"Don't Take the Tunnel??"

Hubs and I have been to Vegas twice -- and got married there last year -- but both times, we drove.

We are flying in December for the first time. I've never been on a plane (hick, right?), and hubby hasn't been on one since he was a kid.

Anyway, I see the classic advice..."Don't let your cabbie take you 'through the tunnel.'"

My question is...are you supposed to say something as soon as you get in? Like, "Hey, man. I know you cabbies are scammers, but you ain't scamming us! I've been online, and I know that we shouldn't be going through any damn tunnel!"

Or what?

 

This should be in the getting around section, but here's the "tip".

You just tell them where you're going, and no tunnel.... So like "Cosmo please, and no tunnel."
Don't start accusing them of scamming you before you even get in. They can still long haul ya even if they don't take the highway.

 

In May when we were in the cab, I said Paris, via Paradise and the cabbie said, "I know how to do my job, you don't need to tell me".

 

Yeah you'll always get a grumpy one or one that takes it bad. But, they should know better than anyone how bad long hauling is out there

 

Damn! You're right. I always post in the wrong forum by accident....sorry.

 

You owe us all a drink then.

 

Know how much it should cost using http://www.taxifarefinder.com. Then when you get in add $5 buck to the anticipated price and ask the guy if that will cover it. If not don't get in. I usually just say, it's $21 to bally's here's $25 is that good? And he makes it in $19.

 

I have found that the cab drivers will ask a question to try to get you to authorize them to take the tunnel. They will usually say something like "You want the quickest way" or tell you "there is a lot of traffic on the strip and the freeway will be quicker."

 

I always find it a bit smoother to just say hotel name and 'cheapest way' please. Seems to go over less like accusing them of something they have not yet done.

 

I think the less said the better, but when I am flying in alone and don't rent a car, I'll say something like "Ballys, please, take Paradise" confidently and assertively. I've never had any push-back that I can remember. Sometime I've gotten "You come here often?" to which I'll answer "Yes, about once a month, usually on business", which is pushing it a bit but arguably mostly true.

I've never been long-hauled in LV (SD is another Story!) but over the years I've learned many of the shortcuts and sneak routes from the taxi drivers. The worst I can actually remember in LV was having a driver who yapped non-stop, loudly, on his cell phone in some (Balto-Slavic?) language which I could not identify.

 

This isn't a bad idea. I basically had a cabbie propose this to me once on the way back to McCarran after I said something like take "Paradise" from the old IP. He says don't worry about the meter if I paid him $20 (which is what I roughly planned on after tip). He got there pretty efficiently and I gave him $21 in the end.

 

Waiting, waiting...for Smartone to reply. :evillaugh

 

Anyone who's there from December 7th-15th can get one!

 

I don't mind if the cabbie makes that comment. I would rather a cabbie know that I know about the scam than to have him try to scam me.

I've been long hauled before in vegas as well as in San Fran and even Honolulu. Once in vegas the cabbie said that there was construction on paradise and proceeded to go down the Las Vegas Blvd on a busy Saturday night. I checked with a friend who was on paradise (he was going elsewhere) and said that it was clear sailing. When I got to my destination I gave the cabbie the exact fare. He commented on a tip, and I told him "tip? next time don't rip off your customer!".

 

No need for a lot of extra bullshit. Just say (hotel name), surface streets please.

 

the cabbies who long haul also wish that everyone had your attitude. Easier for them to make more money off of you.

 

I think you are completely misinterpreting my comment.

Frankly, I'm miffed. I edited out the tip.

 

One trip, going to Bellagio, cabbie began a tirade after we politely said we're going to Bellagio, but no tunnel please - needless to say it was not the most pleasant ride. (wimpy spouse still tipped normal).
Another going to Venetian, cabbie took us via Paradise, but then crossed over to the strip at hauled us all the way up the strip, long, slow, hit every light ride, and it cost almost twice as much.
I will say, those were the exceptions, the vast majority are above board and pleasant, in our experience.

 

Yes, they often say freeway is quicker if you tell them to take Paradise or something similar. That's why I stick with 'cheapest way'.

Its worth noting that the freeway often IS faster, which is also why it happens so much. They don't just make some extra on the fare, they get to move on to the next fare quicker. The 'pick your route but this is the total I'm paying' approach is thus a decent one. But I have the same issue with it as with saying 'no tunnel'. It feels like you are pre-emptively accusing them.

 

My favorite is when they try to get very specific. I've had drivers tell me, "There's lots of construction on Harmon, traffic has been at a standstill all week." And of course, there's nothing there when we actually go that route at my insistence. If you're going to lie, at least do it in a way where you have plausible deniability. Say there's an accident, and then claim that it must have just cleared up... at least then you could maybe do it with a straight face, you know?