Resort fees: the bad, the worse, and the ugly

Good chart by CheapoVegas (PDF) about those dirty little resort fees that many Vegas hotels are tacking onto bills. It includes a handy comparison chart for almost all hotels that do have them, showing what exactly you allegedly get by paying the fee.

It's a pretty nice reference, actually, and also written in his typical amusing style. One thing he didn't mention, though, which I think deserves praise is that Harrah's properties don't have any resort fees--for all the scorn heaped on them for their terrible games and bad player's club, this is one of their few positive attributes.

This is true about Harrah's properties, makes them stand out - in a good way.

Do y'all think its just a matter of time until they cave and implement resort fees, or do you think they'll continue to use it to stand apart? Maybe i should have made this a poll (my 1st ever lol).

Quote: RPToro

This is true about Harrah's properties, makes them stand out - in a good way.

Do y'all think its just a matter of time until they cave and implement resort fees, or do you think they'll continue to use it to stand apart? Maybe i should have made this a poll (my 1st ever lol).

They'll start charging resort fees the instant that the bright young MBA's they hire consult their star charts and divine that it would not hurt business to do so.

In any case, staying at a Harrah's property because they don't charge resort fees is like vacationing in Afghanistan because you like things done the old-fashioned way.

Click on links at the top of this page to find out about resort fees. It's all there.

I don't think Harrah's will charge resort fees. The company certainly is innovative in offering value in non-gaming areas, such as the all-day buffet in seven properties.

As to the bad gaming, the clueless gamblers like the sucker bets. That's where the money is, don't you know?

Quote: OneAngryDwarf

Harrah's properties don't have any resort fees--for all the scorn heaped on them for their terrible games and bad player's club, this is one of their few positive attributes.

And they are milking the publicity from that ONE attribute like crazy. They will shear you for worse than some properties that do have a resort fee would.

Quote: FleaStiff

They will shear you for worse than some properties that do have a resort fee would.

That's my problem with them. They charge separately for the things I would want that are included in the resort fees at other places. And the sum of those charges is MUCH more than the resort fees at comparable properties...

Quote: rdw4potus

That's my problem with them. They charge separately for the things I would want that are included in the resort fees at other places. And the sum of those charges is MUCH more than the resort fees at comparable properties...

Depends on what you need and use.

Me, this year at Rio and last year at IP I got charged for a few local and 800 calls over the course of my stays, perhaps $5 all told. That's fice in 11 cumulative days, and that's cheaper than any of the known resort fees. At the Rio there was a coffee maker and a safe in the room. They didn't charge me separately for using them.

I don't use the fitness center (in Vegas that would be redundant), internet access or even the pool. So for me a resort fee has zero value.

Who wants to work out in a mini gym that an apartment complex would have? Fitness centers in hotels are lame, people should relax on their vacation.

Quote: RPToro

This is true about Harrah's properties, makes them stand out - in a good way.

Do y'all think its just a matter of time until they cave and implement resort fees, or do you think they'll continue to use it to stand apart? Maybe i should have made this a poll (my 1st ever lol).

Harrah's charges resort fees in Atlantic City. And not insignificant ones, either.

Quote: SanchoPanza

Harrah's charges resort fees in Atlantic City. And not insignificant ones, either.

Atlantic City is interesting, in that the state mandated tax is called a "Room Tax" - this is how all the casinos disguise their resorts fees in AC. I've paid anywhere from $5 to $13 for this tax (Harrah's properties being anywhere from $11-13).

-B

Quote: toastcmu

Atlantic City is interesting, in that the state mandated tax is called a "Room Tax" - this is how all the casinos disguise their resorts fees in AC. I've paid anywhere from $5 to $13 for this tax (Harrah's properties being anywhere from $11-13).-B

It is most definitely entirely a state-mandated tax. Confusion and misinformation result from a company whose own employees do not even know that credit cards are required at check-in even for comped rooms, and when restaurants call the front desk they are supposedly told that a card is not on file. This is from what is supposed to be one of the most advanced companies in using information technology.

Here from tripadvisor.com are excerpts from actual customers trying to figure out what is going on:

“ Taxes and fees on comp rooms ”
Jan 14, 2010, 3:41 PM

Does anyone know why Harrahs properties charge $13 a night pn a comp room while their competition such as the Borgata charges $5 a night on a free room. Is there any legitimate reason for this or is it just a HARRAHS ripoff of their customers by charging a supposed tax which they then pocket?

1. Re: Taxes and fees on comp rooms
Jan 14, 2010, 3:56 PM

They will comp the 13/night for you if you are LFB, RFB, or ask your host nicely. Or, you can apply comp dollars toward it.
I think Borgata's is just under 7 dollars, like 6.97 or 6.98, but never got it comped.
Maybe Harrahs charges more because they comp it for so many people?

2. Re: Taxes and fees on comp rooms
Jan 14, 2010, 4:07 PM

I stayed at Trump Marina the past year and the tax was $5.

3. Re: Taxes and fees on comp rooms
Jan 14, 2010, 4:50 PM

but HET gives you free parking and the Borgata charges your $5. NJ gets its money one way or the other.

4. Re: Taxes and fees on comp rooms
Jan 14, 2010, 5:02 PM
Destination Expert  
for Atlantic City

HET charges for parking for non card holders and sometimes gold card members. Borgata black card holders don't pay for parking.
I wish I knew why the difference in room taxes. I've tried looking it up online but can't find an explanation posted anywhere.

5. Re: Taxes and fees on comp rooms
Jan 14, 2010, 5:10 PM

There is no legit reason. HET charges more b/c they can and want to.
BG charges a more reasonable $5 which anyone can use comp$ for.

6. Re: Taxes and fees on comp rooms
Jan 14, 2010, 5:17 PM

I stayed at Borgata in Nov and was charged 6.98/ night and they did not let me use comps, she said taxes and gratuities were the 2 things I could not use comps for. I am staying at the Water Club Friday the 29th, I booked online and it also says 6.98 will be charged to my cc, who can I talk to to get it comped since the host said no?

7. Re: Taxes and fees on comp rooms
Jan 14, 2010, 5:27 PM

I have been charged $5 for some time. The $6.98 sounds familiar but from awhile back.
9 times out of ten the front desk asks if I would like to use comps to pay all room charges (incl taxes). Even when they don't ask, and I don't metion it, comps are used anyway.

8. Re: Taxes and fees on comp rooms
Jan 14, 2010, 5:43 PM

Well they are still charging me 6.98 and it's the desk that told me they couldn't use comps to cover taxes or gratuities. I don't have my own host there, just asked for the host on duty and she said the same thing. I really don't mind, 6.98 is acceptable to me for a room there, but wonder why they are charging some people more than others?

9. Re: Taxes and fees on comp rooms
Jan 14, 2010, 6:28 PM

About a year ago the tax went down at the Borgata and other non-Harrahs properties to $5. I am always asked at the Borgata if I wish to use comp dollars to pay for the tax. I am low diamond at Harrahs and have not been able to use rewards credits to pay the tax at any of their properties. I am told by the front desk that this is not allowed.

10. Re: Taxes and fees on comp rooms
Jan 14, 2010, 7:09 PM

I just checked my cc statement and I was charged exactly 13.96 for 2 night Nov 30th. Sounds like both Borgata and Harrahs comp it for some but not all. I have not paid anything at Het properties for years, lfb/ rfb absorb it so it never even shows up on the folio. Whether it's 5 or 6.98, I am kind of exited to stay at the water club in 2 weeks. It's the first time it came up as an online comp. Are there ice machines? I no there are no fridges and so I was hoping to ice down a bottle of bubbly in the room. It's a "no kids" weekend so I think Water Club should work out OK.

16. Re: Taxes and fees on comp rooms
Jan 14, 2010, 10:11 PM
Destination Expert  
for Atlantic City

We’ve tried to figure out room tax & fees at AC casinos for years now. The best explanation I ever heard was “tax” is a percentage based upon what the casino claims it is “losing” by “giving” you the room for their tax purposes. The “fees” are whatever they decide to take, or some other mystery. I’m also told that “free” and “comp” are not the same.
I’ve also been able to use comps to cover the room charges at the Borg, but I don’t think it was every time—mostly only when I asked?
I hope this helps. ;))) LOL

17. Re: Taxes and fees on comp rooms
Jan 15, 2010, 1:10 AM
i agree with C-SRT8. HET charges $13 simply because they can.
i'm LFB and RFB at the various AC HET properties (i'm also apparently acronym happy!)... and i no longer pay taxes at caesars and harrah's.
i have noticed $13 in comp points per night disappearing from my account after stays at showboat and bally's, even though those charges never appear on my folio... but caesars and harrah's don't seem to do that... it's completely tax free for me.
i'm seven stars, but i don't think it's because of tier status... i paid no taxes at caesars and harrah's even when i was diamond. it might be ADT-related or maybe because i have better host relationships at harrah's and caesars (although 9 times out of ten, i book my own rooms online and often don't even see my hosts while on property).

18. Re: Taxes and fees on comp rooms
Jan 15, 2010, 7:51 PM

The Taj charged me $5 last week,same as it's been for my last several trips.Will not take comps to pay it.
Johnnylite

19. Re: Taxes and fees on comp rooms
Jan 17, 2010, 12:31 AM

It would be interesting if someone from Harrahs corporation would answer this question as no one at the front desks or Total Rrewards desk has an answer to this.. Until someone at the corparate level comes up with an answer I have to assume it is a phony ripoff of their customers since the other casino companies only charge $5 which must be the actual tax.

20. Re: Taxes and fees on comp rooms
Jan 17, 2010, 1:06 AM

I can't remember what the exact terminology is, but at Showboat if you look at the folio on the TV, it has 4 different fees. I think one was $5, one was $2 and two were $3. No idea what they actually say. Last time I was at the Borgata I think I paid $5 - that was about 8-9 months ago. But I do have to pay $5 to park there since I'm only a Red Card.

Quote: SanchoPanza

It is most definitely entirely a state-mandated tax.

That should, of course, read, "It is most definitely NOT entirely a state-mandated tax." Sorry.

Quote: RPToro

This is true about Harrah's properties, makes them stand out - in a good way.

Do y'all think its just a matter of time until they cave and implement resort fees, or do you think they'll continue to use it to stand apart? Maybe i should have made this a poll (my 1st ever lol).

Harrah's general philosophy is to attract the patrons in casino markets outside of Vegas (i.e. the Midwest, Tunica) to gamble in Vegas. They want those patrons to stay for free, since they feel there is a good chance that they will also gamble big time in their casinos, especially if Harrah's is picking up the cost of the room. To add on a "Resort fee" for those customers would turn away some potential gamblers.

I find it VERY unlikely that Harrah's will ever pick up the resort fee policy in Vegas. I'd be most interested in knowing what the gaming return on the investment is though. While I did play enough time in Vegas to justify my stay, it was mostly video BJ (which by the way is REALLY lousy there), and I tried to limit my losses at that. Any "significant play" was at better tables with better rules (or in the case of VP, at Casino Royale or Palms).