The
Deuce is a fully air-conditioned, golden coloured, double-decker bus
that runs 24 hours a day from the south end of the strip (just past
Mandalay Bay) all the way to downtown at Fremont Street and
vice-versa. For those of you wondering where the term ‘deuce’
comes from, it’s term used to refer to the number two in casino
card games.
The
Deuce offers a great way for first-time visitors in particular to sit
back and take in the view of the entirety of the strip whilst cooling
off from the heat outside. It’s definitely a hit with tourists and
is somewhat of a party bus, especially if you get a driver who
fancies themselves as a bit of a comedian as they’ll frequently
call out funny little quips along the way.
Deuce
services are very frequent – every 5-10 minutes – and stops are
located a few hundred yards apart along the busiest parts of the
strip which is great if you’re looking to hop-on The Deuce and get
out of the heat. However, it’s not so good once you’re actually
on the bus as the stops come up so frequently and at peak times –
e.g. early evenings - the bus can be stopped for up to 5 or 10
minutes whilst people hop on and off. It’s not uncommon to find
two Deuces queued up at the same stop due to the congestion of people waiting to get on.
The
first time I visited Vegas in 2008, The Deuce was still
relatively new and somewhat of an unknown quantity and I’m sure the
passenger numbers were nowhere near what they are today. However,
more recently when I’ve travelled on The Deuce I’ve been
frustrated by just how long it can take to get from A to B, but if
you’re a first time visitor don’t let this put you off as it is a
good way to get around – especially given the price.
The
Deuce also has a sister bus called the Downtown Express (previously
called the Gold Line). This bus runs on the same route as The Deuce
but with a few key differences; 1) it uses a single deck bendy-bus
and; 2) it stops less frequently than The Deuce and 3) it only runs
between 9am and midnight.
Route map for the Deuce and Downtown Express
The
less frequent stops on the Downtown Express are great for getting to
your destination that bit quicker, just be sure to check that the
Express stops close to where you get off.
To
travel on The Deuce of Downtown Express all you have to do is buy a
ticket from one of the machines located at all the stops. They’re
easy to navigate, and you just have to select which duration of
ticket you need, how many you’d like, insert your cash and collect
the ticket.
As
The Deuce and Downtown Express are both run by the same operator (RTC
Transit), you can use the same ticket for either service.
Prices
for travelling on The Deuce and Downtown Express are very reasonable and priced as follows:
- $6 for a 2 hour pass
- $8 for a 24 hour pass, i.e. if you buy a ticket at 2pm, it is valid until 2pm the following day
- $20 for a 3 day pass
No comments:
Post a Comment