Las Vegas Monorail

For tourists on their package holidays to Las Vegas, there are several ways to get around the various sights and attractions. Taxis are easy to find and take you directly to where you want to go but with the Las Vegas Strip getting busier year upon year, the gridlocked traffic can become a stressful factor. Buses, whilst considerably cheaper than taxis, are subject to the same traffic congestion as taxis and not as convenient. Walking up and down the Las Vegas Strip can be fun on occasions, and you should definitely walk it once, but it is a lot longer than you might imagine and in the heat of the desert, you wouldn't want to walk it regularly. The best time to take a walk down the Strip is definitely at night when the temperatures have cooled a little and the neon lights are on in all their glory.

So what's the best way to get around then? Well, for those who are staying in hotels located on the east side of the Strip your best bet is the Las Vegas Monorail. Opened to the public in July 2004, the Las Vegas Monorail runs roughly parallel to the Strip down its eastern side, behind the Strip-side hotels. Starting at the Sahara Hotel & Casino at the northern end of the Strip, the monorail proceeds south stopping at Las Vegas Hilton, the Convention Centre, Harrah's / Imperial Palace, Flamingo / Caesars Palace, Bally's / Paris Las Vegas and finally reaching its destination at the MGM Grand. It takes approximately 15 minutes to cover this 4 mile journey.

The Las Vegas Monorail is air-conditioned and comfortable and has level access for wheelchairs and pushchairs. It is also eco-friendly, boasting zero-emissions due to its electric train system. Hours of operation are 7:00am - 2:00am, Monday to Thursday and 7:00am - 3:00am, Friday to Sunday. Costs range from US$5.00 for a single adult fare to US$40.00 for a 3-day unlimited pass. Children aged 5 or under travel free.

There are plans under way to extend the monorail system further south, beyond MGM Grand, all the way to McCarran Airport. Whilst still only in the planning stages, county commissioners have approved this proposed extension and it is hoped that it will be operational by 2012. This will dramatically increase the popularity of the Las Vegas Monorail for tourists on their Las Vegas holiday and should also considerably benefit the hotels located along its route.

To visit the official Las Vegas Monorail website, click here.