Las Vegas Resort Fees 2026: The FTC Rule and How to Pay Less

A resort fee is a mandatory daily charge that a hotel adds on top of the room rate. Most large Las Vegas resorts charge one, and for years it was the classic Vegas surprise: a cheap-looking room that cost far more at checkout. Since May 12, 2025, a federal rule requires hotels and booking sites to show that fee in the price up front. This guide explains what changed, what you still need to watch, and how to pay less. It was checked in September 2026.

What a Resort Fee Is

A resort fee is charged per room, per night, whether or not you use what it pays for. Hotels usually say it covers things like Wi-Fi, the fitness center and the pool. It may be called something else, such as an "amenities fee" or "destination fee", but if you have to pay it to stay, it works the same way.

What the fee covers varies by hotel. El Cortez, for example, describes a $30-plus-tax daily amenities fee that includes parking in its garage, fitness center access and local calls. At many Strip resorts, parking is charged separately on top of the resort fee. Always read the hotel's own fee description.

The FTC Rule: What Changed in 2025

The Federal Trade Commission's Rule on Unfair or Deceptive Fees took effect on May 12, 2025. It covers hotels, motels and vacation rentals (short-term lodging) as well as live-event tickets. According to the FTC:

• Total price up front. A business that shows a price in an ad or offer must tell you the total price you will pay.
• Mandatory fees are included. Fees you must pay no matter what, such as resort fees, have to be in that total.
• The total must be prominent, shown more prominently than other pricing information.
• What can be left out: taxes and other government charges, and charges for optional goods or services.

In practice, this means the price you see for a Las Vegas room should now include the resort fee, but taxes can still be added at the end. It does not ban resort fees or cap them. It only stops hotels hiding them. If a hotel or booking site shows you a price that jumps by a mandatory fee at checkout, you can report it to the FTC.

What You Still Need to Check

• Taxes. Room tax is not part of the required total, so the final bill is higher than the price shown. Look at the checkout summary.
• Parking. If parking is optional (you might not bring a car), it does not have to be in the total. Many Strip resorts charge for it daily.
• Optional extras such as early check-in, cabanas or premium Wi-Fi are extra.
• Deposits. Hotels usually hold an incidentals deposit on your card at check-in; it is not a fee, but it ties up money.
• Per-night totals. Some sites show the nightly total and others the stay total. Compare like with like.

Hotels That Advertise No Resort Fee

A few hotels make "no resort fee" a selling point. In September 2026:

• Four Queens (downtown) states on its site that it charges no resort fee.
• Treasure Island advertised room rates with "no resort fee" and "always free parking"; check that the rate you choose is one of them.
• The D (downtown) says self-parking and valet are free for hotel guests.
• South Point (off-Strip) advertises complimentary parking.

Fees change, and the same hotel can sell some rates with and some without a fee, so confirm on the hotel's booking page. Our hotel pages list the typical resort and parking fees we have on file for each property: see the hotels directory, and our downtown hotels guide and off-Strip hotels guide, where fees tend to be lower.

Ways to Pay Less

1. Compare total prices, not room rates

With the FTC rule in force, the fairest comparison is the total nightly price with mandatory fees, plus parking if you are driving, plus tax. A hotel with a higher room rate and no fee can be cheaper than one with a low rate and a big fee.

2. Choose a hotel without one

The only way to be sure you won't pay a resort fee is to book a hotel or rate that doesn't charge one. Downtown and locals-oriented off-Strip hotels are where you are most likely to find them.

3. Use loyalty status and comps

Some casino loyalty tiers and casino-comped rooms come with resort fees waived. The rules differ by program and tier and change from time to time, so read the current terms for MGM Rewards, Caesars Rewards, Wynn Rewards or whichever program you use. If you gamble, see our casino comps guide.

4. Weigh the fee against what you'll use

If a fee includes parking, as El Cortez's does, it may cost less than paying a separate daily parking charge elsewhere. Count what you would pay for anyway.

5. Ask, but don't count on it

Resort fees are mandatory, and front desks generally won't remove them. If something the fee covers is broken or closed, such as the pool, it is reasonable to ask for a credit.

A Worked Example

Suppose you are choosing between two hotels for four nights and will have a rental car:

These are illustrative numbers, not quotes. Under the FTC rule, Hotel A must now show $135 a night, not $90, but the $20 parking and the tax on both can still come on top. The cheaper-looking room is $140 more over the stay.

For more ways to cut the cost of a room, see our hotel booking tips and the Las Vegas budget guide. If you are driving, our parking guide covers which resorts charge for parking.