To cab, or not to cab?

I will be in LV for 10 days next month, 2/6 to 2/16. Right now, I have a rental car for the whole time, but was thinking that it might be to my advantage to turn the rental car one day early and just take a cab from the Palms to the airport for my return flight. That way, I don't have to do the shuttle thingy and haul my luggage all over the place.

If I decide to turn the car in early, what is the best route to take from the Palms to the airport? I can't imagine that traffic is going to be that heavy on a Saturday morning (my flight leaves at 9:00 AM). My brother lives in Henderson, and I can get him to take me to the Palms, so I wouldn't have to take a cab the night before. It's also possible that I can get him to drive me to the airport, too, but a cab might be more convenient (they'll know exactly where to drop me off). Thoughts, anyone? Your input is appreciated.

Luck to all ~~

pattycor from Ohio (formerly Michigan)

I guess it depends on the rental company. With Dollar Express I drive into the car return, hand over the keys to their employee (who is always right there where I stop) I give him the keys and go - takes about 15 seconds. They have a luggage cart to the shuttle and the driver looks after the luggage. Shuttle takes about 7 minutes. I suggest that you check with the Palms - there is a service offered now where your bags are picked up and checked in right from the hotel - so you can forget them. Doesn't affect us as we only take hand baggage. We always check in the day before the flight right from the hotel - then after getting off the shuttle we go straight to security.

Thanks, Tonyrob, for the quick reply. I know all about the rental shuttle; I've done it many times in the past. I was just thinking the option to cab it to the airport would be easier on me, personally, since the cab can drop me off directly at my terminal, then I don't have to schlep my bags thru the rental car center to the shuttle, etc. I think the service you're referring to check with the Palms about is the speed check, where they take your bags to the airport for you, but I believe there is an additional fee charged for that service, and I'm not sure the Palms is one of the participating locations, so that might be more trouble than it's worth, to me, anyway. I've still got a few weeks to think about the best option for me.

Luck to all ~~

pattycor from Ohio (formerly Michigan)

If you turn your car in a day earlier, you then have to get back from the Car Rental facility to the Palms, so you'll be paying for a taxi twice. I would just keep the car and schelp the luggage.

Larry from Las Vegas, NV

The luggage carts at the car rental center are FREE. We schlepped luggage for a couple of years before we learned this. Now we use them every trip - both arriving and leaving.

We let the driver handle all the luggage, and we tip generously. Then, we schlep all the way down to the Southwest kioskes - not too bad. The carts at the airport are not free.

- bcc

My thinking about the 2 choices you name- 1) return rental car to Rental Car Center and carry your own bags & 2) take a cab and have to deal with possible long hauling, outrageous cab fare and then the required tip for the driver. For me the choice is easy- I would return the car to the Car Rental Center.

Thanks, everyone, for the input. I will probably end up keeping the rental car until I leave, but appreciate your thoughts!

Luck to all ~~

pattycor from Ohio (formerly Michigan)