Las Vegas Public Transportation

Las Vegas provides several public transportation options for visitors. One is the Las Vegas Monorail. This basic rail system provides service along the portion of Las Vegas Boulevard known as the Strip. Trains run from 7:00 a.m. until 2:00 a.m. Monday-Thursday and until 3:00 a.m. Friday-Sunday. Stations are located at MGM Grand, Bally's, Flamingo, Harrah's, Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas Hilton and Sahara. Trains arrive about every five to ten minutes. Pricing options include single fares for $5.00, day passes for $15.00 and three day (72 hour) passes for $40. Additionally, there are available passes that may be shared by more than one rider: $9 for a 2-ride pass and $35 for a 10-ride pass. These passes are valid for one year from first use. Tickets can be purchased at any monorail station using cash, debit cards or credit cards. If a discount coupon is being used or if other information is required, customer service booths are open in each station between 7 a.m.and 8 p.m. daily. The Monrail is quick, clean and safe, with security guards on duty at each station at night. The downside to the Monorail is that it was completely paid for by the casinos and all the stations are located at the back of the casinos, thereby forcing you to traverse the casino to get to and from the Strip to the station.
Another option for traveling along the Strip is the Strip Trolley (really a bus that looks like a trolley) which operates 8:30 a.m. until midnight. The Trolley travels from Downtown to the South Strip. As of August, 2007, the fare was $2.50 per one-way trip, and you will need to have the exact change. The Trolley also offers multi-day passes. As of March, 2007, the 4-day pass was $20; the 3-day pass was $12; an all-day pass was $6.50. As of August, 2007, the all-day pass has been eliminated and replaced by a $4.25 pass which is good from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and a second $4.25 pass which is good from 5 p.m. to midnight. If you plan to transfer from one Trolley route to another, you should buy one of the $4.25 passes at minimum because each transfer is considered a new ride and you will have to pay again if you don't have a pass. The Deuce (see the below paragraph on the CAT bus system) is NOT "quick" when there is heavy traffic on the Strip - which is usually - and the time of the trip can vary from 30 minutes to close to 2 hours depending on traffic. Trolleys use back streets and are faster than the Deuce but not as fast as the Monorail. If you are going to distant sites on the Strip and in a hurry, use the Monorail where possible.
The CAT bus system provides service along the Strip as well as to downtown and the surrounding areas of Las Vegas. A new Double Decker Bus called "The Deuce" will take you to Belk's Las Vegas Discount Mall near the airport or up and down the Strip and to Downtown for $2 per trip or $5 for a 24-hour pass. Exact change is required. Deuce passes are also accepted on the CAT and MAX bus routes.
Some of the above information as to times of service and costs of fares is outdated. Rather than retyping it all here, please see the Trip Advisor page entitled "Getting Around" for fares and schedules as of August, 2007, or visit the CAT and Monorail sites for the most current information.
Finally, several resorts provide regular shuttle service along the Strip, free to all riders. The most extensive is the purple bus that leaves the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino hourly between 10:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., stopping at various other Strip resorts.
Taxis are always readily available at the taxi stands in front of all of the major Strip resorts.
Complimentary shuttles are available from certain hotel chain properties, if you don't mind waiting about 30-40 minutes during peak times.
*Complimentary shuttle between the Coast casinos: Suncoast, South Coast, Barbary Coast (now called Bills Gambling Hall and owned by Harrahs, check to see if shuttle still runs), Gold Coast & The Orleans -- shuttle is offered approximately twice every hour in between these locations. If you are staying at the Suncoast (west of the strip, located in Summerlin) the shuttle has the ability to drop you off at the Barbary Coast (no longer a Coast property, but a Harrahs called Bills Gambling Hall, check to see if shuttle still runs), located on the strip.
*Harrahs/Rio - Complimentary shuttle bus is available between these two properties (harrahs also runs shuttles from Ballys/Paris and Caesars to various locations)
*Hard Rock Hotel & Casino also offers a complimentary shuttle, typically making a stop at three to four locations on the strip.
Sam's Town operates free shuttle buses from Fremont and California casinos in the Downtown area and from Barbary Coast,Tropicana, Hooter's, Harrah's and Riviera on the Strip.
*Complimentary Trams: Complimentary tram is available between Mandalay Bay/Luxor/Excalibur. Bear in mind that the tram does not stop at Luxor when going from Excalibur to Mandalay Bay (the south-bound run). It only stops at Luxor on the north-bound run. There is also a tram available between the Monte Carlo/Bellagio and one between Mirage and Treasure Island.