Airports and Liquor Stores

[Tyler12army]

We'll be arriving on friday the 11th at around 2pm. Are cabs the cheapest way to go from the airport and what are cab rates usually? A first item on our agenda will be finding a liquor store to start off on the right note. Are there any on the strip or will we need to walk a few blocks to find something, and would it be wise to just pack our own liquor in case the stores jack the prices on bottles? Finally, we have an 8:50 am sunday flight and plan on going out saturday as well...how much time should we give ourselves to get to the airport and checked in, while still being somewhat buzzed from earlier in the night? Your comments are greatly appreciated and sorry if I'm such a newb at all of this, we just want the trip to go as smoothly as possible!

[tombrokaw]

where are you staying and how many people?

you might want to consider renting a car. You'll have access to supermarkets and raku and it's just all around more comfortable in the heat to travel by car.

[Tyler12army]

There will be 7 of us coming from the airport and an additional person will meet us at the hotel. We are staying at the Monte Carlo...and we don't have anybody over the age of 25 so renting a car might be difficult. Do hotels provide a shuttle service in vegas?

[tombrokaw]

ok so no car.

Here is the most accessible for you I believe.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/super-liquor-las-vegas-3

It's just south of mandalay so you can access it by deuce bus.

[paul07ss]

What about near MGM grand ?

[tombrokaw]

well if by close you mean walking distance I'm not sure. I don't think so.

MGM is south strip though so that liquor store will work fine. Just take the deuce

[chrisl84pia]

We'll be arriving on friday the 11th at around 2pm. Are cabs the cheapest way to go from the airport and what are cab rates usually? A first item on our agenda will be finding a liquor store to start off on the right note. Are there any on the strip or will we need to walk a few blocks to find something, and would it be wise to just pack our own liquor in case the stores jack the prices on bottles? Finally, we have an 8:50 am sunday flight and plan on going out saturday as well...how much time should we give ourselves to get to the airport and checked in, while still being somewhat buzzed from earlier in the night? Your comments are greatly appreciated and sorry if I'm such a newb at all of this, we just want the trip to go as smoothly as possible!

From the airport, i'd say the smoothest way to go is by cab. But make sure you tell the cab driver to go to the strip by way of Paradise Road and Tropicana Ave. Otherwise, they'll take the long and expensive way by freeway and tunnel. My first time I got conned and from the airport to Caesars cost $40 no joke. It shouldn't cost more than $20 max.

There are liquor stores all along the strip mostly by the shopping malls. But they sell liquor in the gift shops in almost every casino too. Gift shop liquor is a little bit more expensive, but IMO worth the hassle of shuttling bottles back and forth. And depending on the alcohol tax where you come from, it might even be cheaper to buy liquor in Vegas.

From my experiences check-in at the airport in Vegas was fast. Especially if you only have carry-on. The automatic kiosks speed things up quite a bit. You should probably pack most of your stuff Saturday night before you go out and just stay up partying, grab some breakfast, finish packing and arrive at the airport latest by 7:45am (if only carry-on) or about 7~7:15 if you have checked baggage.

hope this helps

[LovesVegas18888]

We'll be arriving on friday the 11th at around 2pm. Are cabs the cheapest way to go from the airport and what are cab rates usually? A first item on our agenda will be finding a liquor store to start off on the right note. Are there any on the strip or will we need to walk a few blocks to find something, and would it be wise to just pack our own liquor in case the stores jack the prices on bottles? Finally, we have an 8:50 am sunday flight and plan on going out saturday as well...how much time should we give ourselves to get to the airport and checked in, while still being somewhat buzzed from earlier in the night? Your comments are greatly appreciated and sorry if I'm such a newb at all of this, we just want the trip to go as smoothly as possible!

You can take a shuttle from the airport to your hotel for I think around 7$ each way or something? A cab to the strip is going to cost you around 20$ or so depending what hotel you're at/what route the taxi driver takes. You all could call a limo or something if there's a lot of you and just split the cost of that it shouldn't be too expensive.

[laxlove6]

best bet is to take a taxi and get them to stop at a liquor store on the way to the hotel and stock up. I remember the liquor store beside the venetian on the strip being almost double the normal prices in vegas.

[labetalol]

I'd agree with the Super liquor suggestion - has always served us well, is on the way, and prices are way, way better than anything you can get on the strip...

[hug it out]

I would not do the shuttle, especially if you have 7 people with you and plan to hit the liquor store. Shuttle is $6.50/7 a person depending on the shuttle company. So it roughly comes out to ~$45-49 total, not including tipping the driver. Problem with shuttle is they like to pack it full before they leave the airport (wait time is usually 15-30 min) and you will make way too many stops dropping other people off at their hotels.

If your staying at Monte Carlo, then it will probably stop at MGM, NY-NY and Planet Hollywood before stopping at your hotel if your lucky (another 15-20min) taking back roads and alleys which have speed bumps.

Compare to getting a limo which is around $80 (regular stretch limo size not sedan) an hour. Probably quickest and riding in style, you can either reserve ahead of time and get a driver holding the name sign or get one on the spot exiting baggage claim usually with no wait.

http://www.vegas.com/transportation/limos.html

Or getting two cabs, ~$15-20 each, tell the driver "no tunnel, paradise road please." Cab stand at McCarran usually goes by pretty fast, I usually wait no longer than 10 minutes.

If you go with the Limo option (you will have them for an hour), I would have them stop at a Lee's Discount liquor store (google it). Pick up the supplies and head to your hotel.

If it is the cab, I would just walk after being dropped off to the nearest ABC store, there is one across the street from Monte Carlo.

[vega$]

The limo suggestion is a good one. when you come down the escalator to pick up your checked baggage, the limo drivers are by the left exit, and the taxi line is to the right exit. You should be able to negotiate a limo ride for 7 people for $75 or under. Have the limo stop at a liquor store and you can run in to stock up.

Otherwise, if you take taxis, tell the taxi attendant that you need two taxis (ask for one of them to be a van). Have one taxi stop at the liquor store and the other one go straight to Monte Carlo. You should be able to stop at a liquor store and get to Monte Carlo for $20 or less (as long as you don't dick around in the liquor store). Also, there is a huge CVS pharmacy store right next to the Monte Carlo, so you can get any mixers or anything else you need there. (It may even sell booze??? I would call and find out. If CVS sells booze, you can just walk ten steps outside the Monte Carlo to get your stash).

[Tyler12army]

75 or under for the entire group? I went to that link and found a rate for one limo and 7 guys to be 180 total. I think thats pushing it a little. Was there a site or number offering these cheaper limo rates? Do the limos come with alcohol on them or is that a no go? I found out that the CVS located next to the monte does not carry liquor/beer/wine.

[justcole0516]

Take a cab or a limo from the airport, it might be cheaper for the limo cuz there are so many of you. Also on the way from the airprot there is a CVS on pardise and harmon, right across from hard rock. They have the same prices as normal. There is also a liquor store south of mandalay and one on flamingo and audry, right behind bills.


Living in vegas i fly in and out of Mccarren at least 6 times are year to go home or other places. i have NEVER had a problem. I get there and hour or so before my flight (i have even gotten there 45 min before and still made it!) and go right past everything. BUT i never check bags. Be on the safe side and maybe get there 1.5 to 2 hours before your flight. Or earlier if you are Cisco cuz they will stop you for "random security checks" haha (love you Cisco!)

[tombrokaw]

Take a cab or a limo from the airport, it might be cheaper for the limo cuz there are so many of you. Also on the way from the airprot there is a CVS on pardise and harmon, right across from hard rock. They have the same prices as normal. There is also a liquor store south of mandalay and one on flamingo and audry, right behind bills.


Living in vegas i fly in and out of Mccarren at least 6 times are year to go home or other places. i have NEVER had a problem. I get there and hour or so before my flight (i have even gotten there 45 min before and still made it!) and go right past everything. BUT i never check bags. Be on the safe side and maybe get there 1.5 to 2 hours before your flight. Or earlier if you are Cisco cuz they will stop you for "random security checks" haha (love you Cisco!)

One time I went with a guy who had the ingenious idea to bring a liter sized bottle of contact lens cleaner.

They stopped him for an hour. Ran him through that mister thing. Put on gloves and ran a bunch of tests on his contact solution.