Getting around - Monorails

There are a number of monorails and cable car trams of sorts that run in different parts of Vegas, and whilst each of them can be used for certain purposes, unfortunately the Vegas planners – and casino owners – haven’t had the foresight to fully integrate the monorails into a joined-up transport system. Think of the London Underground operating different lines, but without the ability to change lines at the same station - very annoying.

The following list is a rundown of the various monorails currently running in Vegas and how best to use them.

‘The’ Vegas Monorail

This is the official monorail in Vegas – not to be confused with some of the other short-hop monorails listed below - which runs from the MGM Grand at the south end of the strip to a stop at SLS at the north end.

Starting at MGM Grand there are stops at Bally’s/Paris, Flamingo, Harrah’s/The Quad, Las Vegas Convention Centre, Las Vegas Hotel (off strip) and SLS.

The two stops south of the SLS (the remodelled Sahara) are the Las Vegas Convention Centre and Las Vegas Hotel (previously the Las Vegas Hilton). Unless you’re heading to an event at the conference centre or really need to go to the Las Vegas Hotel, again I really wouldn’t recommend you head this far north. Yes, the SLS stop can be used to walk further north if you’re heading up to the Stratosphere, but the area around the SLS is not particularly nice and not one I’d recommend walking around, particularly after dark.

Taking the above into account, the monorail effectively runs as far north as the stop at Harrah’s / The Quad.

As if the station issues weren’t enough of a worry, another downside to the Monorail is that it runs at the back of the hotels it stops at, so once you’ve say disembarked at Flamingo, you then need to walk all the way through the back of the hotel and through the Casino before you can get onto the strip.

So it’s fair to say that the idea behind the Monorail is somewhat flawed as it only offers minimal benefits, but that said I would definitely use it in the following scenario.

A route map of the Las Vegas Monorail

If you’re staying at MGM Grand and frequently wish to head to around mid-strip - i.e. the areas around Flamingo and Harrah’s stops, then the Monorail could be the best solution for you. Taking the monorail from the MGM stop to Harrah’s takes in the region of 10 minutes and is far quicker than having to walk from your room, all the way through the MGM Grand onto the strip in order to get The Deuce.

If you are planning to use the Monorail for quick-hopping from MGM Grand to mid-strip – or vice versa – just make sure you buy a ticket type that you’re likely to get most use from as it’s not the cheapest way to get around the strip.

Tickets for the Monorail can be bought at all of the stations and prices are as follows:

• Single ride - $5
• 24 hour ticket - $12, i.e. if you buy at ticket at 2pm, it will be valid until 2pm the following day
• Two day pass - $22
• Three day pass - $28
• Four day pass - $36
• 7 day pass - $56

It’s also worth looking out for ticket discounts which are frequently published in the free Vegas guides you’ll see lots of in Taxis and at Monorail stations themselves.

Further details of the Las Vegas Monorail can be found here: http://www.lvmonorail.com/

Mandalay Bay, Luxor, Excalibur Monorail.

This free monorail runs between the three hotels listed above until the small hours of the morning. If you’re at Excalibur and wish to travel down to Mandalay bay – or vice versa – then this monorail is a useful way of getting between them.

One thing worth pointing out, however, is that if you’re travelling down from Excalibur, the monorail doesn’t stop at Luxor as it logically should. Instead, you need to wait for it to head down to Mandalay bay, before turning back for its stop at The Luxor. Why I may hear you ask? Well these three hotels are all owned by the same operator – MGM Resorts – who would hate for you to potentially leave out a visit to Mandalay Bay where you may wish to explore and possibly spend some money; hence, the reason for taking you to Mandalay Bay first – crafty isn’t it (and who says Vegas isn’t about money!).

As a side discussion to this summary of the Excalibur, Luxor, Mandalay Bay monorail (and to throw in my two pennies worth), it is a real shame that the planners and moneymen (i.e. hotel operators) couldn’t join up this short monorail from Excalibur across the road to the MGM Grand where the main Vegas Monorail starts. Now I’m no town planner or logistics expert, but it’s painfully obvious that the two sections could be joined up relatively easily and I’m sure this would give so much benefit to the three hotels sat at the south of the strip detached from the majority of the action.

Aria/Monte Carlo – Crystals – Vdara/Bellagio Monorail

This free monorail (well, it’s a cable car really) operates around the City Centre complex (collection of huge glass buildings in between Monte Carlo and Bellagio).

This monorail will only really be of benefit if you’re staying at one of the named properties or planning to visit them in quick succession.

Mirage – Treasure Island Tram

Whilst this free, single shuttle run only operates between these two hotels, it can prove to be really useful if you’re staying in one of the properties and wish to hop north or south between them and nearby attractions.

For example, if you’re staying at The Mirage, you just walk out of the main entrance, head left and you’re on the tram in a couple of minutes and arrive at TI in no time. From here it’s only a 10 minute walk up to Fashion Show Mall or Wynn.