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.

For most of our 3 day trips, renting a car for the entire stay on arrival costs about the same as one day rental at the hotels. If we make one trip away from the main hotel that is a non-drinking trip (for me...), then it can be very worthwhile to have the car.

Even with a car, though, we'll still be cabbing most places we go...once the gambling and drinking starts, no more driving!!

I always rent a car in Vegas (usually 2-3 trips a year, flying in from the east coast with my wife.) I find a car to be much more convenient for getting around than other transportation, and I know that we visit a heck of a lot more places than we would if I didn't have use of a car.

There is one other consideration for me: I love the strip and a lot of other things in Vegas. But after about 3 or 4 days of neon, crowds, and noise from the slots (which I don't play myself, just the tables for me), I have to get away and decompress. Since I am too cheap to pay for plane tickets for just a weekend visit, the solution is to get away for a while and then come back to the strip. A couple of days at the Grand Canyon or Palm Springs -- or maybe even spending the day at Red Rock Canyon, Death Valley, or Valley of Fire -- has me rejuvenated for another few days at the strip.

The only problem I have with this issue is the original post that said $10/day for a car. Where do you get that, what kind of clunker to they provide, and what does it include? I have a reservation I just made for an eight-night trip. A car from National was quoted at $261 and change to the company plus an outrageous 46% add-on in government fees and taxes for a total of $382, i.e., $47.75/day including everything but fuel. What does a $10/day car really cost when it's all paid for? My rate includes unlimited miles and the insurance.

And another factor: if you sign up with one of the rental car companies' clubs (National's Emerald Club for me, and probably Hertz #1 and others) and make a reservation on line, then you don't have to deal with lines at the airport -- just walk from the shuttle into the facility, get into a car you like, and show them your driver's license at the exit. No problem.

I almost always get cars via Priceline or Hotwire. Unless there is a huge even in the city I am headed to, I usually score a deal between $10-$20 a day. Even in Key West--and especially in places like Vegas. I bid over several days and start pretty low (50% or less).

to avoid parking and paying for the car while it sits, i like to cab it from the airport to hotel, then cab it back to the airport facility to rent the car for a quick getaway from the strip. Last year we got up to St. George Utah for a bit, absolutely beautiful and perfect for a recharge.

You avoid some fees and taxes by renting off-airport and a lower base rate. And normally you don't pay extra for dropping off a car within a zone (like the airport).

For example, a four day rental at LAS for Avis costs $309.87 with $93.91 in fees: $3.25/day Customer Facility Charge, 10% Government Services Fee, 2.9% Reimbursement of Registration/License fee and a 10.1% Concession recovery fee (which is on top of the total cost). The same car at the Palazzo has a lower base rate and doesn't have the $3.25/day charge for a total of $245.95 with only $45.99 in fees.

Two good reasons not to rent a car in Vegas that I didn't anticipate: Not knowing the traffic laws and being drunk 24/7. Good call on both.

I neglected to mention the best part of having a rental car here -- avoiding the round-trip taxi fare from the airport. I think it's about a $50 tab, so even if your car languishes in the garage over a three-day trip, you're still getting value from the rental. One thing to keep in mind is that the cabbies here are known for long-hauling from McCarran to run up the meter.

And the figures in the last post don't match my experience. In fact, I just went to Hotwire and immediately found a 4-day rental (weekend too) for 13.95/day -- a total of $88.95 with taxes and fees. Also, the best rates are ALWAYS at the McCarran rental center, though it may be true that you avoid some fees by renting off-site. But it's still cheaper to rent there. If I had done some comparison shopping and bid on Priceline I could have got that rate close to $10/day.

Before I moved here sometimes I rented, sometimes I didn't. It depended on how much driving I planned other than between the hotel and airport. If you plan to stay within walking distance of your hotel, I would go with the convenience of cab.

Agreed, rental cars here are cheap. I usually rent from Avis, because they tend to be efficient and keep their lines short. An exception is the Avis branch in Miami, which is terrible.

Quote: nyuhoosier

I neglected to mention the best part of having a rental car here -- avoiding the round-trip taxi fare from the airport. I think it's about a $50 tab, so even if your car languishes in the garage over a three-day trip, you're still getting value from the rental.

If you're going alone or with one companion, there's no reason to get a cab at the airport. The shuttles available at LAS are cheap, about $12 to $15 round trip to the Strip per passenger, plus whatever you tip the driver. For a larger group it might make sense.

Starting March 28 you can ride a public bus straight to the (north end of the) Strip for $2, as the 108-Paradise is now rerouted to turn off Paradise on Riviera and hits the Riviera, Circus Circus, and the Sahara on the north end. (Currently it goes north on Paradise from the airport.) You could always take either the 108 or the 109 to get to Downtown, since the last stop was the transit center downtown.

On-Strip, the most common complaint about the Deuce is the inordinate amount of time it takes to board and alight the vehicles, with the bus holding at a stop for 3-5 minutes at a time as people take their time paying their fares and scampering up and down those stairs. However, with the introduction of the ACE Gold Line, the wannabe train on the Strip, this should alleviate a lot of those waits, and should be almost as fast as driving. Passengers will need to have paid their fare prior to boarding and there are multiple doors and no steps. The disadvantage is the ACE only makes stops about every half mile to one mile. The Deuce will continue to make more frequent stops and take the same tourist crowd.

Although a taxi ride may be cheaper for a group of three or four, for the couple or solo traveler who doesn't mind taking public transit, the $7 day pass and $15 three day pass is a good deal. And arguably the wait for a bus is much shorter at peak hours than the wait for a taxi.