Hotel fees in Vegas

[Jen12]

I'm going to Las Vegas this weekend to run the half marathon (sorry - no biking) and I got what I thought was a good hotel rate. However, after booking, they say there is a room tax (which is fine, can't complain about taxes, they're a fact of life) and a "daily resort fee" of $22.40 each day. This is going to add another $46 to what I thought was a great rate! According to them, it covers "complimentary" internet in the room, local and toll free calls (who uses a hotel phone anymore?) Business Center services, copy printing, boarding pass printing (driving, so don't need this) and a daily USA Today. One of the days I'll be there is Sunday, which I think doesn't even print USA Today.

My question is, has anyone had any luck with asking this fee be waived when they check in? Aside from the internet, which I can certainly live without since it's just for two days, I don't need or want any of these "services." Should I make a fuss about it? Or do I just need to accept the creative pricing aspect of this and consider it the cost of the room?

[indysteel]

From what I've read, it's hard to get it waived. But, hey, it doesn't hurt to ask.

But you might check here for a list of hotels that charge no or cheaper resort fees. Assuming you haven't prepaid for your room, cancel your reservation--and make it very clear as to why you're doing that--and rebook. The whole notion of resort fees (like airline fees) is offensive. Just charge more for the room if you must.

[zoom-zoom]

I hate those fees. And, get this... So a year ago I met a bunch of girlfriends in Vegas to run the marathon/HM. One of the girls in the group was unable to go, but we'd done a secret santa thing, so her santee had a package shipped to the Luxor for me to get and give in-person to our friend.

The Luxor charged me $7 to receive the package. It's not like I could even deny the fee. If I didn't accept it, then it was theirs to keep, apparently. Lame.

I much prefer downtown "old" Vegas. Everything is cheaper there and it's not nearly so crowded. Golden Nugget will be where we stay for any future trips.

[indysteel]

The one and only time I stayed in Vegas, I stayed at the Golden Nugget. I remember the room being nice, and I don't think they charge a fee. You should be able to get a good rate there I would think.

[Jen12]

The fees are getting ridiculous...especially when they say something is complimentary and then list it under a fee. This is the fifth year I've done this run and it'll be my last for a while. I'm over Vegas and I'm done with Competitor's ridiculous charges for their races. Each year this little weekend gets more and more expensive. It's a fun race, but I'm not independently wealthy.

All the times I've been to Vegas I've never stayed downtown. That would be interesting, but I either go for the race which is on the strip so staying right there is convenient, or I go with girlfriends who want to stay on the strip.

[zoom-zoom]

All the times I've been to Vegas I've never stayed downtown. That would be interesting, but I either go for the race which is on the strip so staying right there is convenient, or I go with girlfriends who want to stay on the strip.

My first 2 trips to Vegas were on the Strip. Now that I've stayed off the strip I don't ever want to go back to the Strip. It's cool once or twice. After that it's miles of crowds and smoke. That's a big one--the smoke is MUCH less of an issue downtown. And no walking miles to get around.

And the pool with a water-slide going through a shark tank at Golden Nugget is reason alone to stay there.