Since we now have a fine special section for transportation and no bus posts, and since old posts have been lost, I thought I'd start a general bus thread. Perhaps you have other bus tricks or strategies to add.
I find downtown a frugal stay partly because I can get just about anywhere cheaply by bus. The DTC is air conditioned in hot months so I don't mind waiting there. It is often the beginning of a bus route so it is easy to know which way the bus will go.
Many visitors to Vegas have only ridden the Deuce and a couple experiences in tough traffic makes that less than a desirable choice at busy hours. I like 108 and 105 to get me out of downtown and near the strip. 105 takes me to Ellis Island and along the way will let me get off in the rear of many strip casinos in the Circus Circus area of the strip. 108 takes me to Terribles for a cheap breakfast or Hard Rock for a coupon run. From Terribles I can catch the 202 and go down to the Gold Coast rather than worrying about the free shuttle at Bill's. If I then use the free shuttle to go to the Orleans and walk across to the 201 (Tropicana) I can go to NYNY and MGM section of the strip.
So a typical frugal day using buses might look like this:
108 to Terribles for cheap breakfast and matchplays.
202 to Gold Coast for 10 AM poker tournament ($22)followed with lunch there, a bit of free jazz in the lounge, and a free shuttle to Orleans or McMullan's Irish Pub for supper. The 201 to Tropicana for evening comedy at the Comedy stop. Some poker in that area of the strip. The Deuce back to downtown at 2-3 AM when the traffic is eased up. All those areas covered for $3.00 total ($2.50 for pass and 50 cents for one deuce ride) in transportation, basically one cab tip.
Last time I found that $40 for unlimited rides for a month paid for itself over my 15 day stay in Vegas. Next year I am old enough (62) to get that same deal for $20. But even the daily 24 hour deals are great. If you start on a bus other than the deuce, the 24 hour pass is just $2.50. You do have to add a couple quarters for every Deuce ride, but usually that means just once for me to get back downtown late at night and avoid the walk from the DTC in the dark.
I love this trip planner which creates a unique schedule for any itinerary. It recognizes most of the casino names. But you can also just list a Vegas street address. You plug in your details and print out a schedule to take with you. It includes various route possibilities and which routes to combine for a trip as well as estimated travel times.
http://ttpweb.rtcsnv.com/
The 107 gets me to the Boulder strip in a half hour.
The 106 gets me to Texas Station and Fiesta Rancho.
All day passes bought for the Deuce are $5 a day. If you are certain you will be just going on the bus twice, then paying the $2 one way fee saves you a dollar over the day pass.
All day passes bought on a route other than the Deuce are $2.50 and you must then add 50 cents ( correct change only) for each Deuce ride. You might as well buy the 24 hour pass because the price is the same as two rides.
The web site says you need to prove you are a senior to get the senior rate, but I met some fellows who were riding the Deuce for just a dollar each way by simply saying "senior" when they put their money in the machine to pay.. However, that was last year. I did not see that dollar deal on the website.
These prices are paid right on the bus, but you need correct change so it is a good idea to drop single collar bills and a few quarters in your pocket for the local routes both to purchase initially and to add the 50 cents for the Deuce. . Day passes are stamped with the time you boarded and good for 24 hours after that. So if you go out at 5 PM from downtown, the same pass will get you back home at say 2AM the following day and out again providing you go earlier than 5 PM. It pays to stretch out the time for buying the next pass if you can because sometimes two all day passes will meet your needs for three calendar days.
If you plan ahead and buy on line or if you visit the DTC downtown, you can purchase a month long unlimited pass for $40 (or if you are over 62 for $20)
If you ride the non deuce routes then you also get a normal bus view of where you are going. The deuce often has a strange form of advertising that makes you look out through a black grid, sort of a noir view of Vegas. I think it is a little depressing. The exception is up on the top level in the front where the view is as good as any tour bus. You can more likely get those prime viewing seats if you board the Deuce at the DTC rather than by Neonopolis.
Lots of other questions answered on the website
http://www.rtcsouthernnevada.com/cat/
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