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.
For more TPG news delivered each morning to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter.
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.
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
- Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
- Ability to earn MQDs through spending
- Various statement credits for eligible purchases
Cons
- Steep annual fee of $650
- Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
- Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees