Travelling to Las Vegas

Travel to Las Vegas

Las Vegas [1] is the largest city in the state of Nevada. Nicknamed Sin City and claiming to be the Entertainment Capital of the World, it is situated in the midst of the southern Nevada desert landscape. The city has giant mega-casino hotels, decorated with lavish care and attention to detail to create a fantasy-like atmosphere. The casinos often have names and themes that evoke romance, mystery, and far-away destinations.

By air

McCarran International Airport (IATA: LAS) [6] is served by many domestic and international air carriers. Southwest Airlines [7] has a large hub at the airport, and USAirways [8] has a smaller hub. Like most US airports, you can rent luggage carts for $3. MGM Grand properties (MGM Grand, and New York New York) and Harrah’s Entertainment properties (Rio, Harrah’s, Bally’s, Paris, Caesars Palace, and Flamingo) offer check-in desks and luggage transfers at LAS. Getting from LAS to your hotel can be done by airport shuttle companies, rent-a-cars, taxi ($10-20), or limousine ($35).

The taxi line is well organized, the city taxi dispatcher will direct you to a numbered space along the curb. You need not tip the taxi dispatcher. As in any city, you can be taken advantage of if the cab driver thinks you are naive or new to the city. Do not allow the cab driver to take you through the I-15 tunnel (an extra $10) or tell you the story about the “big accident” enroute to your hotel, if either of these happens take down the driver’s hack license number and call the Nevada Taxi Cab Authority.

The CAT 108 bus runs from the airport to right outside the Convention Center and the LV Hilton, taking about 20-25 minutes. It runs at 20-minute intervals from Ground Level Zero (take the escalator down from the baggage claim and walk towards the parking garage; the covered bus stop is on the right). One-way trips cost $1.25 and are a great deal compared to the more expensive options above.

When leaving, the ‘curbside checkin’ counters will save a wait, but cost you $4 + tip, and you won’t be allocated a seat number until boarding time (i.e. likely to be a single seat at the back of the aircraft).

By rail

Unfortunately, due to service cuts back in 1997, Amtrak does not have a route through Las Vegas anymore. There is a daily bus route from Needles, California to McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas, with a stop in Laughlin, Nevada, is operated in concert with Amtrak’s Southwest Chief [9]. Amtrak California’s San Joaquins [10] route operates 2 buses daily to Las Vegas from Bakersfield, California as part of its service.

By car

Southern Californians crowd Interstate 15 every weekend going back and forth to Vegas. Expect this drive to be crowded and frustrating, unless you can come and go at off-peak hours. However, many find the 280 mile (450 km) drive along the I-15 restful and scenic. Attractions along the I-15 include the towns of Barstow, California; Baker, California; the Mojave Desert; and small hotel-casinos at Primm, Nevada (at the California border) and Jean, Nevada. Those who traverse the I-15 should remember that they are crossing a desert, and should carry (and drink) ample amounts of water, especially on hot summer days where temperatures can reach 120°F (48°C).

From east of Las Vegas, travellers typically drive on I-40 through Arizona, and then head north toward Vegas on US-93 in Kingman, AZ, before finally picking up I-15. This route will take you along Lake Mead and directly through the Hoover Dam area. Traffic at the Dam tends to be extremely congested and slow-going; usually the slowest part of an otherwise sparsely populated desert area.

From the North I-15 meets the Arizona border at the more relaxed town of Mesquite, NV and shortly goes into Utah. The junction of I-70 and I-15 is where most people driving from the Eastern US will take. Those from further north may meet I-15 from I-80 in Salt Lake City.

Those traveling from the North drive on US 95 from Reno and Tonopah. This is a two lane highway until it reaches the community of Mercury, where US 95 is a four lane highway. The route is sparsely populated and travelers should ensure that their tank is full.

Taxi

One of the easiest ways to get around is by taxi. It is relatively cheap to go from hotel to hotel. The cab driver is required to turn on the meter and to take the shortest route to your destination. There is a surcharge for rides originating at the airport, but not for extra passengers. Taxi lines (queues) are typically found at the front of hotels. You would be unwise to attempt to hail one on the street, especially on the Strip as it is illegal for a cab to stop traffic to pick up or drop off a passenger. The best way to hail a cab outside of a cabstand is to use the following method: if you are wanting to go north on the strip, stand on the east side about 20 feet before a turn off. The cab you want to wave over will have the yellow lights off.

Standing like this allows the cab to turn off the road and pick you up. It is customary to tip the hotel taxi dispatcher $1 or more; tip the cab driver at least 15% of the meter, and about $1 per piece of luggage.

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This entry was posted on June 6, 2009 at June 6, 2009 and is filed under City Travel Guide. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.