I am not a fan of paying resort resort charges.
After paying what can already be a considerable room fee on-line prematurely, it is an disagreeable a part of the check-in course of to be handed a sheet of paper advising me that by paying a further (obligatory) price, I’ve entry to sure facilities and small financial savings, lots of which I already assumed have been included within the room fee.
On a latest journey to Las Vegas, I found a savvy method to remove these resort charges by using factors and miles.
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What are resort charges?
Lodge resort charges — typically known as vacation spot, amenity or facility charges — are obligatory nightly costs that many U.S. lodges now add to the marketed room fee. These charges are meant to cowl facilities comparable to Wi-Fi, pool or health club entry, every day bottled water, and even “conveniences” like printing your boarding go. Nonetheless, in observe, they typically really feel like a method to enhance income with out elevating room charges.
Resort charges usually vary from $10 to $50 per night time, however some luxurious properties in cities like Las Vegas, New York and Miami cost much more. As a result of these charges will not be at all times included within the upfront value proven throughout reserving, vacationers might be stunned (and understandably pissed off) by the upper complete at checkout.
How I beat resort charges utilizing factors and miles
I lately stayed on the Conrad Las Vegas at Resorts World. Whereas midweek room charges paid with money have been cheap, the weekend I stayed coincided with a big music competition that was inside strolling distance of the resort.
Consequently, room charges have been roughly $500 per night time. Luckily, there was availability to guide every night time throughout the weekend for simply 75,000 Hilton Honors factors.
By redeeming 225,000 Hilton Honors factors, I used to be capable of save roughly $1,500 on a three-night keep, together with room tax (earlier than resort charges have been added), which gave my Hilton factors a worth of about 0.67 cents every, exceeding TPG’s November 2025 valuation of 0.5 cents every.
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However the financial savings saved rolling in. The Conrad Las Vegas, in addition to the opposite two lodges that make up Resorts World (Las Vegas Hilton at Resorts World and Crockfords Las Vegas, LXR Motels & Resorts), cost a compulsory every day resort price of $55, which is marketed to incorporate:
- Visitor web entry
- Sensible TV casting capacity
- 15% off spa or health retail
- 5% off spa or health therapies
- 5% off a cabana expertise
- 5% off two pool chair experiences
- Limitless native and toll-free calls
- Entry to greater than 7,000 high newspapers and magazines utilizing the PressReader app
Of those advantages, the one one I used was the Wi-Fi, which you count on could be offered within the room fee at any fashionable resort. Plus, I actually did not obtain $55 value every day.
I might have been outraged if I needed to pay $165 for these measly perks over my three-night keep, as a result of I wasn’t going to spend greater than $3,300 on spa or health therapies to get a 5% low cost of $165.
Luckily, resort charges are waived for Hilton Honors award redemptions, so whereas I had entry to those advantages, I did not incur any further prices. Subsequently, when reserving a resort keep, it is essential to think about further resort charges.
Backside line
Whereas locations like Las Vegas have been experimenting with waiving resort charges throughout choose promotions (maybe realizing how unpopular they’re with visitors), these irritating charges are in any other case right here to remain.
The good information is that factors and miles not solely prevent cash on room charges, but in addition wipe out these pesky resort charges on Hilton Honors redemptions as effectively, leaving more cash in your pocket for the essential issues (like blackjack).
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