Glitz and glamour for rent in a set of fantasy wheels

In Vegas, anyone can rent a basic compact car, as I did ($17.96 a day, plus taxes, at Thrifty), but here in the capital of flash and glitz, something a little sportier may be in order.

On Swenson Avenue, not far from the airport, I found RAV (Rent-a-Vette), which specializes in the exotic. A Lamborghini Gallardo or a Ferrari 360 Spider will set you back $1,495 a day. A Bentley Continental GT goes for $995, and a Corvette convertible (very popular) for $295.

“A lot of people, when they hit [it] big at the table, they come down and rent a Lamborghini or a Ferrari,” said marketing director Kealy Marie.

The lure of these cars? “Because it’s Las Vegas,” Marie said. “People want to play the part, the bling-bling fantasy. Also, they can’t afford to buy the car.”

RAV rentals have neither identifying stickers nor license plate frames, she added, so “it looks like it’s their own. But valets pretty much know what’s what.”