1. Welcome to VegasMessageBoard
    It appears you are visiting our community as a guest.
    In order to view full-size images, participate in discussions, vote in polls, etc, you will need to Log in or Register.

I’m Finished With Vegas

Discussion in 'Vegas Trip Reports' started by ExVegasLocal, Apr 4, 2016.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. ExVegasLocal

    ExVegasLocal Low-Roller

    Joined:
    Mar 29, 2013
    Messages:
    395
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    99

    My Trip Report

    My 30-year love affair with Vegas is over. The city has become something ugly and unrecognizable to me. Vegas used to be a place where an ordinary person could go to spend a reasonable amount of money, yet feel spoiled for a few days. Now it is a place where an ordinary person feels they must guard against every attempt to separate us from our money. Today, I read about a new 4.7% mandatory "concession fee" being added on by some restaurants in Vegas. Outrageous.

    My most recent stay involved 3 nights at Red Rock, where I stay often, and 3 nights at the Palms, where I have never stayed. As usual, Red Rock provided their same brand of relaxed luxury, but have instituted a new internet fee for those guests staying on a comp. You see, the resort fee, which includes internet access was also comped along with the room. Yet, I was charged a fee of $12.99 per day to use the internet. Upon approaching the front desk looking like the RCA Victor Dog, the clerk explained to me that my resort fee was comped, so my resort fee no longer included internet access. Huh? I also visited the spa, which is included in the resort fee (which was comped) and was not charged for my spa visit. If all of this makes no sense to you, join the club. All I know is that a comped room, which includes a comped resort fee no longer includes the actual amenities provided by said resort fee – at least not the internet.

    Upon checking in at the Palms, the front desk clerk actually appeared excited to tell me that because I made my reservation long ago, I would pay the “discounted” resort fee of “only” $25.00 per night plus tax. I was incredulous that it could possibly cost more than that now. He also informed me that I should consider myself lucky not to have paid for parking, since that new charge will surely be coming to the Palms in short order.

    A visit to the swimming pool revealed exactly 42 lounge chairs to be shared by every hotel guest. Half of the pool was roped off and had plenty of available chairs. If you want to sit on the other side of the rope, they’ll be glad to sell you a $20 bottle of vodka for several hundred dollars. I declined.

    After securing a couple of lounge chairs from the available 42, I decided to visit the pool bar where I ordered two margaritas. Each margarita cost $15. We aren’t talking about a custom crafted cocktail here. We are talking about a slushee machine full of an unnatural yellow looking concoction surely made of too much sugar and heartburn-inducing citric acid to be able to taste the run of the mill tequila that may or may not have been mixed in. When handed the bill for the “slurpuritas”, imagine my surprise to find that in addition to the $30 charge for the two drinks, a mandatory gratuity of $6 had been added to the bill. I was actually required to pay the bartender $6 to pour two slushees from a machine. He must have gone to school for a long time to learn that craft.

    That night after drifting off to sleep, the hotel room air conditioner began to make a terrible screeching noise which kept waking me up throughout the night, each time it cycled on. The next morning I was unsurprised to find that my in-room coffee maker had no coffee because the maid forgot to leave any during her previous visit. Sleepless and caffeine-free, I headed down to the front desk with a video on my phone to demonstrate the noise that had kept me awake all night. I tried to be gracious but I expected to be compensated. They offered to move us to another room, but we had to pack up all of our stuff and leave it with the bell desk for several hours because they had no available rooms. In exchange for our trouble, they removed one night of resort fee. Whoop-dee-doo. In my opinion, the most basic function of a hotel room is to allow a guest to sleep. If it cannot produce this effect, then there should not be a charge for the hotel room at all – not just a removal of the resort fee. However, I was too tired to argue about it. I packed up all my stuff and hauled it to the bell desk. I was without a room for the next four hours.

    Upon being assigned a new room, I was excited to unpack and try to get a restful nap to make up for the sleepless night before. To my surprise we had been upgraded to a room with a nice view. But then I noticed a repetitive thudding sound like you might hear when stopped at a traffic light in East Los Angeles. It seems the hotel room windows and floor were shaking in response to the bass and the oontz-oontz-oontz from the pool 15 floors below. Exhausted, I tried to nap anyway. After trying desperately for two hours, it was clear there was to be no nap.

    I could go on and on, but I'm sure you all are just waiting for me to say, "and get off my lawn". I assure you that I'm not generally a complainer. And lest you think I am just a cheapskate, I spent a few thousand dollars gambling. I had absolutely no luck. But this isn’t sour grapes about losing in the casino. I knew I was taking a chance in the casino. And I was okay with that. But I’m done with the resort fees, internet fees, mandatory gratuities, impending parking fees, and generally poor quality of service and amenities provided by the hotels in Las Vegas these days. Somehow Vegas hotels have gotten the idea that its guests are privileged simply to be their guests, and have forgotten the idea they they are the ones who are privileged to have us as guests.

    I have a trip booked for July and other folks are counting on me. I won’t cancel it. But after that, I’m done with Vegas.
     
    • Like Like x 2
  2. Joe

    Joe VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Sep 11, 2009
    Messages:
    16,023
    Location:
    Wisconsin
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    175
    Simple solution. Stay downtown.
     
  3. ExVegasLocal

    ExVegasLocal Low-Roller

    Joined:
    Mar 29, 2013
    Messages:
    395
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    99
    Been there done that. Many stays at the Golden Nugget and a couple at the DTG. Same taste, different smell.
     
  4. Sonya

    Sonya Queen of VMB

    Joined:
    Nov 28, 1999
    Messages:
    44,195
    Location:
    Western Washington
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    25
    I feel your pain. It sure does feel like the service part of the service-industry in Vegas needs an overhaul. Resort fees, expensive drinks, gratuities automatically added to your bill, etc. It all sort of becomes too much for too little in return.

    I'm surprised to hear that Palms is going to have paid parking. I guess because everyone else is talking about it. Sad, really. Parking isn't really an issue out there, so I don't understand their reasoning. It's not like anyone is going to park there and walk to the new arena. :evillaugh:

    I still love Las Vegas, but you've got to be a lot more savvy to avoid the fees and the issues than in the "good old days".
     
  5. jimbondo

    jimbondo Tourist

    Joined:
    Nov 19, 2014
    Messages:
    54
    Location:
    Usa
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    8
    ill never give up my pleasures for afew extra bucks.
     
  6. shokhead

    shokhead No big spender unless eating drinking having fun!

    Joined:
    Oct 12, 2007
    Messages:
    7,108
    Location:
    SoCal
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    85
    I don't go to make money but to just have fun so I'll keep going. I just try to be smarter about the whole thing.
     
  7. Kolmeseiska

    Kolmeseiska Low-Roller

    Joined:
    Dec 17, 2012
    Messages:
    775
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    7
    Haha, exactly what I thought too. Why the hell would Palms have paid parking? Are they absolutely out of their minds? SMH...
     
  8. Rush

    Rush MIA

    Joined:
    Aug 31, 2010
    Messages:
    2,983
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    76

    I'm not sure that is the OP's complaint. It's more of a conglomerate of bad experiences all balled into one.

    Vegas used to be a place where you would be pampered in return for giving the casinos a shot at your cash. Now, they would just as soon have all of your cash before you get a chance to win some of it by gambling. Las Vegas has become just like any other resort city. They want you to pay, pay, pay at every turn. There is no kiss on the cheek, or pat on the head anymore.
     
  9. iamavegas1

    iamavegas1 Newbie

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2015
    Messages:
    1
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    60
    I get it. I've been going to Vegas several times a year since 1966. I've seen all the changes & hate how impersonal, lewd & expensive the town has become. However, I just love Vegas & don't think I could quit going, ever. The economy has forced these casinos to nickle & dime any way they can to survive so I'm used to it. I am a bit frustrated that parking fees are now going to be charged, even for self parking, but I'll just pay it when I have a car there and enjoy my stay. I haven't found another city where I can have as much fun as an adult than Vegas, but I totally understand anyone who says enough is enough.
     
  10. Candydave

    Candydave mid-roller

    Joined:
    Jun 27, 2015
    Messages:
    329
    Location:
    Conifer Colorado
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    75
    I agree. We still love going to Vegas and will continue to enjoy it. The difference now versus earlier years is that now it takes more work planning to find the deals. We also don't like all the changes and have had to adapt. There are some places we just don't stay anymore because we don't feel we get treated as well as other places. Used to stay a lot at Station Casinos and loved Red Rock and Green Valley Ranch, but their offers dried up and even with an upgraded card was unable to get comped rooms. They always wanted to charge for the room and then of course the resort fee and internet fee, which makes staying there unappealing. We are also considering not going to M Life anymore if they implement the parking fee. We already have to pay the resort fee, even with a Gold card, and if you add daily parking fee onto that, would make a comped room (not even a suite room) around $50.00 per day. No thanks. At least at Total Rewards we get free parking and no resort fees being a Diamond. Encore/Wynn treats us pretty good too, so will continue going there. Lost the love at Cosmo, so Bye Bye to them. I guess the bottom line is to find someplace that treats you well and appreciates you. All casinos are not created equal and I want to reward the ones with our gambling $ that we feel gives us the biggest bang for our buck.
     
  11. Wayupinya

    Wayupinya Tourist

    Joined:
    Mar 14, 2008
    Messages:
    25
    Location:
    Pittsburgh
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    15
    People really use the in room coffee makers? Good luck with that!
     
  12. carolineno

    carolineno VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Jan 29, 2013
    Messages:
    4,839
    Location:
    Boston
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    777
    I get where you are coming from. The internet charging is pretty foolish, as are the parking fees. It's not as though space is at a premium out there. If these trends continue it will start to seriously irk customers. It just makes these properties look cheap, so, maybe they are. They use the "green" excuse to not change the sheets, what else are they cutting corners on? Washing the water glasses? Personally I love the desert, so I will never stop going for that reason, but all these little charges, on TOP of resort fees, it's just, as my MIL would say "low budget".
     
    Ladies getaway, somewhere on the strip with a pool :)
  13. Snidely

    Snidely VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Nov 2, 2012
    Messages:
    2,129
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    20
    My wife and I were at Sammy D's in harrahs' AC on Saturday. We sat at the bar. For dessert we ordered two cupcakes. It took 25 minutes for the cup cakes to be brought to us. Hate to think how long it would have taken if we asked for something they actually had to baked to order.

    I don't know what the root cause is. It's not just Vegas. It's all over. Businesses want to "blame the economy" but I think there is more to it. People want to spend money. But people don't want to feel ripped off or have to deal with poor service.
     
  14. BlacklabberMike

    BlacklabberMike MIA

    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2014
    Messages:
    5,373
    Location:
    Where's Ware?
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    25
    probably why you can't swing a dead cat without hitting a starbucks:evillaugh

    guess i'll have to look at the fine print more often, but then after several drinks the fine print is a little blurry:haha:
     
  15. Nevyn

    Nevyn VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Apr 13, 2007
    Messages:
    8,403
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    18
    I am surprised that one bad experience and one fee would be enough to sour you on the whole town.

    In general I agree that value is getting worse, and there are newer ways each time to try to extract a little more $. My approach to that has been to do the same to them, keep looking for new ways to either avoid their new tactics, or find new values, or generally undercut their attempts.
     
  16. ExVegasLocal

    ExVegasLocal Low-Roller

    Joined:
    Mar 29, 2013
    Messages:
    395
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    99
    It's not just one bad experience or one fee. It's been a situation that has become progressively worse year after year and has finally, for me, become intolerable. I do not expect to convince anyone else that they should stop going to Las Vegas. I'm just relating my own feelings. Feel free to continue to spend your time trying to find ways around the lazy and egregious fees, poor service, and sub-par amenities. If you think that a $20 bottle vodka is now worth $400 because somebody divided a pool with a rope, be my guest. I wish you well. I'm done.
     
  17. SnakeDoctor

    SnakeDoctor Tourist

    Joined:
    Jul 7, 2015
    Messages:
    83
    Location:
    Houston, TX
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    35
    They have to get money from the younger crowd that comes into town to do the clubbing thing somehow. Gamblers who aren't at least high rollers are just the ones that get to kick in on it too. I'm with the OP on one important thing. When it's time to sleep, I want to sleep. If I can't do that, I can't enjoy many things. Oh and bottle service...I just can't get with that.

    I don't think I'll ever quit Vegas, but I don't like the way it seems to be these days. That's why I go to Cancun in between my Vegas trips. Service is always spectacular, and because it's all inclusive the only extra "fees" are the tips I give to the outstanding staff. Then back to Vegas to hit the tables!
     
  18. ken2v

    ken2v This Space For Rent

    Joined:
    Sep 18, 2003
    Messages:
    29,787
    Location:
    A nice place
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    110
    Some people leave Vegas. Often, Vegas does the leaving. It happens.
     
    • Like Like x 1
  19. casinokid68

    casinokid68 Caesars Diamond Member

    Joined:
    Sep 25, 2013
    Messages:
    2,934
    Location:
    brooklyn, ny
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    90
    Sorry for your bad experience. I agree that Vegas has gotten more expensive, but with more and more people traveling to Vegas, the hotels are looking for ways to make even more money. A report in the LVRJ, at the end of 2015, showed that Vegas broke it's record for tourists on the year. Over 42 million people visited Vegas in 2015. As long as people keep coming, the hotels feel, what the heck, let's find more ways to get money from people. So now the parking fees will be created, resort fees will keep climbing, service fees, etc. I love Vegas, and I won't stop flying out there, since to me, it is the best place for fun and entertainment. But it certainly is getting more expensive, and the service is declining.
     
  20. Aces and Eights

    Aces and Eights VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Jul 24, 2014
    Messages:
    1,590
    Location:
    Southern California
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    100
    CET is the same way with resort fees. My rooms are comped, and I do not have to pay a resort fee. But it also means that I do not get to use their Wi-Fi unless I pay for it. This is fine with me as I don't mind using the regular internet without Wi-Fi.
     
    • Like Like x 1
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.