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Cab or shuttle?

Discussion in 'Getting There & Getting Around' started by DonnyC, Mar 11, 2013.

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  1. DonnyC

    DonnyC VIP Whale

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    Going from the McCarran airport to the Golden Nugget:

    Fastest?

    Cheapest?

    Then spending my other nights at Bally's...so I guess I'll have to cab there.

    Why not take a 1 way rental car? Done it before...its a hassle, can't drink on the plain or before I switch hotels the next morning.
     
  2. captainron62

    captainron62 VIP Whale

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    Pick up a freelance limo driver! Best money I spend. Don't take a shuttle unless you hate yourself and don't value vac time.
     
  3. DonnyC

    DonnyC VIP Whale

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    Those are those guys just waiting in line right? Only 2 of us, so we could do a sedan.

    I think the price is comparable to a cab (if we go sedan) but then with tip $20 we probably end up close to a $70 bill, whereas a cab woudl have been $35 + tip - I tip less for cabs than private transport.

    Are these numbers about accurate?
     
  4. captainron62

    captainron62 VIP Whale

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    Pretty accurate numbers. Last trip we paid $45 plus tip for a 10 pass limo. There were 5 of us, so great deal.

    That was to Bally's.

    DT to ballys should be about 20 for a cab.
     
  5. numeno

    numeno VIP Whale

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    Where does one go to get one of these limos? Are you going up to a driver or are you going up to some stand where they say if they have a car or not?

    Will they say a price or do you have to negotiate?
     
  6. Jimbo338

    Jimbo338 VIP Whale

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    shuttle about $8.50 1 WAY; I took one to downtown and time was 45 minutes with one stop at Orleans first. WAX bus runs about once an hour at groune zero, cost is $2.00 and took 28 minutes. Cab to Ogden took about 30 minutes and abut $28 with tip.

    Jimbo338
     
  7. LadyShaye

    LadyShaye Low-Roller

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    Only took a shuttle once...it was by far the longest ride EVER! I'm sure the anticipation of starting vacation didn't help any...but I have grabbed a cab every trip since then just for my own "peace"ful ride.
     
  8. Reston

    Reston VIP Whale

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    You can get a feel for current rates here:

    http://taxi.nv.gov/Rider_Info/Approximate_Minimum_Rates_-_McCarran_Airport_to_Las_Vegas_Strip_Hotels/

    My last cab downtown was closer to $30 than $25 as I recall. If I were driving, I'd take surface streets (Paradise to Main St.) or Tropicana to 15. Your taxi driver will likely try to tunnel you. Maybe a bit faster (and maybe not) but definitely more expensive.

    Personally, I avoid the shuttle from airport to downtown. You might get lucky, or you might get hauled all over the place (like various North Strip and off-strip properties) before you ever make it downtown.

    Depends on when you arrive, but that WAX bus from the airport to downtown is awesome. Buy your brother a nice dinner with the money you'll save.
     
    Last edited: Mar 11, 2013
  9. smartone

    smartone VIP Whale

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    Amen brutha! :nworthy:
     
  10. Auggie

    Auggie Dovahkiin

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    At baggage claim if you look at the signs above the doors one will list limos.

    You can step outside and if there are any limos for hire there will be drivers with their cars waiting outside. Most should have a sign, either in front of their car or on the windshield, that will list rates.
     
  11. PopMegaphone

    PopMegaphone VIP Whale

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    Yup, this.
     
  12. DonnyC

    DonnyC VIP Whale

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    I think the WAX will be a little bit too slow for us. We land a few minutes before the hour and after we get my bag I anticipated to behalf after the hour.

    Can you take big luggage on the bus?
     
  13. Jimbo338

    Jimbo338 VIP Whale

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    Donny,
    There is plenty of room for luggage, I guess it's pretty much anticipated since it is an airport bus. I have never ridden it with more than perhaps half a dozen people on board. Can't beat the cost.....2.00 or 1.00 for us old folks. My 2010 schedules has it runnng about every hour just after the hour and a few on the half hour added on weekdays. You can check the schedule at RTC.

    Lots of people don't like to wait but after 6 hours on a plane and layover times I find it nice to relax outside in the fresh air, or, sometimes grabbing a bite to eat or a coffee so I don't mind the wait. Other times I grab the 108 or 109. 108 has a stop on Fremont and both stop at the Transfer station where yu can grab one of several buses that head downtown. This would prob be a pain with luggage tho. These buses run more frequently

    Jimbo338
     
  14. DonnyC

    DonnyC VIP Whale

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    How long does the actual ride take to get downtown on the WAX? Staying at the Golden Nugget.
     
  15. Iu25

    Iu25 High-Roller

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    Last time I took a shuttle, it never came to pick us up. We had already paid for the return trip, but they said it was delayed. Over an hour later, still no shuttle. We finally grabbed a cab and got through the airport just in time for our flight! Last time I ever took a shuttle, and won't ever again!
     
  16. teacher1

    teacher1 Low-Roller

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    We have ridden it a couple times, I'm going to guesstimate the time was 25min. It will drop you off on Carson St., a half block from the GN east entrance, near the check-in desk. Very convenient when we took it and stayed at the GN.
     
  17. DonnyC

    DonnyC VIP Whale

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    Well we are staying in the Gold Tower, but we can just walk through the casino.

    25 minutes is probably similar to the time of a cab ride, so we might head down to the zero level for the bus and give it a few minutes.

    The website says that in peak hours it runs every 1/2 hour. we will be landing at 4:50ish...anyone know if that is peak hours?
     
  18. DMSCR

    DMSCR High-Roller

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    If you are heading to Vegas by yourself then a shuttle would be the choice. Costs $7 each way as opposed to $40 with a cab. Yet if you are traveling with a group of buddies then you are better off with a cab.
     
  19. Kc4400

    Kc4400 Tourist

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    Shuttle was one of the worst travel experiences ever. Never again. The guy drove under 30 the entire time and I think we stopped everywhere (and we were not his first stop). Have taken a cab ever since then with no issues. Sometimes there is a big line for cabs, but it moves quickly.
     
  20. Jimbo338

    Jimbo338 VIP Whale

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    I timed it at 28 minutes so we are all pretty close. A cab ride won't be much, if any faster, but the price sure won't be $2.00!
    You land a few minutes before the hour but you will have to exit the plane and make your way to the carousels and wait for luggage. When you get your luggage I'm sure you have killed close to half an hour. Hailing a cab if there is a line may be a bit so by the time you get in, the bus will be getting pretty close. I have an old schedule and it runs just after the hour most of the day and part of the day on the half hour. You didn't say what part of the day you are arriving (the hour).

    That being said, if there are 3 of you and one is in her 80's, I think your best bet would be a taxi unless you decide to get a rental. I hate taxis and I don't like rental cars. However, eash of us has a different set of circumstances as well as preferences, and I think in your case a taxi or rental may be the easiest option.

    My 2010 bus schedule shows the WAX running about every 25-28 minutes til 9am, then every hour til 3:32 back to every half hour or so til 6:08, then back to hourly.

    Jimbo338
     
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