What is a resort fee — and how to avoid it
A resort fee turns an attractive nightly rate into a bill that is noticeably higher at checkout. It is most common in the United States, and in Las Vegas in particular. Here is what it is, how to see it before you book, and how to keep it off your bill.
By The Hotella editors · Updated
A resort fee is a mandatory daily charge added by the hotel on top of the room rate, usually covering Wi-Fi, the pool, the gym and local calls — things most guests expect to be included. You cannot decline it once you book a hotel that charges one, so the way to avoid it is to pick a hotel without one and always compare the final total, not the advertised nightly rate.
Why hotels charge a resort fee at all
A separate mandatory fee lets a hotel advertise a lower nightly rate while collecting the same amount of money. It also keeps part of the revenue outside the rate that commission and some taxes are calculated on.
For the guest, the effect is simple: the advertised price is no longer the price. That is why comparing totals rather than nightly rates matters so much in markets where these fees are common.
How to avoid resort fees in Las Vegas
Almost every large resort on the Strip charges one, and it is one of the higher fees you will meet anywhere. The dependable way around it is to book a hotel that does not charge it: several off-Strip hotels, downtown properties and smaller independents charge nothing beyond the room rate and tax.
If you want to stay on the Strip, weigh the fee against the alternative before booking. Once the total including the fee is on screen, an off-Strip room plus a short ride is often the cheaper trip overall.
Award stays are the other route. Some chains do not charge the fee on points bookings, so if you are holding points, that is where they go furthest in this city.
Other fees that behave the same way
Destination fee and urban fee are the same charge under a different name, used in cities where the word resort would look odd. Facility and amenity fees also appear on the same line of the bill.
Separate from these, most European cities charge a city or tourist tax per person per night. That one is a public charge rather than hotel revenue, it is usually small, and it is often paid at the property.
Compare on the number you will actually pay
Every price shown on this site is the total for your dates, fetched live, so hotels are ranked on what the stay costs rather than on a headline rate. Where a hotel adds a fee at the property, read the fee section on the booking page before you confirm.
Step by step
1. Look for it before you compare prices
Open the hotel's fee or policy section and search for the words resort fee, destination fee, facility fee or amenity fee. If one is listed, add it to the nightly rate before comparing hotels.
2. Multiply by nights, not by stay
The charge is per night and per room, so it scales with the length of your trip. A week-long stay carries seven of them, plus tax on the fee in many states.
3. Check the final total at the payment step
Booking sites are required to show the total before payment. If the number at the payment step is higher than the one you clicked on, the difference is usually a resort fee plus local taxes.
4. Choose a hotel that does not charge one
In most cities, including Las Vegas, there are hotels without a resort fee — often off-Strip properties, smaller independents and some chains. Filtering on total price surfaces them automatically.
5. Ask about a waiver if you have status
Some chains waive the fee for award stays or for members with elite status. It is worth asking at booking, but treat it as a bonus, not a plan.
Frequently asked questions
- What is a resort fee?
- A mandatory daily charge added by the hotel on top of the room rate, typically covering Wi-Fi, the pool, the gym and local calls. It applies whether or not you use any of those.
- Can you refuse to pay a resort fee?
- No. It is part of the contract you accept when you book a hotel that charges one. The only reliable way to avoid it is to book a hotel that does not have one.
- How do I avoid resort fees in Las Vegas?
- Book a hotel that does not charge one — several off-Strip and downtown hotels do not — or use an award stay with a chain that waives the fee on points bookings. Always compare the total including the fee before deciding.
- Is a resort fee the same as a city tax?
- No. A resort fee is hotel revenue and is set by the hotel. A city or tourist tax is a public charge set by the local authority, usually per person per night, and is normally much smaller.
- Are resort fees taxed?
- In many US states, yes — sales or occupancy tax is applied to the fee as well, so the amount on your bill is slightly higher than the advertised fee.