What Are Resort Fees in Vegas? A 2025 Guide to Hidden Costs

Ever see a shockingly low hotel price for a Las Vegas trip and think, "That's too good to be true"? You're right. That tempting number is almost always hiding something big: the resort fee.

Think of resort fees as mandatory daily charges hotels tack onto your bill for access to amenities like the pool, gym, and Wi-Fi—whether you use them or not. It's a non-negotiable daily subscription for your stay, and understanding it is the key to mastering your Vegas budget.

Your Quick Guide to Las Vegas Resort Fees

Before you lock in that seemingly great deal, getting a handle on Vegas resort fees is absolutely essential for budgeting accurately. This fee gets added to your room rate every single night, plus tax, and it's pretty much unavoidable at any major hotel on the Strip.

This practice started small but has snowballed over the past two decades. Back in 2004, Station Casinos introduced a modest fee to cover hotel perks. By 2008, the big players like MGM Resorts and Caesars Entertainment had jumped on board, turning it into the standard—and often frustrating—part of the Vegas experience we know today. If you're curious about the backstory, you can get a full history of how these fees began.

So, what should you actually expect to pay? The cost swings wildly depending on the hotel's reputation and location. A budget-friendly hotel off the Strip will have a much lower fee than a 5-star resort right in the middle of all the action.

To give you a clearer picture of what to budget for in 2025, here’s a quick breakdown.

Las Vegas Resort Fee Quick Guide by Hotel Tier (2025 Estimates)

This table gives you a ballpark estimate of the average daily resort fees you can expect at different tiers of Las Vegas hotels. Remember, these figures don't include tax (currently 13.38% in Vegas), which is added on top.

Using this guide as a baseline will help you figure out the true nightly cost of your stay. That way, you can avoid any nasty surprises when it's time to check out.

So, what are you actually getting for that mandatory resort fee tacked onto your bill? It’s a fair question.

Think of it as the hotel's way of bundling a bunch of services into one flat daily rate. While the specifics can definitely change depending on whether you're at a budget spot or a five-star resort, a few core amenities are pretty much standard across the board.

At a minimum, you can almost always count on the fee covering high-speed Wi-Fi in your room and around the property. It also typically gets you into the fitness center and covers unlimited local and toll-free calls from your room phone. Small administrative things, like printing your boarding pass, usually fall under this umbrella too.

Beyond the Basics: What You're Really Paying For

This is where things get interesting, and where the value really starts to differ from one hotel to the next. For instance, "pool access" at one place might just mean a standard rectangular pool. But at a resort like Mandalay Bay, that same line item gets you into an 11-acre aquatic playground complete with a wave pool, a lazy river, and real sand beaches. That’s a whole different ballgame.

By 2025, bundling these perks became the norm, with over two-thirds of Vegas hotels bumping up their fees. Now, you can expect to pay anywhere from $44 to $57 nightly, and that charge applies whether you use the amenities or not. If you want to dive deeper, you can watch a video to discover more insights about Vegas hotel fees.

Insider Tip: The real value of a resort fee isn't in the list of what's included, but in how those amenities align with your travel style. A high-end fitness center is worthless if you don't work out, but an exceptional pool complex could be the highlight of a family vacation.

Here are a few other common perks you might find rolled into the fee:

• Daily complimentary bottled water in your room.
• Access to the hotel's business center.
• Complimentary self-parking (this is becoming less common, but some properties still offer it).
• Discounts on other hotel services, like those you'll find in our guide to Las Vegas spa experiences.

Resort Fee Breakdown for Top Vegas Hotels (2025 Pricing)

So, how much are you actually going to pay? Resort fees in Vegas aren't one-size-fits-all. They swing wildly depending on the hotel’s prestige, its spot on the Strip, and what perks they roll into the package. To give you a real-world picture and help you budget properly, let's dive into the specifics at some of the most famous casino resorts.

This handy visual breaks down the most common amenities covered by these fees, so you can see exactly what that extra charge is supposed to cover.

As you can see, the basics like Wi-Fi, gym access, and a dip in the pool are almost always part of the deal. These are the core services that make up the resort fee bundle.

Luxury Hotels on the Center Strip: For the Instagram-Worthy Splurge

If you’re chasing that iconic, high-roller Vegas experience, the center of the Strip is where you want to be. These are the legendary hotels known for their five-star restaurants, jaw-dropping shows, and sheer opulence. But that premium experience comes with the steepest resort fees in town.

By 2025, the daily rates at flagship properties like Bellagio, Aria, and Vdara had climbed to $55 per night—and that’s before tax. It's a clear trend; out of 90 hotels recently surveyed, a staggering 69% jacked up their resort fees in just the last year.

A perfect example is the Bellagio, which is pretty much the definition of Las Vegas luxury. You’re paying a top-tier fee, but you’re also getting an unforgettable stay right in the pulsing heart of the city.

Bellagio Las Vegas

• Address: 3600 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89109
• Location: Center Strip, directly across from Paris Las Vegas.
• 2025 Resort Fee Disclosure: $55 per night, plus 13.38% tax.
• Pros: This is the spot for luxury lovers and couples on a special trip. The fountain views are iconic, the location is unbeatable, and the sophisticated vibe is perfect for those Instagram moments. The pool complex feels like a Mediterranean escape.
• Cons: That premium fee, stacked on top of already high room rates, puts it out of reach for budget travelers. Families might also find they're paying for high-end perks they won't even use.
• Book It: You can compare rates on Booking.com. Find the full scoop in our Bellagio Las Vegas review.

Mid-Range & High-Energy Options: Best for Millennials and Groups

Want the Strip experience without the luxury price tag? The mid-range hotels hit that sweet spot, offering a great mix of value, location, and fun. These places are often buzzing with energy, making them a great fit for younger crowds and families who want to be in the middle of the action.

The LINQ Hotel + Experience

• Address: 3535 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89109
• Location: Center Strip, nestled between Flamingo and Harrah's.
• 2025 Resort Fee Disclosure: $49.95 per night, plus 13.38% tax.
• Pros: Perfect for millennials and groups looking for a party. The vibe is young and energetic, you have direct access to the LINQ Promenade's bars and restaurants, and its central location means you can easily walk to other big attractions. The pool scene is lively.
• Cons: "Energetic" can quickly turn into "noisy." If you have young kids or you're just looking for a quiet escape, the constant buzz and smaller, standard rooms might be a deal-breaker.
• Book It: Check prices for The LINQ on Expedia.

Budget & Family-Friendly Choices: Fun Without Breaking the Bank

For families or travelers keeping a close eye on their wallets, several Strip hotels offer a classic Vegas experience with more manageable resort fees.

Excalibur Hotel & Casino

• Address: 3850 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89109
• Location: South Strip, connected by tram to Luxor and Mandalay Bay.
• 2025 Resort Fee Disclosure: $37 per night, plus 13.38% tax.
• Pros: The castle theme and Fun Dungeon arcade are huge hits with kids. It's one of the most affordable options on the Strip, and its large pool area includes a dedicated adults-only pool. A great base for families on a budget.
• Cons: The property is older and shows its age in some areas. The rooms are basic, and its South Strip location means longer walks to center-Strip attractions. The vibe is more chaotic than relaxing.
• Book It: Find deals for Excalibur on Hotels.com.

The Real Reason Hotels Charge Resort Fees

Have you ever looked at a shockingly low room rate in Vegas and wondered why they don't just include all the costs upfront? The answer is a pretty clever business strategy designed to catch your eye. By separating the resort fee, hotels can advertise a much lower nightly rate on booking sites, making them look like a better deal than the competition.

This tactic has a name: drip pricing. They hook you with a fantastic base price, and only later—sometimes right at the final click to book—do they add on the mandatory daily fee. It’s a classic bait-and-switch that makes it a real headache to compare the true, all-in cost of one hotel versus another.

A Reliable Revenue Stream

But it's not just about marketing psychology. Resort fees also give hotels a super reliable stream of income. Room rates can swing wildly depending on the season, what conventions are in town, or even if it's a Tuesday versus a Saturday. The resort fee, however, is a fixed charge per day, every day.

That stability is a huge deal for their financial planning. This isn't small change, either; the practice has turned into a multi-billion dollar cash cow for the hotel industry. It effectively moves a chunk of the room cost from a fluctuating rate into a predictable, guaranteed fee.

Insider Tip: The advertised room price pays for your bed and four walls. The resort fee covers everything else that makes the place run, from the Wi-Fi to the pool maintenance. Separating the two is a pricing game, not a choice you get to make.

Ultimately, you have to see resort fees for what they truly are: a non-negotiable part of the room's total price. They aren't for optional perks. Once you get that, you can calculate the real cost of your stay and avoid that gut-punch feeling when the final bill arrives.

How to Avoid or Minimize Resort Fees in Vegas

While resort fees can feel like an unavoidable part of any Vegas trip, a few insider strategies can help you dodge these frustrating charges. With a little planning, you can trim this extra cost from your budget—or even get rid of it completely. That frees up more cash for the fun stuff you actually came for.

The simplest approach? Just book a hotel that doesn't charge one. They're a rare breed on the Strip, but plenty of great properties just a stone's throw away offer fantastic value without the hidden costs. We've compiled a list for you in our in-depth guide to Las Vegas hotels with no resort fees.

Use Loyalty and Points to Your Advantage

If you’re a frequent Vegas visitor or have a healthy stash of travel points, loyalty programs are your best friend. In fact, for elite members of casino rewards programs, getting resort fees waived is often a standard perk.

• MGM Rewards: If you’ve reached Gold, Platinum, or NOIR status, your resort fees are typically waived on direct bookings.
• Caesars Rewards: Diamond and Seven Stars members also get this benefit when booking directly with the casino.

Using hotel points is another fantastic way to sidestep the fee. Big players like Hilton Honors and World of Hyatt automatically waive resort fees when you book a room entirely with points. This little trick can easily save you over $50 per night at their Vegas hotels, making it one of the best ways to stay on the Strip without the extra charge.

Practical Booking Tip: To make this work, you must book your award stay directly through the hotel’s official website or app. If you book through a third-party site like Expedia, even with points, you’ll likely still get hit with the resort fee.

Reading the Tea Leaves and Booking Smart

The travel scene has been a bit sluggish lately, and hotels are feeling the pressure. So far in 2025, not a single month has managed to beat 2024’s visitor numbers. This has led some industry experts to argue that dropping resort fees could be the spark Vegas needs to bring tourists back.

While Resorts World Las Vegas has already taken that step, it hasn't started a city-wide trend just yet. You can learn more about how resort fees are impacting Vegas tourism.

In the end, avoiding resort fees is all about being strategic. Whether you hunt down a fee-free hotel, climb the loyalty ladder, or cash in your travel points, you have options. These methods put you back in control of your vacation budget so you can get the absolute best value on your next trip to Vegas.

Your Vegas Resort Fee Questions, Answered

Let's clear up some of the most common questions and misconceptions about those notorious Vegas resort fees. Here are the straight-up answers you need before you book.

So, Are These Fees Even Legal?

Yes, they are. As frustrating as they can be, resort fees are perfectly legal in Las Vegas. The only real requirement is that hotels have to disclose them somewhere during the booking process before you pay. Of course, this disclosure is often buried in the fine print, which is why it catches so many people by surprise.

What if I Just Refuse to Pay Them?

You can try, but don't expect to get very far. When you book the room, you're agreeing to the hotel's terms, which include this mandatory fee.

Some people have tried to argue they didn't use the amenities, but this rarely works. Hotels will often point out that your phone probably connected to the Wi-Fi at some point, which counts as using the service. It’s a tough argument to win.

Is the Fee Per Person or Per Room?

Here’s a small bit of good news: resort fees are always charged per room, per night. It doesn't matter if you're traveling solo or have four people packed into the room; the daily fee is the same. This is key to remember when you're trying to calculate the real cost of your stay.

Budget Transparency Tip: Always calculate the true nightly cost by adding the room rate + resort fee + resort fee tax (13.38%). This total is what you should use to compare hotels.

Do Las Vegas Locals Get a Break on Resort Fees?

Nope, locals usually have to pay up just like everyone else. While many hotels offer Nevada residents some nice perks like free parking or discounts at restaurants, the resort fee is almost always non-negotiable.

The only real ways around it are to earn a high-tier status in a casino loyalty program or to specifically book one of the few hotels left that don't charge them.

Ready to plan a Vegas trip without any hidden surprises? At Vegas Hotels Insider, we’ve got the detailed guides and real-world tips to help you find the perfect hotels and pools for your budget. Check out our recommendations and book your next trip with total confidence at https://lasvegashotels.blog.