Taxi Rip Offs

[europa92118]

One of the biggest rip offs in vegas is the practice of taxis taking the airport tunnel to get to the strip and downtown. This easily adds $15 to an already high fare. hey will use the subterfuge as do you want the fastest way? It is hardly faster and costs $15 more. using the tunnel you are going North (the wrong way) and hen west (the wrong way) before you head south on the freeway to downtown and this can be jammed, too. Even if u catch them in the act they will give u all kinds of phony excuses to use this route.  There is Paradise road (much, much shorter except for very South Strip (Mandalay  Bay, etc). There is also Swenson.   On the -0- level of the airport (one level below bag claim) there are round the clock city buses to downtown if you have one carry o bag or less.  There are van services, some better than others but much cheaper than the rip off taxis.

[Tedlark]

  I have always thought that McCarran was south of hotels on the Strip? I know that you are right in telling that taking the tunnel is a rip off, there was a recent article in the Las Vegas Journal Review about this very topic, but are you a bit off in your directions?
 
  I think there are also shuttle busses that run to the casinos too as these are a cheaper (albeit slower) option than cabbing it to a hotel. I personally just pick up a rental car right at the airport and off I go. Whoopie do for my Subaru...

[Vman96]

McCarran is south of the Strip and downtown. The tunnel makes you do a U behind the airport starting from right to left. First going south, then going west before correctly going on I15 north toward downtown. According to google maps, the tunnel would currently save 8 minutes, but add 6 miles of distance ($2.60 x 6 = $15.60). Cabbies would always want to take this route. It saves them time, and adds $15+ to the fare.

[Minn. Fatz]

You pays your money and you takes your choice I guess. After standing in line to get through security, then to get on the plane, then to get off the plane, then to get a taxi or shuttle, and knowing I'm probably going to be standing in line to check in, I'm ready to pay the extra $15 or so to save eight minutes of waiting in traffic on the Strip/waiting for the shuttle to get to our hotel which is inevitably the last stop on the route. What happens in Vegas...

[doris13]

the last cab driver to take me thru the tunnel was told his tip was the $15 that was added to the fare.

[DaBurglar]

geeeez Unless its your VERY first time flying into Vegas and you have done absolutely NO HOMEWORK, I do not even begin to understand how this happens to people.  I am not trying to make anyone feel any worse than they already do, but let me tell you there is NO REASON to ever put up with this...... If you do your homework, you learn that there are all kinds of options besides the taxis, which were mentioned above.   Furthermore, if you do want a taxi, ASK someone in the airport what the charge and options should be, then you go and TELL the cabbie what to do and what route to take. Cabbies are just like any other business, they will charge the MAX of what they can get away with and what the market and customers will bear.....so do NOT put up with or bear it!! If you do ever find yourself in a taxi and the cabbie has essentially taken you "for a ride" by deliberately charging up the fare, when you arrive at your destination, do NOT pay the fare until you first call over a valet attendant or police officer/security guard (essentially whoever is around when you arrive) and ASK in front of the cabbie what the fare should be (approximately), and if they say something that is LOWER than what the cabbie wants, then look at the cabbie and say "Either you accept this lower, correct fare and be done with this, or I will pay your higher exorbitant fare but my first call once I check in will be to the appropriate authorities to report you, since I have your cab number and medalion...."   You get the point......

[royal flush]

good answer

[OTABILL]

I am not sure what the cab fare is in Vegas to and from strip hotels. It obviously varies. Currently, my wife and I drive to Vegas so the cab issue is not pertinent. However, when I lived on the east coast and flew into Vegas, I always rented a car. It may cost more, though with some of the deals available the difference may not be that great. Perhaps a few less dollars to gamble but the flexibility of having a car is well worth the extra cost from our perspective. Having a vehicle doesn't restrict you to strip/downtown casinos. It let's you go to off-strip casinos such as Red Rock/Green Valley Ranch and other Station properties, Sam's Town. Rio, Palms,and South Point for example at your convenience. You can also visit Hoover Dam, Red Rock Canyon, off-strip restaurants, and other sites, play golf, go hiking or engage in other activities to take a break from gaming. It all depends on one's vacation priorities.

[Tedlark]

I am not sure what the cab fare is in Vegas to and from strip hotels. It obviously varies. Currently, my wife and I drive to Vegas so the cab issue is not pertinent. However, when I lived on the east coast and flew into Vegas, I always rented a car. It may cost more, though with some of the deals available the difference may not be that great. Perhaps a few less dollars to gamble but the flexibility of having a car is well worth the extra cost from our perspective. Having a vehicle doesn't restrict you to strip/downtown casinos. It let's you go to off-strip casinos such as Red Rock/Green Valley Ranch and other Station properties, Sam's Town. Rio, Palms,and South Point for example at your convenience. You can also visit Hoover Dam, Red Rock Canyon, off-strip restaurants, and other sites, play golf, go hiking or engage in other activities to take a break from gaming. It all depends on one's vacation priorities.


  This is exactly the reason why I also get a car when I am in Las Vegas, just the cost of round trip cab to and from McCarran equals 2 days rental of the car. Also, as Bill said, the flexibility of having the car at your disposal is convenient as well for hitting all of the points that were mentioned. Not waiting in cab lines is a benefit too.

[DaBurglar]

anyone ever looked at the "VAcation" comboe deals that most airlines offer, whereby you book your Air, Car and hotel all at once and get a huge discount on the whole shebang?  Unless you get comped for everything, this is the way to go when hitting Vegas.