Las Vegas City Guide - Getting Around

Although Las Vegas is a bustling metropolis with over one million inhabitants, its public transportation service is mostly limited to buses. These are operated by the Citizens Area Transit - CAT (tel: (702) 228 7433 or 1 800 228 3911; website: www.catride.com). Some bus lines run 24 hours. Transferring between different buses is free of charge and transfer tickets are available from the bus driver. Fares can be purchased upon boarding. Tokens are available from the Downtown Transportation Centre, 300 North Casino Centre Boulevard (tel: (702) 229 6025), open daily 0600-1845 and the South Strip Transfer Terminal, 6675 Gilespie Street (open daily 0700-1730) or online (website: www.rtcsouthernnevada.com/cat/buy.htm). These allow a 20% discount.

Privately run trolley services are also available and are used more by visitors than locals. The Las Vegas Strip Trolley (tel: (702) 382 1404) runs the length of the Strip every 15 minutes 0930-0130. There is no longer a Downtown Trolley service going to Fremont Street, making the only option for transportation taxi or CAT transit buses.

A 30-day CAT Pass bus pass is available from the Citizens Area Transit, specified vendors, by post or online at the CAT website (see above). 

Monorail
The Las Vegas Monorail (tel: (702) 699 8200; website: www.lvmonorail.com) runs 0700-0200 daily from the Sahara Hotel to the MGM Grand and stops include the Las Vegas Convention Centre. Four ticket types are available: one-ride, day-pass, 10-ride or three-day pass. Tickets are available from ticket vending machines at monorail stations.

Depending upon your location along The Strip, you can connect to the LV Monorail by using the ‘private' (hotel/casino run) monorail running between The Luxor, Excalibur and New York New York and upon disembarking cross the walkway bridge to the MGM Grand, a short distance away. Travel on this private monorail is free.

Thousands of taxis service the high volume of tourists in Las Vegas. It is against the law to hail a taxi in Las Vegas, although some drivers will stop if this is done. There are large numbers of taxi stands on the Strip and Downtown at which taxis can be hired. At more remote locations, it is easiest to phone for taxi service from such companies as ABC Union (tel: (702) 736 8444), Ace (tel: (702) 736 8383) and Yellow Checker Star (tel: (702) 873 2000). Vegas locals survive on tips, so don't forget your driver.

Limousines are a popular and suitably glitzy way of seeing Las Vegas. Chauffeur and limousine services are available from Ambassador Limousine (tel: (702) 362 6200 or 1 888 519 5466; website: www.ambassadorlasvegas.com), CLS Las Vegas (tel: (702) 740 4545; website: http://clsnevada.com), Presidential Limousines (tel: (702) 731 5577; website: www.presidentiallimolv.com), and Las Vegas Limousines (tel: (702) 736 1419; website: www.lasvegaslimo.com).

Traffic is heaviest during rush hour (0800-1000 and 1630-1900), especially on highways and roads connecting the city centre with the suburbs. The Strip and Downtown, however, can also become congested any time tourists congregate in hordes - whether it is to see a boxing match at the MGM Grand, one of the many visiting conventions or merely Friday night at the casinos. Locals tend to use the streets behind the Strip to avoid traffic or Freeway 215 to circumnavigate the city. Las Vegas is laid out on a grid pattern, with one or two major streets veering slightly off this plan. Las Vegas Boulevard runs north-south, through Downtown in the north and turning into the Strip in the south. Most other streets running north-south are named according to number (First Street, Second Street, Third Street etc).

There is very little street parking in Las Vegas, although hotels and casinos conveniently offer free or valet parking. Of course, if you happen to lose at the tables while walking to/from your car, it is not exactly free.

Car hire is extremely popular with visitors to Las Vegas, and as a result there are quite a few firms offering car hire service in the city. Drivers must be 21 years or older, and drivers under 25 years of age often have to pay a surcharge. National driving licences are permissible. However, it is advisable to check with the rental company in case an International Driving Permit is required. Insurance can be purchased from the car hire company.

The major providers include Alamo (tel: (702) 263 8411; website: www.alamo.com), Avis (tel: (702) 531 1500; website: www.avis.com), Budget (tel: (702) 736 1212; website: www.budget.com), Dollar (tel: (702) 739 8408; website: www.dollar.com), Enterprise (tel: (702) 795 8842; website: www.enterprise.com), Hertz (tel: (702) 736 4900; website: www.hertz.com) and National (tel: (702) 261 5391; website: www.nationalcar.com).

Las Vegas' relatively flat terrain makes cycling an enjoyable means of travel. Of course, visitors need to take the desert heat into consideration before venturing out for a lengthy trip. Las Vegas' extraordinarily dry climate makes a difference as well - cyclists should be equipped with plenty of water and the appropriate sun cream. The best time for visitors to organise a bicycle tour is in the spring or late autumn (fall). Cyclists should also be aware of sudden rainstorms and flash floods - what looks like a small stream can turn into a river within minutes. Bicycle Nevada (website: www.bicylenevada.com) provides further information on routes and contacts.

Las Vegas Cyclery, 8221 West Charleston Avenue (tel: (702) 596 2953 or 1 800 596 2953; website: www.lasvegascyclery.com), hires out a variety of bicycles for day, half-day and multi-day rates (helmets included). McGie's Bike Outpost, 16 Cottonwood Street, Blue Diamond (tel: (702) 875 4820; website: www.bikeoutpost.com), hires out mountain bikes. The company's location in Blue Diamond is strategically placed near mountain biking trails.