Should we rent a car???

jillmurray299@m wrote:
> We've never rented a car in vegas - -never even considered it. we
> stay on the strip and cab/bus/walk.
>
> Next week we are heading down again (Monte Carlo) and I started
> looking at the rates - -- $39 gives me a compact for 3 days.
> Here's my question - - - - Do I park for free at the hotel?? Do all
> the hotels have valet parking? and how much would you normally tip?
> Is driving in Vegas relatively straightforward??
>
> Obviously for our booze-filled adventures we would still use our tried
> and true methods of bus and cab, but I think maybe zipping over to the
> HardRock, or the Palms, or the Rio, or downtown, or CrazyHorse2 or
> Olympic Gardens or the Outlet Malls or the Hoover Dam or whereever
> else my wife might want to venture in the early day might make renting
> a car worthwhile - --- - heck - - just the cab from the airport to
> hotel and back would pay for half the car. . . ..
>
> So basically - - - what do you think?? and what other costs might I
> end up incurring?
>
> Thanks in advance
I rent for the week when I'm there. I get National for about $170/week.
All the strip hotels have free self parking and valet. Tip the valet a
buck or 2 and you'll be fine.
Denny in Mass

Personally, and I know I am going to get jumped on, I would not rent a
car. On those few ocassions I have, I didn't use it. Unless you are
going to the dam or another out of town site, taking taxis will serve
you well. How many times are you going to go downtown from the MC? Just
my $0.02.

Tom

jillmurray...@m wrote:
> We've never rented a car in vegas - -never even considered it. we
> stay on the strip and cab/bus/walk.
>
> Next week we are heading down again (Monte Carlo) and I started
> looking at the rates - -- $39 gives me a compact for 3 days.
> Here's my question - - - - Do I park for free at the hotel?? Do all
> the hotels have valet parking? and how much would you normally tip?
> Is driving in Vegas relatively straightforward??
>
> Obviously for our booze-filled adventures we would still use our tried
> and true methods of bus and cab, but I think maybe zipping over to the
> HardRock, or the Palms, or the Rio, or downtown, or CrazyHorse2 or
> Olympic Gardens or the Outlet Malls or the Hoover Dam or whereever
> else my wife might want to venture in the early day might make renting
> a car worthwhile - --- - heck - - just the cab from the airport to
> hotel and back would pay for half the car. . . ..
>
> So basically - - - what do you think?? and what other costs might I
> end up incurring?
>
> Thanks in advance

In article <90rp91t5lme5n9g1dh7q5ckbhvpd9evrre@>,
jillmurray299@m wrote:

> We've never rented a car in vegas - -never even considered it. we
> stay on the strip and cab/bus/walk.
>
> Next week we are heading down again (Monte Carlo) and I started
> looking at the rates - -- $39 gives me a compact for 3 days.
> Here's my question - - - - Do I park for free at the hotel?? Do all
> the hotels have valet parking? and how much would you normally tip?
> Is driving in Vegas relatively straightforward??

Not all the casinos have valet parking, but many of them do, including
the Monte Carlo. Parking is free, and that includes valet parking. If
you use the valet parking service, it is customary to tip the parking
attendant $1 when you pick up your car.

> Obviously for our booze-filled adventures we would still use our tried
> and true methods of bus and cab, but I think maybe zipping over to the
> HardRock, or the Palms, or the Rio, or downtown, or CrazyHorse2 or
> Olympic Gardens or the Outlet Malls or the Hoover Dam or whereever
> else my wife might want to venture in the early day might make renting
> a car worthwhile - --- - heck - - just the cab from the airport to
> hotel and back would pay for half the car. . . ..
>
> So basically - - - what do you think?? and what other costs might I
> end up incurring?

If you're going to venture away from the Strip, just do the numbers. How
much do you expect to spend on cab fare? Odds are, renting a car will
save you money in the long run, even if you still use the cab for the
times when you know you might want to do some drinking.

This is a question I wrestle with most trips. Just ask yourself how
much you'd use it, and you have your answer. I love having one for the
convenience. If I want to whip over to the Orleans or Palms/Rio (and my
once-a-trip stop at In-n-Out), it's easy. Ditto downtown. What the
previous posters say about not driving on the Strip is great advice.
It's easy to navigate once you get a feel for the side streets.

I like to have a cocktail or two in the evening, so I park the car at
my hotel and then act accordingly.

jillmurray299@m wrote:
> We've never rented a car in vegas - -never even considered it. we
> stay on the strip and cab/bus/walk.

Very convenient, especially when you're drinking. But when you use a
bus, you wait and wait for it arrive while you could've been there ages
ago by using a different method..good if you have tons of time to kill.
Cabs, while fast and convenient, are expensive as hell...great if you
have deep pockets. Walking is fine exercise and fun to do at night,
but it takes a long time and saps your energy that could've been spent
on more recreational pursuits.

> Next week we are heading down again (Monte Carlo) and I started
> looking at the rates - -- $39 gives me a compact for 3 days.
> Here's my question - - - - Do I park for free at the hotel?? Do all
> the hotels have valet parking? and how much would you normally tip?
> Is driving in Vegas relatively straightforward??

Yes, you park for free. Some downtown hotels want a buck or two for
parking if you're not a hotel guest and if you don't get your parking
validated at a shop or restaurant. Very few strip properties don't
have valet, and I'm sure that the Monte Carlo does. It's free but of
course you should tip $2 or $3 if you use it.

Driving in Vegas is like driving in any other major city. Bad at rush
hours, pleasant late at night and during the wee hours of the morning,
and hit or miss from mid-morning to mid-afternoon. Do NOT drive the
strip during prime time driving hours (from mid-morning to late
evening) unless you want to take in the longest view of the strip
you've ever seen. Other than that, it's all good.

> Obviously for our booze-filled adventures we would still use our tried
> and true methods of bus and cab, but I think maybe zipping over to the
> HardRock, or the Palms, or the Rio, or downtown, or CrazyHorse2 or
> Olympic Gardens or the Outlet Malls or the Hoover Dam or whereever
> else my wife might want to venture in the early day might make renting
> a car worthwhile - --- - heck - - just the cab from the airport to
> hotel and back would pay for half the car. . . ..

Behold the glory of rental cars! By all means park it and take cabs if
you're gonna stick a funnel in your mouth and pour a keg down your
throat. But when you're sober, that rental car makes your local travel
horizons almost limitless for a very small amount of money. You'll get
to go out to places you'd never think of trying in a cab because of the
insane fares. After you discover the freedom it gives you to explore
new places and get to old places for tiny fractions of cabs, you'll
never go back.

> So basically - - - what do you think?? and what other costs might I
> end up incurring?

Gas. Plus you have to fill the tank before you return it. Call your
auto insurance company and make sure you're covered if anything happens
in the rental. Taking the rental company's insurance will at least
DOUBLE the cost of the rental fee...so make sure you're covered and
drive carefully.

> Thanks in advance

jillmurray299@m wrote:
> We've never rented a car in vegas
>- -never even considered it. we
>stay on the strip and cab/bus/walk.
>
>Next week we are heading down again (Monte Carlo)
>and I started looking at the rates - -- $39 gives
>me a compact for 3 days. Here's my question
>- - - - Do I park for free at the hotel??
>Do all the hotels have valet parking? and how much
>would you normally tip?
>Is driving in Vegas relatively straightforward??
>

Hello Jillmurray,

Before I became a local, I never planned a trip without
a car, consider it as part of your vacation expenses.

The trip to and from the airport is a time and money
saver. One time I got a real good price at the Rio
for two weeks and I wanted a convertible, the car
cost me more than the room.

Using valet parking all the time is not going to cost
you much, a buck or two each time. It's great to get
dropped off and picked up at the casino door.

With a car you will do so much more and it will be
an incentive to do more. It certainly will expand
the scope of your trip.

Nothing beats cruising up & down the strip late at
night with the windows down, the moon roof open
and your stereo full blast with Elvis beating
out Viva Las Vegas!

dr. Baf

slazar19@stargate.net wrote:
>
> Before I became a local, I never planned a trip without
> a car, consider it as part of your vacation expenses.
>
> The trip to and from the airport is a time and money
> saver. One time I got a real good price at the Rio
> for two weeks and I wanted a convertible, the car
> cost me more than the room.
>
> Using valet parking all the time is not going to cost
> you much, a buck or two each time. It's great to get
> dropped off and picked up at the casino door.
>
> With a car you will do so much more and it will be
> an incentive to do more. It certainly will expand
> the scope of your trip.
>
> Nothing beats cruising up & down the strip late at
> night with the windows down, the moon roof open
> and your stereo full blast with Elvis beating
> out Viva Las Vegas!
>

I'm going in November without my wife, so I might rent a car for the first
time as it's probably cheaper, (no one to split the cost of the cabs with).

Quick question. What kind of wait can you expect to when picking up your
car from the valet?

--
Gregg C.

> We've never rented a car in vegas - -never even considered it. we
> stay on the strip and cab/bus/walk.
>
> Next week we are heading down again (Monte Carlo) and I started
> looking at the rates - -- $39 gives me a compact for 3 days.
> Here's my question - - - - Do I park for free at the hotel?? Do all
> the hotels have valet parking? and how much would you normally tip?
> Is driving in Vegas relatively straightforward??


Actually, the Monte Carlo has a lot just across the driveway from the main
entrance behind NYNY. It is one of the easiest in and out parking lots of
any strip hotel. A rental car gives you the freedom to head downtown anytime
you wish as well as visiting the many off strip casinos where odds are so
much better.