what's your take on renting a car?

wife and I have rented a car a few times in vegas and it was nice.

now wife has passed and I am considering a car for my solo week in july
but undecided if it is a good idea.

being solo it may bug me more having to watch what I drink visiting different places

. the car is around $250 with gas and insurance so I could take a few cabs and buy bus passes instead.

what are others opinions on the car idea?

 

If you plan on drinking I would take a cab or the bus IMO!

Tim

 

I guess where do you want to go might determine the answers. And of course the amount of drinking!

 

Where are you staying and what sights are you planning on catching this trip? Really comes down to whats convenient and if you're ok with limiting drinks when visiting other casinos in your car.

Id end up with a DUI if I rented a car in Vegas so I go the bus/cab route.

 

I personally LOVE to just make my way down the strip stopping in each place to gamble, shop, eat, whatever as I go. I LOVE exploring Vegas this way. When you are in the car you really miss something that you get by being out in the the action and walking. Being solo is the only way to do this though since whoever is with me is rarely as nomadic and flexible.

I'd think for a solo trip it might be even more fun to do without a car.

 

For many trips we took a car. Then I figured out it was more hassle than it was worth.

I DETEST/HATE/DESPISE taking that stupid shuttle to the rental car lot. Then there is the long walk from the parking lot at the hotel, or long wait for Valet with a half dozen people wanting a tip.

Then the drinking.. it happens.

Now we walk lots, or take a cab.

 

We get a rental car for trips during the day, and then cab for dinner/drinking/debauchery at night. It's very handy, but certainly not the least expensive option, especially since we usually rent something on the "fun" side (Hertz will guarantee certain muscle models like a Camero, Mustang, etc.) Usually there are at least a couple days we don't even use the car, just walk and use the trams or whatever.

Personally, I'd forego the rental car if I were in your circumstance. You're on vacation, let someone else drive!

 

If it is just you you should be able to find a car at a much lower rate probably 120_150 for the week. Personally, I like to move around and am constantly going downtown, off strip, etc so a car is mandatory.

 

Survivor, I have made more than a few trips solo for business and have rented a car out of pocket. During the day I enjoy driving to places like Pinball Hall of Fame, Atomic Testing, Rick's Restoration and the cactus garden at Ethel M (yes I am a nerd). I also like having lunch at the smaller local casinos or stopping at one I have not yet been. Early evening I will trek to a dive bar and have one or two drinks, then I park it back at my hotel and drink as much as I want. If you are staying during the summer (mid-week) think about picking up a dirt cheap crash-pad room downtown and park the car at the Nugget. I did that a couple of years ago at the old Fitz and had a great time.

 

Here's how we look at it. I constantly shop prices up to the week we leave. I rough out where we will go and try to compare between cabs and renting. We almost always switch hotels sometime during the trip that's at least three cab fares. Usually the car wins. If we are planing a drinking night out, the car stays at the hotel and it's a shuttle. Check Costco. I just got a car from Sunday through Friday for $103.00 out the door.

 

I wouldn't be in Vegas without a rental. I like to explore the valley too much. I like to see any and everything if I wish. And I cannot stand having to depend on others to get me there. I don't drink, so that's not an issue with me.

I, too, book my car months in advance and check for lower rates on my reservation every day up to my trip. I am now at 14.99 a day for my July rental from Dollar. Can't beat that!

I just love going from one end of the valley to the other in my own vehicle, on my own time, enjoying the sites along the way.

 

I rent a car maybe 1 out of 10 trips and I shop ahead for a good price.. Rented a car last week's trip (stayed at Bally's). I am drinker. so I drive around early in the day till early afternoon, park the car, THEN I drink and gamble.

Day 1: Went to Red Rock Canyon, Mt Charleston, had a meal way off strip, got back around 2pm, parked car

Day 2: Checked out new bridge at Hoover Dam, checked out the pinball place, had another meal, parked car

Day 3: Checked out the outlet mall (North), had a meal, played craps at MSS. gassed up the car, parked car, ready for early morning flight.

Day 4: Drove to rental car return, returned car, took shuttle to airport. Quick and easy

Total cost $94 including taxes.

I would probably not do it again for quite a while. I did save money and hassle over cabbing it and cheaper meals off strip and saw some of the sites which I had not seen before.

 

We either drive to Vegas or rent a car if we fly. Just like a lot of things about Vegas, you make it what you want it to be. Although you can reach a lot of off-strip destinations without a car, you are bound by the bus schedules or the cost of frequent cabs.

I enjoy eating at random non-casino, non-strip joints around town. I also enjoy the occasional hike at Red Rock. I don't think I would visit Vegas if all I did was stay in the casinos for all my meals.

 

It's personal, like everything bandied about here when it comes to how to "properly" do Vegas, and as compelling as one's argument might be for himself or herself, it could just be so much bunk for another.

I'd never do Vegas w/o a car. We go all over the valley and beyond, and don't want to be beholden to a transit system to try to get us from, say, Mandalay Bay to Sam's Town to Rampart to an afternoon tee time in Henderson. It's a time and convenience thing for us, not about saving a few bucks, and many places we go there is effectively no alternative to driving. If we know we're going to get a buzz on at dinner, we take a cab.

 

If I'm on business, I need a car. Period. Necessary evil.

If for pleasure, I find I enjoy the city better without one. Cost of the rental easily covers a few taxi rides per day.

However, lately it's been a strange situation. We've synchronized trips with a couple staying at Sams Town. We prefer to stay at the Four Corners area, close to the action. Taxi from Caesars to Sams Town and back is ex$pen$ive and one 2-way trip per day covers the cost of a rental car. A car is also handy if you want to do stuff like visit Lake Mead, Valley Of Fire, Red Rock Canyon, or just shopping at the outlets and such.

 

As others have mentioned, it all depends on what you want to do. If you visit areas away from your home hotel then a rental is a good idea. If you plan to stay on the strip and will only visit the strip properties then rental car not needed. If you worry about drinking and driving then better to not rent a car.

Another option would be to rent a car for only a day or two, that way you can use those days to go where ever. the other days you can drink and not worry about DUI's. $250 is kind of steep for rentals so unless you plan to use the car a lot I would recommend renting a car only for a few days or just use the cabs or buses.

I used to rent only for a few days but lately I've been renting a car for my whole stay. I don't drink as much, like to drive around (visit the old belz outlet, trader joes, galleria, etc) and found it was easier to just rent a car for my whole stay. I don't mind the airport shutle, I find it easy to just take the shuttle to get your car and return it back at the facility and take the bus back to the airport. that way I don't have to worry about transportation to/from the airport.

I think everyone has their own take on the rental versus no car. depends what you are comfortable with.

 

I have only rented a car on one trip a couple of years ago when I wanted to go out to the Shelby shop to see about making some modifications on my car by the Speedway and heard it was about a $50 cab ride each way. I hit some of the off strip casinos but it was not the same not being able to partake in some adult beverages while gaming. I doubt I would rent one again.
Mark

 

If you plan to go to Red Rock, MT. Charleston, Valley of Fire, Pahrump for legal brothels j/k or any other day trips, it's a good idea. The shuttle runs from the airport every 5 minutes 24-7. The rental cars are just south of the strip and east of the south outlet mall.(Warm Springs) Avoid renting from Fox as it is not onsite and once you get off the airport shuttle you have to take another one. Be careful though my friend got a DUI leaving Mandalay Bay. He didn't have a rental but drove here from Arizona so same difference. After a few to many at the foundation room he was driving back to the Bellagio and got pulled over right after he turned out of the parking lot. You may be better off with out it unless you want to do some daytime traveling. I like the cab, limo idea. On a side note I am a survivor fan as well and enjoyed this season. Glad Cochron won it and Dawn Meehan is off of twitter.

 

I take about 2 solo trips per year from UK, I usually rent for the week and costs about $250 fully inclusive for premium, crown vic, 300c or similar (-gas of course).

I find sometimes it is nice to get out of the casino and drive to places that you would never go to if you did not have a car. I also have a buddy who lives in henderson, so pop over there to see him and have a few beers, too many, and I leave the car and stop at his place (which happens 100% of the time )

This last trip I did not rent, and used cabs / monorail / shuttles, I dont think it was that much cheaper, prob saved $50 max, and I missed the freedom of just jumping in the car and taking off, next time, getting a car again!

 

We stay down town and watch for low rental car week rates. A cab ride there and back to the airport can be close to $30 each way so we figure even if we don't drive it much beyond that it is nice to have available! This time we are moving to the strip mid trip and can easily load and unload without messing with the bell clerk for the move and the later flight on the trip back. It also lets us do some long drives and sightseeing early in the day and then park and walk and drink at night. Best of both worlds and a relatively small expense for the return.