6 Ways To Beat Pricey Resort Fees in Las Vegas

Overview of Resort Fees Resort fees have become a common part of the Las Vegas hotel experience. You may have encountered them at check-in, where you are asked to pay additional fees for amenities such

Overview of Resort Fees

Resort fees have become a common part of the Las Vegas hotel experience. You may have encountered them at check-in, where you are asked to pay additional fees for amenities such as access to the pool, in-room Wi-Fi, complimentary parking, and more. Fortunately, there are ways to avoid or reduce these fees.

In this article, we’ll explore six strategies to save money on resort fees in Las Vegas:

What are resort fees?

Resort fees are additional fees charged to guests by hotels or resorts when they book a stay at the accommodation. The charges, also known as amenity fees or service fees, can vary greatly depending on the type of resort, the facilities offered and the season in which you are traveling. Some of the most common items included in resort fees are access to recreational activities, Wi-Fi connectivity and spa treatments.

Resort fees provide customers with a range of services that may be considered necessary or beneficial for a comfortable stay. These services can include access to beach chairs and umbrellas, access to fitness centers or tennis courts, on-site parking availability, towel services or even daily newspaper delivery. Depending on the location of the resort and local regulations, certain taxes may also be included in these additional charges.

Since these amenity charges are not included in basic room tariffs, these costs are often unexpected for travelers who book accommodation without researching potential additional costs. Although not all resorts charge additional resort fees every day of their occupancy period; some establishments require customers to pay them once upon arrival while others have unique billing systems that include pre-arranged payments either prior to arrival or after check-out. Generally speaking however; it is important to anticipate and plan ahead for any potential incidental fees when booking someone’s vacation accommodations in order to prevent budgeting issues later on.

Why are resort fees so expensive?

Resort fees are an increasingly common feature of the hospitality industry, and have become a significant revenue source for hotels. Resort fees are charges beyond typical accommodations, typically ranging from $14-$45 per night. In Las Vegas in particular, resorts have been introducing higher and higher resort fees, with some casinos charging up to $45 per night.

Resort fees cover activities and services that aren’t typically included in the room price. These may include:

  • Access to pools and gyms
  • Concierge services
  • Wi-Fi access
  • Any other amenities provided by the resort

Most hotels must increase their room rates to cover their operational expenses but may choose to not pass that burden on to guests by opting instead to charge a fixed resort fee which is generally easier to absorb than an increase in room rate alone.

By charging a daily resort fee on top of the room rate separately from any other charges or taxes, hotels are able to disguise the add-on cost of staying at their properties, making it look as though the nightly rate is lower than it is in reality. This kind of pricing strategy can be confusing for travelers who don’t understand why they’re paying extra charges beyond the posted rate for accommodations in addition to taxes and billable extras like meals at restaurants or spa services.

Tips for Avoiding Resort Fees

Vegas is known for having some of the most expensive resort fees. Whether you’re booking a hotel room or staying in a five-star resort, resort fees can add up quickly and make your Vegas vacation more expensive than planned.

Fortunately, there are several ways to beat the pricey resort fees in Las Vegas. Here are six tips that can help you avoid resort fees:

Use comparison websites

Comparison websites such as Hotels.com, Tripadvisor and Kayak can be extremely helpful when it comes to avoiding resort fees. These websites compare rates from many different hotels and resorts, enabling you to easily see which ones are more expensive than the others. In addition, they also provide detailed information about hotel and resort fees, so you can quickly determine which hotels charge a fee and which ones do not.

By using comparison websites to research multiple hotels, you can save a great deal of money that would otherwise be wasted on resort fees. Many comparison websites also offer coupon codes or discounts for booking through their site, providing added savings that should be taken advantage of whenever possible.

Consider staying off-strip

For those looking to save money and avoid resort fees, consider staying off of the Vegas strip. Off-strip hotels are usually cheaper and may not charge a resort fee – or if they do, it will likely be less than hotels on the Strip. Another way to save when staying off-strip is by searching for hotel deals and discounts. Many hotel websites offer sale prices throughout the year, as well as special offers for seniors, military personnel, Las Vegas locals and more.

Another thing to consider is that much of the action of Las Vegas – casinos, pool parties, nightclubs – can be found inside resorts on the Strip. But there are plenty of free things to do off-strip like exploring attractions like Freemont Street Experience or walking in Red Rock Canyon just minutes away from Downtown Las Vegas for some amazing natural views (without a resort fee!).

While you’re here take advantage of tours, shows and concerts that don’t have an entrance fee or nightly rate:

  • Freemont Street Experience
  • Red Rock Canyon
  • Tours
  • Shows
  • Concerts

Look for package deals

One of the easiest ways to save money on resort fees is by booking a package deal at your favourite Las Vegas hotel. In addition to saving on accommodation costs, some resorts offer special packages that include meals, show tickets, access to certain attractions and so on.

A lot of these package deals will also offer discounts or waivers on the resort fees associated with the room. However, it’s important to read the fine print for any expenses excluded from this kind of deal so that you know what items will be added onto your stay in addition to the reduced room rate.

Check out Airbnb

If you are looking for an alternative to traditional hotel accommodations, Airbnb and other home-sharing services can offer a great way around resort and other fees associated with hotels. By renting directly from a homeowner, you can often save significantly on your stay, as most situations don’t involve any additional costs beyond the rental fee itself. It’s also a great way to meet locals and immerse yourself in the local culture and experience activities that many travelers miss.

The key to success is to plan ahead and search for hosts that don’t charge extra fees for things like cleaning or using amenities. You may also want to look for longer rentals that include basic utilities and basics such as internet access at no additional cost. Make sure you read all the details listed on the listing thoroughly so that there are no surprises when you arrive! Doing your homework upfront will help ensure an enjoyable experience without breaking the bank!

Look for hotels without resort fees

When booking your next vacation, it’s worth spending some extra time to research which hotels have resort fees and which don’t. This way, you can avoid potentially expensive surprise fees when you check in.

It’s best to look for hotels that don’t charge resort fees at all, as these are usually the least expensive option. However, it’s worth being aware that some hotels may refuse to waive their resort fee if you book through certain websites or travel agents, so make sure you always read the small print before booking.

Another tip is to check online reviews from customers who’ve stayed at the hotel before – they may mention whether a resort fee was added during their stay. Additionally, if you’re using a third-party website such as Expedia or Booking.com to make your reservation then make sure to double check with the hotel directly after booking that no mountains of additional costs have been added on top.

Finally, it can be useful to contact customer service before making a final purchase and ask about any potential charges related to your stay. That way, you can make sure exactly what is included in your hotel rate upfront and get any fees removed if necessary.

Keep these tips in mind and you can avoid having any unpleasant surprises when it comes time to pay your bill!

Consider using a rewards program

Many resorts will waive resort fees if you book and stay within their rewards program. For instance, Marriott Bonvoy and World of Hyatt offer rewards programs with no resort fees attached to your stay. These programs differ in the amount of points needed to receive discounts or bonus offers for each property, so it’s a good idea to check out both their offerings before making your booking decision. You will also want to double check that any savings from the points earned through those reward programs are worth more than the resort fees waived.

In addition, many hotels and resorts offer special deals or promotions throughout the year that may be able waive resort fees. However, they may require you to sign up for their loyalty program or book a minimum number of nights before they apply the enrollment bonus towards reducing any associated fees. Be sure to always look at other options prior to committing, as some hotels may have hidden costs such as cleaning and service charges not included in the advertised price, even if they don’t charge a resort fee.

Conclusion

Despite the high prices of resort fees in Las Vegas, there are a few simple strategies you can use to save yourself some money when booking a hotel:

  • Ask your hotel directly about discounts on resort fees or deals that waive them completely.
  • Book through websites such as Expedia and Hotels.com, as these are often known for cutting down costs.
  • Consider staying at a non-resort hotel where fees are generally not applied and try to negotiate with your chosen establishment for special offers or packages that don’t include resort fees.
  • Finally, look out for exclusive promotions by credit cards that could entitle you to discounted or waived resort fees at certain properties.

By following these steps you can save yourself some money and make the most of your trip without having to worry too much about budget constraints related to resort fees in Las Vegas.