Arriving at the Las Vegas Airport

Las Vegas is served by McCarran International Airport, 5757 Wayne Newton Blvd. (tel. 702/261-5211, TDD 702/261-3111; www.mccarran.com), just a few minutes' drive from the southern end of the Strip, where the bulk of casinos and hotels are concentrated. This big, modern airport -- with a relatively new $500-million expansion -- is rather unique in that it includes several casino areas with more than 1,000 slot machines. Although these are reputed to offer lower paybacks than hotel casinos (the airport has a captive audience and doesn't need to lure repeat customers), it's hard to resist throwing in a few quarters while waiting for the luggage to arrive. We actually know someone who hit a $250 jackpot there on his way out of town, thereby recouping most of his gambling losses at the last possible moment. (He was surprised, too.)

Getting to your hotel from the airport is a cinch. Bell Trans (tel. 702/739-7990; www.bell-trans.com) runs 20-passenger minibuses daily between the airport and all major Las Vegas hotels and motels (7:45am-midnight). There are several other companies that run similar ventures -- just stand outside on the curb and one will be flagged down for you. Buses from the airport leave about every 10 minutes. When you want to check out of your hotel and head back to the airport, call at least 2 hours in advance to be safe (though often you can just flag down one of the buses outside any major hotel). The cost is $5 per person each way to Strip- and Convention Center-area hotels, $6.50 to Downtown or other Off-Strip properties (anyplace north of the Sahara Hotel and west of I-15). Other similarly priced shuttles run 24 hours and can be found in the same place.

Even less expensive are Citizen's Area Transit (CAT) buses (tel. 702/CAT-RIDE; www.rtcsouthernnevada.com/cat). The no. 108 bus departs from the airport and will take you to the Stratosphere, where you can transfer to the no. 301, which stops close to most Strip- and Convention Center-area hotels. The no. 109 bus goes from the airport to the Downtown Transportation Center at Casino Center Boulevard and Stewart Avenue. The fares for buses on Strip routes are $2 for adults, 60¢ for seniors and children. Note: If you have heavy luggage, you should know that you might have a long walk from the bus stop to the hotel entrance (even if the bus stop is right in front of your hotel). Vans are able to get right up to the entrance, so choose a van if you're lugging lots of baggage.

All of the major car-rental companies are represented in Las Vegas, if you choose to rent a car while you are in town.

Visitor Information

All major Las Vegas hotels provide comprehensive tourist information at their reception and/or sightseeing and show desks.

Other good information sources are the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, 3150 Paradise Rd., Las Vegas, NV 89109 (tel. 877/VISIT-LV or 702/892-7575; www.visitlasvegas.com), open daily from 8am to 5pm; the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce, 3720 Howard Hughes Pkwy., #100, Las Vegas, NV 89109 (tel. 702/735-1616; www.lvchamber.com), open Monday to Friday from 8am to 5pm; and, for information on all of Nevada, including Las Vegas, the Nevada Commission on Tourism (tel. 800/638-2328; www.travelnevada.com), open 24 hours.

Help for Troubled Travelers -- The Traveler's Aid Society is a social-service organization geared to helping travelers in difficult straits. Their services might include reuniting families separated while traveling, feeding people stranded without cash, or even emotional counseling. If you're in trouble, seek them out. In Las Vegas there is a Traveler's Aid office at McCarran International Airport (tel. 702/798-1742). It's open daily from 8am to 5pm. Similar services are provided by Help of Southern Nevada, 953-35B E. Sahara Ave. (Suite 208), at Maryland Parkway in the Commercial Center (tel. 702/369-4357). Hours are Monday to Friday from 8am to 4pm.

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