Getting There and Getting Around

This page presents some general notes and hints about transportation issues when arriving in Las Vegas and when traveling to various DLV activities. It's written primarily for those who are unfamiliar with Las Vegas but may be of interest to all.

If you get lost:

If you should get lost while arriving in Las Vegas or while driving or walking in Las Vegas, phone one of our DLV contact people. He or she will help you sort things out and get you on the right track.

If you are driving to Las Vegas:

Here are general directions from major highways leading into Las Vegas to our suggested hotels. All of our suggested hotels are easily accessible from I-15. If arriving via US-95 from the north, follow signs to I-15 south. If arriving via US-93 or US-95 from the south, follow signs to I-515, then to I-215 west, and then to I-15 north.

• To get to the Tuscany Hotel:

  The Tuscany is located on the south side of Flamingo Road, east of the Strip, between Koval Lane and Paradise Road.

  Exit I-15 at Flamingo Road heading eastbound. Continue eastbound past Las Vegas Boulevard (Strip) and Koval Lane. The Tuscany will be right ahead of you on the right.

• To get to Harrah's:

  Harrah's is on the east side of Las Vegas Boulevard (Strip), north of the intersection with Flamingo Road.

  Exit I-15 at Flamingo Road heading eastbound. Turn left onto Las Vegas Boulevard. Look for Harrah's on your right and follow signs to valet or self park.

• To get to the Paris Hotel:

  The Paris is on the east side of Las Vegas Boulevard (Strip), just south of the intersection with Flamingo Road.

  Exit I-15 at Flamingo Road heading eastbound. Turn right onto Las Vegas Boulevard. Get into the left lane. Turn left into the Paris complex and follow signs to valet or self park.

To get from McCarran Airport to your hotel:

• Rental car.

  All rental car agencies which serve McCarran Airport now use the McCarran Rental Car Shuttle which runs frequently during most hours. Follow signs to "Ground Transportation" and the shuttle should be obvious.

  All rental car agencies except for Fox are based at the Rental Car Center. (Fox uses a secondary shuttle to their facility from the McCarran Rental Car Shuttle loading and drop-off area.)

  If you are not familiar with Las Vegas, ask for a map at the rental car desk and ask for directions to your hotel.

• Taxi.

  Taxi service from McCarran to your hotel is usually convenient and reasonable in cost.

  The rule of thumb as to cost is that if there's only one rider, the shuttle will be cheaper than the taxi. If there are two riders, the cost will be about the same for a shuttle or taxi and the length of the taxi line and the expected wait for a shuttle (ask the booth) will determine convenience. If there are 3-4 riders, the taxi will be cheaper.

  A notorious practice by some taxi drivers is "long-hauling" or "tunneling", where the driver takes an arguably-quicker but far more expensive route from the airport to the destination via the airport tunnel under the runway instead of the more direct route via Swenson Street and Paradise Road.

  For our suggested hotels, the tunnel will NEVER be cheaper or quicker to Harrah's, Tuscany, or Paris.

  Verbiage such as "Tuscany, take Paradise" should be used when telling the taxi driver where to go.

  Additional details regarding long-hauling in Las Vegas appears here:

  www.urbanphotos.net/las-vegas-taxi-long-haul.htm

• Shuttle service.

  A number of companies (Bell-Trans, Gray Line, etc.) run regular shuttles between McCarran airport and most Las Vegas area hotels. These are very reasonable in cost ($6-ish to $12 or so, depending on destination) and run frequently. Follow signs to "Ground Transportation" and inquire as to destination and availability.

  For one person, this will be cheaper than a taxi, but may take a bit longer since shuttles serve all hotels in a particular area and your hotel may not be the first destination of the particular shuttle.

  Hint: Do NOT, repeat NOT get talked into paying for a round-trip shuttle ride to and from your hotel! Reports of difficulties arranging that already-paid-for ride back are very common!

• Limousine.

  Nope! It's not just for the high rollers! Limousines are usually standing by at the airport for hotel guests. Inquire at booths such as Bell-Trans or Gray Line. Prices start at $40 or so for one-way from McCarran to Strip hotels.

  If you phone in advance, the limo driver will meet you in the bag claim area holding a sign with your name!

• City bus.

  As of this writing there is no convenient single-seat bus service between McCarran Airport and the major Strip hotels.

  The WAX Bus offers service between the airport and downtown, and does make one stop at the far south end of the Strip, but does not stop directly at any Strip hotels.

• Pick-up via private vehicle.

  If someone will be picking you up at the airport there are two options:

  1. Wait outside in the passenger pick-up area. Your driver should follow signs to "Passenger Pick-Up" to meet you.

  2. Have your driver park in the short-term parking and meet you at the bag claim area for your airline. Both valet and self-parking are available.

Getting around in Las Vegas:

• If you will be driving:

  If you will be needing directions to our activity locations, please use the Google Maps "Get Directions" function on the Google Map which shows our activity locations. This map is on line HERE.

  Alternatively you can zero in on a map of any particular activity location by "drilling down" in our tabular schedule, on line HERE, and using the "Get Directions" function.

• If you will be riding with others:

  Although we no longer have an organized ride share program, we encourage attendees to share rides as long as all agree that it's at one's own risk.

  We strongly suggest that those who are in need of rides stay in our suggested hotels in order to be close to those who may have additional seats in their vehicles.

  You may use the Diva Las Vegas Discussion Forum for the purpose of announcing yourself as a driver willing to give others a ride to DLV activities, or for asking for a ride to DLV activities.

  We ask that all riders be courteous and appreciative to their drivers. Contribution to a driver's fuel fund would be appropriate and appreciated. Ditto with picking up a driver's valet parking tip.

  One point of friction in the past has been unwanted smoking in the vehicle of a nonsmoker. We ask that if you smoke, you refrain from doing so in a driver's vehicle unless you are absolutely sure there are no objections. (And drivers, if you object, please don't be shy about saying so!)

• Taking a taxi:

  Riding a taxi in Las Vegas is very "safe", even for beginners, as proven over our 15-plus year history. Taxi drivers depend on tips for a significant portion of their income so they are very unlikely to jeopardize a tip by remarking about your mode of dress or expression.

  Taxis are usually available at main entrances of most major hotels. The taxi line or taxi stand will usually be well marked and obvious. To get a taxi, simply step up to the taxi stand and join the line at the rear if there is one. If the taxi stand is not obvious, tell the doorkeeper that you need a taxi.

  The doorkeeper will often times whistle a taxi for you, hold the door for you, etc. A tip for this is not normally expected even though it is sometimes given. If the doorkeeper helps you with luggage or performs some meaningful service, yes, a tip is appropriate.

  In Las Vegas, taxi drivers are supposed to pick up riders only at designated taxi stands or via a radio call. They are not supposed to respond to a "hail" or "flag" on the street although they sometimes will. (This is illegal and they risk getting cited for doing so.)

  If you encounter a taxi driver who is courteous and helpful, ask if he or she takes calls for rides via cell phone. Many of them carry phones with them and will respond quickly to a call for a ride if they are not busy at the time.

  A tip is expected, but not legally required, for a taxi ride. If the service is good a tip is customary and should be given. If the driver was a jerk in any way, feel free to simply pay the amount shown on the meter. As to how much to tip a taxi driver, a good guideline appears HERE.

• The Las Vegas Monorail:

  The Monorail is a convenient means for traveling along the eastern "Strip" corridor from the MGM at the south end to the (now closed) Sahara at the north end. Fare is $5 one way, multi-trip discounts are usually available.

  Paris and Harrah's have Monorail stations located to the east side of the property. Follow the signs.

  When convenient, Monorail stops at or near DLV activity locations are noted on the final schedules.

  Many DLV attendees have used the Monorail frequently with no reported incidents. Hint: Do not travel on the Monorail in groups. If there are more than two of you, split up, different cars.

• Taking the city bus:

  The Deuce (double-decker) bus runs the length of the Las Vegas Strip, as well as some other major bus routes, and is considerably nicer than the usual city busses. It has been reported to be quite slow if the Strip is congested.

  The Deuce should be comfortable for those with moderate experience in mainstream general public, but it may be uncomfortable for those with little or no mainstream public exposure.

• Hotel shuttles and trams:

  Free cable-driven trams connect the Excalibur, Luxor, and Mandalay Bay; Treasure Island and The Mirage; and Bellagio, City Center, and Monte Carlo. No formality. Just hop on and ride. These have been reported as being safe and comfortable by our attendees.

  There are many casino-sponsored shuttles, too many to enumerate. Most of these travel between properties of the same ownership or management but some stop at destinations such as downtown and shopping malls and even at competing properties in some cases.

  Some of these require no formality to ride, just hop on. Others require such things as a room key or a players club membership card. These shuttles vary widely as to schedule and comfort.