1

Greyhound has plenty of buses, all between 14.5-17 hours and involving a transfer in the LA area. Around $70.
I know of no bus that runs direct routes.

There is no train to Las Vegas.

Airline baggage fee chart.

2

AMTRAK bus runs from LV to Barstow & Bakersfield...Rail connection from there...carracar

3

hmm thanks for the fast reply...that's too long of a drive. Didn't realise it's that far. I read online LA-LV was only 2 hour drive and by the look of map SF didn't seem that much further.Don't want to lose a full day on road.

I just checked expedia for flights. Tickets seem to cost ~90. I also checked the checked baggage rates on the site and it seems to be around $25 per bag. But the description doesn't tell me the max weight per bag. Overweight luggage attracts 50-125 extra charge.

Can someone please tell me know what is the domestic luggage limit per piece for Virgin, United and US airways?

Thanks

4

You need to read better info. Try 4.5-5 hours, excluding traffic.

Read the above link.

5

Sorry missed that link!! Thanks!! Virgin seems quite reasonable. Thank you very much!

6

Did you look at Southwest Airlines? You won't find them on sites like Expedia or Orbitz, but they are a perfectly good airline. They have direct flights and do not charge for two checked bags, under 50 pounds each. For May 3, $79 one way.

7

Above meant as low as $79 plus tax, coming to $89 on the cheapest Southwest flights to SFO May 3 (some flights that day cost more). Two bags up to 50 lbs. free have no charge. Bags of 51-100 lbs. apparently would cost $50 each.

Virgin America and US Airways have flights for the same price. Virgin America's site says Main Cabin guests may check up to 10 bags for a fee of $25 each. The first bag may weigh up to 70 lbs. Bags two through ten may weigh up to 50 lbs. On US Airways, max weight is 50 lbs on all bags, and 1st checked bag is $23 online and $25 at the airport and 2nd checked bag is $32 online and $35 at the airport. All bag fees are non-refundable, per person and each way. We charge $100 per bag for your 3rd - 9th bag. You'll have to check their sites to see fees if your bags exceed these weights.

Note that Amtrak also has restrictive baggage policies.

Google Maps estimates 9 1/2 hours to drive by the quickest (and most boring) route. Greyhound's quickest bus would be 14 1/2 hours, but, as noted, necessitates going through, and changing busses in, Los Angeles, whereas if you drove you wouldn't need to go through L.A.

8

"Is there any overnight bus/train?"

The closest to a "direct" train/bus combination is the Amtrak Thruway Bus from Las Vegas to Bakersfield where you transfer to the Amtrak San Joaquin Line to Emeryville (closest stop to San Francisco. From there Amtrak provides another Thruway Motorcoach bus across the bridge to downtown San Francisco). The Amtrak Thruway Motorcoach is an extension of Amtrak trains that connect additional places to the rail network so yes the arrival time of the bus is in time for the train departure. See Amtrak.com for schedules & ticketing. Look on the map to see where's Bakersfield in relative to Las Vegas.

"Is there another bus operator that has direct bus?"

Look on post #15 of the sticky FAQ thread above this branch to find out.

"Which airline has the lowest luggage excess fee? and which one has the most hidden charges? " You'll find that airfare is comparable to riding the train or bus over the same distance only you get to SFO in about 1.5hrs or 2 instead. Southwest isn't always the cheapest but than their checked luggage & other tack on fees are minimal if any. Look on Kayak.com to see what's all there and be sure to check "nearest" city. It could be cheaper to fly into Oakland or San Jose instead. Other possible choices are Allegiant (only goes to Stockton from Las Vegas though), Virgin America, US Airways and United. Other than that see the above as you have some good responses.

Edited by: anyone101

9

I'm just curious in a macabre sort of way, what is it that you are doing so much shopping for, and what makes you think you will find bargains in LV that you can't find anywhere else, especially San Francisco? If you are going for outlet shopping, the outlet malls are all over the place, and they don't have real bargains anyway, only lesser quality merchandise. Why not shop at the end of your trip rather than the beginning? And to second what was already said, just fly Southwest Airlines. The hassle of any other mode of transport just isn't worth the time and expense.

10

What the heck do you plan on buying in Las Vegas? I am guessing clothes. If so, how about not bringing munch amd traveling with empty bagds? You just do some of your shopping first thing.

11

Take Southwest Airlines to either Oakland or San Jose. I live around the San Francisco area and I always use Southwest Airlines for weekend trips to Las Vegas. Southwest generally doesn't charge for the first couple of bags and no there are no hidden fees.

12

You may want to see whether shipping your shopping is a less expensive way of getting it to SF or to your home. My in-laws routinely do this, either with US Postal Service or UPS. A press release about the UPS service is here
http://www.theupsstore.com/about/pressroom/Pages/062910_press_release.aspx
more details here (max weight of the large box is 85 pounds) http://www.theupsstore.com/products/Documents/LuggageBoxInfo.pdf

13

"You may want to see whether shipping your shopping "

Speaking of that before you even leave the store where you bought the item from and ask if they would ship your purchased items. It be convenient that way might be cheaper or more expensive than if you make the trip to USPS or the UPS (United Parcel Service) store yourself. Many stores do ship during the holiday shopping season, but outside that time period some may still do. Either way may as well have them send the items to your home instead.

14

Yes - I can't imagine what could possibly be cheaper in Las Vegas than many other cities. Okay - it might be the city where you are going to spend the most time during your trip, and then have fun each evening - but still - I'm intrigued as to what you plan to buy that you cannot find elsewhere (even in Australia, in fact).