Resort fees are usually mandatory add-on charges that hotels tack on to nightly room rates for guest use of assorted amenities and services. These fees are the bane of most Vegas visitors because they can involve charges for services that many guests don't utilize. Further, often hotel patrons don't discover these add - on fees until check - in or check - out because they're buried in the fine print of booking engines, which just adds to the disdain for the fees. There is a small portion of the Vegas hotel guest population that utilize many of the offered resort fee services and don't mind paying the added charges.
We have published previous articles ( linked below ) regarding these fees but much of that information is at least partially obsolete. More Vegas hotels have either initiated resort fee charges or increased them over those noted in our earlier published info.
Depending on the specific property, resort fee services / amenities can include in room internet access, parking services, local / 800 / domestic long distance phone calls, fitness center and pool facility access, business center access, airport shuttle services, daily newspapers, copy / fax services, boarding pass printing, and discounts / coupons for assorted attractions, dining venues, or shopping.
Vegas hotel guests staying in comped rooms are involved in a somewhat inconsistent situation with regard to paying resort fees...it's a real crap shoot whether guests utilize the services or not. We have had these fees waived at some properties ( most MGM Resorts properties ) and had to pay them at others when staying in comped rooms. This situation is particularly bothersome for us because we seldom use any of the offered resort fee services. Our recommendation is to always fervently request the resort fees be waived when staying in comped rooms. Guests should be aware that those requests may or may not help avoid payment of the charges.
There are differences in specific services and amenities offered by Vegas hotels and the resort fees themselves vary a bunch. These fees and associated services are important info for prospective Vegas visitors. We have compiled current resort fee info as of this writing, but visitors are encouraged to check specific hotel booking links provided before making concrete Vegas travel plans. Most Vegas things change often / without notice and we highly recommend a phone call to obtain current resort fee info just prior to a trip. Note that there is generally an added 12% tax on resort fee charges listed here, which somehow adds a bit of insult to the overall resort fee injury.
Vegas hotels that don't charge resort fees :
On the Strip :
None of the Caesars Entertainment properties in Vegas charge resort fees. The company has used that policy as a very useful marketing tool. All but one ( Rio Las Vegas ) of the Caesar's properties are on the Strip and include Caesars Palace , Paris, Planet Hollywood, Flamingo, Imperial Palace , Bally's , Harrah's , Planet Hollywood Westgate Towers, and Bill's Gamblin Hall .
Only two other Vegas Strip hotels, the Cosmopolitan and Casino Royale , don't charge resort fees.
Off - Strip : Off - Strip hotels with no resort fees include Buffalo Bill's , Arizona Charlie's Decatur and Boulder ( separate properties ), Cannery, Desert Rose , Eastside Cannery , Embassy Suites Convention Center , Marriot Grand Chateau , M Resort , Platinum Hotel , Primm Resorts , Rio , South Point, Staybridge Suites, Super 8 Koval ( associated with Ellis Island Casino ), Terrible's , and Whiskey Pete's .
Downtown : None of the downtown casinos besides Gold Spike charge resort fees and include Binion's , California, El Cortez , Fitzgerald's , Four Queens, Fremont , Golden Gate , Golden Nugget , Main Street Station, Plaza , and Vegas Club . Both the Vegas Club and the Plaza hotels charge for local calls.
Vegas hotels charging resort fees :
On the Strip : All MGM Resorts properties charge resort fees, many of which have increased or initiated resort fees ( eg Bellagio ) within the past 2 years.
Aria $25 - Includes internet access, local and toll - free calls, access to the fitness center, coffee maker, and daily newspaper.
Bellagio $25 - Includes internet, local and toll - free calls, fitness center access, and access to the business center.
Circus Circus $8.95 - Includes internet, local and toll - free calls, fitness center access, and guests receive a package of coupons.
Encore $25 - Includes internet, free local, toll - free, and long distance calls, and access to the fitness center. This fee does not apply to guests staying in the Tower Suites.
Excalibur $15 - Includes internet, free calls of all types including domestic long distance, fitness center access, and an in room coffee maker.
Four Seasons $20 - Includes internet, local and toll - free calls, fitness center access, coffee maker, and daily newspaper.
Luxor $18 - Includes internet, free calls including domestic long distance, fitness center access, daily newspaper, and a coupon package.
Mandalay Bay $25 - Includes internet, free local and toll - free calls, access to both fitness and business centers, a daily newspaper, and a coupon package.
Mandarin Oriental $24 - Includes internet, local and toll - free calls, fitness center access, and a daily newspaper.
MGM Grand $25 - Includes internet, local and toll - free calls, access to business center ( but not the fitness center ), a daily newspaper, and a coupon discount package.
Mirage $25 - Includes internet, local and toll - free calls, fitness center access, business center access, and a daily newspaper.
Monte Carlo $20 - Includes internet, local and toll - free calls, access to both fitness and business centers, and a daily newspaper.
New York, New York $18 - Includes internet, local and toll - free calls, access to both fitness and business centers, a daily newspaper, and a discount coupon package.
Palazzo $20 - Includes internet, local and toll - free calls, fitness center access, and a daily newspaper.
Riviera $11 - Includes internet, local and toll - free calls, and access to both fitness and business centers.
Signature at MGM Grand $20 - Includes internet, local and toll - free calls, fitness center access, an in - room coffeemaker, and a daily newspaper.
Stratosphere $7.50 - Includes two for one "Bite" show tickets, along with Statosphere Tower and pool access.
THE Hotel @ Mandalay Bay $20 - Includes internet, local and toll - free calls, access to both fitness and business centers, and a discount coupons package.
Treasure Island $20 - Includes internet, local and toll - free calls, access to fitness and business centers, a daily newspaper, and coupon discounts.
Tropicana $15 - Includes internet, free local and toll - free calls, access to both fitness and business centers, and discount coupons.
Venetian $20 - Includes internet, local and toll - free calls, access to fitness center, and a daily newspaper.
Vdara $25 - Includes internet, free local and 800 calls, a daily newspaper, and two bottles of water daily.
Wynn $25 - Includes internet access, free calls including long distance, and fitness center access. This fee is not charged for the folks staying in the Tower Suites.
The mean daily resort fee charge for the above 23 Strip hotels is just over $18.
Off - Strip :
Aliante Station $15 - Includes Internet, local and toll - free calls, access to both fitness and business centers, and a daily newspaper.
Artisan $9.95 - Includes internet, in-room bottled water, and valet parking.
Boulder Station $13 - Includes internet, local and 800 calls, access to the business center, and a daily newspaper.
Fiesta Henderson $10 - Includes internet, fre local and 800 calls, access to both fitness and business centers, and a daily newspaper.
Gold Coast $3 - Includes internet, local and 800 calls, access to fitness center, and an in - room coffee maker.
Gold Spike $8 - This is the only downtown casino that charges resort fees. Includes internet and fitness center access.
Green Valley Ranch $25 - Includes internet, free local and 800 calls, fitness center access, limited spa access, free airport shuttle, and a daily newspaper.
Hard Rock $18 - Includes internet, fitness center access, shuttle service to Strip, free calls of all types including long distance, and free pool towels.
Hooters $9.95 - Includes internet, local and 800 calls, pool and fitness center access, and in - room bottles of water.
Orleans $6 - Includes free local and 800 calls, access to both fitness and business centers, and an in - room coffeemaker.
Palace Station $15 - Includes internet, all types of calls including domestic long distance, access to both fitness and business centers, a daily newspaper, discount coupons, and an airport shuttle service.
Palms $15 - Includes $15 daily drink coupons at any casino bar.
Ravella $22 - Includes internet, free local calls, fitness center access, daily newspaper, coupon discounts, and an airport shuttle service.
Red Rock $25 - Includes internet, free local and 800 calls, access to both fitness and business centers, limited spa access, a daily newspaper, and airport shuttle service.
Rumor's $12 - Includes internet, free local and 800 calls, and pool access.
Sam's Town $4.50 - Includes local calls, access to business center, and discount coupons.
Santa Fe Station $13 - Includes internet, local and 800 calls, business center access, and a daily newspaper.
Silverton $7.50 - Includes local and 800 calls, fitness center access, a coupon package, and airport shuttle service.
Suncoast $5 - Includes local calls, access to fitness center, in - room coffeemaker, daily newspaper, and a coupon package.
Sunset Station $15 - Includes internet, local and 800 calls, access to both fitness and business centers, and a daily newspaper.
Texas Station $13 - Includes internet, local and 800 calls, access to both fitness and business centers, and a daily newspaper.
Trump Las Vegas $20 - Includes internet, local and 800 calls, access to both fitness and business centers, in - room coffeemaker, a daily newspaper, and discount coupons.
Tuscany Suites $14 - Includes access to fitness center, in - room coffeemaker, and an extensive discount coupon package ( dining and gaming ).
Westin Causarina $11.50 - Includes fitness center access, local and 800 calls, limited spa access, business center access, and a daily newspaper.
The mean daily resort fee charge for the above 24 off - Strip properties is just under $13.
The Alexis Park hotel doesn't charge a resort fee per se, but they do charge a $12.99 per day internet access fee which conspicuously includes fitness room access, parking , and a daily newspaper. It appears this group just called the fee something else.
We refreshingly discovered one hotel, the JW Marriot ( which has the Rampart Casino as a backdrop ) that offers an optional resort fee of $24.99 for guests who choose to use their fairly extensive list of resort fee services. Those who elect to not use the services aren't required to pay the fees which are mandatory just about everywhere else in town. It's novel of them to give paying customers a choice in Las Vegas.
Cheers...
Charles Higgins
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