Transportation ?'s while in Vegas

[simba2]

What's the best way from the airport to the hotel?

Should we rent a car? We want to visit the entire Strip, from the Luxor all the way up to the Stratosphere. People tell me you can't walk the whole thing. I know there is a city bus and trolley. Are they reliable?

Just how seedy is it up near the Stratosphere? Will we feel threatened walking around there. We want to visit the Freemont St. Experience. Is this area safe?

We've never been before and any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Carl]

We do the same thing at Vegas that we do at Disney as far as the airport is concerned. We take one of the airport buses. It is cheaper in Vegas than Mears is in Orlando. But, hey, the airport can be seen from the Strip!
There are both trolleys and city buses that run down the Strip. How much trouble you have getting them depends upon how crowded Vegas is while you are there. We stayed at the MGM last April and both the bus and the trolley were easy to get to - you go out the tour entrance and walk about 100 feet and there they are. However, at some of the hotels the bus stops are in some odd places - usually at the back door of the hotel. You won't want to ride to every hotel. The hotels are clustered somewhat in groups and you can walk across crosswalks over the street to some, and some have moving walkways or monorails that move you to "sister" hotels.
Now that I've covered all this - I hope that you are not going to Vegas to play the slots. Since 9/11 they have had them set to the "tightest" that I have ever seen. You just can't win on them.

 

[preshi]

From some hotels to others there are mini monorails. from MGM to Ballys from Luxor to I want to say NY NY but i'm not sure and from MOnte Carlo to Bellagio. We walked from MGM to Ballys passing Aladdin and Paris in about 10-15 minutes... it is a bit of a walk from Ballys to say the Venetian or Treasure Island... I wouldn't rent a car.

I personally only went to the Fremont section because it was near the court house and we needed rings so we went to a pawn shop to buy our rings. It was ok in the day time but I honestly wouldn't go there at night...I've heard it's a great place for pickpockets and such... I don't want to scare you as I haven't been there... hopefully someone has more insight.

From airport to hotel I suggest getting a limo on the outside of the airport by the baggage... it's I think 4 dollars a person. We took a taxi last time and it was close to $20 they go around the LONG way and rip you off but I couldn't remember what to tell him... what should have been like 2 miles was about 10!


have fun!

 

[DopeyRN]

We rented a car and I am glad we did. I won $1000 on video poker in December!!

As far as Fremont goes,it is older but the light show is worth seeing. I did not feel unsafe there at all. We had a very nice meal there too.

 

[olena]

You don't really need to rent a car. It can be a nuissance finding parking, etc.

From the airport to your hotel, I used Las Vegas Limos. They're great! A limo ride for $4!

Las Vegas Limousine
702/736-1419
Prices to Strip Hotels - $4
Downtown Hotels - $5
Off-Strip Hotels - $7 - $21
Henderson Hotels - $10
Operates 7:00 a.m. - 2:00 a.m.



Getting around is easy, if you know the shuttle system. (kinda like WDW)

Several hotels offer shuttles between sister properties and a few monorails exist between some hotels. Here's a map of the monorails.

There's the 'Trolley'. It's cheap and gets you where you're going with frequent stops. Here's a link to trolley info.


I've also ridden the city bus. It's reliable.

We've also used taxis to get from downtown to the Strip. That ran between $13 and $15 one way.

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

We have been to Vegas a few times and we just grab a limo out in front of the baggage claim area. I can't remember the price... maybe $20?? My Dad took the shuttle once and said it was a nightmare. They make lots of stops and it's a very bumpy ride. He said he'd never do it again. A taxi is also a good option... we actually used taxi's quite often because it was too far to walk anywhere.

The mini monorails between the resorts are great! You can use these to go all around the "newer" part of the strip.

We never made it down to Freemont St.... so I don't know what it's like. We had a hard time just pulling ourselves away from our hotel (Bellagio) it was just beautiful. I loved the Fontana bar... you can sit outside and watch the fountain show for hours. Ahhhhh... I wish I was there.

 

[Aprille]

To answer you questions about seediness - on the Strip once you get north of the Fashion Show Mall it gets seedier the farther north you go. You're fine walking in the area during the day but be aware of your surroundings. We've had cab drivers tell us not to walk around the Stratosphere area at night. Downtown is okay even at night as long as you stay under the Freemont Street Experience canopy. Once you wander out of that area you need to be very careful, especially at night.

Be advised if you take Las Vegas Limos you don't always get a limo. Most of the time you will be in a shuttle van. Even in the limos you are sharing with others and will have to stop at several resorts. The farther south on the Strip you're staying, the fewer stops you'll have to make. IMO it's still the best and most economical way to get from the airport to your resort.

DH and I tend to take advantage of the monorails to get around most of the Strip and then cab it to other destinations.

 

[Tina]

We always rent a car in Vegas. We go often and like to do things "offstrip" - like Freemont Street, Hoover Dam, Red Rock, etc. We also like to gamble at the locals' casinos, rather than on the strip. If you check the car rental sites a day or two before your trip, you'll often get an intermediate for about $15 a day. Not bad.

Hey DopeyRN, I won $1000 on video poker, too. I won this past May at the Palace Station. It more than paid for our whole trip.

If you decide to rent, keep in mind the Strip is murder on weekend nights. Mid-week is a breeze. Parking is free at all casinos. If you park downtown to see Freemont Street, park in the Golden Nugget lot. They charge, but you can self-validate your parking ticket inside the casino to get free parking.

 

[simba2]

Thanks to everyone for your tips, maps, etc. I've printed the maps out to take with me.

 

[yensid1071]

If you want a touch of WDW on the trip, ride the monorail from Bally's to MGM (or vice versa). It's an old Mark IV WDW monorail.

If you want to go off-strip to the Rio or the Palms, there's a free shuttle in the back of Harrah's. Or you can pick up the free shuttle from Barbary Coast to Gold Coast, which is next to Rio & across from the Palms (it's a shorter walk to the shuttle than at Harrah's).

Be careful downtown. We stayed at 4 Queens for 2 nights & were okay, but once you get off Fremont St, it can get dicey. Especially at night. We noticed security & police watching around.

Once you get north of the Treasure Island/Venetian area, you'll notice that it starts to get more seedy. I'd definitely take a shuttle or something to the Strat/Sahara/Circus Circus/Riviera areas. Walking that far isn't even an option to me. It's just too far. Besides, you'll do plenty of walking thru the casinos & mall/gift shop areas.

IMO, the Mirage/Treasure Island shuttle is a waste. It stops in the *front* of the Mirage, but the *back* of Treasure Island. By the time you walk to the front of TI, you could have already been at Mirage. Again, just MHO.

Have a great trip!! I was there last month & had a blast!!

 

[catsrule]

We didn't rent a car, we don't like to drive and you don't really need one. We walked to all newer motels, and took the bus down to freemont and back. We took bus tours for other stuff we wanted to do, like Hoover Dam.

 

[vickitricki]

I had friend performing ina show atthe stardust, and I walked from the stardust tothe mgm each night, around 3 am in the morning!! There was always people around, but i was advised not ot go near the Mcdonalds near curcus circus as it is a bad hangout. Oh yeha, I am disabled and can;t walk fast, and it took me about 2 hours to walk between the two.

Now they are doing the Excalibur, the Thunder show, it is mainly for women and you will love it if you get there!!!

It was only 2000 when I was there, but i miss it...

 

[simba2]

Vickitricki - We are staying at the Excalibur!

 

[yensid1071]

Originally posted by vickitricki
Now they are doing the Excalibur, the Thunder show, it is mainly for women and you will love it if you get there!!!

LOL!! When I was there last month we walked thru Excalibur & saw everyone lining up to get into the Thunder From Down Under show. Loooonnnnnnggggg line of women. Until we looked closer. There were a handful of dejected looking husbands standing in line with a look on their faces that said, "I'd rather be anywhere but here!" It was a funny sight!!

 

[vickitricki]

Hey,

That does not suprise me..lol The show was tamer when I saw it there in 2000, but it is a full on dance show, and you will love it!! Youmay see some hot bods walking around the pool, though not la lof them are staying at the hotel.

Do you want ot do a calender exchange? I'd love one from Vegas and even Thunder.....their calenders are not on sale here yet/.....

www.thunderfromdownunder.com

 

[SilverLily]

The first few times we went to Las Vegas, we just took a limo to our hotel, then did a lot of walking or caught an occasional taxi.

The last two times, I have been spoiled. We rented a car. Instead of parking it ourselves (which can be a pain in the butt), we just go to the valet parking (which is free....you just have to tip them). Even though this added a little more to our trip cost, we were free to go wherever we wanted and not worry about transportation.