Preparations for a Casino Trip Step Four: Make Sure your Transportation is Covered/Planned to all Destinations

During the early part of 2021 getting around Las Vegas was, to be blunt, a huge, stinking mess. Uber/Lyft were still not allowed to surge price, the State was still offering the Federal boost to unemployment and many workers, understandably worried about contracting COVID-19 due to the absence of a vaccine, decided that the better decision for them, and their families, was to stay home.

To be honest I did not blame them.

Today things are opening up a little but staffing shortages still mean that taxis, ride share, and even Limousines, are in shorter supply. (Word on the Street [OK, Twitter] is that the Cosmopolitan is out-sourcing their Limo service to Presidential for high-rollers these days)

While Las Vegas is, and can be, a fun place, it's certainly no fun if you're stuck somewhere on the other side of the Strip, 40 minutes prior to the start of your show and there's nary a taxi or ride share to be found.

Want to really find yourself frustrated? Try hopping off of the plane and seeing the Taxi and Ride Share lines longer than lines for bachelors lined up to get a chance to kiss Miley Cyrus.  Believe me, despite my lack of interest in Ms. Miley, that's pretty long.

I recommend looking online and purchasing a round-trip Limo package to/from the airport to your hotel in Vegas. For one, you skip the line, the driver will usually meet you with your name in an iPad in Baggage Claim and you can have all of the taxi and ride share folks wondering if you're a high roller, they will carry your luggage, sometimes you can make a stop at a liquor store and stock up on beer, liquor, water, energy drinks etc. for your room, and oft-times these packages come with a bottle of Sparkling Wine. (They will say Champagne, but they use that term loosely at times.) 

Most importantly, when you're ready to head to the airport, when everyone else is in the Taxi line fervently checking their watches and hoping they don't get long-hauled on the way back and actually make their flights (oh yeah, one more plus, you don't have to worry about long-hauling because you pay a flat rate) you're out there over by the valet casually waiting for your car to show up, that no one else is going to fight you for, who will get you to the airport as leisurely (or as quickly) as you like.

The best part?  The round-trip rate is only slightly more expensive than a cab would be.

I also choose a limousine service if I'm transferring from one resort to another in the middle of my stay. No Champagne usually, but far less hassle as well.

Now, what I said above was for getting to your hotel, in Vegas, the issue of getting around town from resort to resort is a personal one, and in most cities (including Vegas) you're going to be limited to four options.

1. Taxi Service Different cities have different qualities of Taxi service. In some cities, such as Vegas, the service is quite robust. On others, such as Lake Charles, it's very spotty. The problem with all is the age-old issue of long-hauling. Some cities/companies have attempted to get around this with flat-rate rides, which charges a rate based on where you are going from and to. This is in an attempt to combat the ride-share companies of course, it makes long-hauling not a concern, and it's a certain step in the right direction.

2. Ride Share Despite their detractors (and their are many) Uber/Lyft and the other ride share companies have a lot of proponents and offer real flexibility getting around (most) towns of any real size. Yes, surge pricing is a problem to those lacking a general understanding of the law of supply and demand, and many drivers are leery of returning to work because riders are becoming increasingly anti-social, but overall we've found it to be a great way to interact with the locals and learn a lot about the cities that we've visited.

3. Public Transportation Again, the quality and robustness of this option will vary widely depending on where you are. In some places, public transportation is actually a very good way to get around town, in some, it's non-existent. Another variable in this is how comfortable you are riding in a bus, or train, full of total strangers. If that kind of things is outside of your comfort zone, this might not be a viable option.

4. Rent your own car I know a lot of people that do this in Las Vegas, and this is my go-to option in other casino cities in which I have to fly to. In most non-Vegas casino cities the casino you are in is the only thing remotely close, with almost nothing in walking distance. In order to explore the city, or go eat at a restaurant somewhere else, having a rental car might be your only viable way to get around.

If you're driving to your local, of course, you will have your own car and none of these should be a concern.

Unless you've been drinking.  And please don't drive under the influence.