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Getting Around Las Vegas - Car Rental, Public Transport including Las Vegas CAT and Monorail Services, Taxis

car rental If you plan to take, or rent a car in Las Vegas, we should first warn you that traffic will be a problem. Hitting the Strip, even during non-peak hours, will likely result in delays through congestion and slow moving traffic. So allow plenty of time for your journey, especially if you plan to catch a show. We also recommend you avoid the Strip during rush hours (8am-9.30am and 4.30-6pm), unless of course, you're a glutton for punishment. Those in the know prefer to use Paradise Rd. to the east and Industrial Rd. to the west, thus negating the need to use the Strip altogether.

For rentals, we strongly recommend that you hire a vehicle in advance of your arrival. Well-known companies such as Alamo (Tel: 877/227-8367), Avis (Tel: 800/230-4898 and Hertz (Tel: 800/654-3131) all have offices located in Las Vegas, while online car rental is also available on this site.

Young drivers (aged 25 or under) should check in advance that companies will rent to them. And, even if they do, some may rent on a cash-only basis.

Although reputable companies operate new fleets and service them to a high standard, make your own checks before accepting a rental car. These should include:

i) checking for minor bodywork damage, making sure that small defects are noted on the rental agreement before you take the vehicle;

ii) checking for tyre wear (insist on a different vehicle if the tread appears low, uneven or if there are cuts or bulges in any tyre sidewalls);

iii) checking in advance to see if rear seat belts are fitted (and arrange for a car seat if you have small children).

Also check in detail the terms and conditions of your rental, ensuring that you're adequately insured before accepting the vehicle.

If you plan to use a vehicle to visit tourist attractions further afield, then journeys will involve driving through desert on long, often lonely highways. Therefore, before leaving, undertake a thorough check of your tyres, water, and oil. Also take with you a good supply of water and fill up with petrol regularly. It's also best to let someone know exactly where you'll be going and when you'll likely return.

When downtown or exploring the Strip, taxi cabs offer a convenient, if not always fast way to see the city. Current charges are $3 when the meter starts, followed by 20¢ for each additional 1/9 mile, plus an additional $1.20 fee if you're being picked up at the airport.

Reputable companies include Yellow/Checker Cab/Star Company, Tel. (702) 873-2000, the Desert Cab Company, Tel: (702) 386-9102 and Whittlesea Blue Cab, Tel: (702) 384-6111.

transfers In Las Vegas, the Citizens Area Transit bus system comprises of 51 routes with most operating between the hours of 5am and 1am, though services (on some routes) are less frequent at weekends.

For visitors, the most useful is usually route 301 which runs, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, along the Strip between the Downtown Transportation Center (DTC) at Casino Center Blvd/Stewart Avenue to the South Strip Transfer Terminal (SSTT), which is located a few miles beyond the southern end of the Strip on Gilespie Street.

Route 301 buses run at 10-15 minute intervals and serve the following hotels*:

Aladdin, Bally's, Barbary Coast, Bellagio, Boardwalk, Caesar's Palace Circus Circus, Excalibur, Flamingo, Four Seasons, Harrah's, Imperial Palace, Luxor, Mandalay Bay, MGM Grand, Mirage, Monte Carlo, New Frontier, New York-New York, Paris, Riviera, Sahara, Stardust, Stratosphere, Treasure Island, Tropicana, Venetian * note: this is not an exhaustive list of hotels en-route.

The 302 Strip Express runs along the same basic route, with buses leaving every 20 minutes from the DTC (between 10:35am and noon, then every 15 minutes from noon-11:55pm). However, unlike route 301, the southbound Strip Express only stops at the following locations:

DTC, Fremont Street, Charleston Boulevard, Stratosphere Tower, Circus Circus, Mirage Hotel, Bellagio, Excalibur and SSTT.

Basic fares on CAT routes are $1.85 for adults, 60¢ for seniors aged 62 or over and children aged 5 to 17 (children under 5 ride free), though on routes 301 and 302 fares are slightly higher.

If you require a transfer ticket in order to complete your journey (one-way trips only), then simply ask the driver when you pay your fare. Transfers are free and remain valid for 120 minutes from the time they are issued.

An alternative option for traversing the Strip is the classic streetcar replica operated by Las Vegas Strip Trolley, Tel: (702) 382-1404. Running between the hours of 9.30am-1.30am, these quaint, old-fashioned vehicles are actually air-conditioned inside, while fares are $2 or $5 for a day pass (the exact fare is required, no change given).

Running northward, the trolleys takes in the Tropicana, MGM Grand, Bally's, Flamingo, Imperial Palace, Harrah's, Riviera and Las Vegas Hilton hotels, while southbound, you can travel between the Stratosphere and Mandalay Bay hotels.

A more high-tech way of travelling the Strip is with the Las Vegas Monorail. Stretching 4-miles in length, there are seven stations en-route, with trains runing from the MGM Grand (at the southern end of The Strip) to the Sahara. Along the way, you'll find stops Paris & Bally's, The Flamingo, Harrah's/Imperial Palace, The Las Vegas Convention Center and The Las Vegas Hilton.

To ride the train, which can accommodate over 200 passengers (standing and seated), you'll need at least a one-way ticket costing $3. Other fares, which include 10-ride and one-day passes, rise in price to $35 for a 3-day unlimited travel pass.

Running 7 days a week from 8am until midnight, the journey from end-to-end run takes approximately 15 minutes.

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