Five ways to beat resort fees (In Las Vegas and beyond)

One of the true banes of my existance is the resort fee. It's like a paper cut: It looks minor but can cause a disproportionate amount of pain.

In today's post, we discuss a few ways to avoid resort fees. It's a bit Las Vegas-centric, but we tried to give you some options.

What have we missed? We want to keep a running list for easy reference.

Thanks,

Mike

The best way to avoid resort fees is to not patronize the $%^%$@#$ establishments that charge them. If that means staying at a non-casino property (or the 4Q/Binions), so be it.

Don't count on Hosts getting a resort fee waved.   Probably depends on where, but don't count on it.  

Pay attention to offer specifications.  If free nights are Sunday through Thursday, but you want to stay, say W,Th, and Friday night, and are willing to pay for Friday night, count on paying resort fee (and taxes) for all nights, even the free ones.  Talk about a rip off.  In fact, don't do it.

Even if you have a Host, but a mailed offer limits your free nights (and no resort fee) to Sunday through Thursday, or to a certain number (e.g. three free nights) ask the Host BEFORE you book if he can comp the extra night(s).  In that case, if he does comp the extra, the resort fee might be waved (not via the generosity of the Host but via the electronic comping system as he puts it in); but clarify that before deciding.

As for the BEYOND, my SIL recently demonstrateded her horse trading skills during a lengthy family road trip.  Upon entering a Holiday Inn Express or Hilton Garden Inn (no previous reservation) she always bargained them down on the rate!  She kindly asks, "How much can you go down" on the rate quoted.  The clerk would start with $5, then $10, then SIL would kindly ask "Can you do $xxx?"  Amazingly, we always got at least $15 off the quoted rate!  Often the taxes almost made up for the savings, but we always felt like we got a bargain.  Ha.  These were places off the highways, not in fancy resort areas.  Other motels in sight, they knew we could have moved on for a better price.  Always ask; don't accept the first quoted rate.

Using a two night offer for the Strat in early October.   The written offer says I pay resort fee and tax.   The lady on the phone says I pay neither.   Guess we'll find out =)   Still a bargain either way.

Resort fees dont bother me half as much as parking fees.

The new Caesars Rewards brochure on the website has a list of benefits of membership that includes "No resort fees". It does not qualify that with a tier requirement. Can this be true?

https://www.caesars.com/emag/czr-2019/index.html

Pamela, thanks for that link.  Scrolling through the Gold, Plat, Diamond, and 7 Stars 'pages', "no resort fees" is first listed on the Diamond page, not listed on the Gold page or the Platinum page.   You are right that it was listed on the first page of overall benefits, so that could be misleading.  I'd call and ask before booking if it matters.

There is no way they're going to exempt Tin or Dirt (or whatever they call the tiers below Diamond) players from resort fees. They're too much a part of CET's revenue stream.

It might be a moot point in the near future, as there's a lot of rumbling about the surreptitious nature of resort fees making them illegal, and some associated court challenges.

Thanks for pointing that out Candy. It also says no resort fees on this page: https://www.caesars.com/myrewards

when you scroll below the map. Then if you scroll down further there is a link to FAQ and if you search for resort fees, it is quite clear that you will be charged the resort fee, or if it is waived, you have to pay for wifi.

I am already booked at Bally's Sept. 26 - Oct. 3 so I guess I'll find out when I get there.

Yup, you're right, it's definitely Diamond. Levels below Diamond: Tin, Dirt, Fire Swamp, Pit of Despair and then me. :)

Mike