this is my experience....

When you get to Baggage Claim, exit the building to the "shuttle" side, as opposed to the "taxi" and "parking" side. (If you know East/West, exit the West side of the building.)

As soon as you exit the building you will notice a throng of Limos, shuttles and buses. Looking left and right (along the face of the West side of the building) you will see numerous signage of the 10 or so transportation service companies.

I have often used CLS, but all of them are located along the building, with CLS being at the far left (South) end. Feel free to walk the line and ask the going rate for Downtown (should be about $7, per person).

Some of the transportation outfits use poker chips as a receipt/voucher. You pay the fare, get a chip and give the chip to your driver.

(If you collect these kinds of chips, essentially advertising chips, then buy extras and just don't use them.)

There are three pitfalls associated with using shuttles this way!

1. The shuttles do not leave until they are close to, or are, full! This means your wait varies. However, they fill according to general destination. You will only be waiting for it to fill with Downtown people, not just Golden Nugget people.

2. Since the shuttle is now full on people going to different specific locations, the ride becomes a milk-stop route and you can only hope that the first stop is yours. (Nope, don't think about jumping off at the Las Vegas Club because its close to the Nugget, because your luggage is likely buried!)

3. Your return trip requries a telephone call, 24-hours in advance, that you will need to be picked up. Do not expect to just stand-by the drop point and be picked up.

Sometimes that cab option becomes favorable. Considering that 4 or 5 can ride in a cab for the same price as 1, then it might pay to split the cost with someone you meet curbside.

Who knows... Go to Vegas, meet a new friend!

Enjoy the trip!

Jim