Current state of Resort Fees in Vegas

Quote: SanchoPanza

That is not accurate, based on a two-night comped stay at Bally's last month for my birthday. And I'm a steady Platinum.

Yeah you have to be a Diamond status or higher now for no resort fees, and even then you would still have to pay for the wifi until you hit Seven Star.

I believe the resort fee has more to do with just padding the bottom line than accounting for maid service.

Casinos don't really want the savvy player. They want the vacation taker who knows little to nothing about how casinos make their money. This way, they charge their fees, the random vacationer assumes it is standard, pays it, and never thinks again about it.

You would think in a business where they have the advantage - even against a savvy player - they wouldn't need to resort to such fees. (Yes, I know what I did there! Pun intended!)

I don't think it's a coincidence that the arrival of the resort fee coincides with the growth of 3rd party comparative websites. It allows the hotel to pop up competitively priced, still pay the 3rd party for something they otherwise provide virtually free, and charge you more at the check-out counter than you thought you were signing up for. Therefore, I think it's another good reason to book directly with the property, not through Orbitz/Travelocity/Kayak/hotels.com/etc. because they have more discretion for waiving the resort fee if it's an in-house booking.

(The big reason, if anybody didn't know it, is that at checkout, if you have your play evaluated, and they can comp the room, that's the first comp they'll offer because you didn't really consume anything they weren't already paying for. The host's/front desk option for room comping goes out the window if you book through a 3rd party.)

When I book, my first look is at my comp mailers. My next look is at the 3rd party retailers for comparative pricing. Then I call the property directly, because that's where the pricing came from, and I've never had them offer me worse than (at least) the best rate shown by the 3rd party bookers. All FWIW.

Starting on March 1, several properties will raise their resort fees.

Quote: The Points Guy

Caesars Palace (and Nobu Hotel), The Cromwell, Paris Las Vegas and Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino will charge $39.68 (including taxes) per night. Bally’s, Flamingo Las Vegas, Harrah’s Las Vegas, the LINQ Hotel & Casino and the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino will charge $34.01 (including taxes) per night.

To be fair, those are bargains compared to the $95 resort fee charged by the Dorado Beach Ritz-Carlton in Puerto Rico.

Off topic but good to see you posting Reno. You always add useful info to the conversation.

Plus you have the best avatar on here.

Does anyone know if any of the MGM cards waive resort fees. I was looking at their benefits and it doesnt appear that they do. Seems weird to me so I think I am missing something.

Quote: GWAE

Does anyone know if any of the MGM cards waive resort fees. I was looking at their benefits and it doesnt appear that they do. Seems weird to me so I think I am missing something.

Well, if you have enough reward points it will be "waived," as in, you use reward points to pay for it so you're not out of pocket. I don't think any of them explicitly remove resort fees from the invoice though. Maybe if you're Noir, though. At that level you're probably getting perks they don't even list.

Quote: TigerWu

Well, if you have enough reward points it will be "waived," as in, you use reward points to pay for it so you're not out of pocket. I don't think any of them explicitly remove resort fees from the invoice though. Maybe if you're Noir, though. At that level you're probably getting perks they don't even list.

I have gold from a tier match. There is a deal right now where you can get a $30 room at park mgm and if you book 2 nights you get $150 resort credit. However with resort fees it makes the 2 nights $160. Inam trying to figure out if I can get them waived. I don't think you can use the resort credit for them but maybe you can.

But I was also thinking myvegas. CN get free rooms but resort fees are high. I can also just stay with Harrah's and 60 a night with waived fees.

Quote: GWAE

I have gold from a tier match. There is a deal right now where you can get a $30 room at park mgm and if you book 2 nights you get $150 resort credit. However with resort fees it makes the 2 nights $160. Inam trying to figure out if I can get them waived. I don't think you can use the resort credit for them but maybe you can.

But I was also thinking myvegas. CN get free rooms but resort fees are high. I can also just stay with Harrah's and 60 a night with waived fees.

They never let you use resort credit to cover resort fees at MGM properties.

Quote: ams288

They never let you use resort credit to cover resort fees at MGM properties.

Thank you, that's kinda what I figured.

Now I gotta decide if I want to pay 160 out of pocket but get a room and 150 in food or do I want to stay at cet and use $200 in rewards credits for room and food.