Uber Question

I always rent a car in Vegas as I like to go all over the area.  But for my solo trip in April I don't plan to rent a car.  I've used Uber before, just use the app, order a car and get in when it arrives.  But how does it work at LAS? Is there an Uber line like the cab line?  Or do you need to order one on the app and have the driver find you?  And what about at the casinos? I imagine a LOT of people use Uber, it must be pretty chaotic.  Any info/tips is appreciated.  

Nearly every casino that I've been to has a dedicated ride share area.  They are usually marked and most on the Strip have signs showing where to go, many are in parking garage areas.  You will definitely NOT be able to get an uber / lyft at the front door valets, just a taxi.  All you need to do is get to that area and order your ride.  Its really quite simple.

There is a ride share area at the rental car facility.  I am not sure but maybe people are taking the bus there and then catching a ride.

Its a good 'hack' to beat the possible long wait due to the congestion at the airport for rideshare.  Though I would just jump in the taxi line and use that and then use ride share from Fremont or the Strip for the rest of the trip.

At the airport you need to go to the parking garage, then order your car.  The driver upon arriving will let you know which zone you need to meet him at.  Very simple, there is signage at the airport.  As for the casinos, it depends, soem use the parking garage, some have areas outside the main door.  All have signs.  IF you are downtown, the Uber app will tell you where the pickup spot is.  

Thanks everyone. 

I'm planning on renting a car for a couple of days in March when I'm in town for conference bball tournaments.  Got a pretty good deal from Budget for 3 days, $157 all in.   I'm planning to drop the car off on Friday and then take taxi or Uber to the strip.  Has anyone else tried something similar?   What was the experience like?

Thanks for the insight.

Re Uber/Lyft: Don't do it. Ever. Anywhere. But especially not in Vegas. Unless you like the delicious surprise of being charged $57 for the same ride that cost you $19 yesterday...or a few hours ago today. Or having the driver be completely unable to find you, despite the twenty-foot-tall RIDESHARE sign you're standing under, and having your credit card billed $10 anyway. Funsies!

Taxis from the airport to the Strip ain't cheap, and the centuries-long kerfuffle between the cab companies and the, well, everyone else resulted in the "Zones" plan whereby instead of getting overcharged for rides from the airport to the tourist areas, you now get overcharged for rides from the airport to the tourist areas. Wait, that's the same thing, you say. Ah, but now it's official. And for what it's worth, consistent.

I would just keep my rental car if I were you. But if you don't want to do that (because of a jump in price when Friday night rolls around?), quite frankly, my favorite transit option is Gray Line/Bell if I'm burdened with luggage and/or have a specific hotel destination in mind...and the city bus if I don't.

The ghastly nature of transportation options in Vegas (including all the nonsense involved in renting a car) is what makes me drive there in my own car instead of flying. But that may not be a viable option for you, of course.

Good point about surge pricing during busy times, which can be every single night.  

Do you think it's the taxi union or something like it that keeps a monorail or tram from being connected from the airport to the Strip?  

Vic, we've been using Uber in Vegas for the past 5 years or so.  As Kevin mentions, we've had very occasional headaches (the software canceling our ride, billing screw-ups,etc), I'd say maybe 5% of the time, and those problems have been quick and easy to resolve in the app.  Yes, there's that annoying surge pricing, where the same ride can be $14 one day and $50 the next.  Overall, though, Uber has been about 30 to 50% cheaper than a taxi, and there's no concern about long-hauling (in our taxi experience, they've tried to long-haul us at least 30% of the time).  Some people prefer Lyft over Uber, we haven't tried them.

At the airport, the rideshare pick-up area is in the parking garage, I think on the 2nd floor, signage is good.  Once you're there, you order the ride, the driver arrives and texts you his/her parking space number, it's always been very easy.

Most hotels have designated rideshare pick-up areas, the conspiratorial, and probably true, story is that the taxi companies have insisited on that little bit of inconvenience.  At the Strip hotels they're often far from the port cochere but not that much of an extra walk.  At locals' casinos and downtown it's really no big deal at all.

For what it's worth, we used to use the bus a lot, it was fairly convenient and with plenty of local color.  Wife has limited mobility now, so it's only an option if I go somewhere myself.