Privately operated Strip Trolley buses are one transportation option for visitors looking to travel up and down the Strip. RELATED LINKS Return to Las Vegas City Guide

Following a bumpy start in 2004, a long-anticipated monorail line (www.lvmonorail.com) now serves the entire length of the Las Vegas Strip, with efficient, air-conditioned trains that soar above the traffic congestion that frequently plagues the area. Trains stop at eight stations along the four-mile route from the southern terminus at the MGM Grand to the northern terminus at the Sahara Hotel and Casino, including a stop at the Las Vegas Convention Center. The total travel time from end to end is about 12 minutes, and the system operates daily from 7 a.m. to 2 a.m Monday through Thursday, 7 a.m. to 3 a.m Friday through Sunday. Tickets cost $5 for a single ride, $15 for an all-day pass, $40 for a three-day pass or $20 for a six-ride ticket.

Meanwhile, visitors can travel up and down the Strip on public buses (Citizen Area Transit bus no. 301 navigates the length of Las Vegas Boulevard) or the privately operated Strip Trolley buses (www.bell-trans.com/vehicle_trolley_map.htm). Taxis and limos are available, of course, but prepare for long waits whenever the town is booked up with convention delegates. If the weather is not unbearably hot, walking is good option — just be sure to walk defensively, as accidents involving vehicles and pedestrians are not uncommon.

McCarran International Airport is not far from the Strip or downtown Las Vegas, and several door-to-door van services offer practical, affordable transportation to the major hotels. Some hotels also operate their own shuttle services, so ask about airport transfers when you make your reservation.

Taxi fares from the airport typically run about $15 or $20 to the Strip, or $25 to downtown, though some drivers will try to add a few dollars to the fare by taking unsuspecting visitors on a longer route through the tunnel that connects McCarran to Interstate 15.