City Center, Las Vegas: The Aria Express

The Aria Express returning to the Bellagio station.

Inside of one of the Aria Express cars.

The portion of rail running from the Bellagio's Spa Tower on a rail that runs
between the Cosmopolitan and Vdara and stopping at Crystals between the
Harmon and Aria before it moves onward to the Monte Carlo.
(above photos: TheHopeful Traveler)

With the opening of City Center also came the newest monorail system, the Aria Express, on the Las Vegas Strip making a total of four such systems that transports visitors between hotels. The Aria Express travels between the Monte Carlo and Bellagio with one stop in between at the Crystals.

After touring City Center and then walking through the Vdara, I happened onto a path that leads to the Bellagio. I had no intention of visiting the Bellagio today. So I hopped on the Aria Express at the Bellagio's Spa Tower and took a ride for one stop to return to Crystals where I could take a shorter walk back to the Cosmopolitan where I am staying.

The Aria Express operates daily from 8am-4pm. The tram arrives about every 15 minutes and the ride duration is two to six minutes depending on your final stop. The tram travels at a top speed of 23 mph and is able to transport more than 5,000 people per hour.

The longest system is the Las Vegas Monorail which serves hotels on the east side of the Las Vegas Boulevard which from the MGM Grand runs north to Bally's Paris, Flamingo/Caesars Palace, Harrah's/Imperial Palace, Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas Hilton and Sahara.

On the west side of the strip are Mirage-Treasure Island Tram and the Mandalay Bay-Luxor-Excalibur Trams.

A whole editorial could be written about the inefficiency of these systems. But when the Las Vegas heat is hovering at 100 degrees and when walking may be a chore and driving or catching a cab too expensive, these systems are useful. Those planning on using any of these systems should note that the trams on the east side of the strip are free. The Las Vegas Monorail costs $5 per ride, $14 for an unlimited one-day pass or $30 for an unlimited three-day pass. All prices are per person.

Click HERE to learn more about each tram/monorail system and to view a larger version of the map below.

Las Vegas Taxi Drivers Take Passengers for a Ride

(photo: KevinDean/flickr)

The thing about Las Vegas taxi drivers is they have a reputation for taking advantage of unknowing visitors. I'm sure there are ones who may be honest. But in my experience the many will attempt to convince you to take a ride that jacks up the fare.

Case in point. During one visit I saw a show at the Rivera hotel and wanted to see a bit of downtown before returning to my hotel. To make things easier I ask to be dropped at the Fremont Hotel. What taxi driver in Las Vegas doesn't know where the Fremont Hotel is located? Could it be located near Fremont Street, the main avenue in Downtown Vegas? This driver even had the gall to call dispatch to ask for directions. Knowing what the driver is doing, I get out at the next traffic light and pay my fare and walk over to Circus Circus to catch another taxi. I knew he had to just keep driving up the strip but during those short minutes I was hearing him repeat the names of side streets. So no.

One of the most prevalent trips is long-hauling passengers from the airport to hotels. The freeway feels fast but it's not the shortest or cheapest route.

Learn about the using taxicabs in Las Vegas by visiting these resources and articles:

Nevada Taxicab Authority
Taxi Rider Information Program
Dale Day's Taxi Tips
Taxi Long Hauling in Las Vegas

When I get into a cab in Vegas now I just let the driver know to take the shortest and cheapest route.

Paris Las Vegas: Metro Station Entrances in the Casino

Representation of the Paris Metro stations marks the location of
gaming table at the Paris Las Vegas casino.
(photo credit: antydiluvian/flickr) 

One of the actual Paris Metro station entrances in Paris, France.
This one of the Chatelet station
(photo credit: iko/flickr)

No detail was left unturned. The design theme of the Paris Las Vegas even covers the casino floor. The steel structures under which are located the gaming tables are representations of the Paris Metro station entrances and includes the names of real stations in the city.

These Metro entrances in the art nouveau style feature glass canopies and a cast-iron balustrade decorated in plant-like motifs. The designs date back to 1900 and some of these iconic station entrances have been given to other cities. They can be found in Montreal, Washington DC, Moscow and New York City. Replicas can be found in Lisbon, Mexico City and Chicago.