The hottest ticket in Vegas isn’t for what you’d expect
Las Vegas is back, and you'll need luck on your side to score a ride around town.
No, the hottest ticket isn't a new nightclub, show or day club. Rather, it's something you might not even consider until you're stuck waiting around for what feels like an eternity: getting around.
That's right, calling an Uber, Lyft and — dare I say it — a taxi has become one of the most challenging parts of taking a trip to The Strip.
Work has taken me to Vegas twice since mid-May, and I struggled to get a car at multiple locations on both trips.
It starts at the airport, where wait times often exceed 20 minutes for a ride-share. Though there's usually a long line of taxis waiting at the stand, it could still take some time to make your way to the front of the queue.
My new hack? If you didn't check bags, request an Uber just as you're pulling into the gate to ensure the car's waiting in the garage by the time you make it there. Otherwise, you could end up baking in the summer heat as you wait.
Related: Why renting a car in 2021 is tough
The same story was true once I made it to The Strip. Despite calling multiple Ubers and Lyfts, wait times often exceeded ten minutes. I even tried queuing in the taxi stand, but it moved just as slowly.
In fact, the lack of readily available ground transportation almost caused me to miss my 7 a.m. flight back to New York. After my two-night stay at the brand-new Resorts World mega-resort, it was time to head home.
To learn more about the new Resorts World Las Vegas and hear what our team of three reviewers experienced, please click here.
The first Uber I called couldn't find the hotel's entrance and then canceled. The next closest one was 13 minutes away. Fortunately, it showed up, but the driver was quick to point out that "this was hard to find."
Meanwhile, the quoted wait for a taxi: 30 minutes to an hour, despite being just number three in the queue.
It appears that the issue at play is demand outstripping supply. With leisure travel quickly rebounding to pre-pandemic levels, there aren't enough cars on the road to support the faster-than-expected recovery.
Many likely stopped driving during the height of the pandemic, and now they aren't incentivized to hit the road again thanks to steady unemployment checks from the government and other factors. Some might've opted to exclusively deliver food via Uber Eats, and stop ferrying around drunk tourists.
(This isn't just limited to ground transportation in Vegas — it applies nationwide, and includes airlines, hotels and restaurants that are struggling to ramp up staffing as well.)
When demand outstrips supply, the laws of economics say that prices rise. In Uber terms, that's called "surge pricing" — which I've paid on every single ride I've taken in Vegas since the pandemic started.
Going forward, I might consider renting a car in Vegas, despite some of the hassles associated with the experience, like finding parking, taking the shuttle to and from the airport and filling up with gas before returning.
Other considerations that I'd recommend include having your hotel pre-arrange a car. It will cost you dearly, but less than missing your flight.
And of course, it's more important than ever to leave lots of extra time. Nobody wants to cut a vacation short but with long lines at airports, the last thing you can risk is waiting 30 minutes for a ride.
Next time, I'll just try my luck at the casino and hope I win big. If I do, I'll hire a limo to shuttle me around.
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 5X | New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.