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.

Finally DIDN'T book a trip because of Resort Fees

Discussion in 'Misc. Vegas Chat' started by landsburger, Mar 6, 2016.

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

    spdandpwr VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Feb 25, 2016
    Messages:
    3,843
    Location:
    East Coast
    Hmmm, when I factor resort fees, I try to put it in perspective. Sure, it raises the overall tab, but Vegas Casinos have a much lower ADR than any major metropolitan hotels. I don't think I could land a 4 night stay in Chicago, San Fran, or New York at a Holiday Inn Express for less than what you'd pay for your run of the mill strip room. Plus, if you gamble, you have a chance of getting your resort fees and/or meals comped. Personally, for a destination, I think Vegas is very fair...oh, and drinks are free if you gamble. That's my opinion at least
     
  2. makikiboy

    makikiboy VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2007
    Messages:
    6,752
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    35
    I don't like resort fees either but to me it's not a problem. I always check on prices and add the resort fee when I do my searches. If the hotel with fees is cheaper than the others without the fee then I will book that hotel. When resort fees stop me from staying in a city I will probably stop visiting that city, same thing with hotel prices, San Francisco hotel prices are off the charts, $100 a night will only get you a dump most times so I don't visit that city as much as before. But I don't compare cities and prices or try to put things in perspective because each city is different and I go to each city for a different reason (gambling, sightseeing, Hawaiian vacation, etc.).

    Unfortunately until the legislators or council people or fed government outlaws resort fees they are probably going to be around forever so best we get used to it already. I don't stay on the strip much anymore because many times the resort fee almost costs as much as a night downtown.

    I know some people like to be pampered and so they stay on the strip and newbies might enjoy the strip better but after a few times visiting vegas many of us don't feel the "strip" experience is worth the higher prices so we stay elsewhere and drive to the strip if we want to get our strip fix.

    I mostly play craps so I don't qualify for comps even downtown so I don't worry about playing for anything other than a free meal. Would be even harder on the strip so while some people play "very little" and get comps, others play different games that are harder to get comps or don't play enough to warrant comped rooms.

    I don't care what other people think, I will stay at the Cal or MSS or the El Cortez or even Siegel suites if I can't find anything much cheaper. I won't stay at hostels though, while I stayed at them in Europe I don't feel as comfortable staying at American hostels. but it would have to be significantly lower for me to stay at Seigel, probably $25 a night or more, I would probably pay an extra $100 for a 5 night stay ($20 a day) to stay at a hotel that I'm comfortable with (like the Cal or MSS) instead of Siegel.
     
  3. Peachiekeehn

    Peachiekeehn High-Roller

    Joined:
    Aug 2, 2012
    Messages:
    919
    Location:
    BC, Canada
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    30
    It's a different revenue stream for the hotels and treated differently for their corporate taxes.
     
  4. bobby jones

    bobby jones VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2014
    Messages:
    2,330
    Location:
    Great white North
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    12
    To the OP, if the hotels simply increased their rate the same as the resort fee, would you still cancel your trip? I look at it as general inflation just split into two parts. It's annoying but, I don't lose sleep over it. A lot of us got used to the post crash pricing in Vegas so all increases are an afront be it pay tables, BJ or resort fees. Things are chuggin along now and prices go up econ 101. At some point there will be a price that changes my mind about a vacation spot but, I am not there yet. Our exchange rate is more of a factor for me. Some are there now as the OP and some will never give it up at any price.

    What we need are four new large resorts to open and recession quickly following that:)
     
  5. Hogman

    Hogman VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Nov 5, 2008
    Messages:
    2,854
    Location:
    Arkansas
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    70
    Don't cut off your nose to spite your face definition

    Don't engage in an act of anger or revenge that will hurt you more than it hurts anyone else.:poke:
     
  6. Chicken Dinner

    Chicken Dinner Low-Roller

    Joined:
    Jan 7, 2015
    Messages:
    435
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    10
    Resort fees exist bc it is money the hotels do not have to share with the agregator websites - like hotels.com or priceline. If you book on those sites the hotel gives a percentage to the website. The resort fees go 100% to the hotel.
     
  7. win4me

    win4me VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Jun 5, 2012
    Messages:
    1,238
    Location:
    Pleasanton CA
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    40
    Don't know Mlife, but not true for Cosmopolitan. Lat week when I called Cosmopolitan about a 3 night comp offer they told me that I would be charged the resort fee-(of course you can always ask at the back end if your play was enough to have it removed)
     
  8. BreakEven

    BreakEven High-Roller

    Joined:
    Feb 5, 2011
    Messages:
    905
    Location:
    SEA
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    16
    It's apparently still a mixed bag for Cosmo. With some offers you pay the fee, with other offers you don't.
     
  9. Nevyn

    Nevyn VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Apr 13, 2007
    Messages:
    8,389
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    18
    I am still generally able to still look at the total room cost big picture. But that will still make the next couple years tough as rates do seem more or less on the rebound.
     
  10. andyg99

    andyg99 VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Jul 9, 2014
    Messages:
    1,801
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    55
    I think the nickel and diming of folks is a bit annoying but it's Vegas - I always make sure I know what the fees and taxes are so I am not surprised and I can add it to my trip budget. It will be interesting to see how the parking fees work out - I would think that the casinos want folks getting into their casino by any means necessary. Will a parking fee keep some folks away? The way I look at parking fees now is this: maybe that means less cars and I will get a better spot so I can start gambling 5 minutes sooner! Gotta look for that silver lining!
     
    Vegas Trip #57
    Vegas Trip #58, Sammy Hagar
  11. gilly from philly

    gilly from philly Low-Roller

    Joined:
    Apr 27, 2012
    Messages:
    373
    Location:
    Ponte Vedra, Florida
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    35
    The FTC is concerned an how and when they are disclosed.

    https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/travel/is-the-ftc-doing-enough-to-stop-resort-fees/2015/07/09/df8e8a5a-2401-11e5-b72c-2b7d516e1e0e_story.html

    "An FTC representative confirmed that’s how the agency currently views resort fees. As long as they are revealed early in the booking process and included in the final price, giving a hotel guest the opportunity to abandon the reservation, they’re acceptable. "
     
  12. gilly from philly

    gilly from philly Low-Roller

    Joined:
    Apr 27, 2012
    Messages:
    373
    Location:
    Ponte Vedra, Florida
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    35
    Well said!
     
  13. spdandpwr

    spdandpwr VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Feb 25, 2016
    Messages:
    3,843
    Location:
    East Coast
    Looks like the Venetian and the Palazzo will need to update their site. You don't see resort fees -- it's in fine print and doesn't show how it affects the grand total.
     
  14. mattjs33

    mattjs33 Low-Roller

    Joined:
    Aug 21, 2015
    Messages:
    165
    Location:
    Antioch, IL
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    18
    Here's how I look at it -- my wife and I love going to Vegas, we try to ensure we can afford to at least once a year. We're fully aware of the resort fees, and though it feels kind of bogus, when I book the trip I'm looking at the total at the bottom, so it's not as if I'm not aware of what I'm getting myself into.

    Bottom line is, we're willing to pay what we need to pay, to get the experience we're after. That means staying on the Strip in the middle of it all. I'm barely a gambler so there's not going to be any comps coming our way. We accept that it will cost what it costs, food will be expensive and so will drinks. We plan accordingly, because it's a vacation and when on vacation you can't dwell on what it's costing you too much or you won't truly relax.

    Folks who go multiple times a year, I can see how they might have a different perspective.
     
  15. landsburger

    landsburger High-Roller

    Joined:
    Jul 16, 2007
    Messages:
    540
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    40
    A appreciate all the interesting replies...

    Not sure what part you're calling BS on, but we stay at both. For 5 or 6 years it was mainly Total Rewards, but the last few it's usually Mandalay with the family (sometimes Flamingo), and Aria + Wynn when adults only. We get reduced offers but don't play enough for comps. We still spend a lot of money on both gambling AND other things.

    That's what I always did, but finding it harder to do that now. It never bothered me, but nearly $40 plus the other taxes feels crazy.

    Bingo in my case. It's not worth it for me (most of the time) to stay off-strip at a 3 star. In my youth sure, but now I'm going for the entire experience. We stay at Excalibur with the kids and other families occasionally, but I've always paid the extra to upgrade properties. We occasionally do downtown at the Nugget, but can only take it in small doses. :)

    I hear you. We're in the "multiple times" camp. I hate that it's starting to bother me, but it honestly did. I'm literally known for booking Vegas vacations at the spur of the moment when the opportunity presents itself. It's getting harder and harder to justify (for us anyway). And I know that I would usually drop $40 in tips the first day by dinner, but still...

    (and I'm not saying they're crooks or this will kill their business, but I do think it's a mistake)

    It's a good question, one I asked myself already. And you could be right about the Vegas simply getting more expensive, which might mean the end to my frequent visits.

    I've been booking Vegas regularly for 10+ years, so I have a good handle on how the prices generally run. With the slight rise in room rates and the big boost in resort fees, it just is starting to feel like I can't always say:

    "Let's run to Vegas, it's a great deal."

    I'll still do it an enjoy it, but the reality is that adding $40 a night is hurting their business with this one little fish.
     
  16. mrem3200

    mrem3200 VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Dec 20, 2011
    Messages:
    1,411
    Location:
    Connecticut
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    19
    I am curious as to how you think it is different from a tax perspective?
     
  17. leo21

    leo21 VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Jan 9, 2010
    Messages:
    6,477
    Location:
    Chicago South Suburbs
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    25

    http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-legislation-hidden-resort-fees-20160108-story.html


    They want new legislation per this article from this year. They have been warning hotels but apparently that is not enough.

    I was CET faithful for the longest time. I was already moving off strip when the fees started. I have other reasons for not giving them business locally and when they decided to not waive fees for Platinum, that re-affirmed my decision to take my business elsewhere. Sorry, but I am used to paying zero because of comps. Now, I can be comped but have to pay $29-32 per night plus tax for the same rooms I used to get for free. Don't tell me to use my TR points - that's not what I earned them for. Yes, $32 a night would be a gift for CP but $29 a night for the lower tier hotels for wifi that I might use but don't have to have and a fitness center and phone usage that I absolutely won't use doesn't fly. I can't imagine what people paying full boat plus the fee end up thinking at the end of their stay. I've been in Red Roof Inns that can give some of the low tier hotels on the strip a rung for their money so if we are comparing those specific hotels to their real comparables, they aren't good deals period, no matter how you slice it.

    For the folks asking if it would be the same if the room rate went up, for some hotels, they can justify a much higher room rate. Balancing the room rate with the fees is driving their ADR down. For other hotels, yes, it would be a huge problem if their room rates had increased by $30 in the course of three or four years because they have not invested in their hotels in a way to improve the customer experience to earn that increase. The fees are an unfair way to force a increase in room rates that the normal supply and demand market won't allow.

    I've felt the same way as the OP. But my decision was to head offstrip. Even if I weren't comped, the fees are still bearable. If the same thing happens to downtown or the offstrip hotels where the fees are out of control, I would have a hard time justifying a trip, too.
     
  18. mescalita

    mescalita old and in the way...

    Joined:
    Dec 29, 2012
    Messages:
    1,910
    Location:
    Tejas
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    39
    El Cortez also waives resort fee on comped rooms.
     
  19. Krh2o

    Krh2o MIA

    Joined:
    Apr 24, 2013
    Messages:
    592
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    103
    Airlines do not pay corporate income tax on baggage or change fees. I'm not sure about casinos and resort fees.
     
  20. bobby jones

    bobby jones VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2014
    Messages:
    2,330
    Location:
    Great white North
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    12
    really? seems very strange
     
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.