Las Vegas cabdrivers among best in U.S. — with exceptions, survey finds

By Richard N. Velotta

Tuesday, Sept. 21, 2010 | 2 a.m.

Las Vegas cabdrivers have been known to boast they provide tourists’ first impression of the city. The public appears divided on whether that impression is good or bad.

Hotels.com has proclaimed Las Vegas taxicabs the best in the country in a survey of 50 cities. At the same time, comments from the more than 1,900 travelers who participated in the company’s annual survey gave a less-sunny picture of the local taxi industry.

Las Vegas has about 2,000 cabs on the road at any time, providing on average 2.16 million trips a month in 2010.

Las Vegas cabdrivers finished in the top three in all seven categories surveyed by the online lodging seller — cleanliness, value, quality of driving, knowledge of the area, friendliness, safety and availability. Las Vegas cabbies were No. 1 for friendliest drivers, besting counterparts in Chicago, New York, San Francisco and Orlando, Fla.

Although cab customers were generous in their praise, some said there is considerable room for improvement.

For example, among the Las Vegas-related responses to the question “What is the most memorable experience, good or bad, that you have ever had in a taxi anywhere in the world?” were the following:

• “Worst experience was in Las Vegas where the taxi driver drove us all over town and did not take us straight to our destination. The driver thought he could get away with it, but we had been to Vegas before, and knew he was NOT going directly to the hotel. After pointing out that he wasn’t going the right way, he claimed he was ‘giving us a scenic route so we could see the city.’ We told him he better take us directly to our hotel or we were getting out and taking a different taxi. He finally stopped trying to cheat us and took us straight to our hotel.”

• And: “Took a cab in Vegas and the driver went the longest route even though I had a printout of directions.”

Then, there were comments praising local cabdrivers:

• “The driver took shortcuts to get us to our destination fast. He was very courteous and was telling jokes to us. The real shocker is that he actually drove safely. Not like some taxi drivers who drive reckless.”

• And: “We had been traveling up and down the Strip in Vegas, and we got into a cab where the driver made sure that he was taking us on the shortest and quickest route so that we wouldn’t have to pay as much. The cost was about half as much as we had been paying with other drivers.”

Customers were asked their advice to fellow travelers.

The question solicited this response: “When in Vegas, I ask which hotels or games are the luckiest. Cabbies are the experts on their town — utilize their knowledge!”

Then these comments, indicating tourists might be catching on to cabdrivers who long-haul passengers between McCarran International Airport and the Strip.

“In Vegas, tell the driver to not take the tunnel exiting the airport,” and “Don’t take the tunnel to the Vegas Strip.”