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Long Hauled from Terminal 3 without the tunnel

Discussion in 'Getting There & Getting Around' started by HAWJOHN, Oct 6, 2013.

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  1. HAWJOHN

    HAWJOHN Tourist

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    We were booked at the Orleans and on arrival at about 11 PM, we decided on a taxi. We normally shuttle. I told the driver to use Tropicana. We did not pay attention, but it took us a while to get to Tropicana. I thought this was unusual and the fare seemed higher at the Swenson/Tropicana intersection.

    A week ago and from another forum, I found that it is possible. Here are excerpts:

    "....drivers have figured out how to long haul you even without the tunnel. If you arrive at the new terminal 3 and say "no tunnel" or "please use the streets" they will still try to scam you out of about $2 by taking the long way to Swenson Street. As you head west back toward the old terminal (and see Mandalay Bay ahead) make sure the driver stays to the RIGHT and takes the CLEARLY MARKED SIGN "Swenson" which curves right and dumps you right onto Swenson. To cheat you, they will stay to the LEFT and go back toward the tunnel, then turn right at the light onto Swenson, but about 3/4 a mile further south than you should already be had they stayed right."
     
  2. OnTheHorizon

    OnTheHorizon Low-Roller

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    Thanks for sharing - good pointer.
     
  3. nostresshere

    nostresshere Mr. Anti Debit Card

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    Two bucks?

    Really?
     
  4. wigwam_salesman

    wigwam_salesman VIP Whale

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    Can we really call $2 a scam? They may just find it a more efficient way to get through jobs and don't think it's worth advising over.
     
  5. HAWJOHN

    HAWJOHN Tourist

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    Those are not my words. If you noticed, I was quoting words from another forum. My point was not about cost, but methods the taxi drivers find to long haul you besides the tunnel. If long hauling does not matter to you, that is fine with me.
     
  6. freddywill

    freddywill Low-Roller

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    Thanks for the info dude, how much was the fare in all for the ride to Orleans?
     
  7. lasvegas_limo_driver

    lasvegas_limo_driver MIA

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    People complain about being long hauled. Here's some knowledge for all. A cabbie.doesn't want you in his car any longer than you want to be in it, especially thurs-Sunday. I drove limos and I can say that doing 65 and going 2 miles out of the way is better than 20 mph and sitting in lights. I have timed either way and even taxicab authority said that taxis have to take the most direct route. Hmmm, then next time they should sit on the strip instead of industrial or other side streets.
     
  8. leo21

    leo21 VIP Whale

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    At the end of the day, the taxi regulations give the right to make the decision to pay for extra mileage or wait in traffic to the customer. If that principle was respected, people would believe their drivers when they asked to take an alternate route over sitting in traffic. However, too many cabbies have been caught not telling the truth or just going the long way even when there is no reason not to take the direct route.


    Here is the blog post in question:

    http://www.vegaschatter.com/story/2013/9/20/182416/844/vegas-travel/%27Tips+From+An+Honest+%28Cab%29+Driver%27

    And BTW, this particular trick doesn't sound like it saves anyone time, just costs the customer more money.
     
  9. HAWJOHN

    HAWJOHN Tourist

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    It was over 26 dollars. I gave the driver 30 dollars.

    The intent of this thread was not comparing freeway versus the street. If you read the excerpt, it reflected how cab drivers can add mileage/increased fares from Terminal 3 to Swenson. That extended route is on the streets, longer and added more to the fare.

    Since you mentioned it, a cab driver used the freeway to take us to Terminal 2 from Excalibur. Returning to Main Street Station from the outlet mall near down town, the driver used the freeway. I disagree that the freeway routes are the better way so the drivers can avoid traffic lights. The fares were at least five dollars more, the routes were longer and it took more time.
     
    Last edited: Oct 8, 2013
  10. lasvegas_limo_driver

    lasvegas_limo_driver MIA

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    I understand what you were saying. Also, there are cabbies that long haul. when I drove limos it was for the largest transportation company in the US, with taxis, limos, buses and everything else. there are times of the day that it is better to take these longer routes, not saying everytime its like that. I know when I was driving and would get customers from here they always wanted to go to their hotel via the strip, till I say that it will take 1.5 hours or more to go from mbay to Venetian. I hear stories from cabbies as well. Trust me, i could tell tons of ways to long haul and make it seem like nothing. If a cabbie is going to rip you off, they know ways. Did you know that cabs have 3 beginning tares. Its a hire price to be picked up or dropped at airport. if your picked up at a strip casino its different.
     
  11. Vegas Insight

    Vegas Insight MIA

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    Yeah, really.

    If I get caught trying to steal a $2 key chain from a souvenir shop, I'm guessing the "Two bucks, really?" comeback isn't going to suffice.

    But perhaps you endorse the theft of $2. Que sera sera.

    I'm not sure I'd get too upset about it, knowing it was a minor difference, but theft is theft, and I wouldn't appreciate it, be it $2 or $20. Obviously it's easier to accept the theft of $2.

    For me, being taken an alternate route than the route I requested, without consultation, would, at minimum, negate any tip I was willing to give.
     
  12. blackjacknut

    blackjacknut VIP Whale

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    I look at it like this, its not about the $2 per individual but rather the principle of the matter. Long Hauling is not legal, whether it is $2.00 or $10.00 they still should not be doing it. Some people may not mind paying the $2.00, but others do, so the taxi cab companies should stop long hauling people.
     
  13. pokerbucketlist

    pokerbucketlist Low-Roller

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    I was thinking, one way to ensure the 'quickest' route would be to pre pay the cab.

    Assuming you know that the cab fare will run roughly say $18 to the hotel, just hand him $25 and say, please take me to Mirage.

    Its in his (or her, I was long hauled by a she my first time in Vegas) interest to take shortest route to get max tip!
     
  14. merlin

    merlin MIA

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    What's with these extra big tips as a reward for not robbing us? If it's an $18 tab you say here's $21 or $22. Anyone who longhauls even the densest tourist is a thief, period, he deserves zero tip, zero fare - he deserves to be out of a job. Now those who are honest , they dont deserve extra , just a fair tip for services performed(unless if they go above and beyond of course).
     
  15. BigGTMike

    BigGTMike Low-Roller

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    I live 2 miles from my favorite bar. I use the same cab company every weekend. Usually it's the same 3-4 drivers. We go the same route every time. Sometimes the fare is $9.75. Sometimes it is $11.50. Have I been robbed?
     
  16. pokerbucketlist

    pokerbucketlist Low-Roller

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    I picked those #'s because I think 25 for an 18 fare is a standard tip, or close to it. I dont think that is an 'extra big tip'. Follow some of these cabbies on twitter, they are a riot, an extra big tip would be $100 or $50 at least...
     
  17. leo21

    leo21 VIP Whale

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    The best way to get back at a cabbie who long hauls would be to report him. But the fastest and probably more painful way to get him is to not tip. The tip is the only part of the fare that the cabbie gets to keep outright so if you don't tip, you are really hitting them where it hurts.
     
  18. topcard

    topcard Here's to $10 3:2 two-deck, $5 Craps, and $5 UTH!

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    My last cab ride from the airport, (to Rio), I told the cabbie "no tunnel please". He argued that it was the best and cheapest route. I chuckled and told him I would pay $25 total, including tip. If he wanted to tunnel me with that understanding, it was fine with me. He took the tunnel.
    The fare was just under $25.
    He actually apologized and agreed that I was correct.
    (Didn't matter. He still got just the $25. Perhaps he learned a valuable lesson.)
     
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  19. Sonya

    Sonya Queen of VMB

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    This thread is going off the rails. I believe the OP's point has been made and discussed completely. I'm closing this now.
     
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