Vegas - Is car necessary?
May 11th, 2004, 07:04 AM
#1
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Vegas - Is car necessary?
Hi,
I am planning on a 3-night 2-day trip to Las Vegas the Friday and Sat before Memorial day weekend. I am staying at the Venetian and Orleans and planning on seeing the "Strip" area most of the time. This is my first trip.
Goal is to get a feel of Vegas.
1) Is there anything outside of the Strip area worthwhile visiting ?
2) Do I need to have a car while there to commute between different places ? Is it practical to just walk? How is the public transportation?
-thanks in advance
Harry
I am planning on a 3-night 2-day trip to Las Vegas the Friday and Sat before Memorial day weekend. I am staying at the Venetian and Orleans and planning on seeing the "Strip" area most of the time. This is my first trip.
Goal is to get a feel of Vegas.
1) Is there anything outside of the Strip area worthwhile visiting ?
2) Do I need to have a car while there to commute between different places ? Is it practical to just walk? How is the public transportation?
-thanks in advance
Harry
May 11th, 2004, 07:33 AM
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I say no to the car
Vegas is often a traffic nightmare on and near the strip. Do yourself a favor and walk, cab, bus...but don't drive. Public transportation is very good.
I assume you are aware that The Orleans is not on the strip. They do however, have a free shuttle that will drop you off pretty much in the middle of the strip at Barbary Coast. They also have one that stops at Gold Coast which is across the street from the Palms. The Palms may be a place that you want to see off the strip. Young people party place popular for Video Poker, site of MTV Real World show, where Britney started her brief wedding odyssey, etc. I like the Rio as another off strip place to check out, also not far from the Orleans.
For show tickets, I call the venue directly...get on it NOW, likely to be a popular weekend!
Have a great time...let us know!
Vegas is often a traffic nightmare on and near the strip. Do yourself a favor and walk, cab, bus...but don't drive. Public transportation is very good.
I assume you are aware that The Orleans is not on the strip. They do however, have a free shuttle that will drop you off pretty much in the middle of the strip at Barbary Coast. They also have one that stops at Gold Coast which is across the street from the Palms. The Palms may be a place that you want to see off the strip. Young people party place popular for Video Poker, site of MTV Real World show, where Britney started her brief wedding odyssey, etc. I like the Rio as another off strip place to check out, also not far from the Orleans.
For show tickets, I call the venue directly...get on it NOW, likely to be a popular weekend!
Have a great time...let us know!
May 11th, 2004, 07:33 AM
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For a short trip like yours I wouldn't recommend a car. I believe that there is a shuttle bus from the Orleans to the strip, which I would use. It will take you your whole trip to see each hotel on the strip. If you were there longer, you might want to rent a car one day and go to Mt. Charleston, or the Valley of Fire, Hoover Dam etc.
May 11th, 2004, 08:12 AM
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Unless you are planning on driving somewhere outside of Vegas, definitely do not get a car. As stated above, the strip is a trafficy nightmare. Vegas is a great walking city with moving sidewalks, overpasses, etc. There is a shuttle the drives up and down the strip for a nominal fee, and a monorail connects several of the hotels. A car would definitely be a headache.
May 11th, 2004, 08:27 AM
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A lot of people visit the Hoover Dam and other, more scenic spots out in the desert--there's some good hiking to be had--so, yes, there are things to see beyond the Strip, but since your trip is so short, I wouldn't bother with a daytrip like that. Skip the car, do the Strip. Enjoy!
May 11th, 2004, 09:29 AM
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When I drive to vegas, I park the car the car at my hotel and it stays there the entire time. Taxis, trolley, busses, shuttles and now the monrail (did it ever open?) are more than sufficient for getting around. Any town that gives away free cocktails is no place for a car!
May 11th, 2004, 10:42 AM
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here_today,
LOL on the free cocktails statement!
True that you may not have to give cash to the server at the time a drink is served but they'll get it from you eventually. On certain nights, my "free cocktails" have been very expensive indeed!
haries: just out of curiosity, why are you changing hotels in mid-stay and why wouldn't you stick with a strip location if you do have to move?
LOL on the free cocktails statement!
True that you may not have to give cash to the server at the time a drink is served but they'll get it from you eventually. On certain nights, my "free cocktails" have been very expensive indeed!
haries: just out of curiosity, why are you changing hotels in mid-stay and why wouldn't you stick with a strip location if you do have to move?
May 11th, 2004, 12:05 PM
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--LOL, there are no "free cocktails" in LV! The casino is making a carefully calculated profit for everyone getting those 'free' drinks. Sure, there'll be the slot people who play minimally and drink quite a bit, but for every one of them there are a dozen people paying big $$$ at the tables.
--Haries: you'll be in LV 2 days and you're staying at 2 hotels? Wow. You'll have very little time for anything beyond the strip. In fact, I doubt you'll really get a feel for most of the hotels on the strip in that time. Don't bother with a car for that short a time.
--If you were going to be there longer, and you wanted to go downtown, to Red Rocks, etc, a car would be worthwhile as they're very cheap in LV most of the time (maybe not Memorial Day), but a couple cab rides will be the same as a car rental fee.
May 13th, 2004, 10:43 AM
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It will take all of your 2 days just to see the strip. I don't think a car would be worth the hassle, really. Just be aware that the strip is HUGE, and you walk A LOT, but there's so much to see you don't mind walking. As a previous post said, use the bus, trolleys, moving walkways, etc. I don't believe the monorail is running yet, although they are close. The Fremont Street Experience in the old strip area downtown is worth seeing. You would need to take a taxi or bus for that. Have fun!
May 13th, 2004, 01:02 PM
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Not much I can add, but there is no comparison between the Venetian and Orleans. I will add that whenever you enter a new casino check out the ceilings since a lot of work goes into them. Also, if you are going to gamble join the slot club first.
Good luck
Good luck
