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Not always the tunnel to long haul.

Discussion in 'Getting There & Getting Around' started by djen, Nov 27, 2012.

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  1. djen

    djen Low-Roller

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    So I tell cab driver, take me to the Cosmopolitan and no tunnel. So what does he do? He somehow loops around out of the new terminal at the airport and the cap fare is about 8 bucks before leaving the airport. Then he takes Swenson up to Flamingo and as we approach Bally's a couple lanes are closed, causing a backup in traffic, basicly a stand still as the meter runs and runs. In the mean time I am in the back seat looking up suggested rates on my phone and the fare had already exceeded the low end. At this point it is about 18 bucks, and we are not moving.

    Finally I ask him where he is taking me and tell him, to make the u-turn to get out of this stand still traffic and go behind the casinos to Harmon and to the Cosmo. He tries to tell me traffic in this town and how difficult it all is. It was 9:30 in the morning, I have been to this town enough to know that, there is little traffic at this time and a quick route out of the airport would have been even Tropicana to the The Strip to Harmon. Or Paradise to Harmon.

    Final fare was $27.10 which I ask how much, and he repeats and tells me about traffic. I should have raised more of a stink, filed a complaint and all. I do know I could have stiffed him the entire amount, yet I did not want to get that into it. I paid him the $27.10 and not a penny more. If he would of simply driven the route I would of tipped 4-5 bucks for a quick cab ride.

    So beware the tunnel is not the only way to long haul.

    By the way there was no traffic on the route the driver should have taken.
     
  2. Joe Strummer

    Joe Strummer VIP Whale

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    I know the feeling.
    .
    After being "Long Hauled" ( many years ago ) -
    I threw the cabfare money at the cab driver's
    upper chest - as we were both standing outside the cab -
    the money blew all over.
    I turned + walked away......but if he wanted to take it
    any further I was more than willing.
     
  3. dmr

    dmr Registered Abuser

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    I really think they are doing some very creative long-hauling, thinking that the Great Unwashed Masses think that they get a fair rate if they do not go via the tunnel.
     
  4. mike mc

    mike mc High-Roller

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    Be there in 3 weeks If I say Planet Hollywood, Via Swenson to Harmon /:nono: No tunnel they have to take it, am I right ? or is there a better route
     
  5. smartone

    smartone VIP Whale

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    Tell 'em no tunnel, step on it and if there's any traffic... you expect them to cut over and drive on the sidewalk!!! C'mon, really... I think some of you are taking this cab "thing" to an extreme!
     
  6. C0usineddie

    C0usineddie VIP Whale

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    You insisted on not taking the tunnel so you got what you wanted.

    Here is why you were charged what you were charged.

    The high/ low guidelines dont factor in traffic accidents or construction.

    http://www.lvcabs.com/taxi_cab_fares/index.html
     
  7. nubia11

    nubia11 Low-Roller

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    I've had a couple of creative rides from the airport recently when requesting surface streets. Neither added a significant amount to the fare but I knew we were going on a longer route then needed. In one instance, I actually requested a specific route and the guy decides to ignore me and get on Las Vegas Boulevard in crazy traffic. Uh, what???

    Earlier this year, I also had a driver tell my husband and I that surface streets to the Flamingo were going to take at least one hour with traffic. This was at 8pm on a Thursday. We relayed how often we come and let him know that we've never paid more than $20 to include tip to get there and, shockingly, he managed to get us there for $15. I was pissed that he tried to screw us but he still got the $20 bill.

    It's unfortunate but, I've come to expect the runaround from Las Vegas cab drivers when coming from the airport. Particularly over the past few years it seems that, majority of the time we take a cab, the driver will at least attempt to take the long route whether they state it, blame traffic, construction, Steve Wynn's voice, whatever. Its gotten so common that we may stick to car service from now on just to avoid the frustration. May seem silly to some as it costs more but I hate starting my vacation feeling like someone is trying to jerk me around.

    Over the years, I've met lots of great cab drivers and I have no doubt that there are lots of straight shooting, ethical folks on the streets of Las Vegas everyday but, as far as the airport goes, I no longer trust that its possible to get in a cab and not have to micro manage what should typically be a very straightforward trip. Makes me a little sad.

    Maybe, someday, the whole mess of a system will get fixed and some drivers will no longer feel the need to stretch the meter. I know, I know...
     
  8. mike_m235

    mike_m235 Tourist

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    Personally I take the tunnel if I'm anywhere but south strip. It's faster, most of the time.
     
  9. theshaah

    theshaah High-Roller

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    The solution we are seeking is called MONORAIL!!! But NOOOOOO everytime they talk about extending the monorail to the airport the cab drivers hoot and holler and raise hell and it goes away. They lobby and throw money at this problem. In the past 8 years on my trips to vegas I think I've been in a taxi cab TWICE. To me they add a HUGE expense to the cost of my trip and they almost all seem to try to rip you off. Now there are a few bad apples in every bunch but I'd much rather take the bus where I know my fare is going to be cheap and the transportation cost won't inch upwards if there is traffic.

    This post is posted by someone who has ridden the bus almost his entire 11 year vegas career and I've lost count of how many trips I've been on. I have YET to rent a car in las vegas.
     
  10. Nevyn

    Nevyn VIP Whale

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    I know that the commonly held belief is that the evil cab companies have blocked monorail to the airport. But while they obviously object to the idea, I don't see any evidence that is the case.

    The monorail is NOT city owned or operated. Its operated by a private non-profit. That group has political permission to look into expanding to McCarran (at least according to wikipedia). What they don't have is a plan or financing to do it.

    And given the financial mess that the existing line has been, getting that financing could be tough.

    As far as I can tell, the cab companies have not blocked anything. No need to lobby against something until there's at least a realistic plan to do it.
     
  11. gerry53

    gerry53 VIP Whale

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    last trip in september when we arrived at out hotel I bitched the driver out for not taking the tunnel.

    you should have seen the look on his face before I started laughing.
     
  12. zamboni

    zamboni VIP Whale

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    RENT A CAR. Problems solved. Parking is free and the possibilities of things you can do while you are in town are ENDLESS. Rental cars are practically given away in Vegas- the taxes aren't, but after working for a rental car company in Minneapolis and Kansas City, they aren't anywhere. We had weekday rates in Minneapolis close to $100, Vegas is a fraction of that.
     
  13. AndyAkeko

    AndyAkeko Time magazine's 2006 Person of the Year

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    Seconded. We always used to cab it, but after the first time we rented we wondered why we held out for so long. Even though the airport fees are a pain, the car rental price per day is usually the cost of one cab fare from the airport to the strip, or one trip from the strip to downtown. So a four day rental is the same as a return trip to the airport and a return trip downtown, anything else we use the car for is gravy.

    Then again, my wife and I aren't huge drinkers and obviously one of us has to be sober if we're going out. We're also over 25 and our car insurance policy covers rentals (it's something like $1.25 extra a month, a huge savings compared to what car rental agencies try to sell you).
     
  14. hanoscf

    hanoscf High-Roller

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    I think the decision to rent a car depends on how long you're in Vegas.
     
  15. ez369

    ez369 High-Roller

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    and more importantly.. how much one has been drinking on the plane before they land in vegas. lol :beer:

    I've rented a car twice for the duration of my trip and was never a fan of how much earlier I'd have to leave the casino to account for time to drive out to the rental center to drop off the car, shuttle it to the terminal, etc. That, and my state of mine upon landing in Vegas usually prevent me from renting at the airport!
     
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