The advertised room rate and the final bill are two very different numbers in Las Vegas. Here is what that actually looks like in practice.
The Real Cost of Three Nights at Treasure Island
The room rate appeared reasonable at $321 for three nights. By the time the bill was finalised it looked nothing like that.
Room tax added $43. A mandatory resort fee added $149. Tax on the resort fee added another $20 on top of that. Three nights in what appeared to be a budget friendly room ended up costing USD $534. A 66 percent jump from the advertised rate.
Why Resort Fees Are Particularly Frustrating
In most cases they are compulsory. There is no option to decline. And in the rare instances where a hotel does not make them mandatory, skipping the fee typically means no pool towels, no bottled water, and no internet access during your stay. The cost is real either way, it just shows up differently on the bill.
What to Do Before You Book
Always click through to the full price breakdown before comparing US hotel options. Most booking platforms will show the resort fee and taxes at some point in the checkout process, but not always on the initial search results page where the comparison happens.
The advertised room rate in the United States is almost never what you actually pay. Building in the resort fee and taxes from the start gives you an accurate picture of what each option actually costs.
Have you been caught out by resort fees in the US? Comment below.