Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
HOW DO I GET TO (& FROM) THE AIRPORT?
LET ME COUNT THE WAYS . . .
Unlike other major world cities, the McCarran International Airport, its major
hub, is in the very center of the city itself. In fact, the nighttime approach to Vegas
is one of the most dramatic in aviation today: a steep bank directly above the
twinkling buildings of the Strip. You'll literally hear first timers gasping with
fright, sure that the pilot is going to crash the plane right between the MGM
Grand and New York-New York. Beyond the spectacular introduction that the
landing affords (book a night flight if you can, especially if you're a Vegas virgin),
the fact that the runway is so close to the Strip means that it's surprisingly easy to
get into town. No, there's no train direct from the airport to the Strip (though
there is talk that the Monorail will one day extend that far), but there are a raft of
affordable, quick options, such as:
u
Bell Trans
(
%
702/739-7990; www.bell-trans.com).
This company sends a
steady parade of minibuses (seating 20) to the airport from 7:45am to mid-
night. Buses then go to all the major Vegas hotels and motels. If you don't
see a Bell Trans bus, use one of its competitors. They're all reliable, leaving
every 10 minutes or so and charging $5.50 to the Strip Hotels, $7 for
Downtown (book round-trip and you'll save a buck on the overall costs). If
you're arriving after midnight, you can arrange for special pick-up. Go out
door #11 at the airport to get to the pick-up spot for the minibuses.
u
Citizens Area Transit or CAT
(
%
702/CAT-RIDE; www.rtcsouthernnevada.
com/cat).
The public bus system also loops out to the airport. Take
Bus 109
if you're staying downtown; otherwise,
Bus 108
will take you to the
Stratosphere, from which you can transfer to
Bus 301
making a number of
stops along the Strip. Fares are just $2 for adults, 60¢ for seniors and chil-
dren, but weigh whether that $2 is worth the hassle of the buses. Truth be
The Airport Waiting Game
After you factor in travel time, do a bit of research to learn how long it will take
you to get through security lines at the airport. The government maintains a help-
ful website at
http://waittime.tsa.dhs.gov
that displays average and maximum
waiting times at all U.S. airports, terminal by terminal, during a 4-hour time
frame, based on data collected in the previous few weeks at each airport.
It's also a good idea to call a day before your flight to confirm your seat. Be sure
to inquire at that time if your flight is overbooked. If that's the case, tack an extra
20 minutes onto your “getting to the airport” time just to make sure you get a
seat on the plane. You may also want to go online and check in using the Web.
Several domestic airlines now allow passengers to check-in online within 24 hours
of their flight. The advantages? You'll not only save time, but you may have a bet-
ter shot at getting the seat you want (my editor, Naomi, has gotten prized Exit
Row seats several times by doing this).
