I figured I’d book Showtime at some point before my final day for the return trip to the airport, but never did. Why? Because I knew I didn’t have to worry about being longhauled, that’s why! Not having to deal with that stress was the best thing about the shuttle. I also didn’t have to wait in a hot taxi line.Īs we cruised along the highway toward Downtown, I enjoyed the view (like those steel statues of horses and bighorn sheep that are along the freeway) and found myself feeling so much more relaxed than I normally am when I’m in a cab. I know that’s not the common airport shuttle experience but since I had prepared myself for an hour-long ride, with multiple stops before mine, I was pleasantly surprised. This was great because for just $11 plus tip, I got a ride downtown without having to share the vehicle with anyone else. Score!Īirport to Downtown Grand was just $11 before tip on the shuttle. So basically, I had the shuttle all to myself. He called the booth to see if anyone else was coming and the girl in the booth gave him the all-clear to leave. In any case, he was very polite and a very good driver. My driver was a very young man, possibly Filipino, but I’m not positive. He immediately let me onto the cool, air-conditioned bus and stowed my suitcase in the back. I’m guessing the girl in the booth must have called him on the radio to let him know to expect me. He even addressed me by name as I approached as if he were a limo driver. I passed lots of other shuttle stops with people fanning themselves in the 100-degree heat while waiting for their shuttles, but when I arrived at my stop, the driver was waiting for me. The girl at the booth was friendly and efficient and told me where I could find the blue Showtime Shuttle (across the road on the median, all the way to the end). It was easy to book online (except for the “return trip from a different hotel” thing), they gave great directions about how to find them at Terminal 3 (right outside door 53, to the right of baggage claim). It’s very easy to find the Showtime Shuttle at Terminal 3. So how did my first experience with a Vegas airport shuttle go?
I didn’t want to commit to the return trip just in case I had an awful experience the first time.I was changing hotels mid-trip and couldn’t figure out how to book a return trip from a different hotel and.I didn’t book a round-trip for 2 reasons:
With that in mind, I booked a one-way trip from the airport to the Downtown Grand on Showtime Shuttle. I’ve taken so many airport shuttles over the years in other cities, I’ve gotten used to dropping other people off at their hotels before I arrive at mine. Some love the fact that it’s cheaper than a cab, while others hate that it takes longer (sometimes a lot longer) than a cab. I just never saw the need, with the Strip being so close to the airport and all.īut my discontent over longhauling cabbies in Vegas finally reached the boiling point, and I decided that it was time to see what the shuttle experience was like here. (Public transportation is out when your suitcase is larger than a carry-on, and sadly, I am incapable of packing everything I need for a week in a carry-on.) But, believe it or not, until my most recent trip, I had never used an airport shuttle in Las Vegas. For a solo traveler with a large suitcase, it’s generally the least expensive option. In most cities I travel to, I always try to book an airport shuttle rather than take a taxi to my hotel. Have you ever taken an airport shuttle in Vegas?