red Rock, then back to Rainbow & Sahara, then the 101 to Santa Fe Station, then the 106 to Fiesta Station and Texas Station, then (after watching a 106 bus leave while I'm on the other side of the street, and the closest stop is one of those without any sort of cover, so I walk 1/4 mile to a covered stop for the 30-minute wait) another 106 to downtown, and another Deuce back to PH.
Thursday - I missed Eastside Cannery on Wednesday, but the 202 that runs along Flamingo stops right in front of it, so I take a 202 there, then one back to Pecos, where I transfer to a 111 to go to Green Valley Ranch. (All I need is to go back into the Paris to complete the "hat trick" of Vegas hotels that have had Hell's Kitchen winners working there; this year's winner gets to be "head chef" (i.e. "media figurehead") at Gordon Ramsay Steak.) Back on the 111 to Sahara, then the Sahara Express to Paradise, then pretty much walk from there via the LVH and Riviera back to the PH.
Still left on my list: Aliante Station, Arizona Charlie's Decatur, Cannery, Suncoast, Rampart, South Point, Silverton, Sunset Station, Fiesta Henderson, and, if I have a car this time, M, and maybe Railroad Pass (although it is on the 402 route) and whatever hotel is out past Boulder (Hacienda?). Plus, I still need a "The D"-branded chip, and isn't there another downtown casino opening next year?
Monday: rather than pay the $7 for a day pass that would only be good for a few hours, I decide to walk from Planet Hollywood to Fogo de Chao (Flamingo, near Paradise); after dinner, walk to the Hard Rock (where I discover yet again that the only sizes they have of the one T-shirt I really want are small and XXL), then from there to Wild Wild West (which requires getting to the south side of Tropicana, as that's the only way across I-15, then back to the north side as that's where the casino is - about 2 1/4 miles), then back to the strip, then north to Aria, which, for some reason, is located well off the Strip (at least Bally's has moving walkways to get you to the casino), before returning to PH.
"I thought you said this was a 'bus tour'" - I'm getting to that.
Tuesday - take the Deuce downtown, then walk up and down Fremont street, plus Gold Spike and MSS (I needed a chip from Gold Spike for my collection - I tried to get one from The D, but they still had Fitz chips at the time (apparently, despite a cashier telling me they wouldn't have them until 2013, they got the D-branded chips later that day) - and I was updating my casino dice collection as well), then back to the downtown terminal, where I take the 109 to Desert Inn, where, after a few minutes of searching for the bus stop, take the 203 to Boulder Station. From Boulder Station, rather than having to cross Boulder Highway each time to catch a bus to travel between casinos that are pretty much right next to each other, I walk from Arizona Charlie's to Boulder Station (about a mile), then to Sam's Town (another mile) - I guess they look a lot closer together on the map than they actually are. Not falling for that again, I skip Eastside Cannery and catch one of the Boulder Express buses (there are two different ones) to Tropicana, then the 201 to Tamarus (the nearest stop to the Pinball Hall of Fame), then the 201 back to the Strip.
Wednesday - again, the Deuce to downtown, where I catch the 206 bus for Texas Station just as it was leaving. Wait a minute...it's the 106 that goes to Texas Station; the 206 that I'm on goes to Rainbow & Charleston. Not a problem; my original plan was Texas Station - Fiesta Station - Santa Fe Station - Red Rock; the 206 stops at the new Sahara Express route, so I take the SX to Red Rock, then back to Rainbow & Sahara, then the 101 to Santa Fe Station, then the 106 to Fiesta Station and Texas Station, then (after watching a 106 bus leave while I'm on the other side of the street, and the closest stop is one of those without any sort of cover, so I walk 1/4 mile to a covered stop for the 30-minute wait) another 106 to downtown, and another Deuce back to PH.
Thursday - I missed Eastside Cannery on Wednesday, but the 202 that runs along Flamingo stops right in front of it, so I take a 202 there, then one back to Pecos, where I transfer to a 111 to go to Green Valley Ranch. (All I need is to go back into the Paris to complete the "hat trick" of Vegas hotels that have had Hell's Kitchen winners working there; this year's winner gets to be "head chef" (i.e. "media figurehead") at Gordon Ramsay Steak.) Back on the 111 to Sahara, then the Sahara Express to Paradise, then pretty much walk from there via the LVH and Riviera back to the PH.
Still left on my list: Aliante Station, Arizona Charlie's Decatur, Cannery, Suncoast, Rampart, South Point, Silverton, Sunset Station, Fiesta Henderson, and, if I have a car this time, M, and maybe Railroad Pass (although it is on the 402 route) and whatever hotel is out past Boulder (Hacienda?). Plus, I still need a "The D"-branded chip, and isn't there another downtown casino opening next year?
August 31st, 2012 at 7:43:12 PM
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Are you a masochist by nature? Seriously though, what is the
average amount of time per day so far spent on the busses?
average amount of time per day so far spent on the busses?
"It's not called gambling if the math is on your side."
August 31st, 2012 at 7:53:26 PM
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Do you have a pass you can use on The Deuce? I love the RTC. It makes the bus systems we have here in the industrial Midwest look like absolute disasters, which they are.
A lot of the Hoover Dam bus tours stop at the Hacienda.
A lot of the Hoover Dam bus tours stop at the Hacienda.
"Dice, verily, are armed with goads and driving-hooks, deceiving and tormenting, causing grievous woe." -Rig Veda 10.34.4
August 31st, 2012 at 7:59:23 PM
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Quote: EvenBobAre you a masochist by nature? Seriously though, what is the average amount of time per day so far spent on the busses?
Not so much a masochist as someone with a high pain threshold - I got through two root canals and an extraction, all with just local anesthetic. Besides, the walking isn't so bad with a Super Slurpee in your hand, and there are plenty of 7-11s in Vegas.
As for average time on the buses, I'd say about three hours a day, and that doesn't include the time waiting for buses. Then again, it's not as if I have anything better to do during the day - one problem with Vegas in the summer is, the only sports on the sportsbook TVs are horse racing and baseball.
Quote: teddysDo you have a pass you can use on The Deuce? I love the RTC. It makes the bus systems we have here in the industrial Midwest look like absolute disasters, which they are.
The $7/day pass (which will be $8 starting in October - there is also a three-day pass for $20, but not all of the machines have them) lets you use all of the buses (but not the monorail) in a 24-hour period, including the Deuce and the new SDX (Strip-Downtown Express). There's a separate $5 daily pass that does not include the Deuce or SDX.
August 31st, 2012 at 11:03:03 PM
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A couple things: In your initial post, you mentioned that you didn't want to purchase the day pass because it was late in the day. ??? This makes no sense. The pass is good for a 24 hour period from the time you purchase it. It doesn't expire at midnight.
This $5, 24 hour pass that you speak of is a residential pass and like the more expensive tourist pass, it is actually good on any RTC bus, including the Deuce or SDX. The 'tourist' pass is just a way to stick it to you out-of-towners. lol Technically, you are supposed to have a local ID to use this residential pass, on the deuce of SDX, but I have never ever seen anyone show a local ID while using one, or never seen anyone ask for one and I ride the system frequently. Unfortunately, RTC doesn't want this little secret out, which is why on the strip and downtown tourist areas, the vending machines only offer the higher priced pass. If you get off the strip, vending machines offer the lower priced pass. If you are on the strip and riding a bus that is not the Deuce or SDX, like the 201 tropicana Road bus, or the 202 flamingo bus that goes to terribles or palms, or the Sahara Express that goes to Palace Station and Red Rock casino, or any other bus, you can buy this cheaper pass on the bus. If you are only riding for a day or two, it is only a couple bucks, although going up in October. But if you are riding for multiple days, the savings becomes greater. For $20, you can get a 5 day residential pass, good on all routes, where as the tourist pass is only 3 days for $20 bucks. If you are 60+ or disabled with a medicare card, you can get 50% off these residential pass fares. That's 5 days for $10. Again, sticking it to the tourist, reduced fares aren't available on the strip or downtown area vending machines. lol
One last thing. You mentioned catching the deuce from strip to downtown. If possible catch the SDX. It usually takes about half the time. If you happen to be near the southern end of the strip heading downtown, there is an even faster alternative in the WAX, (airport line) It crosses the strip at tropicana (stop is on NY NY corner). Rather than going up the strip, it jumps on the highway and reaches downtown, fremont street in about 12-15 minutes. The one negative is that I believe it only runs hourly, so you gotta catch it at just the right time.
This $5, 24 hour pass that you speak of is a residential pass and like the more expensive tourist pass, it is actually good on any RTC bus, including the Deuce or SDX. The 'tourist' pass is just a way to stick it to you out-of-towners. lol Technically, you are supposed to have a local ID to use this residential pass, on the deuce of SDX, but I have never ever seen anyone show a local ID while using one, or never seen anyone ask for one and I ride the system frequently. Unfortunately, RTC doesn't want this little secret out, which is why on the strip and downtown tourist areas, the vending machines only offer the higher priced pass. If you get off the strip, vending machines offer the lower priced pass. If you are on the strip and riding a bus that is not the Deuce or SDX, like the 201 tropicana Road bus, or the 202 flamingo bus that goes to terribles or palms, or the Sahara Express that goes to Palace Station and Red Rock casino, or any other bus, you can buy this cheaper pass on the bus. If you are only riding for a day or two, it is only a couple bucks, although going up in October. But if you are riding for multiple days, the savings becomes greater. For $20, you can get a 5 day residential pass, good on all routes, where as the tourist pass is only 3 days for $20 bucks. If you are 60+ or disabled with a medicare card, you can get 50% off these residential pass fares. That's 5 days for $10. Again, sticking it to the tourist, reduced fares aren't available on the strip or downtown area vending machines. lol
One last thing. You mentioned catching the deuce from strip to downtown. If possible catch the SDX. It usually takes about half the time. If you happen to be near the southern end of the strip heading downtown, there is an even faster alternative in the WAX, (airport line) It crosses the strip at tropicana (stop is on NY NY corner). Rather than going up the strip, it jumps on the highway and reaches downtown, fremont street in about 12-15 minutes. The one negative is that I believe it only runs hourly, so you gotta catch it at just the right time.
