Resort Fee to Start @ Golden Nugget

Got an email today with some room offers from the GN. Typically, I don't read these things unless I'm planning a trip to Vegas but I happened to scroll down to the bottom of this one and found this in the fine print. "Guests arriving on or after July 1, 2013 will incur a daily $5 Fremont Experience Fee plus applicable taxes added to the room rate at check-in." Does anyone know if this ridiculous new "Fremont St. Experience Fee" will apply to all other properties on Fremont as well or if this is just the GN's way to join the trend of nickel and diming everyone who visits Las Vegas? I guess it's clever enough, as by calling it something other than a "resort fee" they can still advertise to charge no resort fees, but a Fremont Experience fee sounds just as dumb and even less justifiable to the consumer. Obviously if you are staying at the GN, you will be on Fremont Street, so why should I (or anyone else) be forced to pay an extra $5 to stay there?

If anyone knows if this is a tax implemented by everyone on Fremont intended to go back to the growth & development of Fremont, any information would be appreciated. Just thought anyone traveling to Vegas after July 1 might want to know this information.

I'm sure this relates to the construction on Fremont in front of the GN. But, if I were them, I'd use this as an opportunity to (what did Loveman say?) "give our customers the convenience they demand by rolling together a bunch of unwanted junk into an unavoidable and inflated fee."

A resort fee by another name is still a resort fee. No other property charges a "Fremont St. Experience Fee" at least for now.

My understanding is that the hotel pays a fee towards the light show above the walk way so they are passing this along to the visitor, what if you have a room that does not show the light show? Was in Vegas this May and Bally's charges a fee for early check in, $25 before noon and $15 before 3 Pm, plus a resort fee. If they want to package then put it all in the room rate.

Quote: keypunch

My understanding is that the hotel pays a fee towards the light show above the walk way so they are passing this along to the visitor, what if you have a room that does not show the light show? Was in Vegas this May and Bally's charges a fee for early check in, $25 before noon and $15 before 3 Pm, plus a resort fee. If they want to package then put it all in the room rate.

Generally, it definitely makes sense to put it all in the room rate. But, in the case of the early checkin fees, I'm not sure that's possible. They can't charge a rate that is different than quoted/reserved, and if you show up unexpectedly early demanding a room then they need a way to charge you that extra fee. And, you know, extra gambling in the additional hours that you're on-property on that first day doesn't count as a valid method of collecting extra money from you;-)

The word is that a corporation was formed, to pay for the FSE. It appears that GN pays the lion's share in maintaining that wonderful place that has cartoon characters, super heroes, show girls and musician look-alikes. Oh, and also the light show that was "cool" to watch ONCE, but not so much anymore. They are trying to recoup their payment with this "non-resort fee" fee. I am visiting in August, and am not subject to the fee, as I booked in May. However, future visits to GN will cause me to pony up that fee. I am going to promise that I not partake of the FSE, if they promise not to charge me for it. I don't think I will get very far, but, I might as well try. The worst answer they can give me is, "No." The worst answer I can give them is that I will no longer be staying at their property. Something I don't want to do, as I have been staying there, at least once a year like clockwork, and I like it there.

Quote: rdw4potus

I'm sure this relates to the construction on Fremont in front of the GN.

I don't think so. The construction on Fremont right now is all related to "Slotzilla." Briefly they're expanding the zipline ride to all four blocks. But they'll also keep the two block existing line. Apparently the new line will be faster, longer and require a "launch." Also it will include, according to the ads on Fremont the world's largest slot machine. No word, as far as I've seen, on how one plays it or what it does.

I hope the 4 Queens won't have a resort fee next year...

I'm hoping that none of the other Fremont casinos follow suit and it is a bummer about the GN, but I guess only time will tell.

Quote: duckmankilla

I'm hoping that none of the other Fremont casinos follow suit and it is a bummer about the GN, but I guess only time will tell.

Well, it's too late for that. The Plaza already charges a resort fee.

No others in the area do as yet, though.

I think I've said this before, but I'm looking to file a false advertising lawsuit over resort fees. However, I need an example of somebody who doesn't disclose the fee in the reservation process at all, and springs it on the customer at check-in. Most places mention it in the fine print somewhere, and I'm sure any hotel would argue that point, and win.

The GN does not meet this qualification, unfortunately. It is disclosed in their booking, via their website. Also, they claim it is not a resort fee, but a Fremont Street Experience fee. Hogwash. As someone has said elsewhere, put lipstick on a pig, it's still a pig.

I hate resort fees with a passion, because you cannot opt out of the services you don't use. It should be more of an ala carte system, but it's padded into "room costs" without any say from the customer.

I wanna know who the hell uses the fitness center on a vacation???!!!!!

re early check in fee yes it could not be packaged with the room but the resort fee, the safe fee could.

Quote: keypunch

My understanding is that the hotel pays a fee towards the light show above the walk way so they are passing this along to the visitor, what if you have a room that does not show the light show?

Then you'll be better able to sleep at night, assuming you don't want to wait for 12:30 am to go to bed.

Quote: Wizard

I think I've said this before, but I'm looking to file a false advertising lawsuit over resort fees. However, I need an example of somebody who doesn't disclose the fee in the reservation process at all, and springs it on the customer at check-in. Most places mention it in the fine print somewhere, and I'm sure any hotel would argue that point, and win.

If you get to the point where you are ready to start collecting donations for legal fees for this one, please let us know. I'd gladly contribute to this one. In fact, even if you don't need it, I'd still like to contribute just to be part of the fight against resort fees.

Quote: gts4ever

If you get to the point where you are ready to start collecting donations for legal fees for this one, please let us know. I'd gladly contribute to this one. In fact, even if you don't need it, I'd still like to contribute just to be part of the fight against resort fees.

Thanks, I appreciate the offer. If I see a good opportunity, then I indeed am not too proud to pass the tin cup for donations. However, I am waiting for a good case. I've checked several Vegas hotel websites and they all disclose the resort fee somewhere in the booking process. I still say what is going now is very dishonest, but not illegal, as far as I know.

If any of the attorneys on the site can think of a good legal angle to take against the bait and switch that is so common with resort fees, I'm all ears.

Wizard - check out vegas.com. Their packages purport to cover all taxes & fees. But they don't disclose resort fees. I got into an argument with them a few months ago about this.

Quote: Wizard

I've checked several Vegas hotel websites and they all disclose the resort fee somewhere in the booking process.

The FTC letter of warning sent last yearto 22 hotel chains contained the following paragraph:
These practices may violate the law by misrepresenting the price consumers can expect to pay for their hotel rooms. We believe that online hotel reservation sites should include in the quoted total price any unavoidable and mandatory fees, such as resort fees, that consumers will be charged to stay at the hotel. While a hotel reservation site may breakdown the components of the reservation estimate (e.g., room rate, estimated taxes, and any mandatory, unavoidable fees),
the most prominent figure for consumers should be the total inclusive estimate.

So there is some precedent for not just disclosing the fee, but failing to make it "prominent". I am sure that legal counsel for any hotel would make sure that the fee is documented somewhere.

Back in the 80's I had a business that was rapped around sail boats. The first time I ran into resort fees was in Fla. I had rented a condo for a weekend sailboat race, and was entertaining a couple of out of town clients that were staying with me. When I went to check out, I was hit with resort fees.

At the time these fees were unheard of. I refused to pay for them and was going to take them to court over them. They dropped the charges, when I told them they were embarrassing me in front of my clients. It wasn't that much money, but it was the principle of the thing.

When you book a room you want to know what you are paying for the room up front, not when you check out. What they are doing is charging you for something that you would never use, that they advertise as an amenities. These amenities could be one of the reason why you book the room.
I never use the swimming pool, or gym, nor do I need wifi and I don't want to pay for something that I have no use for. If they have a resort fee, I'm not staying there.

I just booked a room at Harveys Lake Tahoe for four nights in late September. When I took a preliminary look for dates and room types, the site provided for each room an average rate per night and a "subtotal" for the stay. In the description of each room type, there is a note that there is "high speed internet access available for $10.95 per day."

After I made my room selection, I was given the total charge (not just the "subtotal"), and that included the earlier figure plus taxes. They also added on "Fees" of $20 per night. I did not choose their cheapest room and (quite out of character for me) picked the best they had short of a suite. However, those cheapest rooms were available for $36.40/night, and I confirmed that even those would have a $20/night fee added; i.e., a 55% fee added to the room charge.

I could not find anywhere that it said what kind of fees these were or what they covered. There is no mention of whether these are optional or mandatory fees or how they might be avoided if that is possible. I'm hoping this includes the $10.95 for internet access, but there is no indication at all as to what I am supposedly getting for $20/day.

Yes, the fees were revealed during the reservation process and not a surprise at checkout, but they waited until I chose the room based on a "subtotal" price, and added on the fee without mentioning any added benefit. I'm not sure whether they were trying to be offensive or just believe that everyone has accepted it as the current custom for additional fees to be added later.

Quote: Doc

I could not find anywhere that it said what kind of fees these were or what they covered. There is no mention of whether these are optional or mandatory fees or how they might be avoided if that is possible. I'm hoping this includes the $10.95 for internet access, but there is no indication at all as to what I am supposedly getting for $20/day.

The technical term for the process is called "drip pricing"

Quote: Doc

Yes, the fees were revealed during the reservation process and not a surprise at checkout, but they waited until I chose the room based on a "subtotal" price, and added on the fee without mentioning any added benefit. I'm not sure whether they were trying to be offensive or just believe that everyone has accepted it as the current custom for additional fees to be added later.

To play the devil's advocate, I think they would argue the resort fee is the same regardless of what room you choose. In other words, you were making a decision on the room alone at that point. Then they tack on the resort fee, as if it were an expected tax.

I loved, when I was in Australia and New Zealand that if a hotel or airline or anything else I came across for that matter, advertised a price it was the total price out the door. Not sure if it was the law or just common practice, regardless, it was nice to know the total up front without any fine print, taxes, fees etc. Wish we would adopt that here.

Quote: Wizard

To play the devil's advocate, I think they would argue the resort fee is the same regardless of what room you choose. In other words, you were making a decision on the room alone at that point. Then they tack on the resort fee, as if it were an expected tax.

It is a bit of a "bait and switch" tactic--I'll sell you the room for $105 a night, here is the total price, and then they sneak in a line with the resort fee in the amount to be paid (in the case of Tropicana mock booking I just did via kayak.com) or they had some lines like

"Supplements paid by customer directly to the hotel
Resort Fee - $25.00 Per Night
This amount does not include local taxes and should be paid directly to the hotel upon check out"

to the reservation page in the case of mock bookings I did for MGM and Mirage. Treasure Island also did it like Tropicana.

If your advertised price is $105, $252, or $600 for a room night, shouldn't that be the price of the room night? Should you not have the right, based on the advertised price, to decline the use of their "resort amenities" and not pay the "resort fee"?

Quote: 1arrowheaddr

A resort fee by another name is still a resort fee. No other property charges a "Fremont St. Experience Fee" at least for now.

Heck,,, it don't never matter what you call it. In Nigeria the word is "dash" and it means bribe... but its the same word that would be used at gunpoint in an otherwise deserted alley: Dash me!

Now maybe it makes a difference to some tax that applies to room charges to some special surcharge that applies to some entertainment zoning area but it never makes no difference to the customer: whether he wants a room, a cup of coffee or just doesn't want to get shot in some alley.... its all the same to the customer: his money!! By any name or accounting entry: his money!!

The Venetian don't want no shuttles nor monorails stopping at it. The Venetian wants its clientele to arrive by private jet and Venetian-owned limousine, not by public transportation.
Some businesses in the glitzy crowded prancing area of Fremont Street want all the crazies to go elsewhere, but there is naught anyone can do.

Even if the saxophone music is great, sometimes a business just dosn't want the crowds and the cops and the crazies.

But once a business is saddled with these things they begin looking to making ends meet and if that means adopting "a fee" instead of adopting a taxable room price increase then they will adopt a "fee" and let the lawyers and accountants do the arguing. Heck, its the same way with the Five Dollar Flea Festival... if in order to make it profitable they have to hire some Tits to dance for awhile and then deal while hot, sweaty and half-naked, then they will call it a Party Pit rather than a Flea Festival, but they will get more money out of the deal somehow.

Hotel resort fees will soon become a thing of the past. The government changed the way airlines did it, hotels are next.

Quote: Wizard

To play the devil's advocate, I think they would argue the resort fee is the same regardless of what room you choose. In other words, you were making a decision on the room alone at that point. Then they tack on the resort fee, as if it were an expected tax.

Just to be clear about it, I am not objecting at all to the total price that they are charging. I have booked an "Executive King" room. That means a room that is (1) larger than a "Classic" or "Deluxe" room but the same size as a "Luxury" or "Premium" room, (2) is supposedly on the 18th or 19th floor to give a good view, and (3) has recently been remodeled and "modernized". I think it's the top room that Harveys Lake Tahoe offers other than their suites.

It's quite possible that I was duped into upgrading beyond what I needed, but I booked that room for less than $100 per night, everything included, which is roughly what I pay for a chain hotel room in a small town with no entertainment. There's no way to complain about the price, even if I have become accustomed to subsidized rates at casino hotels. I just like to make my selections with all of the info in front of me from the beginning, not dropped on me as an add-on. I don't see any reason they couldn't have quoted the bottom line price from the get-go; quoting the Executive King at $95/night and the smaller "Classic" at $67 (as opposed to $64 and $36) might lead more people to make the same choice that I did. Isn't that what they would prefer for a customer to do? Just make it clear that it includes everything, to counteract any competition that wants to hide fees and advertise lower partial costs.

BTW, the email I received later does refer to the $20/night as a "Resort" fee and says it "includes: daily in-room high speed Internet (per device/per day), fitness center access for two, pool access...." Could someone explain what it means to say that a set, mandatory fee "includes high speed internet per device/per day"? If we use multiple devices, does the Resort fee change?

Has anyone ever gotten the full value or above the value of a resort fee? It seems like such a high fee that nobody ever gets 100% value of of this.

Quote: djatc

Has anyone ever gotten the full value or above the value of a resort fee? It seems like such a high fee that nobody ever gets 100% value of of this.

I think you would have to make a lot of local and toll-free calls to come out ahead. Now that everybody has cell phones, I don't see that happening. In my opinion it is shameful how they put things like the pool and airport shuttle as the things your're buying. In every hotel I've been to, outside of Vegas, those things were free if offered at all.

All this is going to do is kill Vegas and NV, when the word gets out, just about every state now has gambling, there is no need for players to come here. Greed is going to be the down fall of Vegas. To put it in a perspective that every guy on this board can understand, you don’t go to a brothel and get hit with a resort fee after your done for the use of a towel.

You get a set fee before you start, and that’s the price you expect to pay when you leave! You might want to tip for the excellent service, but you damn sure don’t want to pay for the towel. They have laws in Fla. About bait and switch and a resort fee is nothing more then that. They bait you in, then hit you with fees when you are checking out. Don’t you just love “Corporate America”, who said casinos won’t cheat!

Sorry girls for not be politically correct, but some times you have to get the attention of the guys! Everybody should write an Email to the Golden Nugget and tell them you will no longer be staying at their casino when you do come to Vegas. If you don't it doesn't really matter to me, I will be enjoying what you are paying for every time I go down to Fremont St, when I have company that wants to see our free show at Fremont St, thanks for paying for all us freeloaders!

Quote: Wizard

I think you would have to make a lot of local and toll-free calls to come out ahead.

You could download the itnernet to your laptop twice over ;)

Quote: FinsRule

Hotel resort fees will soon become a thing of the past. The government changed the way airlines did it, hotels are next.

The only change here seems to be more and higher "fees":
Our optional fees
We empower customers to save money on air travel by offering ultra low base fares with a range of optional services for a fee (shown below), allowing customers the freedom to choose only the extras they value.
■ Baggage Fees
■ Booking Related Fees
■ $9 Fare Club Membership
■ Modification Fees
■ Seat Fees
■ Special Service Fees
■ FREE SPIRIT Award Booking
■ Onboard Snacks and Drinks
Baggage Fees (All charges are per bag, one way)
Please note that effective November 6th, 2012, identical bag fees apply for domestic and international travel as displayed below.
Remember, one personal item per passenger is always free. View our size and weight limits for all baggage.
$9 FARE CLUB Member Fees - Online purchase
Domestic and International
Carry-On Bag (At booking / before check-in) $25.00
First Checked Bag (At booking / before check-in) $20.00
Second Checked Bag (At booking / before check-in) $30.00
Third, Fourth, Fifth Checked Bag (At booking/before check-in) $75.00
Carry-On Bag (During online check-in) $30.00
First Checked Bag (During online check-in) $25.00
Second Checked Bag (During online check-in) $35.00
Third, Fourth, Fifth Checked Bag (During online check-in) $80.00
Standard Fees - Online purchase
Domestic and International
Carry-On Bag (At booking / before check-in) $35.00
First Checked Bag (At booking / before check-in) $30.00
Second Checked Bag (At booking / before check-in) $40.00
Third, Fourth, Fifth Checked Bag (At booking / before check-in) $85.00
Carry-On Bag (During online check-in) $40.00
First Checked Bag (During online check-in) $35.00
Second Checked Bag (During online check-in) $45.00
Third, Fourth, Fifth Checked Bag (During online check-in) $90.00
All Customers - Reservation Center purchase
Domestic and International
Carry-On Bag $40.00
First Checked Bag $35.00
Second Checked Bag $45.00
Third, Fourth, Fifth Checked Bag $90.00
Group Booking - Group Desk purchase
Domestic and International
Carry-On Bag (More than 24 hours before flight departs) $35.00
First Checked Bag (More than 24 hours before flight departs) $30.00
Second Checked Bag (More than 24 hours before flight departs) $40.00
Third, Fourth, Fifth Checked Bag (More than 24 hours before flight departs) $85.00
Carry-On Bag (Within 24 hours of flight departure) $40.00
First Checked Bag (Within 24 hours of flight departure) $35.00
Second Checked Bag (Within 24 hours of flight departure) $45.00
Third, Fourth, Fifth Checked Bag (Within 24 hours of flight departure) $90.00
All Customers - Airport Counter/Kiosk purchase
Domestic and International
Carry-On Bag $50.00
First Checked Bag $45.00
Second Checked Bag $55.00
Third, Fourth, Fifth Checked Bag $100.00
All Customers - Airport Gate purchase
Domestic and International
Any bag purchased at Gate $100.00
Followed by Overweight Baggage . . . Oversize Baggage . . . Sporting Equipment . . . Seat Fees . . . Booking Related Fees . . . Revenue Standby Fee . . . Passenger Usage Fee . . . Unintended Consequences of DOT Regulations Fee . . . Charge for Airport Agents printing Boarding Passes . . . Special Service Fees . . . Agent Transaction Fee. And ending with no less than the infamous illiquid Onboard Snacks and Drinks:
Snacks $1.00 to $10.00
Drinks $1.00 to $15.00
Thank you, Spirit Air.

Quote: superrick

you don’t go to a brothel and get hit with a resort fee after your done for the use of a towel.

FYI, not to be off topic, but there are many brothels here in Thailand where you do in fact pay extra for a clean laundered towel(apx .67cents aka 20 baht) and extra pillows. In addition, there is one hotel chain, Tune..., which charges based on use and requests of things like towels and even AC use. It's all disclosed(in the case of the hotel chain).

Quote: bushman

I am visiting in August, and am not subject to the fee, as I booked in May.

I recall the member said the resort fee was effective for arrivals after July 1st. Why would you expect your visit in August be exempted simply because you booked in May? It's a reasonable expectation however from the "resorts" perspective difficult to believe they would look at it that way.

Quote: NokTang

I recall the member said the resort fee was effective for arrivals after July 1st. Why would you expect your visit in August be exempted simply because you booked in May? It's a reasonable expectation however from the "resorts" perspective difficult to believe they would look at it that way.

I wondered that too. And, if the fee is charged, this would be a perfect case for Mike to use as the basis for his suit. The fee didn't exist at booking, so it wasn't disclosed. If it is in fact charged during the stay, then it would seem that notice would not have been properly provided.

Quote: rdw4potus

I wondered that too. And, if the fee is charged, this would be a perfect case for Mike to use as the basis for his suit. The fee didn't exist at booking, so it wasn't disclosed. If it is in fact charged during the stay, then it would seem that notice would not have been properly provided.

As far as "legally", one would assume if the tax rate changed the customer would be charged the new rate unless he prepaid all the nights and taxes. Expanding that, if the room charges were prepaid without the resort fee, then a resort fee policy adopted, one can reasonable assume they would not go back and attempt to get it from the customer. I guess thinking as I type, if prepaid or not becomes the real issue as the sale is actually made at the time of the payment, not the time of the reservation.

Not to worry if your room is comped, these fees are also comped.

Quote: Bohemian

Not to worry if your room is comped, these fees are also comped.

Speaking from experience, this is not always the case. And sorry, folks - "resort" fees is the way it's going to be for a long time to come. Better get used to it. Just figure it into your room price when shopping for a hotel and there will be no surprises. Yes, I know this is my first post, so go easy on me. ;-)

Quote: 4hunters

Speaking from experience, this is not always the case. And sorry, folks - "resort" fees is the way it's going to be for a long time to come. Better get used to it. Just figure it into your room price when shopping for a hotel and there will be no surprises. Yes, I know this is my first post, so go easy on me. ;-)

Jeez! You picked that for your first post? Are you sure you don't want a do-over? :-)

You're right about the fees, though. They're not going away, and they're not always comped. The total rewards website suggests that their resort fees are only comped for platinum and higher players (comped gold players would, I guess, still pay the fee).

And if there is any room charge at all, the resort fee is assessed. So, when the front desk clerk says "do you want to upgrade to a better room for only $XX/night," you'd also have to remember that the resort fee will be assessed if the upgrade fee is charged.

Quote: rdw4potus

Jeez! You picked that for your first post? Are you sure you don't want a do-over? :-)

LOL, yeah maybe I should consider using my mulligan on this one. I'll stick to less controversial topics like, tipping, bringing kids to Vegas, taxi long hauling, etc. ;-) Looks like an interesting forum though. Glad I stumbled across it.

Quote: djatc

Has anyone ever gotten the full value or above the value of a resort fee? It seems like such a high fee that nobody ever gets 100% value of of this.

Yes! At Circus Circus, the value of the $8.95 (now $9.95, I think) resort fee is made up by the extras they offer in coupons and wireless internet. See my Circus Circus review.

Quote: teddys

Yes! At Circus Circus, the value of the $8.95 (now $9.95, I think) resort fee is made up by the extras they offer in coupons and wireless internet. See my Circus Circus review.

Funny I was going to book a night at Circus Circus in Reno because of the cheap price and funbook which would have wiped out the cost of a night's stay, but I ended up at Harrah's comped so I can effectively destroy my ADT :)

All other funbooks don't seem to be a great value. 2 for 1 buffets and restaurants just don't cut it for the solo traveler. Matchplays and 2 for 1 BJs are always welcome.

Quote: Wizard

I think you would have to make a lot of local and toll-free calls to come out ahead. Now that everybody has cell phones, I don't see that happening. In my opinion it is shameful how they put things like the pool and airport shuttle as the things your're buying. In every hotel I've been to, outside of Vegas, those things were free if offered at all.

I recall reading about resort fees and someone protesting these fees by dialing a long distance friend of his who rarely used his landline and leaving the phone off the hook for the duration of his stay in the room. Amounted to 20 something hours before housekeeping came and hung it up for him. The only problem with this type of protest is that if enough people try this as a way to "get back at the casino", they will simply pass along the cost to other customers and raise their resort fees yet again. In addition to making a lot of phone calls, some hotels (such as the MGM Grand) offer free notary service as part of their "resort fee". I have heard stories of people walking into the notary's office and trying to have faux contracts written on napkins notorized just because the service is available. I'd love to see someone walk into the notary office with a pile of documents and demand they be notarized because they have paid for the right to notary service.

Quote: duckmankilla

In addition to making a lot of phone calls, some hotels (such as the MGM Grand) offer free notary service as part of their "resort fee". I have heard stories of people walking into the notary's office and trying to have faux contracts written on napkins notorized just because the service is available. I'd love to see someone walk into the notary office with a pile of documents and demand they be notarized because they have paid for the right to notary service.

At work we use the notary so much we have her almost on payroll (we would if she didn't make more money charging us for services, at any rate). But in all my trips, including business one, I've needed a notary only once; and I would have avoided that if my supervisor had listened to me.

So unless notaries in the US do a great deal more than they do in Mexico, I fail to see the need of keeping one on staff at a hotel, even one that caters to business travelers. In one such hotel, in Morelia, the front desk will recommend a notary that does rush work, for example.

Quote: superrick

All this is going to do is kill Vegas and NV, when the word gets out, just about every state now has gambling, there is no need for players to come here.

People have been predicting the end of Vegas for a long time. The reality is even with the nickel and dime resort fees it is still cheaper to stay in Vegas than almost any alpha city in the country. It makes much more sense to talk about depressing business, pissing people off, etc. etc.

Visitor stats.
39,727,022 for 2012
39,196,761 for 2007 (previous record)

Will almost certainly break 40 million for 2013.

Quote: Nareed

At work we use the notary so much we have her almost on payroll (we would if she didn't make more money charging us for services, at any rate). But in all my trips, including business one, I've needed a notary only once; and I would have avoided that if my supervisor had listened to me.

So unless notaries in the US do a great deal more than they do in Mexico, I fail to see the need of keeping one on staff at a hotel, even one that caters to business travelers. In one such hotel, in Morelia, the front desk will recommend a notary that does rush work, for example.

I don't have a great deal of experience with notaries in the US, aside from the occasional document which I need to have notarized for work, but to have one on staff and on-call at a Las Vegas resort hotel seems utterly unnecessary. For one, it's Las Vegas. If a business needs something notarized that badly, I'm quite certain there is a notary public residing somewhere nearby which they could utilize. Charging all hotel guests a fee for something I would wager less than .1% of the guests use seems asinine. But what do we know.

Quote: duckmankilla

I don't have a great deal of experience with notaries in the US, aside from the occasional document which I need to have notarized for work, but to have one on staff and on-call at a Las Vegas resort hotel seems utterly unnecessary. For one, it's Las Vegas. If a business needs something notarized that badly, I'm quite certain there is a notary public residing somewhere nearby which they could utilize. Charging all hotel guests a fee for something I would wager less than .1% of the guests use seems asinine. But what do we know.

Besides funbooks I can't see the justification in resort fees. Even if I work out everyday, make calls to my local friends (which I would do with a cell phone anyway, and assuming I have local friends, or friends in general), swim everyday, and catch a shuttle somewhere it would still not be worth it. Also don't forget getting a marriage/divorce paper notarized.

Quote: duckmankilla

I don't have a great deal of experience with notaries in the US, aside from the occasional document which I need to have notarized for work, but to have one on staff and on-call at a Las Vegas resort hotel seems utterly unnecessary. For one, it's Las Vegas. If a business needs something notarized that badly, I'm quite certain there is a notary public residing somewhere nearby which they could utilize. Charging all hotel guests a fee for something I would wager less than .1% of the guests use seems asinine. But what do we know.

I know there's a great deal of business travel to Vegas, especially as regards conventions/expos. But I' really love to hear from someone who needed a notary while in Vegas, be it for business or personal reasons. I mean really needed one, not just tried to use one to make the most of their resort fee.

Quote: djatc

Besides funbooks I can't see the justification in resort fees. Even if I work out everyday, make calls to my local friends (which I would do with a cell phone anyway, and assuming I have local friends, or friends in general), swim everyday, and catch a shuttle somewhere it would still not be worth it. Also don't forget getting a marriage/divorce paper notarized.

Let's see:

I don't work out while in Vegas because all the walking I do is an adequate substitute. I do use the room's phone to make a few local calls (like for the airport shuttle pickup), and toll-free calls for the phone card to make long distance calls. I've never used a pool (just not very interested). I used the shuttle frequently when I stayed at the Rio, but there was no resort fee back then. Last trip I used the internet connection three times, and paid each time. I found I preferred not having one, because having paid for it I was intent on using it. Really, it took time from other pursuits (but also kept me from gambling once, so...) I can't conceive needing a notary.

Am I missing anything else?

Last trip I made about five local and toll-free calls, which were waived at checkout. The internet cost me less than $30, which is way less than any resort fee I'd have paid for such a long trip.

The problem is there are fewer places which don't charge such fees every year.

You just ask Steve Wynn about those freeloaders in Vegas....
He built the Mirage and the Bellagio ... The Mirage opened with a Million Dollar Nut per day! If it didn't make a million dollars it didn't break even. Day one turned out to be a Two Million Dollar day but he took the risk involved. Same thing with the Bellagio, he built all those expensive water canons and then those darned freeloaders would stay at Circus Circus and even gamble at Circus Circus but come to his sidewalks to view the fountains he built.

Freeloaders. Heck, The whole town is full of freeloaders. All the other casinos survived on the people he brought to town.

The Stratosphere is photographed ten times more than that darned sign but nobody never pays nuttin' for it. And even most of the people that visit the Strat don't gamble there at all.

Everybody in this whole town is trying to run a business but ain't got his customers by the balls. Only the Culinary Union got any power in this town. Everybody else deals with finicky types what want free rooms, free food, free gambling, free everything. They go where they please with whims. Some don't drink, some dance all night, some dance all day. Some want pool parties but want to keep their tops on too. Whats worse... you should see some of the women who want to come and take their tops off... and we have to run a business with that sort of stuff going on!

We kept five dollar minimum tables but added Party Pits and Rakes.
We kept low priced rooms but added adjectives like resort fees.
We gave you bathtubs at the Imperial. And you freeloaders use more water than ever.
We gave you bright lights all over this town and we got electrical fires and power outages all the darned time.
We gave you freeloaders everything and all you freeloaders ever want is more and more.

We've tried everything but honesty.... and we ain't never gonna try that!

Its enough to bring back memories of the MiniBacc dealer in Tampa what did his entire shift with nothing going into the toke box and happened to loudly refer to one of the non-tipping players as a "corksucker" when the Floor Person investigated he loudly asked the dealer "Which particular corksucker you talkin' 'bout, the table is full of corksuckers."

You corksucking freeloaders better watch out .... or we will start charging a Cork Suckers Fee! And we will call it that too!!

We are in the middle of the Mojave Desert ... ain't no reason somebody come here but gambling is what we used to say but now there just ain't no reason to go anywhere else. We were the ones what offered dreams and made people rich. Them local casinos you got only offer entertainment not wealth. Them local casinos don't have no Benny Binions in them. Them local casinos don't have to take care of their customers, they just make money and survive without having to be a major draw. This is the new Vegas. Benny is long gone, so is the Rat Pack. So are the days of getting staked or bailed out of trouble. We are all corporate bean counters now. Grinders? Worst grinders in town now are the casinos trying to grind out a living using terms like "resort fee" instead of "cork sucker's fee".