We couldn't agree more: We absolutely refuse to ride it if we can't be on top, especially after we've been watching "Pawn Stars."
Sorry, but that was a gift simply too good to resist!
Now that we've stopped laughing, back to the history and workings of Las Vegas' double decker buses, which is actually a little complicated and more than a little bizarre.
The first of these vehicles to be introduced was the now well-known Deuce Bus, launched by the Regional Transport Commission of Southern Nevada in October, 2005. These gold-colored double-deckers cost just under $600,000 each at the time and initially serviced the Strip and downtown only. In 2007, the service was extended into residential areas to meet the demand of some of the busiest routes, like the 110 on Eastern Avenue and 202 on Flamingo Road. Then, in June 2008, the fleet was upgraded with the addition of the new double-deck, double-staircase Deuce, which allowed for easier and quicker up-and-down access.
However, prior to the Deuce, there was much rumor regarding an independent commercial company that was going to introduce classic London-style red open-top double-deckers to the Strip, imported by a company called London Transport Corp. (a k a The Big Bus Company of Las Vegas) at a cost of $100,000 each. It sounded like an ambitious plan, but this is Vegas, so anything's possible.
It all started back in May, 2005, when the local press was all abuzz with the story of how a German investment banker named Raimond Capel would, by the end of summer, be operating a fleet of these tourist buses that would offer passengers a full-day pass to travel up and down the Strip, getting on and off at will, while being regaled with historical facts and interesting trivia about the sites they passed en route, for the grand sum of $25 per person.
Then things started to get a little strange. On June 30, the Las Vegas Review-Journal ran an article stating, "Representatives of a company that hopes to operate red double-decker buses in Southern Nevada on Wednesday denied several claims its majority owner recently made about his proposed business model." The company attorney commented that it had been "regrettable" that Mr. Capel was the one who'd been interviewed about this project and apologized for the "ill-fated remarks" about his plans for the vehicles, which apparently contravened certain state laws regulating the use of buses.
Turns out the whole "hop-on, hop-off" concept is not permissible and the attorney emphasized that what the company was seeking was a license to offer a charter service. He also said Mr. Capel was no longer supervising the company's daily operations.
So, we did some sleuthing and found the agenda for the June 29, 2005 Nevada Transportation Services Authority meeting, in which London Transport Corp. applied for "a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity to provide charter bus service within the state of Nevada" (Item no. 31, Docket No. 04-11005). From the list of active certificates for charter buses in the state of Nevada, which we also tracked down, it appears that the request was granted and that the company was awarded a certificate -- no. 2112, to be precise.
But then something bad happened. On July 7, 2005 a red double-decker bus in London was bombed as part of a terrorist attack. Immediately, there were rumblings that the launch of the Vegas fleet would be delayed. And then we heard nothing more. We found a number for The Big Bus Company of Las Vegas, but when we called it during office hours, no one answered. And that, apparently, was the end of that. Until late 2006, that is...
In October of that year, we reported that an outfit called the Double Decker Bus Company of Las Vegas was now up and running, offering views of the Strip and elsewhere from atop a fleet of vintage open-top London double-decker buses. Each bus seats 70 people, they're available for private charter, and at that time we spotted one in the parking lot of Big Dog's Tavern on W. Sahara, which appeared to be a watering hole on some kind of private party tour.
The Double Decker Bus Company of Las Vegas is still fully operational, offering private and corporate charter tours of Las Vegas, both on the Strip and covering outposts as far afield as Red Rock and Hoover Dam. Hire starts at $135/hour, which includes an English-speaking tour guide. If you require translaters, catering, entertainment etc., then the rate increases accordingly. The fleet consists of original London Transport transit buses that have been imported and fully refurbished. They have a seating capacity of 72 passengers (44 upstairs, 28 down), plus up to 20 standing.
In 2007, this service was supplemented with the addition of the Show Bus of the Stars, a daily sightseeing tour bus that leaves from outside Planet Hollywood and makes a loop to Fremont Street downtown and back. Celebrity impersonator/tour guides currently include Marilyn Monroe, Elvis, Rod Stewart (what does he know about Vegas?), and Stevie Wonder. "Oh, and I think Liberace's in on Friday," we were told.
The fare's $49.95 and the whole tour takes approximately one-and-a-half hours. Tours leave Planet Ho at 10 a.m., 7 p.m., and 9 p.m. daily, with the evening rides being busier, we were informed. You need to book a reservation in advance and it was suggested you call at least a week ahead to secure a seat on the upper deck. And here's an inside tip: If you call the company direct on 702/738-3542, you can avoid the online booking fees.
