CAT Transit, A cheap way to go around the Strip and other Las Vegas, NV Transportation Tips

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Bus
Getting TO/AROUND: CAT (Citizen Area Transit) is Las Vegas' public transportation system. Former bus routes 301 and 302 that traveled the Strip and on up to Fremont Street have been replaced by Deuce double-decker buses. The fare is $2 (exact change required) and $5 for 1 day pass.Citizens Area Transit (or CAT) is the name of the bus system in the Las Vegas, Clark County, Nevada area. Not all of Clark County is serviced by regular scheduled routes. The routes primarily operate within the greater Las Vegas area. The CAT system is owned by the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada.

The Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC) launched its new Double Decker bus service on the Las Vegas Strip in true Las Vegas fashion on Thursday, Oct. 27 2005. The dedication included a tour of the Deuce, and the changing of the guards as the double deckers were handed off from official “palace guards” to Las Vegas showgirls.

The Deuce provides another exclusive transportation option for locals and visitors alike along the busy Las Vegas Strip. The double decker bus accommodates 97 people and provides both an economical

ADULT FULL FARE:
The Deuce One Ride $2
24-hr. All Access Pass $5 also good on The Deuce, CAT and MAX
Full Fare 30-Day Pass $40
All CAT and MAX routes $1.25

24-Hour Residential Pass $2.50 (All non-Strip routes)

REDUCED FARE:
The Deuce One Ride $1
Reduced Fare 30-Day Pass $20
All CAT/MAX routes $.60
Reduced Fare 24-hour Residential Pass $1.25 (All non-Strip routes)
(Transit Reduced Fare Photo ID is required for purchase

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Phone: CAT-RIDE (702-228-7433)
Website: www.rtcsouthernnevada.com

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Train
Getting TO/AROUND: The present monorail (Phase 1 of the overall project) begins at the MGM Grand Hotel near the south end of The Strip, and runs roughly parallel to the Strip on its eastern side. The monorail passes next to the Convention Center and the Las Vegas Hilton, both with stations, before ending at the Sahara hotel at the north end of the Strip. The ride takes about 14 minutes to travel its total distance of 3.9 miles (about 6.3 km).

The monorail generally runs behind the eastern Strip side hotels and casinos, a long block away from the Strip. To get to the Strip thus usually requires a long, confusing walk through one or more casinos, with the prospect of emerging upon the Strip in an unexpected location. This lack of a direct presence on the Strip along with relatively high ticket prices has been a factor in the rather slow acceptance of the monorail.

A map of the system is provided by the monorail operator.The route is approximately 4 miles long and runs from 7 am to 2 am (3 am Friday night through Sunday night). It takes about 15 minutes to go the full route with trains arriving in stations approximately every 10 minutes.

Tickets are available for a fixed number of rides or for a fixed period of time. Ticket pricing is as follows:
One ride $5
Two rides (valid for one year) $9
Ten rides (valid for one year) $35
One day (unlimited use) $8
Three day (unlimited use) $40

There are vending machines located on the station platforms and inside the connected resorts from which you can buy tickets. There is already talk of extending the monorail to the airport and downtown.
Las Vegas Monorail Company
3720 Howard Hughes Parkway, Suite 200
Las Vegas, NV 89169

Phone: (702) 699-8200
Fax: (702) 731-3272
Hours: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Pacific Time, Mon. - Fri.

Customer Service: (702) 699-8299
8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Pacific Time, Mon. - Fri.
Lost & Found: (702) 733-9069
8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Pacific Time, Mon. - Fri.

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Phone: (702) 699-8200
Website: www.lvmonorail.com

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Bus
Getting TO/AROUND: If your legs are aching with walking in, out and through casinos, you’ve got time to spare and you wouldn’t mind a cheap sightseeing tour of The Strip then I’d suggest hopping on the Las Vegas Strip Trolley.A replica of an old-style trolley. The term "trolley bus" may seem like a contradiction in terms but there's no other way to describe these vehicles. They're buses with a body that looks like a trolley car. The trolleys run from 9:30 am to midnight daily, come around about every 20 minutes, and cost $2.50 (exact change required) Single One Way Ticket; $4.25 Day Pass - Good from 8:30am until 5:00pm; $4.25 Night Pass - Good from 5:00pm until Midnight;
$6.50 All Day Pass Available for Purchase from Driver. $120.00 per hour Charter Service, Trolley seats up to 30 people with 2 hour minimum hire and it does not include 15% driver gratuity.

The route starts at the Stratosphere at the north end of the Strip, loops over to the off-Strip LV Hilton, and stops at several of the major Strip hotels. It's probably the best way to get over to the Strip if you're staying at the Hilton. The main drawback of the trolley is that it's slow. A number of the stops are made when the trolley is going both north and south bound (Fashion Show Mall for example). They stop in the "tour bus" areas of most resorts which means they have to weave their way in and out of the resort complexes and that takes time. And given the number of stops the trolley makes you'll still have to do a little walking. For example, the stop at Harrah's is also the stop for the Venetian. The stop at Harrah's is a little hard to find. You have to go through Harrah's to the back of the casino and exit near the hotel's registration desk. Off to the left you'll see a large "Bus Departures" sign. You have to go through the doorway below this sign to get to the stop. Note that this trolley stop is also used by the Sam's Town shuttle bus.

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Phone: (702) 386-7429
Website: www.striptrolley.com

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Bus
Getting TO/AROUND: ACL, Bell, Star, and Showtime are just a few of the companies that offer shuttle buses between the airport and the various Strip and downtown hotels. These buses usually cost under $5 per person to Strip hotels and under $7 per person to downtown hotels which makes them a lot cheaper than taxis. You can take care of your return trip to the airport by buying a round-trip shuttle bus ticket which offers some savings. They typically cost around $8 for Strip hotels and $10 for downtown hotels.

Whichever shuttle service you use, be sure to ask the driver for a telephone number to call for a pick-up when you have to return to the airport. When you are ready to call for a pick-up, you can often just pick up a hotel house phone and ask them to connect you to the shuttle bus company. Be sure to call at least two hours before the time you want to arrive at the airport. Some shuttle bus companies want you to call 24 hours ahead of time. Ask your driver how far ahead you should call for a pick-up.

Shuttles are located outside of baggage claim at McCarran International Airport

Showtime Shuttle
7:00 a.m. - 11:30 p.m.
Strip: $5.00
Downtown: $6.50
Handicapped accessible with 24-hour notice
(702) 261-6101

Bell Trans
7:45 a.m. - Midnight
To Strip hotels - $5.00
To Downtown hotels - $6.50
Off-Strip hotels - $6.00
Walk-up limousine - $42.00 per hour
Walk-up sedan - $35.00 per hour
(702) 739-7990
(800) 274-7433

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Phone: (702) 261-6101
Website: www.lasvegastours.com/las_vegas_tour_bus.asp

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Airplane
Getting TO/AROUND: Southwest Airlines is an American low-fare airline based in Dallas, Texas. It is the largest airline in the United States by number of passengers carried domestically for any one year and the second largest airline in the world by number of passengers carried. It also maintains the fourth-largest fleet of aircraft among all of the world's commercial airlines.

Since there is no Southwest Airline service in San Francisco Airport, I travel to Oakland Airport to Ride it (although southwest will be available in san francisco in sept. 2007!). It cost $173 internet rate and $321 fully refundable rate ( for round trip oakland-las vegas ticket).

Southwest Airlines
P.O. Box 36647 - 1CR
Dallas, Texas 75235-1647

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Phone: (1-800-435-9792)
Website: www.southwest.com/

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Train
Getting TO/AROUND: The C gates of Mc Carran Airport serve Aloha and Southwest airlines and are connected to the main terminal by either a long hallway with moving sidewalks or a TRAM, depending on which gates you are using. Here's a hint: If you are flying in or out from gates C 23-27, skip the tram and use the moving sidewalks. It's faster and you won't have to walk as far. All the other gates should use the tram.

5757 Wayne Newton Boulevard, Las Vegas, Nevada 89119

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Phone: (702) 261-5211
Website: www.mccarran.com