Mike FriedmanIt’s becoming almost impossible to book anything without seeing resort fees. (It is also especially hard to find NO Las Vegas Resort Fees!) I was reminded of this after seeing a recent post about “venue fees” at View from the Wing. But wait, there’s more! According to the article, MGM has, at least at one property, added a surcharge to drinks which it calls a “venue fee.” According to the article:
“This fee is applied to all things that keep the venue operationally running, like the gaming maintenance for all bar top games, Wi-Fi, and lounge maintenance,” the casino explained.
Funny, I always thought that those items were normal operating expenses.
NO Las Vegas Resort Fees
As the resort fees and Las Vegas Resort Fees get worse, customers have to get craftier to avoid what I call these “because they can” charges. Here are five methods for you. You may not be able to exploit all of them, but you can probably use at least one.
Be Diamond and Stay at a Caesars Property (Or don’t be Diamond and Read This Article)
Ah, the joys of elite status. Much like the way that airlines waive baggage fees for elite customers (or those with their proprietary credit cards), Caesars does so for its customers with Diamond status (Sorry, the credit card here gets you nothing.).
Caesars Rewards Diamond status will get you a bunch of other goodies as well, such as the $100 celebration dinner and lounge access, but the savings from the waived resort fees could be the biggest benefit.
Don’t have Diamond status? That’s okay. We’ve given you the path to earning it here.
Stay for Free at Wynn Resorts
Got a smartphone or tablet? Good. You can get free nights at Wynn Resorts by playing the games in the Wynn Slots app. The game is free and you can earn “gems” that can be traded in for free rooms. Does it take a while to accumulate enough gems for a room? Yup. Does it require any effort at all? Nope. I just set it to auto-spin and it’s playing as I type this paragraph.
Get a Casino Host to Waive the Charges for You
Best as I can tell, my play at penny video poker doesn’t qualify me for much in the way of comps. I’d move up to nickels, but that level of play gets my anxiety up.
You may be different. If you play enough to merit some freebies (or think you do), check in with a casino host and ask them to get the fees waived for you. They’ll take a look at your account and determined what you’ve earned.
How much is enough? I wish I knew the answer and it probably involves some negotiations. But if they believe that you have the potential to be a big player, they’ll probably be willing to work with you.
Refuse to Pay the Fees When You Check Out
We’re beginning to stretch it a bit here, but you can always ask the front desk to waive them for you or simply tell them that you refuse to pay. It’s a risky strategy, particularly since they have your credit card already, but it certainly doesn’t cost you anything. Don’t go too crazy, though. The last thing that you want is to get banned from the casino or a visit with the LVPD.
What Do You Prefer?
Credit Card $300 Bonus and Big Rebates, or $150 Bonus and 0%
No Resort Fee! Free Parking! Free Wifi!
Don’t Play their Game: Stay at a Property without a Resort Fee
This is the most obvious solution. Stay at a property with NO Las Vegas Resort Fees. You won’t get to stay at the nicest resorts on the Strip, but how much time do you plan on spending in your room, anyway? All you’re gonna use the bed for is sleeping, eating and maybe building a little fort. Want some suggestions? Glad you asked.
On The Strip: Check out the Best Western Casino Royale. Not only do they not charge a resort fee but they’ll also throw in complimentary internet access and parking. There’s also a promotion going on for the chain, so be sure to look for more Best Western bonus opportunities.
Best Play – Best Western Promotion 3000 Bonus Points
Off The Strip: You’ll have your choice of establishments, particularly in the “select service” categories. My recommendation? The Hyatt Place on Paradise is only 1.5 miles from Cosmopolitan, and the walk will allow you to burn off some of the free breakfast that comes with your room.
New Hyatt Promotion
Double Points in Las Vegas + Up To Triple Points
