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Vegas Big Lies and Secrets

Discussion in 'Misc. Vegas Chat' started by WHIVGOYTUBE, May 5, 2014.

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  1. WHIVGOYTUBE

    WHIVGOYTUBE MIA

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    I have been following some of the best Vegas lies to the vacationers. Please add to the list... I'll start first....

    Let's begin with the year 2000, our first visit.

    To be more accurate, 1999, researching Vegas.

    In 1999, there was an obvious problem with the abuse of Cab drivers to Vegas Vacationers to their hotel and back to the airport (Long Hauling).

    Now, lets be honest about this and count the years. Ohhhhhhh, its 2014 now.

    15 freaking years, and nothing has changed. In 2012, the TA finally cracked down in this abuse and had " AGENTS" in the tunnel, to pull over Long Haulers and fine the cabbies.

    This was 2012, anyone remember this crack down?

    Jump ahead to 2014, and now the crack down is POSTING signs at the airport for expected fares.

    Jump ahead to 2016, does any one remember the signs in the airport for expected fares?


    Now back up to the recent posts of 2014 in the VMB "Getting There and Around " board.

    I'll give you one guess, the most talked about topic. In fact, it is going on right now.... Go look and See.... The Long Hauling topic... Right now.. Hello :wave:

    Raise your hand if you think the TA wants to fix the Taxi Problem, by the year 2016.... Hello... :wave:
     
    Last edited by a moderator: May 5, 2014
  2. Buddha

    Buddha VIP Whale

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    And ... that's why we rent a car on each of our Vegas trips ....
     
  3. breanna61

    breanna61 Super Moderator

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    I usually take a limo to my hotel when leaving McCarran to avoid the long hauling but as I was travelling solo this trip, just grabbed a cab and was not pleased almost to a fit of giggles when I asked the cabbie to take Swensen and he found a way to long haul me to Swensen out of the airport. Touché to him. This has been my worst trip ever for being long hauled 6/7 paid for trips! The silver lining was an 8th short trip from Monte Carlo to Trop on Saturday night where the cabbie said he was going home anyway and it was his treat. The long hauling irks the hell out of me too and I've called cabbies out on it in the past and got the fare brought to where it should be BUT you just can't let shit like this rule your life.....life is far too short! Go on your vacation and enjoy yourself!
     
  4. stackinchips

    stackinchips VIP Whale

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    Agreed, I was long hauled once, mostly because I was distracted and next thing you know I was in the tunnel. However, I just paid the fare, didn't tip the guy, and remembered for the future. I certainly understand how annoying it is, and getting ripped off is a crappy way to start a trip, but sometimes I think the issue is overblown on these message boards. It's crazy to see some of the threads/posts where a first timer is more concerned with making sure they don't pay an extra $10 for their cab then they are any other aspect of their trip. Especially considering 90% of them will be blowing through $20 bills like toilet paper for the next 4 days.

    I hate getting ripped off as much as the next guy, but I'm not going to stress about it before I even get there, or let it put me in a bad mood to start my vacation if it does happen. That said the enforcement should be better. Although like lots of things, they crack down this, and the infractions die off so they stop patrolling. Then once they get a little lackadaisical, the cabbies start pushing the limits again. It's sort of a neverending cycle. They could just make automatic revocation of the license on the first offense I guess.
     
  5. LV_Bound

    LV_Bound VIP Whale

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    Our host gets us a limo.

    I wonder if anyone has been long haul going to the airport.
     
  6. sukiran

    sukiran Low-Roller

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    I was intrigued by breanna's mention of getting long-hauled to Swenson from the airport. My last cab ride to MGM was about $18 (before tip), although I've paid as little as $13. I didn't really care at the time because I just got off a 5 1/2- hour flight and was happy to see no cab line.

    So the question is: How can they long-haul you to Swenson?
     
  7. La$Vega$

    La$Vega$ Fun until cops show up, then we play Hide n' Seek!

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    LV Bound: Yes, some have posted their experiences going to McCarran

    Just a guess, but I would suspect that it is so abusive that they do not have the personnel in place to control it.
    I think if everyone recorded the info and posted it online and sent in the pdf to the NTCA that it would subside.
    same with us on the car renting + we travel all around vegas
    imho the taxicab companies would need to get hurt in their pocket in order for it to change
     
  8. Auggie

    Auggie Dovahkiin

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    My thoughts on long hauling:

    1) No it won't be "solved" by 2016

    2) There is no solution. If not the tunnel there are other ways a person can be long hauled.

    3) Nobody of concern really cares about this issue. The taxi authority only does a token something when the media, who doesn't really care about this story but is just looking for some news filler, does a quickie report on it.

    4) To stackinchips: yes, it is an overblown non-issue that nobody really cares about.

    5) The hotels/casinos don't really care about it and see it as a non issue.

    6) Only stupid people always assume the shortest route is always the cheapest route.

    7) Long hauling is often a major issue in almost every other city than Las Vegas: in most cities when you are long hauled its often adding $20-40+ to the meter, in Las Vegas its usually adding $5-6 to the meter.

    8) When the state did their last big investigation in to long hauling their final numbers worked out to long hauling adds a cost of about 30 cents to all the cab rides a visitor will take while in Las Vegas (not each cab ride, but ALL cab rides over their trip). Thats why its such a non issue: if 30 cents is such a big deal to somebody they should pack along a plastic bag on their next trip and when they are heading home stop by a garbage can in the casino and fish out six bottles of beer and take them back home and return them - you will come ahead in the long run.

    9) If you are on vacation why would you even worry about something like this. Look how many people come back from a trip and then post a question like "Was I long hauled?" If you don't know does it matter? and if you were long hauled does it suddenly ruin your trip? Like are you going to be coming home and thinking "Damn, that was one awesome trip to Vegas! I was drunk off my ass half the time, I won a few bucks, saw a great show, ate some fine food and partied all day and all night! But then I found out I was long hauled to my hotel, costing me $5 extra than it should have... my trip is ruined, the memory is like a mouthful of bitter ash..."
     
  9. leo21

    leo21 VIP Whale

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    Okay, the local media doesn't care but the national and international media does. They love running taxi stories on Vegas which means its in the consciousness of more travelers all the time. I don't know how you sell that 30 cent statistic to a tourist whose seen the stories of the taxi companies overcharging by 15m in the nightly news. You can decide no one should get upset all you want but the reality is people are upset and the state is too dependent on tourism to keep letting these threads keep popping up. Other cities have done things to reign this stuff in and it's ridiculous Vegas hasn't.
     
  10. JenTen1585

    JenTen1585 Tourist

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    So what do you say to the cab driver when you get in to politely let them know to take you the most efficient way? I don't know directions enough to direct them how to go ... do you say no tunnel please? I will be going from the Airport to the Marriott Grand Chateau which is right behind Planet Hollywood. Thank you!
     
  11. Nevyn

    Nevyn VIP Whale

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    Its a story in Vegas because most of the people go from the airport to the same area, and there is a very direct way to get there, and an easy to recognize less direct way.

    So people are more conscious of it. In most cities a tourist would have very little idea if they were being run up.

    The solution remains flat rate fares from the airport. And they don't happen because there is no pressure to make it happen. A long haul taxi ride with 2 or more passengers is still cheaper than a limo, comparable to and more convenient that a shuttle (and cheaper with each additional passenger), and far cheaper than renting a car (unless you have off strip spots to visit in your trip).
     
  12. mdee

    mdee VIP Whale

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    I was Long Hauled once back in 2008. Airport to Paris cost me $40 with tip. Yeah I tipped the guy...
    I was too nice. I learned my lesson. Since then I end my destination request w/and no tunnel please.
     
  13. angelo

    angelo Tourist

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    Cab drivers are the worst thing that can happen to tourist visiting popular places like Vegas.
     
  14. Hogman

    Hogman VIP Whale

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    I have been long hauled a couple of times, and probably cost me $15 to $30 in total. I now just give the driver no tunnel instructions.

    It is a terrible practice but I am not going to let it ruin a vacation.
     
  15. weluvvegas

    weluvvegas Casino Countess

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    I do doubt that Vegas is the only place cabbies do this. I would think in any major tourist city where cabs are popular - this would happen. Just too much temptation and opportunity for greed to take over.

    The Vegas cabbies are still making a killing - for every one of us VMBers that are aware of what is going on, there are probably 100 first time tourists that have no clue.
     
  16. airball1996

    airball1996 High-Roller

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    Just tell the cabbie you have $20 for the entire fare with tip (assuming you're on the strip). Then see how much it ends up being. Guarantee you he'll take the lowest fare route then.
     
  17. bjpcyclone

    bjpcyclone High-Roller

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    My personal opinion is that people blow this issue out of proportion. Some people will rent a car just so they don't have to tell the cab driver "no tunnel"? Really??

    I think most of us have been long hauled before. Yes it sucks but its not the end of the world and its not worth stressing about. I don't and wouldn't like to spend an extra $10-$15 either but if that makes or breaks the enjoyment of your trip, maybe Vegas isn't the idea vacation spot for you.

    Here is the easiest and most stress-free way to deal with cabs from the airport.

    1. Get it cab, tell driver "XXXXX Hotel, no tunnel or freeway please." Most will understand. If they say "freeway/tunnel is faster" politely say "no thank you, no tunnel please." This should work 95% of the time.
    2. If for some reason the cabbie ignores you and takes you through the tunnel. Either a) pay the fare and don't tip him telling him you said no tunnel or b) call the taxi authority (or threaten to) if you want to push the issue.
     
  18. sweetcanadian

    sweetcanadian High-Roller

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    I did not go from the airport but when i switched hotels i said i want the cheapest direct way which i believe this is.........stated where i wanted him to go. He wanted to take I15 and i said no. He did what i asked, it was cheaper than i expected and he got a tip. Win/win.

    If you do not know the way then say the cheapest way, which leaves more of a tip for you. Otherwise they can still add $$$ to your trip.

    I rarely if ever take a taxi at home or anywhere so no long hauling here.
     
  19. dfalk

    dfalk VIP Whale

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    I do agree that it is blown way out of proportion on here. Ya it does suck for first time visitors who don't even know they're getting ripped off. I don't know about some people, but I always read about a new city I'm going to and with the wealth of information on the internet there's no reason you shouldn't be informed.

    What bugs me even more is the people on here who knownly got ripped off and do nothing about it! They seriously need to grow a pair and stand up for themselves. Quit making up excuses like "I don't like confrontation", or "I was to tired to deal with it." It takes all of 10 seconds to say "Here is the money for what the cab ride should of been, you can take that or I call the TA, your choice."

    I've only be long hauled once, from the airport to PH. Cab was $30 if I remember and I told the guy I knew you tunneled me so here is $15 and you can cover the rest you asshole. He knew what he did was wrong, said nothing and drove away.
     
  20. leo21

    leo21 VIP Whale

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    I rent a car but I'm not concerned about the tunnel so much as wanting to be in a clean vehicle and the idea that if I am a car being driven by a maniac, that maniac will be me!
     
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