Resort fees in Las Vegas can be an annoying surprise, often adding $30–$50 per night to your hotel bill. Fortunately, there are ways to not pay resort fees if you know the right strategies. Here are some proven tips to help you save money by dodging resort fees during your next trip to Vegas.

1. Stay at a Hotel Without a Resort Fee

The simplest way to avoid resort fees is to book a hotel that doesn’t charge them. While most major resorts on the Strip include resort fees in their pricing, a few hotels, especially off the Strip or in Downtown Las Vegas, do not. Some examples include Casino Royale and Four Queens. These properties may not have the same glitzy amenities, but if you’re looking to avoid hidden fees, they are a great option.

2. Earn Status That Waives Resort Fees

One way to have your resort fees waived is to earn elite status with hotel loyalty programs. For example, reaching Caesars Diamond or MGM Gold status comes with the benefit of waived resort fees. This “tier benefit” means that once you achieve a certain level of loyalty with a hotel chain, perks like complimentary resort fees are included as part of your membership benefits. The higher your tier, the better the perks.

3. Match to a Status That Waives Resort Fees

If you don’t currently have elite status with a Las Vegas property, you may be able to match your status from another loyalty program. For instance, you can match status from programs like FoundersCard, which gives you Caesars Diamond status, resulting in waived resort fees. Status matching can save you time and help you secure benefits without needing to stay at the property multiple times to earn them.

4. Stay at Properties That Waive Resort Fees for Comp Rooms

Certain Las Vegas hotels waive resort fees entirely for comped rooms. For example, Wynn Las Vegas waives resort fees for players who have earned comped rooms through their rewards programs. If you’re gambling enough to earn a comped room, you won’t have to worry about resort fees tagging along on your final bill.

5. Gamble and Ask for Resort Fees to Be Waived

If you’re an active gambler, many properties will waive resort fees as a thank you for your play. Before checking out, stop by the rewards desk or talk to a casino host and kindly ask if they can remove the fees as a gesture of goodwill. High rollers often benefit from this, but even casual gamblers may succeed if they ask politely to not pay resort fees if you were an active gambler during your stay.

6. Ask a Host to Remove Resort Fees

If you’re a regular player or you gamble heavily at the property, you might have a casino host assigned to you. Hosts have the authority to comp a variety of fees, including resort fees, especially if you’re gambling a lot. It never hurts to ask your host directly to remove the resort fees before checking out.

7. Leverage Issues During Your Stay

If something goes wrong during your stay, like a delayed check-in or a long wait in line, use that as an opportunity to kindly request that your resort fees be waived as compensation. Most hotels value guest satisfaction, and if your stay wasn’t perfect, they might agree to remove the fees to make up for the inconvenience.

8. Join a Club That Grants Status with Fee Waivers

Joining a membership club like FoundersCard is another way to avoid resort fees. FoundersCard members can receive Caesars Diamond status, which comes with waived resort fees as part of the benefits. FoundersCard offers numerous other perks, making it a valuable investment if you visit Vegas often. You can learn more and ask questions in the TravelZork Facebook Group, where many members share tips on using FoundersCard to maximize savings. (TravelZork Preview/Discount Code: TZORK1YR)

That Being Said…

Resort fees don’t have to be a burden if you know how to navigate the system. By earning elite status, staying at select properties, gambling, or joining membership clubs like FoundersCard (TravelZork Preview/Discount Code: TZORK1YR), you can minimize or eliminate these extra charges. The key is to plan ahead, be informed, and politely ask for waivers when appropriate. With these strategies, you can enjoy all that Las Vegas has to offer—without paying those pesky resort fees.