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With record-breaking profits rolling in, some Las Vegas casinos have decided that now is the time to jack up their resort fees and parking prices.
A Las Vegas vacation could now cost you over $200 more at some resorts than just two weeks ago.
So you don’t like Resort Fees in Las Vegas? You’re not alone. They have been hated by travelers for years, and the resorts don’t give a damn if you like them or not. Most would argue that they are deceptive and should be included in the price. And now the Federal Government agrees, as if that will do any good. Recently, the Federal Trade Commission began work to address these unfair and deceptive fees. They believe that any fees which are not transparent and unavoidable, much the way Resort Fees are implemented, should be changed. And although this may sound promising for consumers, be careful what you wish for.
Even if the government could put an end to these Resort Fees, our experience with large corporations tells us they will have their lawyers find a way to move the fees around and hide them somewhere else. When that happens, the consumer usually ends up paying more that before. Resort Fees are on the rise to $37 per night at Excalibur Hotel and Casino and Luxor Hotel and Casino, and $42 a night at New York-New York Hotel & Casino and Park MGM. Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino and Delano have risen to $45, while Aria Resort & Casino, Vdara, the Bellagio, MGM Grand Hotel & Casino Las Vegas, and The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas have all risen to $50 a night.
Of course, it was not just Las Vegas resort fees making news. It seems that enough is never enough for some, and Vegas parking fees are a perfect example. It’s not enough that the city has had 33 consecutive months of more than a billion dollars in revenue. And it’s not enough than they just raised their Resort Fees. Now, they’re jacking up parking as well. There was a time when Sin City resorts would let guests park for free, just like most normal hotels across the country. It was a small way they could show some customer appreciation. Now, however, Vegas parking fees are at almost every casino around town, forcing visitors to pay for the privilege of parking their own cars. So, what are they saying to their customers now?
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