If you have ever visited the Las Vegas Chinatown Plaza in the past, chances are pretty good that you will have seen a few tour buses parked there (presumably to allow the tourists they cater to to get a quick meal).
But I have long heard about a bus service that caters mainly to the Asians/residents residing in the LA Chinatown area that drops off and pick up passengers in the LV Chinatown. Kind of like the Chinatown Express bus operations operating in New York that picks up passengers and drop them off for some legalized gambling in Atlantic City.
So I figured it would be pretty easy to find a business listing for this transportation company base in SoCal, since I can't be the first Yelper to use this service. However, either there is no listing to be found or I am not as good of a sleuth with the Yelp search feature.
Anyway, after scrolling past page after page of party bus, local buses and guided tour buses, as well as chartered bus and airport shuttle services, I gave up on Yelp and continued my now determined search via the all knowing Google.
My faith in GOOG search engine was quickly rewarded with me finally locating a somewhat plain Jane website for a www.VegasExpressBus dot com
The price for their one way fare is $25, round trip is $45 (or $5 cheaper if booking in advance, with the second trip having to be completed within 30 days). The fare is collected in cash once you have boarded and the bus is on the way. Also have $2 cash per passenger for tipping the driver and "tour guide", collected after leaving Barstow.
They have three drop off/pick up locations in Las Vegas. Tropicana, Harrahs and the main Chinatown Plaza parking lot. The three destinations in SoCal are Los Angeles Chinatown, Monterey Park, and Rowland Heights. The Rowland Heights location is super convenient for me, and a total pleasant surprise, they literally drops you off right by Ranch 99 there. Coming from Las Vegas, Rowland Heights is also the first stop, then Monterey Park and finally DTLA Chinatown.
Unlike the BoltBus, GreyHound and a few other bus services that also offers their services from LV to SoCal, there is only one (1) departure time per pick up location with VegasExpressBus, aka 雙運巴士 (obviously in Chinese).
Tropicana: 12:10pm
Harrahs: 12:30pm
Las Vegas Chinatown Plaza: 1:30pm
Which of course is a major delimiter for some potential passengers, but if the schedule works out for you and the preferred destination at one of the three SoCal "Chinatowns" is even more convenient than Downtown LA, then the choice is pretty easy if you are in need of this type of transit service.
Pro tip to minimize sun exposure:
* Request seats on the left side of the bus when leaving Las Vegas.
There are fancier bus services, but if you are traveling solo and just need a 1-way trip without paying too much to get yourself to LA, this VegasExpressBus is a good way to do it. Just call ahead to reserve a seat and don't be late. They will not wait for you! read more