Question of the Day - 01 June 2008

As residents, we hardly ever take taxis in Las Vegas but judging from the QoD in-box, your experience wasn't an isolated case. Take a look at some of these submissions that we selected at random going back a couple of years:

• "What is this 'tunnel' I keep reading about? Something about telling taxis to avoid the tunnel from the airport to the hotels? Can you tell me which hotels this would apply to?" (April 2006)
• "The worst [thing about 2006] was an attempt to be ripped off by the taxi driver (taking the freeway from the airport after I specifically told him not to), and all the Taxi Authority would do was take him off the street for the rest of the night (and how do I know they did that??). Luckily, he gave me no flack when I only paid him what I knew it should cost." (Jan. 2007)
• "Once again, while waiting in the taxi line to depart for home after a stay at Paris, an arriving guest greeted all within earshot with a barrage of four-letter words being directed toward the taxi driver. The guest had apparently been driven by way of the "Airport Tunnel" route ... resulting in a much higher fare than expected. Could you please print or reprint any suggestions on how to avoid this from happening and what if anything can be done after the fact." (April 2007)
• "Can you give us the best taxi routes to the major strip casinos? I know the 'no tunnel' bit, but that remark tends to upset the drivers." (April 2007)
• "I just returned from a trip to Vegas. Before I left home I called the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce and was told there were many cabs located outside McCarran Airport and that the fare to Binion's downtown would be about $20. We ended up making other arrangements to get downtown, but took a taxi back to the airport. When the meter started reading over $25, I commented to the driver that I was surprised at the difference in fares. No response. When we went through a tunnel, I commented that I have never gone this way in all my trips to Vegas. The driver, obviously American, pretended he now didn't understand English. Final Fare: $32.80. I gave him a 20-cent tip. Did I overreact or what should I have done?" (May 2007)
• "My wife and I have been coming to Vegas several times a year for 20 years. On our last trip, we took a taxi from Terminal 2. We always stay on the Strip and the fare is now about $14-$16, so $20-$25 with tip. Most recently, the driver immediately established that we weren't locals, then without asking took the tunnel that brings you out on the interstate. When we arrived at the hotel, the fare was $21 and a few odd cents. I'm not petty and I don't care about a few bucks, but I was annoyed at being 'taken for a ride.' I gave him $22, and told him 'No tip. Next time, ask me which way I want to go.' He glared at me, but got back in the cab and drove off. Had he defended himself by saying that there was some reason (like an accident), I might have acted differently...but he didn't, and since it was a couple of days before Christmas and awfully slow, I didn't think it likely." (Jan. 2008)

OK, so like any major city (aside from London*), Las Vegas has its share of cab drivers who might try and pull a fast one on a seemingly ignorant tourist, or who just don't know the city as well as they should. Unfortunately, these few can give the rest a bad name. Our best advice is to prepare yourself in advance and stand your ground if you feel you're not getting good service.

As far as the former goes, a great place to start is our Taxi Tips section, which was provided by a long-time Vegas cabbie and can be found in the Useful Info in our "Shuttles & Rental Cars" section, where you'll also find a heap of other transportation tips, like how to avoid the notorious so-called "Long-Hauling" scam.

• "One more comment regarding taxi cabs taking the tunnel to the Strip from the airport: I recently took a cab from the airport and when we told the driver which hotel we were staying at, he immediately asked (very enthusiastically) if we wanted to take the 'fast route.' Thinking this would be the streets (the more direct route) we said 'sure.' Turns out the fast route is the highway/tunnel. So be aware, this option sounds like a way for cabbies to get permission from unsuspecting riders to take the tunnel to the Strip."
• "Some 10 years ago, we had a group downtown requiring two cabs to return to TI. One cab returned by way of the Strip while ours (the guys) returned by the interstate saying it was the time of day and the Strip was TJ'd (traffic jammed!). The guys did arrive at TI some 10-12 mins before the gals and I did appreciate the slightly distant rear view of the resorts and especially the time saved."
• "Follow up to your taxi question. Although Mr Day states in his Taxi Tips that every casino has a taxi stand, that isn't true of Terrible's, while Greek Isles only has cabs coming to theirs when the shows let out - which doesn't help when you are trying to pick up tickets during the day. We have waited more than 45 minutes at Greek Isles after their desk called for a cab for us. And we have simply stopped going to Terrible's."
• "After reading your taxicab QoD today, wouldn't you advise people to hop on one of the many shuttles at the airport. My wife and I got ripped off by cab drivers and we've been riding shuttles ever since. The cost is a flat rate of usually 5 bucks each so it dosent matter which way they go. When we leave Las Vegas we call the shuttle service the day before and they come get us. No pressure or worry and we like it as we chat with others on the shuttle. (The last time was Oct 2007, so I'm guessing they may have gone up due to the price of gas.)" [Ed: For information about commercial shuttles to/from the airport and about all the free shuttles in town (many hotels offer this service to their guests for airport arrival/departure, as well as for other routes around Las Vegas), check out our Shuttles & Car Rentals section, which also has a heap of other userful transportation information.]
• "Just a follow-up on your taxi question. I always say 'please don't take the tunnel.' Without exception, the response has been something like, 'I wouldn't anyway,' or 'it's to my advantage to take more fares rather than one high fare, since the company gets the fares and I only get the tips.' So, I think most of the cabbies are good about this and really don't want to rip anyone off. Also, if you arrive at a super-busy, high traffic time, it actually can make more sense to take the highway, so you need to take that into consideration."
• "We're frequent visitors to the UK and, unfortunately, the London cabs aren't just black anymore. Supposedly, the company that manufactured the classic looking taxicab has gone out of business. Now the taxis are all manner of colors, some bright and garish. However, the quality of the drivers remains unchanged. And, we love QoD." [Ed: You're correct -- London cabs have come in lots of different colors and two different styles for many years now -- the original ones that could turn "on a sixpence" are a dying breed and we agree the new ones are much uglier. And thanks -- we're glad you love QoD!"]