Taxi

A Taxi will ONLY pick you up at a TAXI STAND.  They cannot be flagged down on the street, or drop you off on the street. 

Taxi is a popular way of getting around Las Vegas, along the Strip and to and from downtown and the airport.  A steady flow of taxis come in and out of the taxi stands available in front of all major hotels and casinos.  You may have a short wait in line during busy times, but often you can simply step outside of any hotel’s main entrance and a taxi will be immediately available for you.  Plenty of minivans and full vans operate as taxis to accommodate people traveling together in larger groups, and the taxi stand attendant will make sure that you get an appropriate size cab for your group.  A taxi is one of the best ways of transfer from the airport; the cost for 2 people is about the same as the $12  two people would pay for transfer by shuttle bus.  Sometimes you can wait an hour for the shuttle, but by taxi you can go straight to your hotel with little delay.

In November, 2007, Las Vegas Taxis started charging an extra 10-cents for the initial cost of hiring a cab, raising the “drop fee” to $3.30. The wait-time charge (the cost per hour for time spent traveling slower than 8-12 mph) also increased to $28 from $22.  The rate is now $1.80 per mile, plus $28/hr for waiting time, which comes into effect when the taxi is stopped in traffic, so the same trip could cost $10.00 or $25.00 depending on traffic, of which there can be a lot during the night.  It can often take an hour to drive the three-mile length of the Strip during busy times, so walking is often a cheaper and quicker alternative that many people choose.  Additionally, passengers leaving the airport by taxi pay an extra charge of $1.20.

Rental Cars

Renting a car is a smart option for getting around Las Vegas.  The sheer size of the hotels makes a car worthwhile, especially if you plan on glamming yourself.  Imagine walking several miles around and inside hotels in dressed up clothing.  Not a smart option, unless you are a sucker for pain.  But beware - although drinking is free and open in Vegas - drunk driving laws and penalties are particularly tough.

Pockets of resorts are within walking distance of each other, however, the entire strip would take about an hour to walk from end to end, and then another hour to return to your destination.  Free shuttle service is only available for the off-strip hotels. 

The additional availability of public transportation options such as the Monorail and the bus system, as well as readily available taxis, make having a car superfluous for some visitors who enjoy dressing down and walking around the strip. There are others though, who wouldn't be without a car even for 1 day on the Strip.  With valet service at virtually every location in town, getting from the Hard Rock to Caesar's Forum Shops then down to the Bellagio in your own rental is quick, easy and actually inexpensive. If you then go to dinner somewhere other than at a restaurant in your hotel, you will have spent more on taxi's than on a 3 day rental and a $1 or $2 valet tip at each stop.

Also, those who plan on leaving the main tourist areas of Las Vegas to explore the surrounding desert areas or to visit the Hoover Dam, for example, will find that renting a car is a convenient option.  Many national rental companies do business at the airport.  All major hotels and casinos provide complimentary garage parking for their guests.  Navigating around Las Vegas is fairly straightforward, with most sites of interest being located along Las Vegas Blvd. (the Strip) and Fremont Sreett downtown (Fremont Street Experience, complete with free live entertainment and overhead sound and light show at night).  The biggest inconvenience for those who choose to get around by rental car will be the traffic on the Strip, which can become very heavy during the evening and night-time hours - walking is often a quicker way of traveling along the Strip.

One warning: many people think they will take a quick drive over to the Grand Canyon.  It is not a quick ride. Most people spend 16+ hours on a turn-around trip.  There are bus, plane, and helicopter trips which take the work out of the experience and make the canyon an enjoyable day. 

Another rental car consideration is where to get the car.  There are companies that advertise that they will pick you up.  They do, but at a hefty price.  From a non-central location the price drops considerably, BUT they will not pick you up because it is not the closest rental location.  If you choose the closest site to the main hotels on the strip or downtown, the price will rise sharply.  There are rental agencies at McCarran Airport who will shuttle you to their off-site location.  Not only is it easier to drive away from the airport area, the prices are lower.  Ensure that you rent from the airport location.

There is a 'free' shuttle between the airport and the McCarran Rent-a-Car Center, although there may be a fee of $3 per day charged in your rental contract.

 It should be noted that recently (2007), a new car rental building has been built to house ALL the major car rental companies. Prior to this, renting a car from the airport meant you had to board the appropriate car rental shuttle bus and it would take you to their company lot. Now, there is ONE common shuttle bus service, which takes everyone to the same new lot/building. This is located south of the airport, away from the major traffic areas of the city, so getting in and out is very easy. The new building is very large, spacious, modern and easy to use. Similarly, when dropping off your car, you return to the same building, and a common shuttle bus returns you to the airport. There is also a baggage check-in facility at the new building. In summary, Vegas has done a great job with the new common car rental building!