Travelling the Strip Las Vegas style
McCarran International Airport services many international and domestic air carriers.
From the airport, most high-rollers take the taxi ($10-20) or a limousine ($35) to the city center. Taxis are easy to get because the taxi line is organized and orderly. Tourists may also avail of the airport shuttle services or rent a car to get to their hotels.
Every 20 minutes, a bus (CAT 108) leaves the airport to takes tourists to the Las Vegas Hilton. The trip costs only $1.25 and takes around 25 minutes.
Once in Las Vegas, tourists can get around the city either by bus, by taxi or on the monorail.
The CAT bus line has 49 routes all around the valley and a single trip costs $1.25 for adults and 60¢ for kids and seniors. Travelers can avail of a $5 ticket for unlimited 24-hour bus travel. There’s also the Deuce double-decker bus that plies the length of Las Vegas Blvd and costs $2 for adults and $1 dollar for children and seniors.
Taxis are the most popular mode of transportation in Vegas and there’s a taxi queue in front of almost every hotel. The law requires taxi drivers to take the shortest route from place to place so tourists are not overcharged. Renting a car is also a popular option, but if you’re thinking of driving on the strip on Friday nights and any time on Saturday, perish the thought because traffic is so severe that it can take you an hour to navigate a few miles.
The monorail covers the east side of the strip, with stops near each of the major hotels. The fare is $5 one-way, $9 round-trip and $15 for a one-day pass.
If you’re only going to be moving around the strip, walking is your best option since the casinos are bunched close together. Most hotels are actually connected underground or by bridge so it’s not like you’re walking under the hot desert sun. Walking will also give you a chance to contemplate your fortune and ward off bad luck.
El Cortez Hotel and Casino
