Renting cars

We're thinking of renting a car when we are in Las Vegas. What is the best value? Is it preferable to rent directly at the airport, or is it better at your hotel?

Also, do most of the major hotels let you keep your car on their property for free (when you are staying there or just gambling there)?

Vehicle insurance - is that expensive, or it that included in the vehicle rental cost?

 

not sure about insurance since your from Canada... but most hotel casino offer free valet (usually tip around $2-$3). On my last trip i booked it thru Expedia (with hotel and room) and I got an awesome deal 8 days for $177 w/ taxes full size car or small suv @ Enterprise at the airport. I am from ny so coverage extends right over from my own insurance free of charge.. Althought i was staying at Elara which is not a hotel there was a $15 valet fee but free self parking... Most casinos downtown charge for parking, except for golden nugget valet..

 

Which province are you in? I am in MB and our insurance is not private so i have to buy separate insurance. I do not remember what it was when we went to Florida but much much cheaper than getting it at the rental agency. I would check with your insurance company. Ours covers Canada only.

You can play around and check which option is cheaper. I prefer convenience and when you add in getting to the hotel it probably is no cheaper, if not more expensive.

I am going to do valet, most places it is free, and will tip 2 each time.

 

Thanks joeynym and sweetcanadian. I live in BC, so the insurance company is a crown corporation (ICBC).

I'll check with my credit card company and ICBC.

 

Your message sounds like it is your first trip to Las Vegas, but your information says you've been there before. You didn't mention what hotel you are planning to stay at. For a first trip I would not suggest renting a car, especially if you plan to stay on the strip. Traffic on and around the strip can be horrendous. You can always travel up and down the strip on the bus, which also gets you downtown (Freemont St.) if you wish to go there. If you are planning a day seeing sites and visiting outlying casinos, you can probably rent a car at whatever hotel you are staying at. I think virtually all of the major resorts have car rental available. It might be slightly more expensive than at the airport, but for a shorter time you will probably save some money.

You will need to check with your auto insurance company to make sure you are covered down here. You will also find that parking is available about anywhere you want to go. Most all the strip properties have free self parking and valet. The Golden Nugget downtown has free valet, but it is frequently restricted to hotel guests only. We have used the Freemont Hotel valet, also free. Hope you have a wonderful trip.

 

Sounds like you have the insurance issue in hand. Buying insurance at the car rental desk is definitely a last resort. You will probably want to refuse the CDW (collision damage waiver). Some credit card issuers will cover you for the CDW if you use their card to pay for the rental. Inspect the car carefully before you leave the lot. Note to the agent at the gate as well as take pictures of any minor damage. Car damage scams occur occasionally in Las Vegas. Dollar tried it on me once.

I never valet park, but that decision is up to each individual. Free parking is almost always available.

You get a better rate by reserving the car well in advance and then checking back at your agency and others every few weeks to see if prices have changed. I always pick up my car at the car rental facility or at the Fox office if I use Fox. For one thing, there will be more cars to choose from than what you get at the hotel. As one example, what if the car you are offered is smoky inside and no others of that type are available?

No idea how much more complicated the process is for Canadians- I hope it's no big deal.

Driving in Las Vegas is not a major problem so long as one assumes all the other drivers are morons. If you decide to rent, post again here with any questions you may have about getting to your hotel or navigating to other destinations.

 

Here's my booking at $19 per day (insurance via creditcard):

***************************************************
Thank you for doing business with AutoRentals.com!

Your reservation has been confirmed.

RESERVATION DETAILS

Fox Rent A Car Confirmation .....

Pick Up Date: Dec 8, 2013 5:30 PM

Pick Up Location:
Las Vegas - McCarran Intl (LAS) 8801 SOUTH LAS VEGAS BLVD OFF AIRPORT LAS VEGAS, NV 89123, US

Drop Off Date: Dec 13, 2013 2:00 PM

Drop Off Location:
Las Vegas - McCarran Intl (LAS) 8801 SOUTH LAS VEGAS BLVD OFF AIRPORT LAS VEGAS, NV 89123, US

Vehicle Type: Intermediate, Hyundai Elantra or Similar
(Make/model cannot be guaranteed)
Features: Automatic, A/C, 2 / 4 doors, 5 passengers, 5 bags, Unlimited Mileage

Pre-Tax Rental Cost: $62.95
Estimated Taxes and Fees: $31.76
TOTAL ESTIMATED CHARGES: $94.71

 

You got a deal.

Unless things have changed rental from Fox involves two shuttle rides: one to the rental center and a second to the Fox lot on the South Strip. It's not a big deal because you're getting closer to where you probably want to be, and the Fox lot is easy to find.

Cars at Fox are not the greatest but they are okay.

 

Thanks for all the responses; I'm sure others will benefit from this information too.

Another question: we're now thinking of renting at Avis at Mandalay Bay. I'm thinking that the rates for rentals will be higher than renting right at the airport. Is that correct?

And for those that are interested, we have been to Las Vegas several times, but have never rented a car.

 

I is easy enough to check the difference in rates. Simply get on the Avis web site and get a price quote from the Mandalay Bay location. The daily rate may be a bit more, but if you don't need the car for your entire stay renting for fewer days may save you some money. There is also the convenience of being able to pick up and drop off the car at the hotel. I would suspect there is also reserved parking at the hotel for the rental cars.

 

Thanks KazooTom, I have already checked the rate differences. I wonder if there is negotiation room at the Avis desk.

Thanks again for all the info.

 

I like renting at the airport rental spot and using Alamo Insider.

You shuttle there right outside baggage claim then go straight to the car you want. No desk.

Another option is Hotwire and Priceline.

 

Thanks for that, any idea what would is the preferred/most popular agency?

Haven't used autorental.com before but it's pretty slick so far. the different agencies were all close in price and reserving is just name/phone/email with pay at pickup.

 

Busyman, I am also an Alamo Insider member and use Alamo almost exclusively in Las Vegas. When you bypass the desk and go to the car, where do you get your paperwork?

 

When I rented a car from Alamo earlier this month I checked in online for my rental and printed out the paperwork before leaving for my flight. Then once I got to the rental place, skip the Alamo desk, go up to the garage and show the folks your paperwork, they direct you to the aisle with your car class, grab the car you want and drive over to the exit booth where the guy will look over your paperwork as well as take your drivers license and credit card, and then you're off! Really easy. I wouldn't rent a car from a place without the skip the desk option.

 

Original pp, in MB our insurance corporation is also a crown corp. i went there today and for 9 days it will be $78 and for 5 it will be $50 so only $28 more for 4 additional days. Depending on rates i may just go with the 9 days, even if the car stays parked a day or 2 it would still be worth it to me.

 

You print it at home. That's basically your pass to leave the prem (it has a barcode).

I think it's crap that a Ford Focus is considered a full-size car same as an Impala but that's another argument.

I print EVERYTHING (airline, hotel, rental car, shows, groupons) at home and keep it in my laptop bag (use it as my personal item on the plane).

 

I don't remember them asking for my CC.

 

thanks for the replies. I knew that check in on line was possible, but I've used the kiosks upon arrival in the past. I'd never done the on line check in, but will for this trip. I have had good success getting the lot person to provide a vehicle upgrade, but it's been two years since we've been there. Are the lot people still as generous as before?

 

Can't say how things work with autorental.com. I have used Hotwire, but Hotwire is generally not competitive in Las Vegas. I don't use a middleman when renting in Vegas.

If autorental.com can get you a car from one of the big agencies like Hertz for not much more than the rate you're getting from Fox, you might want to switch. You'll get a newer, better maintained car in most cases.