Resort Fees
Just about all hotels on the strip and downtown does this.
The resort fee is NOT optional.
They enable a hotel to advertise a specific price to get better placement on Expedia and other sites, then tack on the fee to get what they actually wanna charge.
Quote: FatFrank...what do they cover, use of the pool?
Strangely enough, some resort fees do NOT cover the use of the pool. Particularly if the pool is a day club / party type pool.
Quote: DJTeddyBearThey cover a bunch of amenities that most people, given the choice, would not get.
The resort fee is NOT optional.
They enable a hotel to advertise a specific price to get better placement on Expedia and other sites, then tack on the fee to get what they actually wanna charge.
not only that but you can't use your points to pay for them so even on a free room they are getting $15 a night.
Quote: GWAEnot only that but you can't use your points to pay for them so even on a free room they are getting $15 a night.
Many places will comp you the resort fee if they are comping you a room. Some might do it only if you are a certain tier on the players card, others might do it based on the offer.
As for the pools -- usually you can go to a property's pool if you are a guest, for free. This was true even before resort fees. Of course if there is a day club there, that is different, but I don't think that I've ever been to a place that didn't have a "regular" pool that you could use for free, just by showing a room key.
There is a big fuss about resort fees, but, back before all this started, I used to pay $15/day for the wifi. Then they introduced resort fees and I was paying $15/day for the resort fee, which included wifi. So, it was a wash. Then I started gambling a lot more so I got everything comped and stopped caring.
I do agree that it's BS though. They should be forced to report the entire price in their advertising, like airlines have to.
This. It is a way to charge higher rates than what you were quoted. Nothing else.Quote: terapinedIts a underhanded way for the hotel to raise their rates.
If you don't pay it, you don't get the room. It has nothing to do with whatever random extra nonsense about other amenities is attributed to it. Quote a "rate" of $50/night without mentioning there's another $25 in the form of a mandatory junk fee in order to show up better in a room rate search, get the booking, then when the customer shows up with their bags, they have to pay $75 + tax to use the room they thought they had for $50, effectively increasing the charge to stay in the room by 50%. If it actually had anything to do with some kind of extra amenities it would be optional, and one could decline it and still use the room. It almost never is. In almost all cases, you must pay it to stay in the room you thought you already paid for. The practice spread widely in Las Vegas about a year ago, from a significant number of major properties doing it that still comprised a minority of the room inventory, to suddenly include most of them. I think it became especially widespread in Las Vegas in part because it gets a combination of lot of the most unsophisticated kind of leisure travelers and foreign visitors along with those attending conventions and trade shows using company expense accounts.
Go down the list of national non-gaming hotel chains that rely on a lot of constant repeat customer patronage from business travelers, and you'll find most of them do not engage in this practice of adding junk fees and do not have any separate charge for the "amenities" that are attributed to a "resort" or "amenity" of somesuch fee.
My favorite example was Station Casinos, an early adopter of this kind of "gotcha sucker!" fee calling theirs an "energy usage fee" at check-in. The desk clerk was not amused when I said I'm really a very non-energetic sort of guy, and did not wish to use whatever extra energy this fiction was supposed to be buying.
Resort fees are just a side effect of booking sites promising the best deals and lowest rates. Since resort fees are a loop hole, it's the lowest common denominator and the sleaziest wins. Same deal with baseball and luxury boxes not being counted in profit sharing, so teams would want a 250 million stadium at someone Else's expense just to pocket a few million to themselves. Lets just call all this unintended consequences.Quote: FatFrankI keep reading about "resort fees" when booking hotels in LV. What are these exactly, what do they cover, use of the pool?
Quote: onenickelmiracleResort fees are just a side effect of booking sites promising the best deals and lowest rates. Since resort fees are a loop hole, it's the lowest common denominator and the sleaziest wins. Same deal with baseball and luxury boxes not being counted in profit sharing, so teams would want a 250 million stadium at someone Else's expense just to pocket a few million to themselves. Lets just call all this unintended consequences.
Actually its kind of a unique Vegas thing.
Hotels all over the planet compete without resorting to resort fees.
When booking online at say hotels.com , the website will charge the whole amount for a non vegas hotel. You generally dont pay anything when checking out because you allready paid in full at the website. When booking a Vegas hotel, room is also prepaid except the resort fee, this is collected upon checkin.
Additional unintended consequences is the tax revenue for tourists. Room charges are subject to a tax, but resort fees are not part of the occupancy tax structure. As with everything else its really just a dodge: show up first in the low priced Expedia listing, actually collect more, pay occupancy tax on the room price but keep the entire resort fee for yourself.Quote: onenickelmiracleLets just call all this unintended consequences.
Quote: FatFrankThanks for all the replies, I can't say I've ever heard of the term Resort fees anywhere else in the world, which is why I asked is it to use the pool (after reading the replies, I hope this never catches on outside of LV). Gym access is usually free to those staying at a hotel which has a free water fountain and depending on any club status WI-FI may be free.
I find that the cost of wifi depends on the quality of the hotel. At cheap hotels and motels it is usually free; at nice hotels it is usually an add-on (and sometimes a very expensive one!)
Quote: AxiomOfChoiceI find that the cost of wifi depends on the quality of the hotel. At cheap hotels and motels it is usually free; at nice hotels it is usually an add-on (and sometimes a very expensive one!)
At Caesers if a room is comped, resort fees are waived, but now you must pay for internet. I find this to be extremely cheap, only to be expected from CET.
Can't say for sure, but many people have these things waived or comped regardless. If so, casino employees lie without fear which I find disgraceful.Quote: djatcAt Caesers if a room is comped, resort fees are waived, but now you must pay for internet. I find this to be extremely cheap, only to be expected from CET.
When Atomic Liquors has put in free wifi, I think it has to be said that it has become a truly universal expectation of doing business, like having a parking spot and a restroom. That, or else the final sign that the Mayan/Rapture/Zombie Apocalypse is now imminent, take your pick.
Quote: djatcAt Caesers if a room is comped, resort fees are waived, but now you must pay for internet. I find this to be extremely cheap, only to be expected from CET.
No clue what goes on at CET properties. At MGM properties I get free rooms / suites. No resort fee, but I get all the things that are included with the resort fee (eg, wifi)
I have heard of people having to pay the resort fee on comped rooms at MGM properties, though. I have heard that if you are platinum you don't have to pay it, but I have also heard some stuff that contradicts that.
Quote: DrawingDeadI am in some MGM properties often, usually as a customer on the gaming floor but not a hotel guest, and I get free wifi in all of them. The difference is that I think yours is faster if you use the hotel guest version, and I have to reconnect (without charge) once every two hours. All that is needed for anyone on their property to use the free public version is to log-in using any email address.
I've noticed that they have this at some MGM properties and not others.
For example, MGM Grand has it, but Mandalay Bay does not.
Recently stayed at Paris comped no fee and free WiFi.Quote: AxiomOfChoiceI've noticed that they have this at some MGM properties and not others.
For example, MGM Grand has it, but Mandalay Bay does not.
Quote: AxelWolfRecently stayed at Paris comped no fee and free WiFi.
I stayed at Ballys last Dec.
Due to my status, got resort fee waived but since resort fee waived, no wifi.
Whenever I wanted to surf the internet, sat in a seat right by the Ballys poker room
Poker room has free wifi. In fact I think all CET poker rooms have free wifi.
Quote: terapinedActually its kind of a unique Vegas thing.
Hotels all over the planet compete without resorting to resort fees.
Actually, Resort Fees are ubiquitous in Florida as well. For a while, it was strictly for Orlando hotels. Now, they are starting to crop up in other cities as well. Yes, Resort Fees constitute false advertising at best, and outright extortion at worst.
Strangely enough, amid all of the Orlando hotels that charge Resort Fees, resorts owned & operated by Disney do not. And Disney hotels arguably provide the most amenities to their guests (free parking, free transportation, themed pools, etc).
Quote: AxelWolfRecently stayed at Paris comped no fee and free WiFi.
He was talking about free wifi in the casino for visitors (not hotel guests). Some MGM properties have this; some don't.
Quote: FatFrankI keep reading about "resort fees" when booking hotels in LV. What are these exactly, what do they cover, use of the pool?
Hmmm... LOL. Hmmmm... He's baaaaack!
Quote: DMSCRHmmm... LOL. Hmmmm... He's baaaaack!
Thanks for the tipoff.
Quote: JBThanks for the tipoff.
Yowzers!!!! LOL. LOL. That was fast! At least with beach she gives things a chance to blossom/blow up before laying the kill.
Quote: DMSCRYowzers!!!! LOL. LOL. That was fast! At least with beach she gives things a chance to blossom/blow up before laying the kill.
how did you know? I didn't seem to see anything that was obvious, unless I missed a post somewhere.
Oh there are some converging events that happened and probably still happening that I was told and directed to that points toward this unsurprising blah blah blah. Given JB's access has solidified the suspicion. Plus the usual baccarat posts a dead give away.
Yes. That is what I was referring to, arguably a tangent to the main topic of what you get if you are a hotel guest instead of solely a customer of the casino. The MGM related examples that I tend to be in most often and where I've used it very recently are City Center's Aria, and Mirage. The free non-hotel guest version at those properties is mediocre speed, and requires repeatedly re-connecting after two hours. This matters to someone like me, because as a customer of some of their racebooks I need to use it for ten or more hours at a stretch for some of my data while often making wagering decisions under some significant time pressure.Quote: AxiomOfChoiceHe was talking about free wifi in the casino for visitors (not hotel guests). Some MGM properties have this; some don't.
There are examples with better quality at other companies, such as Wynn (very good), Venetian (adequate), TI (usually good), and at Station Casinos which has recently made a major upgrade of their complimentary customer wifi on the gaming floor of at least several properties (I've used it recently at Green Valley Ranch) that has suddenly taken it from terribly crappy to excellent, while remaining free of charge for any customer in the casino. And yes, they also charge a "resort" or "amenity" or "energy resource" or similarly named sneaky hotel junk fee, and a pretty hefty one compared to the nominal quoted room rates at the Station places, oddly enough to me.
Quote: DrawingDead^Sometimes I think it is an advantage to be blissfully uninformed about all the peculiar intricate past issues attached to some individuals, so I can just take stuff at face-value like this thread, or even just pretend to when it suits me.
Yes. The MGM related examples that I tend to be in most often and where I've used it very recently are City Center's Aria, and Mirage. The free non-hotel guest version at those properties is mediocre speed, and requires repeatedly re-connecting after two hours. This matters to someone like me, because as a customer of some of their racebooks I need to use it for ten or more hours at a stretch for some of my data while often making wagering decisions under some significant time pressure.
There are examples with better quality at other companies, such as Wynn (very good), Venetian (adequate), TI (usually good), and at Station Casinos which has recently made a major upgrade of their complimentary customer wifi on the gaming floor of at least several properties (I've used it recently at Green Valley Ranch) that has suddenly taken it from terribly crappy to excellent, while remaining free of charge. And yes, they also charge a "resort" or "amenity" or "energy resource" or similarly named sneaky hotel junk fee, and a pretty hefty one compared to the nominal quoted room rates at the Station places, oddly enough to me.
If it's that critical, can't you just use a phone with a good high-speed data plan (possibly tethering if you need to use a tablet or something)? This has to be more reliable than casino wifi.
Yes, I can and sometimes do tether my netbook & sometimes also (less importantly) a tablet, using my phone as a modem through my cell service. It generally works well enough when necessary, but not always and not without disadvantages, as even the very best available cell service in large casino properties sometimes has drawbacks.Quote: AxiomOfChoiceIf it's that critical, can't you just use a phone with a good high-speed data plan (possibly tethering if you need to use a tablet or something)? This has to be more reliable than casino wifi.
To begin with, the physical structure of a lot of large casino/hotel/resorts seems to degrade signal quality to varying degrees. And in Las Vegas I've found that any potential reliability and throughput drawbacks for data via 4g tethering are especially likely to occur during surges in demand on busy weekends, even more so if it is a holiday weekend, and it sometimes gets really tough when certain conventions are in town that tend bring in a lot of techno-geeks to overload the cell networks. Weekends and holidays are often exactly the most critical times for me with what I do in casino racebooks, because that is also when the most significant races, with the most money (and importantly the most casual of fans type of money) is flowing into the parimutual race pools. So good wifi is one significant advantage when deciding who gets my business on a given day, but I can and sometimes do go without it, via tethering just as you suggested. But I find that even a mediocre wifi connection is better for me more often than not.
I view availability of wifi in a hotel the same way. Not an absolute deal breaker because I can tether, but still a distinct advantage when considering where I want to be.
Quote: DMSCRWhat is interesting is JB is involved as well and not just beach. So this means behind the scenes some where a long the line JB too took a few punches as well. Which is not surprising given Mike/Wizard took a few hits himself.
I'm not "involved" with anything; all I did was a little digging on the back-end and nuked him based on having multiple accounts.
Quote: JBI'm not "involved" with anything; all I did was a little digging on the back-end and nuked him based on having multiple accounts.
You/DMSCR had me wondering what master conspiracy I was involved in without my knowledge....lol.
For all,
I'm going to stick my neck out and say, on behalf of all the mod's, that the whole moderation thing is as transparent as possible. There are times when, out of respect to someone involved emotionally in a conflict, we prefer not to put every detail out in public, but the great majority of the time, it is as simple and straightforward as possible. JB, as a super-admin, can see more about accounts than I can. I can see more than a member can. So JB, when he's available, can confirm things on a level where I can only speculate, but he's not tasked with moderating for content; he's mostly nuts-and-bolts chief engineer, and I work hard at not bringing him into things that, whenever possible, are meant to be evaluated on my (lower) level.
Having said that, I appreciate very much that he was in a position to determine what was what and take action. My question is, how DMSCR can tell from only a sentence or two (and he's only been off once that I recall, about 8 id's ago) when it's egalite back for another round of cat-and-mouse.
JB no prob. It was something that he said that made things seem like there were more than it is else where.
Quote: DMSCRHmmm... Since you are interested beach do you want this in public or through PM? You would either find this ridiculous funny or deeply annoyed.
JB no prob. It was something that he said that made things seem like there were more than it is else where.
It would be funny if your answer is; I am egalite.
Quote: GWAEIt would be funny if your answer is; I am egalite.
You know I am actually deeply offended by that statement. If I was a Mod I would torture you by making you a Mod too!
Quote: DMSCRYou know I am actually deeply offended by that statement. If I was a Mod I would torture you by making you a Mod too!
lmao, there is nothing I have ever done to deserve that punishment. I would elect jail time.
Quote: andyg99Resort fees cover incoming faxes, that alone is worth the fee, oh yeah and don't forget the free paper that nobody actually gets...
Time to start having people fax me War & Peace
Quote: SOOPOOAround a year and a half ago I got the Total Rewards Visa, which promised $100 in Caesars money (yes), 2 buffet of buffet comps (yes), platinum status(yes), no resort fees (yes). After the weather event we had here I just booked an 'extra' Vegas trip for January 8-11. I went on line to book my free and discounted nights at the Rio, but there was no button to push to not be charged the resort fee. I called and asked how to do it, and the poor girl started to read the 'new policy', that said that all Platinum members now DO have to pay the resort fee, and the credit card alone doesn't waive them. I told her that I'd be booking across the street at Gold Coast, and she got a manager to waive the resort fees 'but in the future I'll have to pay them.' Apparently my Platinum status ends March 31, and likely my usage of the TR Visa card as well. When I call to cancel my card I will give them the option of keeping me Platinum, but I'm guessing it won't work. I do like the private check in room being Platinum allows me to use....
IMO, while it should have worked to book without the fee ahead of time even on the TR site, I did TR stays 3x this year, 2 as Platinum, 1 as Diamond. In all three, the resort fee was on the bill, and in all 3, I had it removed at the check-in just by pointing out my status (once it was check-out as it wasn't reflected on the initial contract). So, though it was a pain, they were honoring the intent. I would think they will continue to wipe it out either coming or going for you as well as for me.
Quote: SOOPOOAround a year and a half ago I got the Total Rewards Visa, which promised $100 in Caesars money (yes), 2 buffet of buffet comps (yes), platinum status(yes), no resort fees (yes). After the weather event we had here I just booked an 'extra' Vegas trip for January 8-11. I went on line to book my free and discounted nights at the Rio, but there was no button to push to not be charged the resort fee. I called and asked how to do it, and the poor girl started to read the 'new policy', that said that all Platinum members now DO have to pay the resort fee, and the credit card alone doesn't waive them. I told her that I'd be booking across the street at Gold Coast, and she got a manager to waive the resort fees 'but in the future I'll have to pay them.' Apparently my Platinum status ends March 31, and likely my usage of the TR Visa card as well. When I call to cancel my card I will give them the option of keeping me Platinum, but I'm guessing it won't work. I do like the private check in room being Platinum allows me to use....
I have the total rewards visa also for all the above reasons. I use it a lot and never carry over a balance. Great deal.
Lowroller so love the platinum status. Got the buffets and the 100 and continue to earn money. Use the points I earn to eat at the bachanal buffet.
Doesn't surprise me CET cutting back on program.
Another happy customer that will be looking elsewhere.
Quote: terapinedI have the total rewards visa also for all the above reasons. I use it a lot and never carry over a balance. Great deal.
Lowroller so love the platinum status. Got the buffets and the 100 and continue to earn money. Use the points I earn to eat at the bachanal buffet.
Doesn't surprise me CET cutting back on program.
Another happy customer that will be looking elsewhere.
I have a couple questions I was just curious if anyone else had asked or might know:
1) When they upgrade you to platinum, is that the same as giving you 5,000 tier credits? i.e. If I'm already platinum and was a few thousand tier credits away from Diamond, could I use this to get to Diamond?
2) When you say $100 in Caesars money, is this just like adding $100 to your reward dollars on your card (to be used for food, gift shop, etc), or something different?
Quote: RomesI have a couple questions I was just curious if anyone else had asked or might know:
1) When they upgrade you to platinum, is that the same as giving you 5,000 tier credits? i.e. If I'm already platinum and was a few thousand tier credits away from Diamond, could I use this to get to Diamond?
2) When you say $100 in Caesars money, is this just like adding $100 to your reward dollars on your card (to be used for food, gift shop, etc), or something different?
No extra tier credits.... And yes to the $100.....
Quote: RomesI have a couple questions I was just curious if anyone else had asked or might know:
1) When they upgrade you to platinum, is that the same as giving you 5,000 tier credits? i.e. If I'm already platinum and was a few thousand tier credits away from Diamond, could I use this to get to Diamond?
2) When you say $100 in Caesars money, is this just like adding $100 to your reward dollars on your card (to be used for food, gift shop, etc), or something different?
Its a great deal.
I generally pay cash for everything, try not to carry debt.
Got the 2 free 24hr buffets. Got the 100, spent on buffets. Reward credits I now earn, spend on buffets.
The Total Rewards Visa changed my spending habits. Still no debt but now use the Visa for groceries, gas, hotel, air. Pay balance every month.
Gamble downtown, eat on the strip :-)
Hitting Vegas in 4 weeks with 7,904 reward credits to use to eat. I'll be checking out the Bachanal Buffet :-)
