Vegas cab drivers are as dishonest as they come!
Quote: ThatDonGuyHow many days do you normally stay when you rent a car? I don't see how a rental is cheaper than a couple of taxi rides, even if they do long haul you.
I usually pay 20-25/day for a car rental from Hertz. Beats taxi fare by a long way and lets me run to wherever. Rates for Vegas are usually not bad.
I do know how I want to go and advise them when we get in the cab. I find they are always pleasant (so far) and don't have a problem going the route of my choosing.
I'd like to try Uber but think they were banned in Vegas.
Quote: beachbumbabsI usually pay 20-25/day for a car rental from Hertz. Beats taxi fare by a long way and lets me run to wherever. Rates for Vegas are usually not bad.
Just going a couple miles off the strip to West Flamingo is like a good $25/30 each way. And, say from Mid Strip to south strip is a solid $12.00 each way. A couple to four one way rides a day in Vegas is a mean average of like (2 @ 20.00 and 2 @ 10.00) $60.00. So, pays to rent, even everyday, a pain in the ass to schedule, catch and re-call and $20.00 tip each way. We didn't want to rent a car last trip and were there for 6 nights. Everyday we used taxi or limo's from the property. Never again. More so than the $$$, the inconvenience and wait and scheduling, etc.
I guess it is hit or miss as to the cabbies attitude, we had some great ones last trip. Had no problems with their routes and service. Not always the case but last trip was okay with them.
Me: "Slow way."
Quote: vendman1As someone who hasn't been to Vegas in a long time (10 years). But hoping to make a trip this year. What is the status of parking a car at strip hotels vs. downtown. Part of the reason I've never rented in vegas is the parking. I remember several major strip properties wanting to charge me $10-$20 or more a day to park the car. Between that and the booze. Cabbing it just seemed easier. But with a wife and kid now, more side trips are going to be required. So I'm weighing renting a car or not. Thoughts.
I typically rent a car for the same reasons: side trips and avoiding cab lines. There is a drawback of an extra 15 min or so each way to/from the airport because of the bus ride to the car rental center. I use Avis preferred (doesn't cost any more) so that I can just get off the shuttle and walk to my car. Rates vary a lot but have gone up the last couple years. It used to be competitive with a couple cab rides a day but lately after all the taxes and fees I pay at least $50/day over a 4 day weekend.
I have never paid any money to self-park at a strip property. On the rare occasion I use a valet I will give them $5 at drop off and pick up. Downtown can be a bit trickier and you might have to pay. I often park in the Main St. Station garage for free. The big public garage at the east end of the covered part of Fremont street costs money but you can get a 4 hour validation at most casinos. For example at the GN there is a self-service thing at the cage to do it.
The biggest benefit of relying on cabs is if you are a drinker, no worries about DUI.
Quote: beachbumbabsI usually pay 20-25/day for a car rental from Hertz. Beats taxi fare by a long way and lets me run to wherever. Rates for Vegas are usually not bad.
How do you get such a low rate, and from Hertz, no less? The last time I rented, it was $40/day, and that was from Enterprise.
Quote: vendman1As someone who hasn't been to Vegas in a long time (10 years). But hoping to make a trip this year. What is the status of parking a car at strip hotels vs. downtown. Part of the reason I've never rented in vegas is the parking. I remember several major strip properties wanting to charge me $10-$20 or more a day to park the car. Between that and the booze. Cabbing it just seemed easier. But with a wife and kid now, more side trips are going to be required. So I'm weighing renting a car or not. Thoughts.
I have lived in Vegas since 1990 and I don't ever remember a strip property charging for parking. Even Valet parking is free. Some downtown casinos will charge for self parking if you are not staying or gambling there. I usually just use the Valet there also and have never been charged.
Quote: onenickelmiracleThose cabs might rip people off small change but the big deal scams from resort fees on still allowed.
For sure! "Our room is only $25/night. [Oh yes there is a $28/night fee. It's not part of the rate but you are required to pay it.]"
Quote: ThatDonGuyHow do you get such a low rate, and from Hertz, no less? The last time I rented, it was $40/day, and that was from Enterprise.
Most likely he is not including the tax and fees, which are at least additional 50% of the base price.
Quote: ahiromuAsshole driver: "Do you want to go the long way or the slow way?"
Me: "Slow way."
Problem is a lot of players/tourist and some of the newer cab drivers don't know, is there is a whole chain of roads on the west side of the strip/east of the I-15 frontage roads, to get from the south end up to the Mirage. I have done it so many times when the strip and I-15 is busy. I think it is called Frank Sinatra Drive. It is just one example of knowing your way around and avoiding sitting in traffic clicking the meter, etc.
Quote: ThatDonGuyHow do you get such a low rate, and from Hertz, no less? The last time I rented, it was $40/day, and that was from Enterprise.
I have a Hertz Gold card, no fee, that I signed up for about 15 years ago. I book the car at the same time as I book the flight through Delta, and they give me 40% off the rates and have the car in my name ready to drive. In January, I was able to get an SUV for 280 for 10 days; this time, the SUV wasn't available, but I got a mid-size for $175 at a weekly rate.
They pissed me off last year, so I tried 1 trip with Enterprise, got a similar rate but had to wait in line over an hour to pick it up. Went back to Hertz.
It's pretty easy to get a Hertz Gold card if you have American Express, you just sign up and leave the current Amex card in your online wallet with Hertz. It's worth it for me.
One thing you DON'T want to do is pick-up or drop-off at the hotel, though many of them have that service available. What they don't tell you is they charge nearly $60 extra for the "convenience" each way.
Westcliff express is my favorite. 2 bucks, no ticket needed.
Airport to Downtown 2 bucks, Downtown to MGM, 2 bucks express ride, MGM to Downtown 2 bucks.
It only runs about once an hour but one of the best bargains in Vegas.
I have only rented a car once and that was to check out the local casinos such as the M and Red Rocks so I could check out their buffets.
Flying into Vegas Sunday.
Dont plan on renting but checked prices anyway.
Cheapest EZ Rent.
Sun to Mon weekend rate 23 bucks base rate, with taxes and fees 36.32 a day.
Sun to Thur when I leave, 130 a week base rate, taxes and fees, 201.36 a week
Quote: SOOPOOI always rent. Cheapest city in the Union to rent. Only reason I wouldn't is if drinking required cabbing it.
Yep, completely agree with SOOPOO. My last trip there was 3 days and my car rental was $66. I use the frequent renter program at Payless, and like another poster noted, just walk to the car after I get off the rental car bus. I also like to stop off at a store on the way to the hotel to pick up snacks and water. In addition, my wife and I sometime venture out from the strip (there's a Sushi restaurant we like that is about 1/3 of the cost of the restaurants on the strip). Needless to say, this would have been expensive to cab it around like this. Unless there's a big convention in town, Vegas is about the cheapest city I've ever seen for car rentals.
Quote: bodyforlifeYep, completely agree with SOOPOO. My last trip there was 3 days and my car rental was $66. I use the frequent renter program at Payless, and like another poster noted, just walk to the car after I get off the rental car bus. I also like to stop off at a store on the way to the hotel to pick up snacks and water. In addition, my wife and I sometime venture out from the strip (there's a Sushi restaurant we like that is about 1/3 of the cost of the restaurants on the strip). Needless to say, this would have been expensive to cab it around like this. Unless there's a big convention in town, Vegas is about the cheapest city I've ever seen for car rentals.
You know what's funny too, is that you go to any website for tips on a Vegas vacation, and they, almost without exception, tell you not to rent a car, due to factors as it is walkable, cabs are plentiful and traffic is horrible. Traffic in Vegas is no worse than in any other major city in the country, and for certain towns, it is a welcome reprieve. Having a car gives you a sense of freedom. Being able to go to Red Rock or Hoover Dam, or to play a round of golf, or go to some of the places locals like to go to in Vegas. Having a car makes the vacation so much better. And to top it off, Vegas is a grid town, so it is very easy to navigate. Going from one end of the strip to the other i.e. going from say Mandalay Bay to the Wynn is close to a $20 cab ride each way. Why not pay $25 a day and have your own transportation, not have to tip a driver, a doorman and have it be cheaper?
Quote: Gabes22You know what's funny too, is that you go to any website for tips on a Vegas vacation, and they, almost without exception, tell you not to rent a car, due to factors as it is walkable, cabs are plentiful and traffic is horrible. Traffic in Vegas is no worse than in any other major city in the country, and for certain towns, it is a welcome reprieve. Having a car gives you a sense of freedom. Being able to go to Red Rock or Hoover Dam, or to play a round of golf, or go to some of the places locals like to go to in Vegas. Having a car makes the vacation so much better. And to top it off, Vegas is a grid town, so it is very easy to navigate. Going from one end of the strip to the other i.e. going from say Mandalay Bay to the Wynn is close to a $20 cab ride each way. Why not pay $25 a day and have your own transportation, not have to tip a driver, a doorman and have it be cheaper?
The 3 things you mentioned that is true and yet, false at the same time, are the catch-22's. Walkable, cabs plentiful and traffic. All subjective and all depends on the people doing it. I can walk from P.H. to Mandalay Bay and yet others would never ever do it, etc.
But we tried no rental car last time. The inconvenience was too much. Even $250.00 a wk would have saved us money but at times there were no house limo available or the wait was 45 min's, etc. Then we were 4 people with a baby, so only a mini van or a suv taxi could take us. Many other problems. But I think we get lazier and want things quicker in Vegas than elsewhere. Also harder to casino hop or hop from strip to DT or DT out to the west side (say Red Rock). All in all, I think easier for more than a couple of days with a rental. For most people there is also that cab/taxi line. I know at Caesar's there was a good 20 min's plus wait at times, personally have a 7 Stars Card and a Platinum MGM do usually no line to wait in. But for the majority that would be an issue, especially during the peak times.
Also know the regs. I'm rarely in a group of five much less six. Six is a death knell for a taxi in Vegas, its illegal to have more than five.
Also know the the poor cabbies are under tremendous economic pressure to cheat. The guy on the bottom of the list doesn't even get a cab that legally go to the airport.
That doesn't mean you should call them often, just be ABLE to call them instantly.
How many of you who take a cab from the airport have EVER asked for his cell number... not the cab company's number, HIS personal number? You call him directly. Some cabbies sit in a line and wait for a fare but if they DELIVER to that property, the doorman often lets them take the head of the line position. ALL cabbies know that if security is ejecting someone for ANY reason there is a special meeting place the casino selects. ALL cabbies know that if a woman in a micro skirt and high heels is running toward their cab with two hundred dollars in her hand, there will be a man in his shorts following close behind her trying to get his wallet back. If you stay at a cheap motel without a cab stand, its great to have a few cabbie's on your cell phone. If you stay at a major property, you will have a cab ramp and a dispatcher. There are taxis and limousines and circumstances where the driver's phone number are all available to you. It depends upon you to make the right choice, but don't begrudge the poor driver who tries to make it a slightly longer trip... he may actually know what he is doing and he is in an industry where honest is punished by the cab owning company.
It's a tough job to do every day, you do what
you have to do to get by.
People leave damnedest things in taxicabs. One guy left a push lawn mower. And he lived a few blocks away from our house.
For 2 years I could only mow the grass after dark.
Quote: FleaStiffyou should have that hot shot lawyer's number on Speeddial (no, not Saul... he is in Alburqueque, I mean the one in Vegas).
And Ace's number for divorce!!!
Quote: DRichI have lived in Vegas since 1990 and I don't ever remember a strip property charging for parking. Even Valet parking is free. Some downtown casinos will charge for self parking if you are not staying or gambling there. I usually just use the Valet there also and have never been charged.
Really? I was in vegas 3 or 4 times in the early 2000's stayed at the Monte Carlo, MGM, Paris. All charged me(or were going to) to park a car as a hotel guest. Now I didn't play rated at the time and had no comps, or any kind of players card at all. Always booked my stay as a flight/hotel package through expedia or some such. So maybe that had something to do with it.
Quote: beachbumbabsI usually pay 20-25/day for a car rental from Hertz. Beats taxi fare by a long way and lets me run to wherever. Rates for Vegas are usually not bad.
I was going to rent a car on our last trip but I figured it would be silly to drive downtown just so I could not drink. I pay the money for taxis so I don't have to worry about not drinking. Also it is nice getting dropped off at the door. We just budget for about $200 in taxis for a week.
Or $2000.00 for a DUI lawyer. Wise choice.Quote: GWAEWe just budget for about $200 in taxis for a week.
Quote: vendman1Really? I was in vegas 3 or 4 times in the early 2000's stayed at the Monte Carlo, MGM, Paris. All charged me(or were going to) to park a car as a hotel guest. Now I didn't play rated at the time and had no comps, or any kind of players card at all. Always booked my stay as a flight/hotel package through expedia or some such. So maybe that had something to do with it.
I have parked at most strip properties including the high end ones like Wynn, Bellagio, and Aria and most do not even have a booth where they COULD charge for parking. The early 2000s were before I started coming to Vegas but I do remember in about 2005 a couple places would check for hotel keys. I think it was a remnant of the post-9/11 security overreaction.
???? I haven't ever been charged to park at any casino, other than a few casinos downtown.Quote: vendman1Really? I was in vegas 3 or 4 times in the early 2000's stayed at the Monte Carlo, MGM, Paris. All charged me(or were going to) to park a car as a hotel guest. Now I didn't play rated at the time and had no comps, or any kind of players card at all. Always booked my stay as a flight/hotel package through expedia or some such. So maybe that had something to do with it.
Quote: vendman1Really? I was in vegas 3 or 4 times in the early 2000's stayed at the Monte Carlo, MGM, Paris. All charged me(or were going to) to park a car as a hotel guest. Now I didn't play rated at the time and had no comps, or any kind of players card at all. Always booked my stay as a flight/hotel package through expedia or some such. So maybe that had something to do with it.
I vaguely remember that for some months after 9/11 that the major casino garages got a little funky. I don't really remember them charging, but I think they were checking every car that went into the garages.
