(Free) Shuttle from McCarran Airport to Mandalay?

**BughouseMASTER** · 06-04-2018, 07:50 PM

Does one exist? If not, what's the cheapest way to get to Mandalay? I'm already aware that a cab would cost 1000 pennies, but is there a cheaper way?
Thank Q.

**BughouseMASTER** · 06-04-2018, 09:21 PM

hey!!! Not everyone all at once now people!!!!!!

**spiderman** · 06-04-2018, 09:50 PM

public transportation RTC - WAX bus route. $2 one way or $1 with a medicare card. Catch the bus at the airport lower level (level zero) to Tropicana and Las Vegas BLVD (about 6 minutes). From there take the Mandalay Bay free tram from Excalibur to Mandy Bay.

**Jabberwocky** · 06-04-2018, 10:24 PM

Originally Posted by spiderman

public transportation RTC - WAX bus route. $2 one way or $1 with a medicare card. Catch the bus at the airport lower level (level zero) to Tropicana and Las Vegas BLVD (about 6 minutes). From there take the Mandalay Bay free tram from Excalibur to Mandy Bay.

To ride the tram, you have to produce ID.

**Midwest Player** · 06-04-2018, 10:32 PM

Originally Posted by BughouseMASTER

Does one exist? If not, what's the cheapest way to get to Mandalay? I'm already aware that a cab would cost 1000 pennies, but is there a cheaper way?
Thank Q.

I think a taxi would be more like 2000 pennies. Bus might be cheap but not a good idea with suitcase. A shared shuttle is cheap and a good option.

https://www.taxifarefinder.com/main.php?city=LV&lang=en

**spiderman** · 06-04-2018, 10:59 PM

Originally Posted by Jabberwocky

To ride the tram, you have to produce ID.

No you don't. Tram from Excaliber to MB is free.

**spiderman** · 06-04-2018, 11:04 PM

Originally Posted by Midwest Player

I think a taxi would be more like 2000 pennies. Bus might be cheap but not a good idea with suitcase. A shared shuttle is cheap and a good option.

https://www.taxifarefinder.com/main.php?city=LV&lang=en

The Wax bus (RTC) is actually pretty convenient. There is a rack for suitcases on the bus. The bus isn't crowded. No locals use that route. Only tourist going from airport to strip and downtown. After the Tropicana/LV BLVD stop the bus jumps on the freeway and heads downtown stopping right at Fremont street. It really is an under utilized cheap option.

**vagabond** · 06-05-2018, 07:33 AM

Walk or hitch-hike? Lol

**Ryemo** · 06-05-2018, 07:37 AM

Originally Posted by vagabond

Walk or hitch-hike? Lol

No kidding lol. If you can’t afford the $7 shuttle ride from McCarran to the strip, then you should rethink your trip to Vegas, haha.

**spiderman** · 06-05-2018, 08:16 AM

Originally Posted by vagabond

Walk or hitch-hike? Lol

We laugh, but with better planning, there could have been an 'easy' walk to the strip. I mean the airport property extends to the strip on the southern side, and comes within one long block (the length of MGM property) on the north west corner (Koval and Tropicana). A couple of those airport type moving sidewalks and you could be there. Of course there is the problem of the runways. lol

But seriously, while walking would have only been an option at the time of the airport design, had they chosen to place the terminal on the side of the property closest to the strip, there is another option that is still very much viable today. Monorail extension. It makes no sense that the monorail which runs the length of the strip ends a quarter mile from the airport terminal (about 50 yards from airport property line).

And with the Raiders stadium under construction there is a plan to extend the monorail to Mandalay Bay. The proposed extension route would take the monorail to within 10 feet of airport property....but yet, no access to airport.

**Midwest Player** · 06-05-2018, 02:30 PM

On my one and only trip to Las Vegas for a BJ21 party in 2009, I spent a total of only $34.50 on transportation. I took the shuttle to my hotel and on return to airport I took a taxi because I didn't want to be driving around picking up folks. If it is only you a shuttle would be cheaper. If two or more in your party a taxi may be better. By the way, on the shuttle I took the first stop was the Luxor.

Here is a portion of my Vegas trip report mentioning transportation costs. Remember this is in 2009 costs.

I had my biggest loss of the trip at Palace Station. I played for 3.5 hours and ended up losing $980 on their double deck game. At Palace Station I would usually start off with a $15 bet and drop to $10 on negative counts. I would top out around $100 or a little more. I did get a checks play call when I had two hands of a $100 each out there. So I guess my top spread was 1 to 20. I did not feel any heat at this place.

I also got a players card at Palace Station. They gave me $3 in free play for getting a players card, but I had to put a dollar in to activate the free play. I couldn't figure out how to activate the free play and wasted $3 trying to figure it out before I asked for help. Then I won $9 on the free play, but I forgot to cash out the ticket when I left and I wasn't about to go all the way back just to cash out the ticket.
I had no trouble getting to Palace Station and I didn't walk. I took the Deuce to Sahara casino and then got on the 204 west bound bus. The bus drops off right at Palace Station. I only waited for about 3 minutes for the 204 bus. On my return trip I took the Palace Station free shuttle to Fashion Show Mall where I caught the Deuce again and headed down to Mandalay casino where I played into the late night.

The free shuttle from Palace Station to Fashion Show Mall is supposed to be for guests only, but they don't enforce it. The guy told me if I showed up I would get a ride. The free bus was full to capacity and some young sexy girls showed up at the last minute and there wasn't enough room for all of them so they sat on each others laps and two of them were sitting next to me. I must admit the bus driver of the free shuttle was the nicest of all the bus drivers on the entire trip. If you take the free shuttle you have to be careful you get on the right bus as they alternate between the Fashion Show Mall and the airport.

My total transportation expense not counting my airfare in Las Vegas came to $34.50. I took the shuttle bus from the airport to Monte Carlo for $7.50 which included a dollar tip. The first night I just walked around and ended up at Mandalay Bay casino. The next day I headed down to the South Transfer Terminal to get my senior citizen ID and reduced bus fare tickets. I was planning on buying a one day ticket to get down there, but the fare machine on the bus was broke so I got a free ride to the terminal. I bought two 3 day tickets while I was there for a total of $15. I never did ride the monorail as the bus worked fine. It was a farther walk to catch the monorail so I stayed with the Deuce. I took a taxi for my return trip to the airport and my fare came to $10.90 and I gave the taxi driver $12.00.

**Freightman** · 06-05-2018, 02:50 PM

MWP said

"I took the shuttle bus from the airport to Monte Carlo for $7.50 which included a dollar tip"

So, in other words, shuttle was 6.50. 15% gratuity Is $.975 - brings total to $7.475. This means you gave the driver an additional bonus of $.025. I trust he didn't spend the bonus in 1 place

**BughouseMASTER** · 06-05-2018, 04:12 PM

Originally Posted by spiderman

The Wax bus (RTC) is actually pretty convenient. There is a rack for suitcases on the bus. The bus isn't crowded. No locals use that route. Only tourist going from airport to strip and downtown. After the Tropicana/LV BLVD stop the bus jumps on the freeway and heads downtown stopping right at Fremont street. It really is an under utilized cheap option.

How often does that bus to Trop run? If you continued from Trop to Fremont, how much is that fare? Thank Q.