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You don't need a car to get around Las Vegas, there's a good
network of free shuttles and cabs are everywhere. But, a car
gives you the ultimate freedom to come and go as you please.
Following are the reasons to rent a car:
- Rental cars are dirt cheap. In Las Vegas, an economy rental
car is rarely more than $25 a day. We usually pay around $20.
We recommend TravelNow
because they offer the cheapest rental rates we have seen online,
and you can compare rates by car-class and by company.
- Taxis add up quickly. A trip from the Strip to downtown and
then returning will cost you more than a cheap rental car.
- If you want to do any off-Strip sightseeing, like visiting
off-Strip casinos such as the Rio or Reserve or going to Valley
of Fire or Red Rocks, it's your best bet. A bus trip will cost
more than a rental car, and will be less pleasant. There are
shuttles, but they don't come and go according to your schedule.
- There is plenty of free parking everywhere, and Las Vegas
is easy to navigate. Just stay off the Strip in the evenings
and you'll avoid the worst of the traffic. Also, valet parking
is free in Las Vegas. All you have to do is tip the valet a buck
or two to get the royal treatment.
- You control when you come and go. You don't have to wait
for a shuttle or call a cab.
- If you don't use it, you can return it early.
- If you're staying downtown or off-Strip, youíll need
a car to get to all the tourist attractions.
Here are the reasons why you may not want a car:
- You bought our guide Free Ride
and know all about the free shuttles.
- If you plan on drinking and don't have a designated driver,
don't even think about getting a rental car.
- If you don't plan on leaving the Strip, taxis and buses will
serve you just fine.
- Hey, it's $25 a day that you don't have to spare.
- The hotel you're staying at has frequent shuttle service
to many other locations (this would be Sam's Town or the Hard
Rock Hotel).
- You won't be making more than one trip a day. If you plan
on only making one trip a day, say going from the Strip to downtown
and then back, a taxi will cost the same as a rental car, and
you don't have to worry about the driving.
- You're intimidated by driving in big cities and would rather
let someone else do it. No problem, almost all the taxi and shuttle
drivers know where the major hotels are.
- You like the whole idea of having other people serve you
while on vacation.
The free shuttle network is a good, cheap alternative to a
rental car or taxi. In fact, before you flag down a taxi, check
with your hotel to see if a free shuttle can do the job for you.
The biggest drawbacks to using the free shuttles are waiting
for them and the limited number of places they go. While a rental
car or taxi will get from any point to any point as fast as legally
possible, the shuttles don't go everywhere you want to. You might
have to be creative and see if shuttles pick up or stop go near
your starting or ending point.
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