With so much to see and do in Las Vegas, you don’t want to blow your entire holiday budget on transportation. Whether you opt to travel to the
Entertainment Capital of the World by plane, bus or automobile (there is no train service available), here are a few tips to help you get the best
deal—so you’ll have some spending money left over for things like an unforgettable sightseeing tour with Maverick Helicopters!
By Plane
Most people come to Las Vegas by plane, and if you are travelling here directly from the U.K., this is sure to be your means of transportation. The best
way to get a good value in terms of airfare is to focus on booking your trip during non-peak periods. Try to avoid Las Vegas for New Year’s Eve, any
three-day weekend and Halloween. Also, avoid huge conventions and special events. You’ll pay premium pricing at all of these times. Generally speaking,
May through September are busy months, so you’re sure to find fabulous deals in February through March and late November through Christmas. In addition to
the timing of your trip, keep in mind that you are more likely to get low-cost flights from air carriers that fly directly to Las Vegas. British Airways and
Virgin Atlantic offer nonstop service from London, while bmi features direct flights from both London and Manchester. US Airways is an airline that uses
Las Vegas as one of its hubs, so you’ll often find good deals on their flights. American Airlines, Continental and United are three other airlines to
consider that offer indirect service to Las Vegas.
British Airways
(UK) 0844-4930787
(US) 001-800-247-9297
www.britishairways.com
Virgin Atlantic
(UK) 0844-8747747
(US) 001-800-821-5438
www.virgin-atlantic.com
bmi
(UK) 0844-8484888
(US) 001-800-788-0555
www.flybmi.com
US Airways
(UK) 0845-6003300
(US) 001-800-428-4322
www.usairways.com
American Airlines
(UK) 0845-789789
(US) 001- 800-433-7300
www.aa.com
Continental
(UK) 0845-6076760
(US) 001-800-523-3273
www.continental.com
United
(UK) 0845-8444777
(US) 001-800-864-8331
www.united.com
By Bus
Many people like to plan short side trips to Las Vegas as part of their visit to another American gateway city. Normally, you won’t save much money
travelling by motorcoach instead of a plane unless you are making last-minute reservations. Even then, bus travel to Las Vegas is only feasible from
nearby destinations—such as Los Angeles, Phoenix, Salt Lake City and Albuquerque. Greyhound, the largest intercity bus company in North America, serves
all of these. As an alternative to Greyhound, LuxBus America offers affordably priced daily service between Las Vegas and three cities in Southern
California—Anaheim, Los Angeles and San Diego. Billing themselves as an “airline on the ground,” this company’s buses feature leather seats, video
entertainment and an attendant on board who provides free snacks, drinks, pillows and blankets. You can even take advantage of special packages to
Las Vegas that include bus transportation and accommodations.
Greyhound
(UK) 0900-0960000
(US) 001-800-231-2222
www.greyhound.com
LuxBus America
(US) 001-877-610-7870
www.luxbusamerica.com
By Car
If you are renting a car on your visit to America and are within a 600-mile radius of Las Vegas, driving is sure to be the easiest and most affordable way
to travel here. It also carries the benefit of providing you with transportation around town after you arrive—something you’ll find necessary if you
want to explore beyond the Strip. Driving times range from four hours (via Los Angeles) and six hours (via Phoenix) to nine hours (via San Francisco)
and 13 hours (via Denver). For information and ideas about planning your routes, visit
www.mapquest.com or
www.freetrip.com.
Written by Travel Gal, Renee Libutti