If I told you that you would have to pay $25 a day to access the internet from your hotel room what would you say?
What if it was called it a “Resort Fee” would that make you feel any better about paying it?
When you visit Las Vegas and many other places around the world you will most likely have a “Resort Fee” added on to your hotel bill. The fee will also have Tax added on to it so it will really cost you more like $28. The government needs their cut too right?
In case you are wondering what is included in the “Resort Fee” at most hotels in Las Vegas here is a list.
- Internet Access
- Daily newspaper available at the gift shop
- Fitness Center access
- Local and Toll-Free calls from the room phones
- Boarding pass printing at the business center
Out of these five things provided which is the only one that most people will use? If you answered Internet Access you are correct.
How many people are actually going to get the newspaper?
What about exercising? Only the hardcore people exercise when on vacation. If you are in Las Vegas you are going to get enough exercise just walking up and down The Strip and around your hotel.
The local phone calls must be worth the extra fee. I doubt it since almost everyone carries their cell phone with them.
I stayed in two different Resorts on my last trip to Las Vegas and both charged this fee. They did however differ in what the internet access included. One hotel, the Aria Resort & Casino, had WiFi access throughout the property and you could use as many devices as you wanted.
The other resort was Caesars Palace where the internet access was limited to your room and to only one device. If you wanted to use more than one device or have property wide access you had to pay $14.99-$24.99 a day extra per device. I was traveling alone so I could get by with only using my iPad on WiFi. Families and couples would have to pay a lot of extra money just so everyone could have internet access.
Caesars Palace Internet Fees
I can not complain about not knowing about the Resort Fee like many others do on online review sites. I knew about them and I paid them. I can complain that the price is 15x higher than I pay for my home internet access which is much faster. I would like to see some more tangible features included in the Resort Fee to make me feel like I am getting my moneys worth.
I hope this extra fee trend goes away in the travel industry and we can just go back to a one price system. Unfortunately I do not see this happening any time soon.
How do you feel about Resort Fees?
Interesting! I’ve never come across that. We only stay in places with free internet. I guess that’s going to be more difficult in The States ( which is where we are headed tomorrow). Thanks for the heads up!
Alyson recently posted..Cheap Family Accommodation UK
It really depends on the city and what type of hotel you are staying at. Most still do have free internet.
Hi Jeff,
If by *most* you mean every hotel that isn’t on the Strip or in downtown Las Vegas, then yes. Even the Fremont St hotels have a “resort” fee now.
In Las Vegas, if you stay off strip somewhere like the Orleans casino there is free wifi (for now), but the vast majority of more desirable locations you have to pay for wifi. And with the exception (that I have seen) of the Golden Gate on Fremont Street which has a resort fee for their one bar, one restaurant and no pool or fitness facility, it is “per device”. There, they graciously allow for multiple devices.
Yes every hotel on the Strip has some kind of fee. My favorite one is the Golden Nugget which claims to have no Resort Fees but has a fee called the Downtown Destination Fee.
The resort fee is optional with the TV Ad Special offer as well as for qualified TI Players Club (casino) members and select meeting groups at Treasure Island – TI Hotel & Casino on the Las Vegas Strip.
Thank you for letting us know about those offers. The problem that I have is that most guests have no idea that they exist. It should be optional for all guests. The fees should also have more value added to them than just internet access.
What?!?! I’ve never heard of a resort fee before. I just always assumed that internet was included. Good thing I never stay in fancy places 🙂
It seems like the more expensive the hotel is the more likelihood that they charge for internet. The hotels in Las Vegas are actually a good value for the money. Until they start charging extra fees like this one.
Jeepers what a swiz. We stayed in Las Vegas in 2008 and I don’t recall having to pay this. It must be a new addition, how frustrating.
Charli recently posted..Travel Chat | The Freedom of Choice
In 2008 there were probably a lot of hotels not charging them. It is pretty much all of them now.
WOW! This is ridiculous. I wouldn’t want to stay in a resort that charges that kind of fee. It would add up so quickly and isn’t worth what you get from it.
Kimmy recently posted..A day in Kapaa Kauai
The prices of rooms in Las Vegas are usually a lot lower comparable rooms in other cities so it does not bother me as much. I still do not like it but I had a great room at a very reasonable price.
Jeff recently posted..The Best Place To View Sunset In Sedona
They should just charge what they want to charge in the price and stop having all these little hidden fees!
Anna recently posted..How I Afford to Travel: Saving Money on Clothes
I agree! The whole fee thing has gotten out of control in the travel industry.
Jeff recently posted..The Best Place To View Sunset In Sedona
I hate resort fees. They are so frustrating and add up to so much money! The fees should just be built into the room price!
The hotels and airlines really love their fees. I don’t think they are going away.
Ugh, this makes budgeting difficult! I really try to find places that offer ‘free internet,’ but then again it may be disguised in these fees! UGH!
Karisa recently posted..Resort Review: Pandanus Resort Mui Ne, Vietnam
Resort fees can hurt the budget. Most tell you up front but some are not as transparent.