 Getting there
McCarran International Airport (MIA) has direct scheduled service
from all over North America and some major cities in Canada and
Europe. McCarran International Airport is located at the southern
end of the Strip, about 5 miles (8km) south of downtown. Several
companies run shuttle buses between the airport and the city.
Taxies are also available from the airport to the city.
Greyhound runs bus services between Las Vegas and Los Angeles,
San Diego, San Francisco, and Phoenix, Arizona; arrival to and
departure from the downtown bus station. The Green Tortoise offers
a low-budget, communal bus experience between Las Vegas and major
cities on the West Coast. There is no train service in Las Vegas,
but Amtrak, does not serve Las Vegas directly, has train service
to Needles, C.A (106mi/170km away); Kingsman, Arizona
(123mi/198km) and Barstow, C.A. (159mi/256km); with connecting bus
link to Las Vegas.
The best way to get most out of the city is to traveling by
car, this way you will have the best opportunity to observe the
city's lighting. Las Vegas is located on Interstate 15 and
therefore on the main route from Southern California to the
Eastern U.S.A. Within Las Vegas a car is essential for getting
around if you intend to leave the Strip. On the Strip itself
traffic congestion is a nightmare. The volume of visitors and
hotel rooms has created 24-hour bumper to bumper traffic. It is
advisable to use side routes to get between the major casinos. A
healthy choice is to walk or use the limited streetcar and
monorail services.
Getting around
If you plan to stay on the Strip, the best ways to get around
are the inexpensive shuttle bus and trams that run between the big
casinos and hotels 24 hours a day. Taxis are also a good option.
The local bus company CAT offers excellent, inexpensive service
along the Strip, downtown and between the two. There are also
four-wheeled cable-car resembling trolleys servicing the Strip and
the downtown area. Those who want to get out of town will need
their own wheels. You can rent a car at one of the many agencies
in town. Tour buses run regularly between the city and Hoover Dam.
Don't bother cycling around Las Vegas - its way too hot and the
public transport options make much more sense. The Strip and
downtown are easy to navigate on foot, and besides, getting around
really only means getting between three or four casino-hotels in a
day anyway, nevertheless, if you do plan to walk around, remember,
it gets hot!
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