The only problem with these measurements is that the driving distance and the walking distance are nowhere near the same. Well, they probably are in some cases, but in many cases, they are not, what with the walkways and such that you have to go through.
those distances can be pretty deceptive getting to the exit of one of the strip hotels can be a long walk in itself. walking from your room at say Paris to the gaming tables at Bellagio (which is across the street, =0) would probably take 20+ minutes.
The distances are very deceptive. It was weird how long it took to get across the street from the Flamingo to Cesar's.
it takes forever to walk because when you get on one of those moving walkways, you don't actually get to walk, because there are idiots standing there blocking your way. move over dammit, you lazy POS.
It takes me longer because I have to look at all the great literature people hand out to me for free.
Do not take a cab everywhere unless you are rich. The cabbies in Vegas will take you for a ride (for real). Unless you want to just stay on the strip, ( which is boring) rent a fricking car. It's cheaper than cabbing. You can get to downtown, Green Vally and all the good cheap casinos off the strip like Terribles and and Ellis Island. Ellis Island has thier own brewery and sell beer for $1 per glass 24/7. They sell racks of baby backs for $12, which includes two sides. Get on the Cheapo Las Vegas web site or others. When I go to Vegas which is at least once per year, the strip is the last place I want to spend most my time. Unless you are gambling, the strip casinos will kill you on drinks.
JohnnyM is correct - most of the big off-Strip hotel/casinos have free shuttles to the best parts of the Strip. You can get better gaming odds & decent cheaper rooms in most of them, although the locals tell me Green Valley Ranch has gotten as snotty as the Bellagio or Wynn's. I hear a few small grind joints such as Slots-O-Fun, Casino Royale, and O'Shea's are still the cheapest places on the Strip to gamble. Harrah's & MGM's properties all suck when it comes to gambling & comps. Downtown & Fremont Street are supposed to be trying hard to lure the low rollers. If you're afraid of getting stuck in a fleabag flophouse, stay at the Golden Nugget - it's very nice.
For my money, The Deuce(bus) is the best transportation in Vegas. Air conditioned, it stops all along The Strip and goes to downtown, 24 hours a day. Best yet, it is only $5 for a 24-hour, all you can ride pass. I have spent hundreds of dollars on cabs in Vegas, and the Deuce is far superior.
The Duece is a good cheap option for riding up & down the Strip. However, both decks of those buses are packed on weekends like aggy during hump & grabnut cheers. It is also has been common to be packed during weeknights - dunno if the slowdown has effected the numbers of riders though. Photo of packed Deuce: The Link
Eh, it's about like riding a shuttle bus to a Horns game. Crowded, but the price is right, and it is about as fast as a cab. In fact, I have taken a 30 minute cab ride down the Strip before.
When you rent a car in Vegas.. DO NOT DRIVE DOWN THE STRIP! You have Sinatra just to the west and Koval just to the east. The underground parking garage at Fashion Mall makes you readily accessible to Wynns, The Venetian, Palazzo TI and the Mirage... and it's free. The parking garage at Caesars (again, access it from Sinatra) makes you readily accessible to Caesars, Bellagio, Paris... and again, it is free. As for the price of drinks.. that really isn't an issue... it's free as long as you're playing.
Actually, the best free parking garage at center Strip is the one attached to the rear of Bill's (formerly the Barbary Coast). Approaching Bill's westbound on Flamingo, you can see the self parking garage driveway on the right - just go in & up the circular ramp to the second or third level. There's always parking in there, even on weekends. It only takes a minute to get down the elevator to the casino floor and out onto the Strip. Do not use the valet parking at Bill's, it's not necessary or practical like it is in most of the megaresorts.. Bill's location is the best for walking around at mid-Strip - next to Bally's/Paris & the Flamingo, across from Bellagio & Caesars.....with crossover pedestrian bridges framing the whole intersection. Free shuttle service pickup from Bill's to the Orleans also.
