Las Vegas Strip resort quietly triples down on added fees
Daniel Kline
Sat, November 29, 2025 at 8:37 PM EST
7 min read
For Thanksgiving, my wife, son, and I went to a Brazilian steakhouse. It was one of those all-you-can-eat setups where waiters bring around meat on skewers, carving it into your plate.
That's a labor-heavy model, and the service was top-notch. Staff members regularly checked in to see how we were doing, and the owner visited our table twice.
I was mildly annoyed, however, when our bill arrived, and it came with an already-included 20% gratuity. Usually, when a restaurant has an automatic gratuity added, it states this on the menu or on a little card on the table.
One local chain we go to not only has a card on the table sharing that it adds an 18% gratuity to every check, but it also explains where the money goes. That's full transparency, and I've never eaten at one of that chain's restaurants where my waiter has not also asked me if I had seen and understood the policy.
On Thanksgiving, this was just a mild annoyance, as I had planned to tip 20% anyway. I do feel it should have been mentioned, as I could have easily missed the charge and double-tipped, but they likely added the fee because of other customers not tipping, given that it's not traditional waiter service.
In Las Vegas, however, resort casinos have become a minefield of hidden fees and added charges. One Las Vegas Strip visitor recently went viral on social media for charges at an MGM Resorts International hotel that seem a bit excessive.
Las Vegas Strip visitor pays gratuity, service charge, and 22% pre-added tip
In most cases, the words gratuity and tip are interchangeable. That's usually true for service charges as well, although those are sometimes explained.
A hotel's room service might charge a $10 service charge for all orders, and it will usually tell you if that money is going to the person who delivered your food. Sometimes, the menu might note that part (or all) of that fee goes to the person who packed the food.
In that case, an added tip for the delivery person might be reasonable.
The Las Vegas Strip's Cosmopolitan, however, recently hit a customer with three separate mandatory charges.
The visitor posted their receipt on social media, and Las Vegas Locally shared it on its Facebook Page.
"This Cosmopolitan room service bill with auto gratuity, 22% tip, and $10 service charge is going viral on the 'Mildly Infuriating' subreddit," it shared.
The person ordered OD French Toast RMS ($20), Buttermilk Scratch Pancakes ($19), and an American Breakfast ($40). That came to $79 in food charges, although the bill shows a subtotal of $89, which included a $10 charge for something called a "Traditional Room Service Upgrade."
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In addition, the receipt showed a gratuity charge of $16.02, a service charge of $10, and a 22% tip of $19.58. Sales tax was also listed at $7.45. That all added up to $142.05.
So, this customer was charged four separate fees that arguably are all for the same thing.
Reddit responses were not kind to Las Vegas or the hotel.
"Yup. This is just itemized greed," 10InchesofSnow wrote.
Some were more outraged than others.
"Not just greed. This would be reason for me to dispute the payment and cancel my order. This is disgusting and deceitful. If a company did this to me, it would definitely be the last time I use their services," TerribleIdea27 posted.
Others were more just amazed at the hubris.
"That’s genuinely wild. Gratuity plus a service charge plus an added tip option feels like they’re hoping people won’t notice each line. I’d have asked the server or manager what each fee actually covers," CleanPart3605 shared.
Las Vegas' resort fees must be disclosed
As a higher-level Caesars loyalty program member, I'm lucky that my resort fees are waived and, in most cases, I even get free parking. If you don't have some level of special status, however, resort fees are not negotiable.
Hotels, however, do have to let customers know about these fees when they are booking.
“Consumers are entitled to know in advance the total cost of their hotel stays,” said former Federal Trade Commission Chairman Jon Leibowitz in a press release. “So-called ‘drip pricing’ charges, sometimes portrayed as ‘convenience’ or ‘service’ fees, are anything but convenient, and businesses that hide them are doing a huge disservice to American consumers.”
Travellers United, a non-profit organization that represents travelers, has taken a stand against resort fees of all kinds.
"These fees are usually called resort fees, but since it is a fee that exists so the hotel can lie about the advertised price, a resort fee has nothing to do with a hotel being an actual resort. At many hotels, these fees are called an urban fee, an amenity fee, a destination fee, a destination amenity fee, a safe fee, or a resort charge," the group shared on its website.
Consumer Reports has been battling these fees since 2018.
"Hotel resort fee, amenities fee, facilities fee. These add-on charges go by many names, but more and more consumers are finding one or another form of them added to their hotel bills. And all too often, consumers only realize they are being charged a resort fee when they check out," the magazine shared on its website.
Las Vegas is full of hidden fees
These are just some of the fees and variations of fees you might pay when visiting the Las Vegas Strip.
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Mandatory “resort fees” on hotel rooms: Many Strip hotels tack a nightly fee onto the listed room rate. Source: Las Vegas Jaunt
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High resort-fee amounts: For premium hotels on the Strip (e.g. Bellagio, ARIA Resort & Casino, etc.), resort fees are now often around $55 per night (before taxes). Source: Las Vegas Review-Journal
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Parking fees (self-park or valet): Even if you stay at or visit a hotel/casino, expect separate parking charges. For many properties, self-parking is $20/day for hotel guests (a bit more for non-guests), and valet often costs $40/day. Source: Las Vegas Review-Journal
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Weekend or peak and event surcharges on parking: Parking fees tend to be higher on weekends or during busy periods (weekend self-park rates for visitors often higher than weekday rates). Source: Las Vegas Review-Journal
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Early-check-in fees: Some hotels charge extra if you want to check in before the normal time. For example, one resort reportedly charges $60 for early check-in. Source: Covers.com
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Mandatory “amenity bundle” fees regardless of use: Resort fees often “cover” amenities like internet, fitness-center/pool access, phone calls, boarding-pass printing, bottled water, etc. Even if you don’t use them, you still pay. Source: Las Vegas Jaunt
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Housekeeping fees or reduced service and tipping pressure: Some “amenities” that might once have been free (housekeeping, printing, pool towels, etc.) are now part of the fee bundle, and tipping or service charges may still be expected on top. Source: Las Vegas Direct
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Service charges/additional fees at restaurants or for delivery: Dining on-site (especially poolside or delivered to lounge chairs) can include extra charges (e.g., a reported lunch that cost $29 ended up being $45). Source: The Sun
These fees may actually be keeping visitors away from Las Vegas."Las Vegas, once celebrated for its affordability, is now facing a decline in tourism, largely due to rising costs and controversial resort fees. As prices soar, more and more visitors are expressing frustration, with nearly 90% of recent survey respondents labeling the city as 'too expensive,'" Travel Tour World reported.
That may explain the city's recent drop in visitors.
"This shift in perception is becoming a major barrier to attracting new tourists, threatening the city’s reputation as a budget-friendly destination. Despite high satisfaction among those who still visit, industry experts warn that these concerns could have long-lasting effects on Las Vegas’s appeal," it added.
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This story was originally published by TheStreet on Nov 29, 2025, where it first appeared in the Travel section. Add TheStreet as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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