Would you recommend a rental car for 4 nights in LV?

[peaegg]

I will stay in a mid strip casino for 4 nights. The lowest rate for a rental is above 200. It would take a lot of taxi rides to cost that much. If I go to down town, I can also take the bus, Deuces. Only inconvenience will be to visit any of the Stations stores. How much does it cost from the airport to mid strip? In your opinion, should I get a rental?

 

[aslan]

You sound like you are on a pretty strict budget. If that is the case, maybe you should get a copy of CBJN and map out a plan of casino visits in advance of your trip. This alone may point to whether you will need a car or not during your visit. You can probably google taxi rates for Las Vegas, and mapquest or google maps will give you distances from the airport to any location on the strip or downtown. You also have the rail system on the strip, plus bus transportation.

 

[shadroch]

A rental should not cost anywhere near $200. Give me the dates and I'll give you some rate options. Really busy this weekend but I'll get them for you on Monday.

 

[Shoofly]

A rental should not cost anywhere near $200. Give me the dates and I'll give you some rate options. Really busy this weekend but I'll get them for you on Monday.

If I may chime in on this, I have exactly the same situation and questions. My LV dates are April 24-28. I will appreciate any information you can offer. Thanks.

 

[pieinthesky]

LV car rental

Hotwire.com shows several options totaling under $150 for the dates you selected (including tax, etc.). Often, if you wait until the last minute, you can do even better.

 

[ChefJJ]

Hell Yes

If you're going downtown at least once and if you have any intent to venture to the greater LV environs at all, a car is well worth it. Last month's 4-night trip for us cost $115 for a car including all taxes and fees.

Right now on Expedia, you can get a compact from Payless for $111, midsize for $126. Cab ride to and from the airport and to and from downtown is going to add up between $60-100 with tips, and the Deuce easily ties up 30-60 minutes getting downtown depending on where you start out at. (Of course, I've only taken it once a couple years back and was so fed up with the ride that I cabbed we back to the Strip later that night. :flame

To us, it was worth it since we went downtown twice, to Henderson once, was staying at the Rio, and even spun out to Mt. Henderson. So it's all about where you intend to go.

A tight budget is a tight budget, but there's not a whole lot of ways around paying for some level of transportation in Vegas. If you're staying on the Strip, plan on not venturing any further than your legs can take you, then the airport shuttles/cabs are it. The Deuce is just flat out brutal unless you feel like taking a nap on it. Don't shortchange yourself.

good luck :joker:

 

[shadroch]

If I may chime in on this, I have exactly the same situation and questions. My LV dates are April 24-28. I will appreciate any information you can offer. Thanks.

http://www.CarRentals.com has many cars under $125 for these dates, even a few under $100 if you chose to go with Fox, which I don't recommend as it requires a second shuttle bus ride. I used a 2pm checkout and a 2pm checkin as I don't know your arrival/departure times.

 

[Shoofly]

Thanks pieinthesky and shadrock. This is very helpful.

 

[paddywhack]

http://www.CarRentals.com has many cars under $125 for these dates, even a few under $100 if you chose to go with Fox, which I don't recommend as it requires a second shuttle bus ride. I used a 2pm checkout and a 2pm checkin as I don't know your arrival/departure times.

Actually used Fox last time and their price was way under everyone else since they're off site. Adds maybe 15 minutes to the whole pick up/drop off procedure. Take the regular car rental shuttle from the airport to the rental center, go to the taxi stand out front, and get on the Fox bus. Reverse the process coming back.

 

[shadroch]

Actually used Fox last time and their price was way under everyone else since they're off site. Adds maybe 15 minutes to the whole pick up/drop off procedure. Take the regular car rental shuttle from the airport to the rental center, go to the taxi stand out front, and get on the Fox bus. Reverse the process coming back.

I've never used Fox, but have heard numerous complaints about them on other boards. I've read they want you to bring your auto insurance policy with you and can turn you down if it doesn't meet their standards. Also heard of people waiting over a half hour for the shuttle, and experiancing long lines at the check in counter.

 

[golfnut101]

fox shuttle

does 2nd shuttle cost extra ?

 

[Blue Efficacy]

does 2nd shuttle cost extra ?

I should hope not!

 

[paddywhack]

does 2nd shuttle cost extra ?

No it doesn't.

 

[paddywhack]

I've never used Fox, but have heard numerous complaints about them on other boards. I've read they want you to bring your auto insurance policy with you and can turn you down if it doesn't meet their standards. Also heard of people waiting over a half hour for the shuttle, and experiancing long lines at the check in counter.

Never requested an auto policy from me. What would they do if you say, lived in NYC and didn't own a car??

I waited 2 minutes for the shuttle and was third in line at the counter, but I guess YMMV.

 

[kewljason]

You also have the rail system on the strip, plus bus transportation.

rail system on the strip?? Are you talking about the monorail because that is not cheap. (unless you have a nevada id)

A couple suggestions. Someone mentioned the duece, which at times, especially on weekend nights, you can walk faster than, but the Strip and downtown express (formally called the ace and/or gold line) runs the strip and downtown in about half the time, as it makes very limited stops, I beleive only 4 stops the entire strip, plus paying when you board is eliminated, which speeds things up. You purchase ticket/pass on platform before boarding and then just get on when boarding without even showing ticket/pass. Someone on board (not the driver) may come around during the trip and ask to see proof of purchase (ticket or pass) but in most cases no one checks. If they do and you don't have pass/ticket there is a $50 fine, although I have never seen it imposed, just a warning. There are 2 other public transportation, fast alternatives from strip to downtown. 1.) from the lower (southern) end of strip you can catch the airport express line at tropicana and las vegas blvd. It jumps on the freeway and makes 1 stop at outlet mall before arriving downtown. It's about 12 minutes from tropicana to fremont. 2.) from upper (northern) strip you can catch the centenial express at Sands Blvd and las vegas blvd. (fashion show mall and treasure Island) It also jusmps on the freeway and makes 1 stop at Las vegas premium outlets before arriving downtown. Trip time is about 8 minutes. These are both 'residential' routes which have lower fares than the duece or strip express. Single trip $2, $1 for seniors/disabled. all passes are accepted as well.

I might add this airport line is a cheap alternative to the airport as well from the lower strip, (MGM, Tropicana, Excaliber, Luxor, NY NY, ect) $2 and takes 5 minutes as opposed to $25-$30 cab rides. From downtown it is still $2 but takes about 15 minutes. takes you right to airport.

For those extremely thrifty travelers with extra time, you can always catch the free Sam's town shuttle from Harrah or Riveria to Sam's Town and then exchange to the free shuttle from sam's town to Fremont. If you time it perfectly it will take an hour but most times you will have some layover time making the trip an hour and a half to 2 hours.

 

[shadroch]

Never requested an auto policy from me. What would they do if you say, lived in NYC and didn't own a car??

I waited 2 minutes for the shuttle and was third in line at the counter, but I guess YMMV.

From what I've read, they won't rent you a car if you do not have insurance of your own. As I said, I have no personal experiance with them, just passing along what I've read on the LVA and Frequent Flier boards.

 

[aslan]

rail system on the strip?? Are you talking about the monorail because that is not cheap. (unless you have a nevada id)

A couple suggestions. Someone mentioned the duece, which at times, especially on weekend nights, you can walk faster than, but the Strip and downtown express (formally called the ace and/or gold line) runs the strip and downtown in about half the time, as it makes very limited stops, I beleive only 4 stops the entire strip, plus paying when you board is eliminated, which speeds things up. You purchase ticket/pass on platform before boarding and then just get on when boarding without even showing ticket/pass. Someone on board (not the driver) may come around during the trip and ask to see proof of purchase (ticket or pass) but in most cases no one checks. If they do and you don't have pass/ticket there is a $50 fine, although I have never seen it imposed, just a warning. There are 2 other public transportation, fast alternatives from strip to downtown. 1.) from the lower (southern) end of strip you can catch the airport express line at tropicana and las vegas blvd. It jumps on the freeway and makes 1 stop at outlet mall before arriving downtown. It's about 12 minutes from tropicana to fremont. 2.) from upper (northern) strip you can catch the centenial express at Sands Blvd and las vegas blvd. (fashion show mall and treasure Island) It also jusmps on the freeway and makes 1 stop at Las vegas premium outlets before arriving downtown. Trip time is about 8 minutes. These are both 'residential' routes which have lower fares than the duece or strip express. Single trip $2, $1 for seniors/disabled. all passes are accepted as well.

I might add this airport line is a cheap alternative to the airport as well from the lower strip, (MGM, Tropicana, Excaliber, Luxor, NY NY, ect) $2 and takes 5 minutes as opposed to $25-$30 cab rides. From downtown it is still $2 but takes about 15 minutes. takes you right to airport.

For those extremely thrifty travelers with extra time, you can always catch the free Sam's town shuttle from Harrah or Riveria to Sam's Town and then exchange to the free shuttle from sam's town to Fremont. If you time it perfectly it will take an hour but most times you will have some layover time making the trip an hour and a half to 2 hours.

Wow! I'm impressed at how soon you have become a seasoned veteran. I look forward to my permanent residency.

 

[ChefJJ]

From what I've read, they won't rent you a car if you do not have insurance of your own. As I said, I have no personal experiance with them, just passing along what I've read on the LVA and Frequent Flier boards.

The first time I rented from Payless, they wanted to see my insurance information but I had it with me. The 3 times I've rented from them after that they've just asked if I still am insured with xxxxx and don't give me much of a hassle.

However, the couple in front of us at the counter were denied a rental because they did not have proof of insurance and did not want to pay for the company's expensive coverage. This was Payless, and it's been a while since I've rented from an Enterprise, Hertz, etc.


Aslan - I too am extremely impressed by KJ's detailed breakdown. Thanks, KJ for your knowledge :joker:

 

[kewljason]

Wow! I'm impressed at how soon you have become a seasoned veteran. I look forward to my permanent residency.

Well guys, I have lived here for 15 months now. The first 12 without a car, so I learned the transit system as best I could. Just trying to pass on any little tidbits that I can that may be useful to others, not as familiar. Las Vegas is difficult to navigate with or without a vehicle. Now that I own a vehicle, I still don't use it for running around the strip or downtown areas. Too much hassle with parking and traffic.

 

[shadroch]

No it doesn't.

Both shuttles are free, but most people tip your shuttle driver so two shuttles means four tips roundtrip. It also means twice the hassle with your bags, ect, ect.