The Brutal Truth About Vegas Resort Fees (And How to Avoid Them)
If you are planning a trip to Las Vegas, you are going to encounter the most infuriating phrase in the travel industry: The Daily Resort Fee.
You might find an incredible deal for a $45 room on the Las Vegas Strip, only to discover at checkout that the hotel is tacking on a mandatory $50 per night resort fee. Suddenly, your cheap vacation has doubled in price. As someone who knows this city inside and out, I am going to give you my brutal, honest opinion on these fees, and show you exactly how I avoid them.
What is a Las Vegas Resort Fee?
WARNING
The Rule: A resort fee is a mandatory daily charge added to your hotel room rate that covers “amenities” like Wi-Fi and fitness center access. You are legally required to pay it even if you don’t use those amenities.
The Insider Secret: It is just a hidden tax. It is a frustrating pricing tactic designed by mega-corporations to make room rates look cheaper than they actually are on booking websites.
Is it worth staying on the Strip despite the fees?
In my personal opinion: No, it is usually not worth it.
Las Vegas is not as big as people think. You do not have to stay directly on Las Vegas Boulevard to have an amazing vacation. If you are staying for three or four nights, avoiding a $50 daily resort fee saves you $200. That is $200 you could spend on a phenomenal dinner or tickets to a Cirque du Soleil show.
How do you actually avoid Vegas resort fees?
TIP
The Rule: You cannot “opt out” of a resort fee at a major casino. If you stay on the Las Vegas Strip, you must pay it.
The Insider Secret: To avoid these ridiculous fees, you must stay just off the Strip, specifically near the Las Vegas South Premium Outlets. I regularly recommend the Hampton Inn Las Vegas Strip South and the Hilton Garden Inn Las Vegas Strip South, which charge zero resort fees while keeping you incredibly close to the action.
Here is why this location is the ultimate Vegas “hack”:
- Zero Resort Fees: You pay the room rate and standard taxes. That’s it.
- The Location: It is incredibly close to both the Harry Reid International Airport and the southern end of the Strip (Mandalay Bay and Luxor).
- The Convenience: You are right next to the South Premium Outlets for world-class shopping, and surrounded by affordable, convenient restaurants.
- The I-15 Escape Route: If you are driving in from Southern California, this is a massive benefit. When it is time to leave, you can jump straight onto the I-15 South in seconds, completely avoiding the nightmare traffic jams on the Strip.
The Cost Breakdown: Strip vs. Off-Strip
To show you exactly why my Off-Strip strategy works, here is a comparison of a typical 3-night stay:
| Expense | Typical Strip Hotel | Hilton Garden Inn (South Strip) |
|---|---|---|
| Advertised Room Rate | $100 / night | $100 / night |
| Daily Resort Fee | $45 - $50 / night | $0 |
| Parking Fee | $18 / day | $0 (Free Parking) |
| Total for 3 Nights | $504 | $300 |
Note: The Strip hotel looks to be the exact same price at first glance ($100 vs $100), but because of the hidden resort and parking fees, it ends up costing you significantly more.
My Final Advice
Do not fall for the illusion that you must sleep inside a mega-casino to experience Las Vegas. Book a comfortable, fee-free hotel like the Hampton Inn near the South Outlets, take a cheap 5-minute Uber to the Strip when you want to party, and keep that extra $200 in your pocket where it belongs.