Taxis

Here are 5 key points about using taxis in Las Vegas. Overall, Vegas cabs are on a par with most major U.S. cities in terms of pricing, cab line waits, cabbie honesty etc. This is not necessarily praise.

• Don’t wave down a cab. Call for one or wait in line at a cab stand at the casinos. The 16 cab companies in Las Vegas have areas where they can and cannot pick up passengers.
• Tell them not to “Long Haul” you. From McCarran, if you go through the tunnel, you are probably being “Long Hauled” unless there is some major tie-up on the faster routes. Threaten to complain to the TA (Taxicab Authority) at 702-486-6532. The nicest, talkative cab drivers and some foreign born cab drivers are usually the worse offenders.
• Vegas cab drivers get kickbacks from Strip Clubs and Bordellos. Scores and Spearmint Rhino are usually two of the more aggressive although almost all Strip Clubs, even those that don’t like to pay kickbacks such as Minxx, still pay. (Please see our guide to the best Strip Clubs in Vegas by clicking here. Once you make up your mind, demand to go to that specific club even if the cabbie says the girls are ugly, the club is closed, and you will be killed by drug addicts. By the way, the Crazy Horse Too is actually closed so you can believe the taxi drivers that tell you that.)
• Use cash, no larger than $20 bills to pay. Tip about 15% plus $1 a bag if they help you with luggage.
• Taxi costs are:
  
  1. $3.30 to start meter
  2. $0.20 each 1/11th mile--$2.20 a mile including gas surcharge
  3. $28.00 hour to wait or when not moving over 8 mph
  4. $1.20 McCarran airport pick-up fee

Here is a table of some rough estimates of trip costs including the possibility of a rare, major traffic tie-up. The meter will run when you are tied up at the $28 waiting rate when moving less than 8 mph. All estimates assume a pick-up from McCarran which adds $1.20 to the costs.

Note: Assumes McCarran pick-up fee

Note: Very rough estimates

At McCarran, the taxi line is 30+ stalls deep and cabbies often wait 20 minutes in the “Pit” before they can pick up passengers. Many cabbies don’t like to work the airport.

Expect a 15 minute wait for a cab and with a major convention, you may be in line an hour or more. Although there will be another cab line in 2011, it won’t help you now.