Resort fees are a relatively new (and annoying) phenomenon in Las Vegas. I won't go as far as to say that they are a rip-off, but some of the handling can certainly be deceitful. A 4 night/5 day stay (such as when you arrive Sunday at 3 p.m. and depart Thursday by 11 a.m.) counts as 5 days and can cost you up to an extra $100 that you didn't expect to have to pay. It is Vegas' way of cleverly upping their rates ...and profit.
Mandatory, non-negotiable resort fees range from $1 to $40 a night. Not all hotels charge them but most of the better hotels charge about $20 plus a couple of dollars tax.
Here are some of the resort fees charged by some of the better known strip and nearby hotel resorts: at least $30 per night is added to your bill by the Aria, Bellagio, Encore, Mandalay Bay, MGM Grand (a daily resort fee of $33.60) & Signature, Mirage, Vdara at CityCenter and the Wynn hotels. The Excalibur, Hard Rock, Luxor, Monte Carlo, New York-New York, Palazzo, Palms, Delano/Mandalay Bay, Treasure Island/TI, Tropicana and Venetian all add between $19 and $39 per night. Those charging between $5 and $9 include the Circus-Circus, Hooters, Orleans, Riviera and Stratosphere. (To their credit, the new Cosmopolitan does not charge a resort fee.) The amount a hotel charges is subject to change without notice.
The following hotels also do not charge a resort fee: Alexis Park, Arizona Charlie's, California, Cannery, Casino Royal, Elara, Four Queens, Fremont Hotel, M Resort, Main Street Station, Wyndham. We think hotels "...offer guests the excitement and value of the Las Vegas Strip, without the excessive fees." But All the strip Hotels are now charging resorts fees, its ashame.
In early 2000s, the press release went on to say "Caesar's Entertainment Las Vegas resorts exclude mandatory resort fees, thus allowing guests to allocate their budget toward entertainment, dining, shopping or room upgrades rather than amenities that they may not use or desire" and that "In some cases, the fee may be in excess of 40 percent of the base room rate." They claimed their "no-fees policy" saves travelers $3 million per month." Things changed since then so much that Caesars properties are now the pioneer of the resort fees, pushing 40 dollars a night.
In my view, they are similar to the baggage fees that airlines (except Southwest Airlines) tack onto your plane fare. The resort fee is not charged or collected by your travel agent or company, and it is completely independent of the rate you were quoted for the room. The fee is not part of the final total listed on your reservation and is collected directly by the hotel at check-out.
Resort fees often cover features that you don't need - or want. These "amenities" vary from hotel to hotel. Is a resort fee a good deal? That depends on what you get and how useful they are to you.
But free telephone calls (everyone has a cell phone), newspapers, pool/fitness center/gym/tennis court access, turndown service, in room coffee, internet access, in room safes, discount tickets/drinks/coupons/coupon books, between hotel shuttles and free parking/valet and concierge services are mostly features that I have received and were included without additional charge in past years. Now I have to pay for it under the umbrella of resort fees whether I use it or not.
| HOTEL |
RESORT FEES (per night) |
INCLUDES |
| Aria |
$36 |
- Wi-Fi access
- Local & toll-free calls
- Fitness Center access
- Daily newspaper
- Airline boarding pass printing.
|
| Artisan Hotel |
$13 |
- Wi-Fi access
- Two bottles of water in the room.
- Adult TV channel
- Access to the pool.
- Additional energy surcharge of $3.
|
| Bally's |
$33 |
- Wi-Fi access
- Local & toll-free calls
- Fitness Center access
|
| Bellagio |
$33 |
- Wi-Fi access
- Local & toll-free calls
- Fitness Center access
- Daily newspaper
- Airline boarding pass printing.
- Complimentary notary services.
|
| Boulder Station |
$6 |
- Wi-Fi access
- Local & toll-free calls
- Daily newspaper
- Gift shop discount.
- Copy and fax service.
- Special daily offers
|
| Buffalo Bill's |
$6 |
- Wi-Fi access
- Local & toll-free calls
- Coupon book
|
| Caesars Palace |
$33 |
- Wi-Fi access
- Local & toll-free calls
- Daily newspaper
|
| Cancun Resort by Diamond Resorts |
$22 |
- Wi-Fi access
- Access to fitness room.
- Access to pool, hot tub and water slides.
- In-room coffee/tea maker.
- In-room local and toll-free calls..
|
| Circus Circus |
$24 |
- Wi-Fi access
- Two cups of in-room coffee.
- Free chips and salsa at the Blue Iguana (valid for one visit with minimum $8 purchase).
- Two free Midway games.
- Two-for-one Coaster ticket at The Adventuredome.
- Access to the fitness center.
- "Buy one, get one free" well drink at West Casino or Slots A Fun bar.
- Boarding pass printing.
- Local & toll-free calls
- Resort passport, containing other discounts/specials
|
| Days Inn Las Vegas at Wild Wild West |
$9 |
- Local & toll-free calls
- Daily local newspaper.
- Copy and fax services.
|
| Delano Las Vegas at Mandalay Bay |
$34 |
- Wi-Fi access
- Access to the Bathhouse gym and cardio center.
- Access to PressReader, a digital newspaper and magazine service, on your device.
- Local & toll-free calls
- Outgoing faxes.
- Complimentary notary services.
- Boarding pass printing.
|
| Desert Paradise Resort by Diamond Resorts |
$11 |
- Wi-Fi access
- Access to fitness room.
- Access to pool, hot tub and children's splash pad.
- In-room coffee/tea maker.
- In-room local and toll-free calls.
- DVD rentals.
- Use of ping-pong tables.
|
| Downtown Grand |
$23 |
- Complimentary self parking (there is a charge for those not staying at the property).
- Wi-Fi access
- Complimentary bottled water upon arrival.
- Complimentary coffee each morning.
- A "Grand Experience" book filled with discounts at hotel outlets.
- Free local and toll-free calls.
- Access to the fitness room and outdoor pool (seasonal).
|
| El Cortez |
$10 |
- Wi-Fi access
- Local phone calls.
- Access to the fitness center.
- Entry into the daily slot tournament.
- Two bottles of water.
|
| Encore at Wynn Las Vegas |
$35 (fee applies to all rooms except the Tower Suites, Parlor Suites and Salon Suites) |
- Wi-Fi access
- Unlimited local, domestic long distance and toll-free phone calls.
- Fitness center passes (two per day).
- Printing of boarding passes.
|
| Excalibur |
$29 |
- Wi-Fi access
- Access to the fitness center.
- Daily newspaper.
- Local & toll-free calls
- Incoming faxes.
- Printing of boarding passes.
|
| Fiesta Henderson |
$11 |
- Wi-Fi access
- Local & toll-free calls
- Fitness center access.
- Daily local newspaper.
- Gift shop discount.
- Copy and fax service.
- Special daily offers and discounts.
|
| Fiesta Rancho |
$11 |
- Wi-Fi access
- Local & toll-free calls
- Fitness center access.
- Daily local newspaper.
- Gift shop discount.
- Copy and fax service.
- Special daily offers and discounts.
|
| Flamingo |
$33 |
- Fitness center access for two people per day.
- Daily in-room internet access for two devices.
- All local calls.
- Resort fee listed includes tax.
|
| Fortune Hotel & Suites |
$11 |
- Wi-Fi access
- Continental breakfast.
- Shuttle to the Strip.
- Fitness room and pool access.
|
| Gold Coast |
$15 |
- Use of fitness center.
- In-room coffee.
- Local & toll-free calls
- Shuttle to the Strip and The Orleans.
- Wi-Fi access
|
| Golden Gate Hotel and Casino |
$22 |
- Wi-Fi access.
- A $10 voucher -- per person, per night -- off any of the shows at the D Las Vegas (based on availability).
- Local and toll-free calls.
|
| Golden Nugget |
$28 |
- Wi-Fi access
- Fitness center access (includes cardio area and strength training equipment).
- Two bottles of water in the room (replenished daily).
- Complimentary boarding pass printing at the front desk or box office.
- Valet and self parking.
- Daily newspaper (available in each hotel tower lobby from 6 a.m. - 10 a.m.).
- Downtown destination coupons.
|
| Green Valley Ranch Resort and Spa |
$28 |
- Wi-Fi access
- Local & toll-free calls
- Fitness center access.
- Daily local newspaper.
- Shoe shine service.
- Airport shuttle service.
|
| Hard Rock Hotel & Casino |
$28 |
- Complimentary in-room internet access.
- Daily newspaper (available for pickup).
- Complimentary access to the fitness room.
- Round-trip shuttle service to the Fashion Show mall.
- Unlimited local and toll-free calls.
- Unlimited domestic long distance calls.
- Complimentary notary service at the Concierge desk.
- Complimentary printing of boarding passes.
|
| Harrah's |
$33 |
- Fitness center access for two people per day.
- Daily in-room internet access for two devices.
- All local calls.
|
| Hilton Lake Las Vegas Resort & Spa |
$22 |
- Local calls.
- Wi-Fi access
- Fitness center access.
- Two bottles of water per day.
- In-room coffees.
- A daily newspaper.
|
| Hooters |
$22 |
- Wi-Fi access
- Local and toll-free calls
- 24-hour fitness center access
- 24-hour pool access
- In-room safe
- Keurig coffee
- Two bottles of drinking water per guest room
|
| HRH Tower at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino |
$28 |
- Wi-Fi access
- Daily newspaper (available for pickup).
- Complimentary access to the fitness room.
- Round-trip shuttle service to the Fashion Show mall.
- Unlimited local and toll-free calls.
- Unlimited domestic long distance calls.
- Complimentary notary service at the Concierge desk.
- Complimentary printing of boarding passes.
|
| JW Marriott Las Vegas Resort & Spa |
$17 |
- Wi-Fi access
- Access to the fitness area in the Aqua Sulis Spa.
- Local and toll-free phone calls.
- Two bottles of water in the room.
- Discounts to the restaurants.
- Two complimentary drinks.
|
| Luxor |
$29 |
- Wi-Fi access
- Access to the fitness center.
- Local, long distance (excluding international) and 800-number calls.
- Daily newspaper.
- Printing of boarding passes.
|
| Mandalay Bay |
$34 |
- Wi-Fi access
- Cardio center access.
- Access to PressReader, a digital newspaper and magazine service, on your device.
- Local & toll-free calls
- Outgoing faxes.
- Complimentary notary services.
- Boarding pass printing.
|
| Mandarin Oriental Las Vegas |
$26 |
- Morning coffee and tea at MO to Go (served from 6 - 8 a.m.).
- Wi-Fi access
- Local and toll-free calls.
- Access to the Fitness & Wellness Center, lockers and steam room (open Mondays - Thursdays from 6 a.m. - 8 p.m. and Fridays - Sundays from 6 a.m. - 9 p.m.).
- Unlimited access to scheduled fitness classes including yoga, Pilates and kinesis wall training (subject to availability).
- Daily newspaper upon request.
- Overnight shoe shine services.
- Boarding passes printed at the front desk.
|
| Mardi Gras Hotel & Casino |
$6 |
- Shuttle service to McCarran International Airport and the Las Vegas Strip (daily from 7 a.m. - 10 p.m. every hour on the hour).
- Wireless internet access.
- In-room coffee service.
|
| MGM Grand |
$34 |
- Wi-Fi access.
- Daily USA Today newspaper available at Front Page newsstand.
- Unlimited local and toll-free calls.
- Limited business services such as notary and barding pass printing.
- Access to the cardio room.
|
| Mirage |
$34 |
- Wi-Fi access
- Access to the Cardio Center.
- Daily newspaper.
- Complimentary notary services at the Business Center.
- Printing of boarding passes.
- Faxes.
- Unlimited local and toll-free calls.
|
| Monte Carlo Hotel & Casino |
$34 |
- Wi-Fi access
- Access to the fitness center from 6 a.m. - 7 p.m. (excluding wet area).
- Daily newspaper (pickup on guest room levels).
- Limited copying and faxing at the business center.
- Boarding pass printing at the kiosk in the lobby.
- Unlimited local and (800) calls.
|
| New York-New York |
$34 |
- Wi-Fi access
- Fitness center access.
- Daily newspaper.
- Boarding pass printing.
- Notary services.
- Incoming / outgoing faxes (limit five pages).
- Buy one, get one Big Apple Roller Coaster tickets.
|
| Nobu Hotel Caesars Palace |
$33 |
- Fitness center access (at Caesars Palace) for two people per day.
- Wi-Fi access.
- All local calls.
|
| Oasis at Gold Spike |
$22 |
- Fitness center access.
- Daily newspaper.
- Wi-Fi access
- Lending library access.
- Faxes.
- Phone calls.
|
| Orleans |
$18 |
- Shuttle to Las Vegas Strip.
- In-room coffee maker with coffee.
- Wi-Fi access
- 10 minutes of internet access daily in The Orleans Business Center.
- Unlimited local and toll-free calls.
- Unlimited use of the in-room safe.
- Daily Access to the Fitness Center.
|
| Palace Station |
$17 |
- Wi-Fi access
- Unlimited local, domestic long distance and 800 calls.
- Fitness center access.
- Daily local newspaper.
- Gift shop discount.
- Copy and fax services.
- Airport shuttle service.
|
| Palazzo |
$35 |
- Wi-Fi access
- Access for two to the fitness facility within the Canyon Ranch SpaClub.
- Unlimited local and toll-free telephone calls from the suite.
- Daily newspaper.
- One two-for-one drink coupon for well drinks, domestic beer or wine at any casino bar excluding The Bourbon Room (must be 21 or older to redeem drink coupon, limited one per stay).
|
| Palms Casino Resort |
$28 |
- Wi-Fi access
- Access to the Palms Casino Resort and Palms Place fitness centers.
- Shuttle service to and from The Forum Shops at Caesars during scheduled times.
- Complimentary newspaper daily (available at select locations).
- Unlimited local and toll-free calls within the U.S.
- Printing of boarding passes at the front desk and concierge.
- Printing copies and faxes at the front desk and concierge (excludes color copies and large print jobs).
|
| Palms Place |
$28 |
- Wi-Fi access
- Access to the Palms and Palms Place fitness centers.
- Shuttle service to and from The Forum Shops at Caesars during scheduled times.
- Complimentary newspaper daily (available at select locations).
- Unlimited local and toll-free calls within the U.S.
- Printing of boarding passes at the front desk and concierge.
- Printing copies and faxes at the front desk and concierge (excludes color copies and large print jobs).
|
| Paris Las Vegas |
$33 |
- Fitness center admission for two people per day.
- Daily in-room internet access for two devices.
- All local calls.
|
| Planet Hollywood |
$33 |
- Fitness center admission for two people per day.
- Wi-Fi access
- All local calls.
|
| Platinum Hotel |
$17 |
- Wi-Fi access
- Daily wine reception from 4 - 5:30 p.m.
- Press Reader access to more than 3,000 online newspapers
- Use of steam room in Well Spa (10 a.m. - 5 p.m.)
- In-room coffee
- Local & toll-free calls
- Printing of airline boarding passes
- Use of the pool area
- Use of the fitness center
- Concierge services
|
| Plaza |
$17 |
- Wi-Fi access
- Two bottles of water.
- Local and toll-free phone calls.
- Fitness center access.
- The Plaza Perks fun book (with coupons valued at over $300).
|
| Polo Towers by Diamond Resorts |
$22 |
- Wi-Fi access
- Access to fitness room.
- Access to rooftop pool, hot tub and children's splash pad.
- In-room coffee/tea maker.
- In-room local and toll-free calls.
- Access to business center.
|
| Primm Valley Resort & Casino |
$6.00 |
- Wi-Fi access
- Local and toll-free phone calls.
- Access to the fitness room.
- A discount card for the Fashion Outlets of Las Vegas and a coupon book with other special offers.
|
| Red Rock Casino, Resort and Spa |
$33 |
- Wi-Fi access
- Local & toll-free calls
- Fitness center access.
- Daily local newspaper (Monday - Saturday).
- Shoe shine service.
- Airport shuttle service.
- Strip shuttle service.
|
| Rio |
$35 |
- Fitness center admission for two people per day.
- Wi-Fi access
- All local calls.
|
| Rumor Boutique Resort |
$14 |
- Adult TV channel.
- WiFi access.
- Two bottles of water in the room.
- Resort fee listed does not include tax.
- There will also be a separate daily energy surcharge of $2.95 (plus tax). This will be collected upon hotel check-in, the same time as the resort fee.
|
| Sam's Town |
$17 |
- Unlimited local phone calls.
- Voice mail.
- Fax services.
- Shuttle service to the Strip and downtown.
- Wi-Fi access
|
| Santa Fe Station |
$14 |
- Wi-Fi access
- Access to the fitness facility.
- Free game of bowling.
- Free cup of Starbucks coffee.
- Daily newspaper (Monday - Saturday).
- Unlimited local, toll-free and domestic long distance phone calls.
|
| Silver Sevens Hotel & Casino |
$14 |
- Wi-Fi access
- Scheduled shuttle service to and from McCarran International Airport and the Las Vegas Strip.
- Access to the fitness center (located next to room 2250).
- Computer access (located next to room 2250).
- Boarding pass printing (pick up at Guest Services when printed on computer in the fitness center).
- Copy / fax services at the Guest Services center.
- Coffee coupons valid at the hotel gift shop (one per person per day).
|
| Silverton |
$15 |
- Wi-Fi access
- Unlimited local and 800 number calls.
- Fitness center access.
- Airport shuttle service.
- In-room safe.
|
| SLS Las Vegas Hotel & Casino |
$32 |
- Airport shuttle.
- Wi-Fi access
- Local and toll-free calls.
- Daily unlimited access to fitness center.
|
| South Point |
$14.00 |
- Wi-Fi access
- Use of the fitness center.
- Local and toll-free phone calls from the room.
- Printing of boarding passes.
- Airport shuttle (on availability and on schedule).
|
| Stratosphere |
$24 |
- Wi-Fi access
- Unlimited admission to the Stratosphere Fitness Center during your stay.
- Daily unlimited admission for up to four guests staying in the same room to the Stratosphere Tower.
- Two-for-one discount on tickets to see "Pin Up."
- All-day thrill ride pass for $28
|
| Suncoast |
$18 |
- Local and 800 calls.
- Scheduled airport shuttle [reservations required, please call the front desk toll-free at (877) 677-7111].
- Fitness center access 24 hours a day.
- In-room coffee.
- In-room safe.
- In-room refrigerator.
- Wi-Fi access
|
| Sunset Station |
$18 |
- Wi-Fi access
- Local & toll-free calls
- Access to fitness center.
- Daily local newspaper.
- Gift shop discount.
- Copy and fax services.
- Special daily offers and discounts.
|
| Super 8 at Ellis Island Casino |
$11 |
- Wi-Fi access
- Gourmet coffee or hot cocoa in the lobby.
- Boarding pass printing service.
- 24-hour pool access.
- 24-hour airport shuttle service.
- Unlimited local and domestic long distance calls.
- Premium Bottled Water (2 per room)
- Two-for-one craft beer coupons.
- Fax services.
- Continental SuperStart breakfast.
- Extended cable channel lineup.
- Free parking for hotel guests.
- Discount for a BBQ and steak special (after joining the Passport Players Club).
|
| Tahiti All-Suite Resort |
$13 |
- Fitness center access.
- Wi-Fi access
- Local and toll-free phone calls.
- Faxes.
|
| Tahiti Village Resort & Spa |
$13 |
- Fitness center access.
- Wi-Fi access
- Local and toll-free phone calls.
- Faxes.
|
| Texas Station |
$14 |
- Wi-Fi access
- Local & toll-free calls
- Access to fitness center.
- Daily local newspaper.
- Gift shop discount.
- Copy and fax services.
- Special daily offers and discounts.
|
| The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas |
$34 |
- Wi-Fi access
- Unlimited local, toll-free and domestic long distance telephone calls (all 50 states).
- 24-hour fitness center access (stay in shape with centers in the Eastside and West End towers).
- Tennis court access (based upon availability).
|
| The Cromwell |
$33 |
- Fitness center access for two people per day.
- Wi-Fi access
- All local calls.
|
| The D Las Vegas |
$22 |
- Wi-Fi access
- A $10 voucher -- per person, per night -- off any of the shows at the D Las Vegas (based on availability).
- Local and toll-free calls.
|
| The LINQ Hotel & Casino |
$33 |
- Fitness center admission for two people per day.
- Wi-Fi access
- All local calls.
|
| The Signature at MGM Grand |
$36 |
- Wi-Fi access
- Fitness center access at The Signature.
- Local and (800) calls.
- In-suite coffee and tea per day.
- Daily newspaper in the lobby.
- Complimentary in-suite safe.
- Two bottles of water per day.
- Complimentary printing of boarding passes.
- Nightly turndown service upon request.
|
| The Westin Lake Las Vegas Resort & Spa |
$32 |
- Wi-Fi access
- Unlimited use of Westin Workout and Spa Moulay (treatments are additional).
- Local and toll-free calls.
- Intra-resort shuttle.
- Concierge assisted boarding passes.
- Scheduled recreation and pool activities.
- Daily newspaper.
- Unlimited water craft rental (kayak and pedal boat).
- Scheduled Strip shuttle.
- Secured golf bag storage.
|
| Treasure Island - TI |
$34 |
- Wi-Fi access
- Access to the fitness center.
- 2-for-1 cocktail (one per stay).
- Daily newspaper at Guest Services.
- In-room local/toll-free phone calls.
- Printed airline boarding passes.
- Copies and faxes (up to 10 page).
|
| Tropicana Las Vegas – A Doubletree by Hilton |
$28 |
- Wi-Fi access
- Daily fitness center access.
- Buy one, get one free well cocktail, beer and wine in the Tropicana Lounge (from 5 - 8 p.m. daily).
- Two complimentary bottles of water in-room per stay.
- Two-for-one show tickets to Laugh Factory Las Vegas comedy club and "The New Illusions" starring Jan Rouven.
- $20 off VIP or preferred tickets or $10 off general admission to "Raiding the Rock Vault" show.
- Use of the pools and whirlpool spas (seasonal).
- Local and toll-free calls.
- Incoming and outgoing faxes.
- Photo copies.
- Printing of boarding pass.
|
| Trump International Hotel Las Vegas |
$32 |
- Wi-Fi access
- Courtesy shuttle service to and from the Wynn Las Vegas and The Forum Shops at Caesars.
- A $25 credit to The Spa at Trump.
- In-room coffee and bottled water, replenished daily.
- Access to more than 2,000 digital newspapers and magazines daily.
- Complimentary shoe shine service.
- Printing of incoming faxes and boarding passes.
- Unlimited national (contiguous U.S.), local and toll-free calls.
|
| Tuscany Suites & Casino |
$26 |
- Access to pools.
- Access to the fitness center.
- In-room safe.
- In-room coffee.
|
| Vdara Hotel & Spa at ARIA Las Vegas |
$36 |
- Wi-Fi access
- Daily newspaper pickup at the Business Center or Market Café Vdara.
- Two bottles of Vdara water in guest room refrigerator per day.
- Access to the fitness facility.
- Boarding pass printing.
- Notary services in the Business Center.
- Nightly turndown service (upon request only).
- 10 percent discount on Spa retail items.
|
| Venetian |
$35 |
- Wi-Fi access
- Access for two to the fitness facility within the Canyon Ranch SpaClub.
- Unlimited local and toll-free telephone calls from the suite.
- Daily newspaper.
- One two-for-one drink coupon for well drinks, domestic beer or wine at any casino bar excluding The Bourbon Room (must be 21 or older to redeem drink coupon, limited one per stay).
|
| Westgate Flamingo Bay Resort |
$12 |
- Wi-Fi access
- In-room coffee.
- Laundry detergent and use of the laundry facilities.
|
| Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino |
$28 |
- Wi-Fi access
- Local and toll-free domestic calls.
- Access to the cardio room for two adults per day.
- Use of the in-room safe.
- Resort credit towards a future stay at the Westgate Las Vegas.
- Resort fee listed includes tax.
|
| Westin Las Vegas Hotel, Casino & Spa |
$28 |
- Wi-Fi access
- A complimentary nightly reception from 5 - 6 p.m. with unlimited beer, wine and hors d'oeuvres.
- Daily newspaper.
- Access to fitness center.
- Access to sauna and steam rooms at the Hibiscus Spa.
- Bottled water in room.
- Incoming faxes.
- Access to pool and spa tub.
- Local & toll-free calls
- Airline boarding pass printing.
- Notary services.
|
| Whiskey Pete's |
$6.00 |
- Wi-Fi access
- Local and toll-free phone calls.
- A discount card for the Fashion Outlets of Las Vegas and a coupon book with other special offers.
|
| Wynn Las Vegas |
$35 (fee applies to all rooms except the Tower Suites, Parlor Suites and Salon Suites) |
- Wi-Fi access
- Unlimited local, domestic long distance and toll-free phone calls.
- Fitness center passes (two per day).
- Printing of boarding passes.
|
My major beef with resort fees are that they are poorly disclosed. You don't get to see the fees until your online reservation final page where resort fee disclosed as a footnote in very small characters and the same way you would see it on your booking email confirmation.
Bjorn Hanson of New York University's Preston Robert Tisch Center for Hospitality, Tourism and Sports Management released a study a few weeks ago forecasting that American hotels will collect a record $1.8 billion in fees in 2011 up from $1 billion a decade ago.
The amount of a resort fee is the same if you book by phone directly with the hotel, a travel agent or use an online travel site. You cannot opt-out of paying it.
When you book a Vegas hotel room very little - sometimes nothing - is said about the resort fee. Sometimes you find out about this surcharge when you check-in or after after your credit card is charged when you check out.
Let me be clear. I have no problem with a hotel charging for anything provided the customer knows about it or has the option to accept or reject the service. I firmly believe hotel guests should be explicitly informed of all mandatory daily fees and that they should be clearly highlighted on your reservation. (Frankly, I personally favor a la carte fees or optional, bundled charges.)
In any event, you should not have to read the fine print on a website or hotel brochure to determine what your hotel rate will be. In my opinion, if you did not know about significant, recurring daily charges until check in . . .or worse yet, until you check out, you would have a case for feeling you were mislead.
There is probably little that you can do once you are at the hotel. But we have heard of cases that have been resolved in the traveler's favor by disputing a resort fee after you get the bill from the credit card company. You might try this if you believe you were deceived.
