Renting a Car in Las Vegas
I will be in town early March and I am looking to rent a car for one day to take a trip out to Hoover Dam, see some of the off-strip casinos, and take a trip out to Red Rock Canyon. Starting in the morning and finishing at Red Rock, this doesn't seem impossible, but there are a few issues with this plan. Since I am planning on staying on Fremont Street (currently at the Plaza but looking to move to the Golden Nugget if the price is right), I don't particularly want to drive to McCarran Airport to pick up a car at one of the junctures (either pick-up or drop-off). So......
1) Are there any rental car locations on Fremont Street which would be easier to access?
2) Is any bus service to/from Mccarran available with the purchase of a Deuce pass?
3) Does anyone know the restrictions on being under 25 and renting a car? We will be 23 during our visit and from what I've found, it looks like we just need to pay some additional fees to cover insurance and what not, but if anyone had more insight it would be appreciated.
4) Am I crazy for wanting to rent a car?
I'm just trying to figure out the easiest way to make this all work logistically. I'd rather not have to drive back to the airport to pick-up or drop off the car and then pay taxi fees back to fremont street. As I said before, any input is appreciated.
Usually, renting at the airport is cheaper. And booking ahead of time is cheaper than at the counter. Note that most of the airport car rental agencies use a consolidated location a couple miles from the airport. There is free shuttle service from the airport to the consolidated location. The other rental agencies offer free shuttles from the consolidated location to their own location.
Last October, the cheapest rate I got was thru Fox, about 2 miles from the consolidated location. It was a VERY minor headache to take the extra shuttle.
I only rented the car for the first 2 days of my trip. When I returned the car, at around 11pm, I gave the shuttle driver a $2 tip to drop me off at the bus terminal - about 1/2 mile from the consolidated rental location. And I got lucky with the timing. The bus I wanted left 3 minutes later.
Frankly, if you rent from an agency at the consolidated location, I'd just walk to the bus terminal. Don't take a cab to Fremont unless you already won a ton of money.
As I understand it, the Duece is a premium on top of the regular bus ticket rate. I.E. If you get a 24 hour Deuce pass, you can ride on any bus at any time in that 24 hour period.
As far as renting when you're under 25, read the website's fine print, or call the agency to ask. Regardless of who you are, if you don't purchase the extra insurance, they will hard-sell it when picking up the car.
Hope that helped.
Quote: duckmankilla1) Are there any rental car locations on Fremont Street which would be easier to access?
There is an Enterprize rent-a-car downtown which is much easier and cheaper than going to the airport.
Thanks for the advice. I was under the impression that the rental agencies were all located within the confines of the airport. I was unaware that they were off-site locations. The bus option sounds great, that will certainly help to limit our costs.
I do not drive at night, especially not near the strip, and limit myself to one adult beverage on any day trips. By 5 or 6 PM the car and I are usually back safe at the MSS.
Quote: s2dbakerTry Kayak.com for the rental. Consider renting for the whole trip. I have found it reassuring to know that there is a car available even if you don't use it. It also saves you the expense of the taxi and humiliation of the bus.
Totally agree on Kayak, but don't use any of the Fox Rental rates it will display. They are not at the main Rental center, so you have to take a shuttle to the rental center and then another shuttle to Fox. Plus I hear stories that they are really anal about scratches on doors, etc. almost to the point that it seems like Thailand jet ski scam. Ignoring them, I usually get the best rate with Advantage or Payless.
Quote: s2dbakerTry Kayak.com for the rental. Consider renting for the whole trip. I have found it reassuring to know that there is a car available even if you don't use it. It also saves you the expense of the taxi and humiliation of the bus.
Hey man, some of us like taking public transit! Why don't you get down off your high horse.
(the above was sarcasm)
Quote: wrongwayI agree with trying for the whole time your there. My wife and I rented through Priceline in Dec and got a car for 8 days for around $220 and they upgraded us for free when we picked it up. (Nissan Rogue). We will NEVER go to vegas again without a car. Take your gps and follow the streets and freeways para to the strip and it's very easy to get around. All parking was free except for one of the downtown garages. I think we put around 1000 miles on it. BTW if you have time go back to Vegas from the Dam via the Valley Of Fire. Long circle but well worth the drive.
To the OP: Given the activities you want to do, renting a car is a good option. However, I respectfully disagree with wrongway. The public transit options in Vegas are more than adequate, and in fact, it's one of the few places where you can get around without feeling like you've hit rock bottom. I have relatives who live in Vegas, but outside of visiting them and seeing some of the out of the way casinos, I would have no reason for a car. Getting downtown is easy on the bus, the free trams and shuttles are very efficient, and even the monorail isn't a terrible option.
Quote: TiltpoulTo the OP: Given the activities you want to do, renting a car is a good option. However, I respectfully disagree with wrongway. The public transit options in Vegas are more than adequate, and in fact, it's one of the few places where you can get around without feeling like you've hit rock bottom. I have relatives who live in Vegas, but outside of visiting them and seeing some of the out of the way casinos, I would have no reason for a car. Getting downtown is easy on the bus, the free trams and shuttles are very efficient, and even the monorail isn't a terrible option.
I guess that would depend on if you like to use public trans, I hate it, so that weighed heavily in my opinion. I really enjoy the freedom of having my own car and not finding and waiting on buses. Being from out of town, we found many places we would have never found on a bus just because we were driving by and could stop. But I agree it depends on your purpose. In my opinion the monorail is a horrible option unless you're staying at a property with a station AND you're going to the convention center everyday. We tried it and it would have been faster to walk to where we were going by the time we walked to a hotel that had a station, walked all the way to the back of the property, waited on the monorail (not a long wait) then got dropped off at the next spot also in the rear of the property. Oh! and it only goes up the back of ONE side of the strip!
Quote: wrongwayI guess that would depend on if you like to use public trans, I hate it, so that weighed heavily in my opinion. I really enjoy the freedom of having my own car and not finding and waiting on buses. Being from out of town, we found many places we would have never found on a bus just because we were driving by and could stop. But I agree it depends on your purpose. In my opinion the monorail is a horrible option unless you're staying at a property with a station AND you're going to the convention center everyday. We tried it and it would have been faster to walk to where we were going by the time we walked to a hotel that had a station, walked all the way to the back of the property, waited on the monorail (not a long wait) then got dropped off at the next spot also in the rear of the property. Oh! and it only goes up the back of ONE side of the strip!
Agreed about the monorail's placement... but that also goes against having a rental car, as nearly all the parking lots for the casinos are in the back of the property, and require a good amount of walking.
I don't use the monorail a lot when I'm out there, but if you want to go to the Hilton, Riviera or any of the North Strip properties, it's the easiest way. I agree from casinos a few ticks away it's more inconvenient, but to go a longer distance it's a bit cheaper than a cab, and relatively safe.
I'm heading to Vegas on Saturday and will have a rental during my stay - I tend to use Expedia as they seem to provide good all inclusive rates for non-US customers.
Even though I'm from the UK I really enjoy driving in Vegas and find it easy to get around despite having to drive on the right side of the road (or should that be wrong side :-) ).
Quote: DJTeddyBearIs this your first trip to Vegas? If so, or even if you've been there once or twice already, I'd hesitate getting a car. Vegas has way too many distractions to drivers. I rented a car for the first time on my last trip. It was my sixth visit to Vegas, I'm 52 years old, and I STILL found it distracting.
I think this is cogent advice. The question is: should a one-day side trip be dispensed with due to rental car costs or nuisances and quite frankly I would say "yes". Nix the side trip.
Speed traps abound, parking can be a nuisance, tourists are gawkers and even if YOU are paying attention the pedestraian/other-driver who is gawking ain't gonna help you fill out all that darn paperwork.
As to DUI, ... well you said you intend to visit some of the outlying casinos, you know they serve free booze, you know you will eventually drive away afterward, you know DUIs are costly in ANY state.
So what is so exciting about Hoover Dam? Side bets have a high house edge. So do side trips.
Quote: wrongwayIn my opinion the monorail is a horrible option unless you're staying at a property with a station AND you're going to the convention center everyday.
Or if you're staying at the the former LV Hilton The station is right outisde the casino.
When you look at the monorail map, it looks great. once you experience it, it's a much different impression. Curiosly that holds also for the Excalibur-Luxor-MB tram and the Bellagio-City Center-MC. In all these cases you walk farhter and longer, and take mroe turns, than simply walking from one place to the others.
Quote: NareedCuriosly that holds also for the Excalibur-Luxor-MB tram and the Bellagio-City Center-MC. In all these cases you walk farhter and longer, and take mroe turns, than simply walking from one place to the others.
Very true. I took the Bellagio tram to MC, and I swear I was walking for 20 minutes and I hadn't even left the Bellagio yet! At least the MC station is pretty close to the casino floor.
We're not huge gamblers so we've checked out Red Rock Canyon and Hoover Dam and enjoyed them. I got lucky at blackjack two years ago and so we took a helicopter flight over Hoover dam and took pictures with our DSLR. Some turned out nice enough that we blew them up and framed them.
Last year we got recommendations from people here at the forums for restaurants to check out that were off-strip. A big thanks to pacomartin and others who recommended Marche Baccus. We'll be going there again this year for sure.
--helpmespock
easily eat up more money in a day than you would spend for 2
days on a rental car. I always use valet parking so I don't have to
walk thru a parking lot. If a valet guy tells you the valet lot is full,
slip him a $5 bill and a spot will magically open.
I felt trapped and after 3 days rented one at the
4 Queens from Budget. If you stay at one of the
Downtown hotels, which I always do, they don't
charge you to use their parking garage. I like to
go to In and Out Burger and Walgreens and a
grocery store and the western store when I'm
there and with a car its very easy and convenient.
Are car rental agencies open 24 hours? Or at least until 9 PM when I am hoping to get my car?
Since we are staying downtown and flying in together, my two compatriots and I are hoping to get a car when we land around 8:30 PM and drive to our hotel. This way, we avoid the $50 it would cost in shuttle fees or taxis and can essentially get the car for free.
Someone before also mentioned the bus system and how bus fares are included with purchase of a deuce pass. Since we were each planning on purchasing a 3 or 5 day deuce pass, will we be able to take a bus for free from the airport to the strip when we return the car the next night?
Thanks in advance for the info. I plan on calling the rental agency in the morning to ask some questions of them and stop bothering you guys, but let's face it, most of you can probably give me more accurate info than the agency rep anyway.
Quote: duckmankilla
Are car rental agencies open 24 hours? Or at least until 9 PM when I am hoping to get my car?
Since we are staying downtown and flying in together, my two compatriots and I are hoping to get a car when we land around 8:30 PM and drive to our hotel. This way, we avoid the $50 it would cost in shuttle fees or taxis and can essentially get the car for free.
The airport rental is open 24 hours but I'm pretty sure that the Downtown locations close around 5pm. If you're flying in then you may be better off picking the car up from the airport and then driving Downtown.
I've just rented mine from the airport for 11 days and paid £219 for a mid-size which includes unlimited mileage and all insurances and taxes. Quite often I can get a good deal to upgrade at the airport location.
the hotels Downtown. People who walk the Strip, or
between the hotels on the Strip, have way too much time
on their hands.
I think you are making the right play. Rent the car at the airport, drive to your hotel, do your day trips, and then return the car at the airport or an off-site location. Be sure to ask the rental agency if you can return the car to one of their other locations, if they have them. You usually can. Will save you the trouble of screwing around at the airport again.Quote: duckmankilla
Someone before also mentioned the bus system and how bus fares are included with purchase of a deuce pass. Since we were each planning on purchasing a 3 or 5 day deuce pass, will we be able to take a bus for free from the airport to the strip when we return the car the next night?
You can use the Deuce pass on all RTC buses, so yes, you can use it on the 108/109 to the aiport. (Protip: take the 109 down Maryland Pkwy to the airport. It's faster than the Paradise bus).
I didn't rent a car at all last trip, and only missed it a little. Walked everywhere. Was useful for burning calories. Surprisingly efficient bus system. On short trips its almost silly not to rent a car, though; it's so cheap.
Quote: EvenBobPeople who walk the Strip, or between the hotels on the Strip, have way too much time on their hands.
And usually too much booze in their hands too.
I'm not saying the Metro cops are trigger happy and earn extra points for bagging a tourist. Nor are tourists DUIs all that common, local DUIs are far more frequent. If it is going to make you feel like a prisoner or seriously impair your enjoyment in any way, then have a rental car. It is cheap and easy. I just avoid renting a car myself because I rarely need one and rarely enjoy driving amidst gawking tourists or drinking tourists.
Quote: duckmankillaThanks for all the input everyone. I share some of your concerns and I appreciate some of your concern for my welfare and not wanting me to get any DUI charges, but I can assure you that I will refrain from drinking while I have the vehicle. I rarely drive anywhere after drinking and in the instances that I do drive, it is after a 2-3 drink maximum and never more than a couple minutes worth of driving. I think I have planned out an itinerary which will work for us, minimize costs, and allow us to see off-strip points of interest, but I'm not sure how renting a car after hours works, so one more question.
Are car rental agencies open 24 hours? Or at least until 9 PM when I am hoping to get my car?
Since we are staying downtown and flying in together, my two compatriots and I are hoping to get a car when we land around 8:30 PM and drive to our hotel. This way, we avoid the $50 it would cost in shuttle fees or taxis and can essentially get the car for free.
Someone before also mentioned the bus system and how bus fares are included with purchase of a deuce pass. Since we were each planning on purchasing a 3 or 5 day deuce pass, will we be able to take a bus for free from the airport to the strip when we return the car the next night?
Thanks in advance for the info. I plan on calling the rental agency in the morning to ask some questions of them and stop bothering you guys, but let's face it, most of you can probably give me more accurate info than the agency rep anyway.
A "Strip and Downtown Express pass" is essentially a pass for any bus in the city. Unfortunately, they don't sell these passes at the airport, but you can order them online with 7-10 days for delivery. They haven't moved into the modern age where you just print a bar code off you computer.
The Westcliff Area Express (WAX) is the most direct bus from the airport to downtown. It is designed to take people to the airport, so it has room for luggage. The WAX drops you off at 4th and Carson. The problem is the frequency is kind of low.
9:06 PM - 9:34 PM (airport to 4th and Carson)
10:07 PM - 10:31 PM (airport to 4th and Carson)
11:07 PM - 11:31 PM (airport to 4th and Carson)
The biggest problem is making it to the parking lot and finding the bus by 9:06 PM. I don't see a diagram on-line. You will have to find it in time, or you risk waiting another hour.The bus pickup is at 36° 5'7.29"N 115° 8'52.64"W. Maybe if you view it on google earth you can figure out how to get through the terminal in time. It's not that far, but it isn't well marked. The bus pickup is not where you pick up normal shuttle buses.
Route #108 and #109 take you to the Bonneville Transit Center which is about 4 blocks from Fremont street. Frequency is higher than WAX.
The advantage of renting a car downtown, is you can rent for just one day. That day can be designated for not drinking and touring Hoover Dam, Red Rock Canyon, etc. That way you take public transport while you are drinking and gambling.A mistake there could cost you $ thousands.
Car Rental is at
LV DOWNTOWN FITZGERALD
301 FREMONT STREET
LAS VEGAS, NV 89101-5600
Tel.: (702) 388-2471
Business Hours (for the week of Feb 20, 2012)
Monday 8:00 am 5:00 pm
Tuesday 8:00 am 5:00 pm
Wednesday 8:00 am 5:00 pm
Thursday 8:00 am 5:00 pm
Friday 8:00 am 5:00 pm
Saturday 9:00 am Noon
Sunday 9:00 am Noon
Economy $ 45.99 USD / day $ 57.59 USD Total
Compact $ 47.99 USD / day $ 59.99 USD Total
Intermediate $ 49.99 USD / day $ 62.39 USD Total
Standard $ 52.99 USD / day $ 65.99 USD Total
Full Size $ 55.99 USD / day $ 69.60 USD Total
Quote: pacomartinA "Strip and Downtown Express pass" is essentially a pass for any bus in the city. Unfortunately, they don't sell these passes at the airport, but you can order them online with 7-10 days for delivery. They haven't moved into the modern age where you just print a bar code off you computer.
Last time I was in Vegas I got a 5-day pass from the vending machine at a bus stop. It has a magnetic strip and you swipe it when you baord some buses. That's why you can't just get a printed bar code. They should have a pass vending machine at the airport.
On the other hand, on the Deuce about half the time the machine dind't read my apss, so the driver had to look at it to check it was still current, then wave me aboard.
Quote: NareedLast time I was in Vegas I got a 5-day pass from the vending machine at a bus stop. It has a magnetic strip and you swipe it when you baord some buses. That's why you can't just get a printed bar code. They should have a pass vending machine at the airport.
Yes, the vending machines are in many locations around the city. If not you can purchase them at many locations around the valley. But the taxi union prevents the transit authority from putting a vending machine at the airport.
You can always purchase a one day or a single trip ticket at the airport, and then the multi day pass later. The cost difference is small. You can order them online with 10 day advance to allow them to be mailed.
The problem with the local buses is that they are crowded with luggage. The WAX has room for luggage, but it is only once per hour, and the pick up location is obscure. They are trying to make the WAX convenient for residents of Las Vegas to get to the airport, but not convenient for tourists.
The WAX pickup location is at 36° 5'7.17"N 115° 8'52.71"W which you can see on google earth. They deliberately do not load buses on the same level as the taxi-cabs. It's down a level and in the space between the parking garages.
First of all, if you're going to go off-strip/Fremont Street at all, go to the RTC Southern Nevada site to get a map of the bus routes. (Getting some of the timetables in advance would be good as well, so you know how long it takes to get from Point A to Point B, although I am under the impression there is going to be a somewhat major shakeup in the bus system around Memorial Day, probably involving the new "Sahara Express".)
Some places aren't accessible by bus - M comes to mind; you can get as far as South Point, but from there it's still a few miles.
You can get a 3-day pass good on all of the buses for $20 (the last time I was there, in 2009, pretty much the only place on the Strip where you could get one was at the bus stop in front of the MGM Grand (the downtown terminal also has them), but I am under the impression that pretty much every stop on the Strip now has them), although I think three one-day passes are $21.
Be warned: occasionally you will run across a bus stop that isn't exactly the most pleasant place in the world to be (the eastbound one across from the Orleans comes to mind). Also, if you're there in the summer, bus stops don't tend to have much shade, and if there are seats available, chances are they're plastic seats that have been subject to "well, it's 100 degrees in the shade, so you can guess what the direct sunlight temperature is" heat. (If you "depend" on the buses, you will be doing a lot of standing at bus stops waiting for a transfer.)
Be warned again: the Deuce (and, presumably, SDX) buses tend to get very crowded on the Strip, even late at night. If you are staying downtown but are at a Strip hotel (say, watching a show), expect to see a lot of people waiting for a few seats as each bus goes by.
(Like I said, I haven't been in Vegas since 2009, so maybe they have made this situation better.)
Quote: pacomartinYes, the vending machines are in many locations around the city. If not you can purchase them at many locations around the valley. But the taxi union prevents the transit authority from putting a vending machine at the airport.
I wonder is there's a (black) market for bus passes at the airport...
I always take a shuttle anyway. Traveling alone it's the comfortable, sensible thing to do.
I guess this brings up another point as to why I always rent a car. I travel with my wife, and she is in the rental car almost everywhere I go. Shuttles, buses, and the like would involve twice the fare for the two of us, while the car is the same whether one or both of us ride. Besides, my visits to Las Vegas would be much less pleasant if my wife had to spend time waiting at bus stops or riding in jam-packed public transit vehicles.Quote: NareedI always take a shuttle anyway. Traveling alone it's the comfortable, sensible thing to do.
As I have noted in other threads, I have rented a car for every visit to Las Vegas except our first. I seem to find my way around there rather easily. I don't consume alcohol myself, so DUI is not an issue. That first visit, I was particularly annoyed with waiting in lines for taxis, and I spent more on fares than I would have for a rental car. Having a car gives us a lot more flexibility to visit places off the bus lines, including trips to the dam, Red Rock Canyon, Valley of Fire, Death Valley, and overnight trips to the canyon, Laughlin, Palm Springs, etc.
If I were going to stay at a strip or downtown casino hotel and spend all of my time within easy walking distance of that hotel, I likely wouldn't rent a car, but that's not how I visit Las Vegas.
Quote: FleaStiffI just avoid renting a car myself because I rarely need one and rarely enjoy driving amidst gawking tourists or drinking tourists.
I can't remember the last time I drove the Strip,
why would I do that to myself. Its way faster
to take Paradise or the freeway. Then all you see
is homeless people.
Quote: DocI seem to find my way around there rather easily.
I find Vegas one of the most car friendly cities
I've ever driven in. Thats because most of it
was designed in the last 60 years. Most big
cities just constructed the paved roads where
the horse drawn roads were in the 19th century.
Vegas was designed for car traffic and it shows.
Quote: EvenBobI find Vegas one of the most car friendly cities
I've ever driven in.
I agree. Admittedly The Strip can be a pain at times but, as Bob says, you can get around that by using Paradise, Koval etc.
Quote: duckmankillaOkay, this question is going to have multiple parts. For anyone reading, I would be happy to have answers to some or all of these questions, so bear with me.
I will be in town early March and I am looking to rent a car for one day to take a trip out to Hoover Dam, see some of the off-strip casinos, and take a trip out to Red Rock Canyon. Starting in the morning and finishing at Red Rock, this doesn't seem impossible, but there are a few issues with this plan. Since I am planning on staying on Fremont Street (currently at the Plaza but looking to move to the Golden Nugget if the price is right), I don't particularly want to drive to McCarran Airport to pick up a car at one of the junctures (either pick-up or drop-off). So......
1) Are there any rental car locations on Fremont Street which would be easier to access?
2) Is any bus service to/from Mccarran available with the purchase of a Deuce pass?
3) Does anyone know the restrictions on being under 25 and renting a car? We will be 23 during our visit and from what I've found, it looks like we just need to pay some additional fees to cover insurance and what not, but if anyone had more insight it would be appreciated.
4) Am I crazy for wanting to rent a car?
I'm just trying to figure out the easiest way to make this all work logistically. I'd rather not have to drive back to the airport to pick-up or drop off the car and then pay taxi fees back to fremont street. As I said before, any input is appreciated.
Like you I will be in Vegas early March for almost a week. Been looking for a rental car as I plan of doing a bunch of sightseeing,... Hoover Dam Red Rock and maybe the Grand Canyon. I already have the extra insurance on my car insurance policy covering me when I rent a car so will not need that, Think I also have this cover with my Gold Master Card also
So today when I was checking around I found DOLLAR Rent a Car has some great deals on right now.....I have a confirmation number for my rental from March 8 to March 12.....a mid sized Dodge Avenger at the great daily rate of $13 a day.....add in the seemingly endless fees and taxes it comes out to $24.80 or so a day
Under $100 for four days......wanted to book it till the Tuesday but entering that date came back with a weekly rate and a total of nearly $190....or $90 more for that extra day....so I have it as returning it on the Monday but also got a confirmation number to book it again for 1 day which will cost $24 more.
Quote: duckmankillaBooked a car for the 1 day for $33 with Payless. .
See if you can get an upgrade when you get there. Nobody
cares about gas mileage in Vegas, you never go anywhere.
I rented a car for 10 days and drove around every day
and didn't even use half a tank in 10 days.
Quote: EvenBobSee if you can get an upgrade when you get there. Nobody
cars about gas mileage in Vegas, you never go anywhere.
I rented a car for 10 days and drove around every day
and didn't even use half a tank in 10 days.
Will do.
