Question of the Day - 31 March 2017

Our taxi consultant tells us that except for casinos on the south Strip, though it's maybe a little shorter, distance-wise, to take surface streets, the saving in time and often money is substantial by staying on the freeways, especially if you're headed north, west, or northwest (heading northeast from the airport, you're generally limited to surface streets). 

For destinations on the Strip, most cab drivers automatically head north out of the airport on Paradise, rather than going through the tunnel. The tunnel is much longer and more expensive than taking Paradise to Tropicana or Swenson to Harmon, Flamingo, and points north. 

He says that when you go south and east into Henderson, however, the tunnel is the only way to go, unless a cab driver is long-hauling you by going the long way around on surface streets.

As for how much the fare should be, various taxi-fare finder sites online. One is TaxiFareFinder.com, plugged in McCarran to Fiesta Henderson, and came up with two estimates for two different routes: $52.80 to $52.92. 

Another taxi-fare estimator is Numbeo.com, which says that the trip from McCarran to Fiesta Henderson should cost right around $45. 

So your $45 to $60, depending on several different variables (one route is longer but faster, so cheaper) is pretty accurate. It's impossible to say exactly, given the different variables, but at least you know you're in the ballpark.

Another idea is to contact the Nevada Taxicab Authority (http://taxi.nv.gov/). They're the ultimate authority on cabs and cab fares. Their website lists typical fares from the airport to Strip hotels, but that's all; it's a bit lacking in the fares department. But you can call and ask and see what happens.

Bottom line: If your cab driver makes a beeline for the tunnel, heads southeast on I-215, and speeds you to I-515 (Fiesta Henderson is right off that interchange), you haven't been long-hauled. If he deviates in any way from that route (unless there's an official detour), you're probably being ripped off. In that case, a call to the Taxicab Authority is in order.