1. Check as many websites as you can but be aware it is not inexpensive. I am finding the rates close to double last year.

2. Sign up for email alerts and join the club. For Dollar Rentals it will allow you to avoid the lines at the rental facility. I believe most of the companies have the same thing.

3. The rental facility for all companies is one building away from the airport with one shuttle for all the companies. It is very well run and takes just a few minutes to get there.

4. All hotels have free parking. If you valet you just have to tip. You may want to drop your friend off at an entrance and then park. Decide which ones are closest to where you want to be inside (front door or parking garage door).

Call your insurance agent and find out exactly what you coverage is for a rental car. Specifically ask about liability coverage, deductibles, Comprehensive and collision coverage, and coverage for loss of use to the rental vehicle.

Don't pay any attention to what anyone on this board tells you about insurance coverage. None of them will be there for you after an incidence. And you can not hold them responsible. The only one you can count on is your own agent.

Then you can make an informed decision.

I meant to add that you might want to weigh the cost of a car rental (and the hassles) to the cost of cabs. I am doing that now and so far the cab is winning.

damama.....thanks we did compare the price of cabs and decided this time we would rent a car for a couple of reasons: 1) got a great rate $20 a day 2) we are staying at Encore and will be going to MGM to meet up with daughter 3) our other friend is renting house since her son is getting married 4) friend's injury. We figure we will break even at the worst. zbethg

One more thing: What do you think is an appropriate time for valet? zbethg

whooops......tip not time.

that's a great rate. The best I can do is $25.00 and change and that is before all the fees and taxes for the smallest car. I even used coupons. The total came to just under $150 for four days. I can take a lot of cabs and also not be the DD for that.

Re: Valets

Some like to tip both on drop-off & pick-up, but that's up to you. Most valets in Vegas really hustle (you don't see too many with beer guts, lol) so I think $2-$3 is good; maybe $5 if they are super-fast and/or helpful with luggage, directions, etc. Whatever you do, DO take advantage of the valet service as it does save a lot of walking and is safer for women traveling alone.

I used Priceline.com as per the advice I received from another poster and got a full size car from Hertz for $15/day. I was having no luck with coupons or specials and was questioning whether cabs were really that inconvenient. Priceline really came through.