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Very short cab trip advice?

Discussion in 'Getting There & Getting Around' started by jamesxnj, Apr 2, 2013.

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  1. jamesxnj

    jamesxnj VIP Whale

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    Hi, the reason I am asking is that during my next trip I will need to move from the Rio to the Gold Coast and back again and I have a bad leg..That short walk across Valley View road takes me awhile esp. with a suitcase and other small bag.I have to stop a couple of times and it's getting to the point every trip I should just bite the bullet and cab it,realize I am not as young as I was.etc

    But I hear the cabbies dislike short trips like this,wondering what the minimum fare is when you get in the cab and a decent enough tip for the driver should be? Does $10 sound about right or will it take a $20 ? (Then I'll walk :))

    Thanks !
     
  2. mike_m235

    mike_m235 Tourist

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    They don't have a choice. They may not like it, but they can't refuse the fare. I once took a cab from Monte Carlo to MGM (which ironically took 20 minutes). It was hot out and my wife was dressed nicely.
     
  3. split10's?

    split10's? Low-Roller

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    I got some attitude once from a cabbie when i was going from the Plaza to Cashman Field for a 51's baseball game. He was trying to not start the meter, i was hungover and running late for the game so he got some attitude right back...;)

    maybe ask the bellmen too?
     
  4. tatterdema

    tatterdema VIP Whale

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    I would think a $5 tip should be plenty. It is not like they are taking you somewhere unusual. They will just park at the other hotel until they get a fare from there. Once in Reno I hailed a cab to go to another casino because I had no idea where it was. The driver looked at me like I was crazy when I told him. Turned out it was only a block away (short block) across the river. We got a good laugh out of it though.
     
  5. Dobber2320

    Dobber2320 Tourist

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    I was with a group of guys one time and there was a large member of our party (easy 4 spins) - he got in a cab at Bills and took it to the Mirage across the street.

    It was July and was 110 outside and he did not want to walk. Still says it was the best $10 ever spent.
     
  6. Marky147

    Marky147 VIP Whale

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    I have MS which causes problems for me walking so I get cabs everywhere and have had some interesting conversations with drivers.

    Once I wanted a cab from the Mirage to Caesars and he drove off as I was trying to get in :grrr:


    I have a simple approach to paying cab drivers in Vegas...

    The ones who complain get the correct fare and the ones who don't get a nice tip :)
     
  7. gambler

    gambler VIP Whale

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    Last month we took a cab from Venetian to MGM (because of a sore knee) for $10 plus tip. We apologized to the driver for the short distance but he had no problem with the quick trip. I think they are used to it in Vegas.

    Tatterdema - was that the Sienna? We played there one night and the staff recommended, almost insisted, we take a cab back to the Eldorado because of the black zone over the bridge. After waking the cab driver, we had to promise and show him a $20 bill before he'd even start the cab for our $6 ride. Well, we all know how well the tourism business is working for Reno these days!

    I'm pretty sure Vegas cab driver's know better than that. A $5 tip would be nice.
     
  8. tatterdema

    tatterdema VIP Whale

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    Haha. Yes, it was the Sienna. I was outside the back door of the Cal Neva. This was about 10 years ago. Reno has definately seen better days. My last trip to Reno was about 6 months ago during Burning Man. That was interesting. I had always wanted to go to Burning Man until I saw how absolutely filthy the people were that were coming back. They seriously had an inch of dust caked on them. I doubt I will be going back to Reno anytime soon, as airfare and hotel rates are so high these days. I can go to Vegas for less.
     
  9. Nittany1

    Nittany1 VIP Whale

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    Maybe I'm confused but the Venetian to MGM is probably longer than most cab rides in Vegas.
    I've cabbed from Venetian to Aria!
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 2, 2013
  10. Sonya

    Sonya Queen of VMB

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    Yeah, Venetian to MGM seems reasonable to me. I once stumbled into a taxi and asked to go to Cosmo. I was at Bellagio. :kill: OOPSIE! I gave the driver a big tip and apologized for being too drunk.
     
  11. gambler

    gambler VIP Whale

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    It was the first time on the strip for me so I didn't know that. No wonder the cabby wasn't bothered then.

    Now that's a good one Sonya! :nworthy:
     
  12. TheDirty

    TheDirty Tourist

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    Not to derail the thread.. But how do you guys figure your tips to the can drivers?
     
  13. smartone

    smartone VIP Whale

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    I'm not sure many posters do tip their cab drivers? Judging by many of the posts over various threads, the cabbie's are lucky to get the metered fare. This board shows little love towards that industry. I tip about 20% of the metered fare... for a short trip, nothing less than a $5.
     
  14. gambler

    gambler VIP Whale

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    We're similar to Smartone. When in Vegas, we calculate 10% because it's easy to do and then add more based on our mood. If he tunnels us after being told not to, we give 10% and nothing extra. If he's pleasant and makes the ride a tour, we might add $5-10 on to the fare. Our normal rides are long and always seem to be $40 so $50 works for us.

    I play $10 blackjack so I look at it as giving away one bet for a ride. It's not much in the scheme of things.

    We have been in cabs that reek of dope, we've been driven by driver's intent on getting wherever in 5 minutes and we've had drivers that have never spoken. There are a few miserable cab drivers out there but 80% of our drivers have made our trip more enjoyable rather than less. I think never less than $5 is reasonable.
     
  15. Royal Flusher

    Royal Flusher Savvy Gambler

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    If its a really short ride, when I tell the cabbie the destination I always say, "Don't worry, I'll take care of you."


    And then when I reach the destination, 3 blocks away, I rock them a bit and read from one of my Little Golden Books.


    Not really - I give them a ridiculous tip, percentage wise. Like if it was a $7 fare, I'd lay on a $7 to $10 tip.
     
  16. gerry53

    gerry53 VIP Whale

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    we got tired of waiting for a bus in the summer heat beside nyny to go to orleans so we finally jumped in a cab.

    the driver grumbled under his breath the whole way there and the fare was 9 bucks or so.

    we gave him a couple dollars extra and he seemed to be ok then.
     
  17. hoochiemama

    hoochiemama Low-Roller

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    We found out first hand that cabbies don't like short trips. I didn't think it would be a big deal since they can get another fare quicker, but I guess sometimes the cab lines can get pretty long.

    Anyways, we were staying at the Venetian and heading to Harrah's Improv for some comedy. We had quite the afternoon of drinks here and there:beer:. I think my wife was wearing heels and was in absolutely no mood (or shape) to walk. Not really realizing the distance we just got in the cab line.

    Once it was our turn, we told the door opener guy that we were going to Harrah's. He said: "you know that's right next door sir". I simply replied kind of embarrassed: "Yes. we know". Being naive I thought maybe he was just trying to save us a few bucks, but then he apologized to the cabbie and told him he could come back into the front of the line so I guess he felt bad for him.

    I don't remember what the fare or tip was, but at that moment, whatever it was, it was worth every penny :cheers:.
     
  18. VegasSteven

    VegasSteven Low-Roller

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    I once asked a cabbie to take me from Fremont St. to the Stratosphere and he flipped out. Started banging his hands on the steering wheel, telling me I was wasting his time.

    I chose another cab.

    And since then, I've made that trip with many other cabs and never had an issue. You just never know.
     
  19. nostresshere

    nostresshere Mr. Anti Debit Card

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    For those dragging bags to the next hotel... a little tip.

    I assume at least your larger bag has wheels. Strap the 2nd bag so that is sits low on the main bag. It will counterbalance the whole thing making it much easier to pull. Do NOT, repeat, do NOT put it on top of the main bag near the handle. It only makes the whole thing very heavy.

    If you do this right, it is very easy to pull.
     
  20. mike_m235

    mike_m235 Tourist

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    MGM to venetian isn't a short trip...I wouldn't ever walk that. Of course I debate walking Mirage to Venetian.
     
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