Las Vegas - Car Rentals
 

Hi guys! I am just checking for a friend...any ideas on cheap car rentals in Las Vegas in March? The cheapest rate I see is around 300. Is that about right or are there better deals out there? Also, any advice on the whole renting a car v/s other modes of transport? They are a family of four, staying on the south end of the strip and would like to visit places like Hoover Dam, etc.
Thanks Fodors!

Iss1, you left out a very important detail if we are to discuss the price. Gee, $300 sounds like a great price for a month rental! (Get the idea?)

I've gotten incredibly cheap car rentals in Las Vegas, most recently a couple times from Dollar. In fact, I hadn't planned to get a car at all, but once I got a rate for a couple days that was probably less than just a taxi to get to and from the hotel, it seemed to make a whole lot of sense, especially since parking is free in nearly all of Las Vegas. Family of four and wanting to visit Hoover Dam and other places? Sounds like a rental car is the ONLY logical way to do it.

Oh, and on the "off chance" that you are talking about renting a week, I just plugged in a week in March with Dollar and got an intermediate car (should be fine for 4 people) for a grand total of $161, including the taxes, etc.

While your friends are in LV, taxi will be cheaper than daily rental plus hotel parking. South strip from the airport will be $20 max. The monorail is an option for transportation on the strip. I would inquire if their hotel has car rental on site and only get the car for the day they go to Hoover.

I start my rental car search with hotwire.com and with kayak.com

Book the best deal for me and then check back occassionally to cancel and make new reservation for a better rate.

Goodluck

Stumpworks, what hotel are you talking about that charges for parking? I haven't found one yet. Meanwhile I only do self parking in Vegas normally after a few bad experiences waiting so long for our car in valet that we nearly missed a show and finally told them to forget it while we grabbed a taxi.

Thanks guys. I checked Dollar and kayak and found better rates than the 300.Yes, I did leave out the important info (1 week- first week in March). I have passed the info on to my friend and am encouraging her to join Fodors. I love the advice here; it has helped me many times. They are also planning to see the Cirque (O) show...I am sure I messed up that spelling. Any ideas on cheap tickets??

I have never heard of anyone getting cheap tickets to O. You pay full price, and they need to book at earliest possible time, unless it's really slacked off in attendance (which I doubt). The usual is that it will be sold out about a month before, then you need to wait and stand in line at the theatre for returns. But discounts? Not that I've ever heard of. Maybe someone will prove me wrong on that.

We booked with Dollar when we were there in October- we got there, and the line was probably an hour and a half long. We were just renting for the day to go see Red Rock Canyon (highly rec), and were kind of in a time crunch. On a whim, I walked over to National and found out their walk up rate was less than $10 more, so we just did that. We walk out to get the car, and the guy says- "I'm out of compacts- is a convertible ok?" We'll be using National from now on.

That being said, if they're staying mostly on the strip, I wouldn't bother with a car except on the Hoover Dam day.

I would try never to rent a car from any agency without their "fast lane" or "membership" to avoid the lines. One of the things I like best about Dollar is that you bypass all lanes and all the paperwork is already done if you do a simple joining of their free "Dollar Express". I've seen huge lines at all the agencies, including National. Fortunately I have gotten a bypass by requesting a free membership in their "club" as well.

Las Vegas has great car deals on Priceline, check Hotwire's rate and bid 1/3 lower and work your way up from there. See a list of winning bids at www.biddingfortravel.com.

I just booked with Dollar for the beginning of Feb for just a little over $100 for a week.....I am an Express member so I won't have to wait in line! Being a member is the way to fo and very easy to do.

I would only rent the car for the time I intended to be out of Vegas. Hoover Dam is good. Ethel M Chocolate Factory is on the way to Hoover Dam and is worth the 30 minute free tour and candy they give you. Red Rock Canyon is very nice. We were there last week.

When you can get a week's rental for $100, why not do it for a week (assuming that's how long you're there). You'll save about $50 for two taxi rides -- to and from the airport -- including tip, so that only leaves $50 car rental. It's likely to cost you more than that for a one day rental! You'll also have the car if you want to go off the strip or downtown, or make another run to Red Rock or something. Since you can park for free, seems pretty good to me to have the car for your own convenience.

I reserved a compact with Dollar for less than $10/day just last week. Haven't heard about the Dollar Express option though - Do you know if I can register after the fact NeoPatrick? We'll be picking the car up on Sunday morning.

Always check the car rental rates again about 10 days before your trip. Rates usually go up but sometimes they go down, way down. We recently had a mid size car reserved with National at about $175 a week, double-checking a few days before pickup the National website quoted us a mid-sized SUV for $119. I guess when they've got too many cars clogging up the lot, they try everything to move them out.

Make sure you give your airline frequent flier number to the car rental agency. Some of the airlines are expiring your miles after just 18 months now if you don't fly. But a car rental can keep your frequent flier account active for another year and a half.

Terriano, I can't swear to this, but I think I probably first registered for Dollar Express AFTER I made a reservation with them and it worked. After registering, you may want to make a call and confirm that they have added your Dollar Express member number to your reservation.

Hey guys!
Thanks for the helpful tips. My friend is still having a little trouble getting online and asked if I would post these additional questions.Thanks!

Ask if anyone has had tickets to "O" and sat in the less expensive seats and been pleased with such. (I am having a VERY difficult time paying 165 per ticket).


Ask people for "must see" attractions both on the strip and day trips.

Actually, "south strip" is very near the airport and would be less than the fare to the Flamingo which is about $12. The north strip would probably be $20 if you don't go the "back way".

I was in LV last week and we got a rate of $9/day at Thrifty. And then they were out of compacts so we got upgraded to a "pimpmobile" for no charge. (I don't know the exact model, but that's what we called it.)

In 3 days, we spent less for the car than we would have for one trip in a taxi, gas included. And no waiting in lines of any kind (and the lines at the hotel were loong).

Oops, I mean the lines of people waiting for taxis. They were long. (But this was NYE weekend.)

The reason I mentioned $50 for two cab trips is that the few times I've taken a cab -- to and from both the Mirage and Treasure Island, it ran somewhere between $15 and $18. With luggage handling and a "decent for Vegas" tip, it seems I've always ended up handing over $25 total each way.

Re: Rental Cars - also make sure to check for coupon codes. Costco usually has a good set of coupon codes for car rentals - I've been using their code for Alamo rentals in Vegas, and those have been cheapest for me.

Re: O seating - I've sat in the cheaper seats and it was fine. I don't think there's a bad seat in the house, except for the "obstructed view" seats. If you get too close, you may get wet and you don't have a wide enough view to take in everything. Make sure to get there early as there's some audience participation that goes on pre-show.

Re: Must See on the Strip - The Bellagio fountain show is a "must"; as is their conservatory. I suppose the Mirage volcano is worthwhile. The TI Sirens Show probably isn't worth the wait, but it's something to see. A trip up to the top of the Stratosphere is great for a good view of the strip.