Las Vegas Transport

Although Las Vegas is a bustling metropolis with over one million inhabitants, its public transportation services are mostly limited to buses. Private trolley services, monorail links and free shuttle services, courtesy of the casinos, are also available. Unfortunately, the Monorail and CAT bus services are separate, and a pass from one won’t work on the other. The town is set up grid-style, so getting lost is rare, especially with a map. Taxis are everywhere and can be hailed on the street or outside of a hotel, although travel by cab is not the cheapest way to get around.

By train

The Las Vegas Monorail (tel: +1 702 699 8200; website: www.lvmonorail.com) is very convenient, quick, clean and affordable, running on the east side of Las Vegas Boulevard and stopping behind several of the hotels and at the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC). It travels from MGM Grand to Sahara Avenue, and can hold 72 seated riders and 152 standing riders. Trains run from 07:00 to 02:00 on weekdays and until 03:00 at the weekends; trains arrive every 5 to 10 minutes. Several pricing options are available including single fares and day passes, and tickets can be purchased at any Monorail station using cash, debit or credit card.

By bus

The 49 bus routes throughout the valley are operated by the Citizens Area Transit (tel: +1 702 228 7433; website: www.catride.com). Buses are the most popular means of public transportation among locals and tourists, with the CAT system carrying approximately 175,000 people per weekday.
Most routes operate from 05:30 to 01:30, seven days a week; some routes operate 24 hours. The buses have two routes that most visitors will be concerned with: routes 201 and 302, which both run the Strip from the south to Fremont Street.

Transferring between different buses is free-of-charge and transfer tickets are available from the bus driver. Exact change fares can be purchased upon boarding, and tokens are available. A 30-day CAT Pass is also available. A double-decker bus called the Deuce can take you up and down the Strip and to downtown. Privately-run trolley services are also available and are used more by visitors than locals. The Las Vegas Strip Trolley (tel: +1 702 382 1404) runs the length of the Strip every 15 minutes from 09:30 to 01:30.

Taxis

Taxis are a popular way of getting around Las Vegas, along the Strip and to and from downtown and the airport. Taxis charge a flat rate and add an additional charge per mile. Bear in mind that it is against the law to hail a taxi in Las Vegas, although some drivers will stop if this is done. A steady flow of taxis come in and out of the taxi stands, available in front of all major hotels and casinos. You may have a short wait in line at busy times, but often you can simply step outside of any hotel’s main entrance and a taxi will be immediately available for you. Popular taxi firms include: ABC Union (tel: +1 702 736 8444); Ace (tel: +1 702 736 8383); and Yellow Checker Star (tel: +1 702 873 2000).

Tourist services

Even though Las Vegas is famous for its casinos, there are many outdoor experiences available for a change of scenery. A number of companies operate various tours that take in the captivating desert landscape surrounding the city. For example, Action Tours (tel: +1 702 566 7400; website: www.actiontours.com) provides tours to attractions such as the Grand Canyon, Death Valley and Red Rock Canyon, and they also operate river rafting adventures, ATV quad excursions, horseback riding and aerial tours. Las Vegas Grand Canyon Tour (tel: +1 702 260 0796; website: www.lvgct.com) also offers a wide range of tours.

From the airport

The simplest and most popular way to reach Las Vegas from the airport is by taxi, a journey that takes about 20 minutes. CAT bus numbers 108 and 109 depart from outside the Arrivals and Baggage Claim areas every 30 and 20 minutes respectively, and take approximately 25 minutes to get into the heart of the city.

Door-to-door services are easy to find, as the airport has a plethora of companies vying for business; a number of shuttle companies run services to and from McCarran International Airport, with services to Strip hotels taking 15 to 25 minutes, and trips to hotels downtown taking 30 to 45 minutes. Companies include Bell Trans Shuttle Bus (tel: +1 702 739 7990; website: www.bell-trans.com); CLS (tel: +1 702 740 4050); and Showtime (tel: +1 702 261 6101).