Car Rentals?

[Saroc_Luclin]

My mom and I are heading down, planning to go down a bit early to check out the city. (Since she isn't a gamer). What I'm wondering, is does anyone have any advice for renting a car down there? Companies to go for, companies to avoid? Should we rent at the airport or elsewhere or what? I figure she's going to want to drive around and check out various casinos and such and a car will be simpler than walking taxiing or any other methods.

[Zegron]

I've never been there before, but off the top of my head I'd tend to recommend any one of the big name ones. Sometimes you can get a deal if you rent a car along with buying your plane ticket. I flew out once to Baltimore and rented a 2007 mustang from hertz for 5 days for only $100 more.

[Saroc_Luclin]

Our plane tickets are being 'paid' for using points mom's saved up from all the EF School Tours she's done; so that may not be useful. Still we'll probably look around and see, and probably rent from the airport in the end.

[Igie]

<p>Unless you need the car for something (visiting someone off strip, Red Rock, etc) my advice is don't. It's gonna be VERY busy here that weekend. I live here and trust me, you don't wanna drive in it if you can avoid it.</p><p>You can usually get a cab or other transit to the strip or the Fremont Experience. There is also a tram that runs between Sahara and MGM (you can buy an all day ticket) then one between the Excalibur and Mandalay Bay (free).</p>

[Saroc_Luclin]

We are arriving on Tuesday and leaving Sunday, so we'll be around before the fan faire for a day or two. Plus mom isn't a gamer so she won't want to spend too much time hanging out with us gamers. <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> It's also her first time in Vegas, and I don't want her outside TOO much with the expected heat. (We're from Canada, anything over 25C and we melt, dry heat or otherwise. <img src="/smilies/69934afc394145350659cd7add244ca9.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> ) I figure a car rental will be the easiest way to get around and see the sites at her own pace.

[Sandain666]

I have been to Vegas quite a few times and to be honest if you are just looking to visit the various sites along the strip renting a car is not a great idea. The traffic along the strip is horrible and on the weekends it is a parking lot. Parking can be a pain in many places as well. A car can be useful if you want to see sites that lie outside of Las Vegas but there are many tours to these places as well, (Death Valley, Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam). Most of the other tourist attractions are well outside of Las Vegas proper so you will be driving a considerable amount of time in both directions. The length of the Strip may seem daunting at first but you can always dip into a casino for some air conditionting while seeing the sites. I have been going to Vegas at least once a year for 10 years and I have never needed to rent a car. So if the you are going to spend most of your time visiting the major casinos don't rent a car. The casinos are so close together you will spend more time in traffic and finding parking than actually exploring your surroundings

[Ellyra]

<p>Don't forget the <a href="http://www.lvmonorail.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">monorail</a>!  As previous posters have mentioned, it's probably a bad idea to rent a car in Las Vegas.  The streets are so conjested and the roads are cluttered with unforgiving cab drivers.  While the Rio isn't on its route, the monorail does offer AC!  And I think it's actually much more comfortable than a cab ride.</p>

[Ta]

<p>I lived in California, and used to drive to Vegas all the time. We'd always leave the car in the hotel valet parking and take the local bus/cabs etc. You do NOT want to drive in Vegas if you aren't really familiar with the backroads (and even then it sucks).</p><p>There are plenty of shuttles, $1 tourist buses etc to get you around.</p>

[Calthine]

Here's lots more cheap/free transportation options:  <a href="http://www.goingtovegas.com/kpv-get.htm" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.goingtovegas.com/kpv-get.htm</a>

[Saroc_Luclin]

Nice site. May want to pull it out for people to see in general. <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

[Calthine]

<cite>Saroc_Luclin wrote:</cite><blockquote>Nice site. May want to pull it out for people to see in general. <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></blockquote> I actually published in a FF peice I did.   But yeah, put it everywhere.

[Igie]

<cite>Ellyra wrote:</cite><blockquote><p>Don't forget the <a href="http://www.lvmonorail.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">monorail</a>!  As previous posters have mentioned, it's probably a bad idea to rent a car in Las Vegas.  The streets are so conjested and the roads are cluttered with unforgiving cab drivers.  While the Rio isn't on its route, the monorail does offer AC!  And I think it's actually much more comfortable than a cab ride.</p></blockquote>Yea I mentioned that somewhere else. Also I promise, the wheels don't fall off anymore <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />