4 Las Vegas hotels raised resort fees — here’s how to avoid them
This week, we learned that Caesars Entertainment Corp. has raised -- ever so slightly -- the resort fees it charges at four of its Las Vegas properties.
On March 3, 2020, fees at The Linq Hotel, Harrah's Las Vegas, the Flamingo and Bally's increased from $35 to $37 per night, which amounts to $41.95 per night after tax. On its face, this is a modest increase, but it mirrors a trend of Vegas hotels steadily inching their fees up over the years, adding significantly to the total nightly rate of your room on -- or off -- The Strip.
Several other hotel groups in Las Vegas, most recently M life, have raised fees and, in some cases, this has led to a situation where the resort fee at a particular property costs more than the nightly room rate. We're not fans of resort fees anywhere, but they induce a special kind of eye-rolling when this happens. It's not cool.
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The majority of the major hotels in Las Vegas are now charging between $35 and $45 per night for a resort fee, though there are exceptions. But there are strategies you can use to avoid these fees altogether.
Read on to see what a selection of major resorts are charging right now, and what you can do about it:
| Caesars Entertainment Corp. | Resort fee (daily, before taxes) |
|---|---|
$37 | |
$37 | |
$37 | |
$45 | |
$37 | |
$37 | |
$37 |
| MGM Resorts International | Resort fee (daily, before taxes) |
|---|---|
$39 | |
$39 | |
$45 | |
$45 | |
$39 | |
$39 | |
$35 | |
$39 | |
$39 |
| Marriott | Resort fee (daily, before taxes) |
|---|---|
$39 | |
$32 | |
$29.99 | |
$30 | |
$0 | |
$0 |
| Hilton | Resort fee (daily, before taxes) |
|---|---|
$45 | |
$37 | |
$25 | |
$25 |
| IHG | Resort fee (daily, before taxes) |
|---|---|
$45 | |
$45 | |
$0 |
| other hotels | Resort fee (daily, before taxes) |
|---|---|
$45 | |
$45 | |
$45 | |
$45 |
How to avoid resort fees in Las Vegas
Match your elite status
Having elite status with Wyndham unlocks key status-matching opportunities to other chains, which is particularly helpful in Las Vegas. The most useful of these status matches in Vegas is the partnership between Wyndham and Caesars, which allows for reciprocal elite-status benefits: Wyndham Diamond members will match evenly over to Diamond-level membership with Caesars Rewards.
Related: TPG's guide to Las Vegas casino loyalty programs
Caesars Diamond status entitles you to plenty of perks at its properties, including a $100 annual celebration dinner at Caesars-owned restaurants, 15% off the best-available rate on rooms or suites, complimentary on-site valet or self-parking and more. However, probably the single best perk of Caesars Diamond status is waived resort fees on all stays, which will save you some serious cash, whether you're an infrequent visitor or a regular on The Strip.
Book an award stay
Some hotel chains -- most notably IHG, Hyatt and Hilton -- don't charge resort fees on stays booked with points. This is probably the easiest, most straightforward way to avoid a resort fee. At a property like the Waldorf Astoria Las Vegas, where award nights can be had for 65,000 Honors points per night, you'll save $45 per night before taxes -- a nice savings, especially if you're staying more than a couple of nights.
Related: These are the best times to visit Las Vegas
Stay somewhere that doesn't charge a resort fee
Believe it or not, there are still hotels that don't charge guests a resort fee. These places won't be the hottest resorts on The Strip, but if you're just looking for a place to lay your head at night, there are options. These include the Hyatt Place Las Vegas, the Hyatt Place Las Vegas at Silverton Village, Marriott's Grand Chateau and the Las Vegas Marriott. The Grand Chateau is a Marriott Vacation Club property that's located on The Strip and features two-bedroom villas -- perfect for the whole family.
Even if you're set on a resort that does charge a resort fee, there may be a chance of getting it waived. If you book with a travel agent, you can request that your agent call the general manager of the property on your behalf and ask the hotel to remove the resort fee from your stay.
Related: Getting to Las Vegas on miles and points
Bottom line
Las Vegas has changed over the years, from a strictly gambling destination to one that's become a party paradise, with high-end restaurants, daytime pool parties, nightclubs and, of course, luxury hotels. With this shift has come a rise in the cost of irksome resort fees at most properties.
Before you book your next trip to Sin City, make sure you're aware of how much a given resort fee is adding to your nightly rate. Even better, arm yourself with a strategy to avoid these ridiculous fees entirely.
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- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.