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The Best Las Vegas Hotels Without Resort Fees
You have only a few options if you want to stay near the Las Vegas Strip and avoid resort fees.
Sally French is co-host of the Smart Travel podcast and a writer on NerdWallet's travel team. Before joining NerdWallet as a travel rewards expert in 2020, she wrote about travel and credit cards for The New York Times and its sibling site, Wirecutter.
Outside of work, she loves fitness, and she competes in both powerlifting and weightlifting (she can deadlift more than triple bodyweight). Naturally, her travels always involve a fitness component, including a week of cycling up the coastline of Vietnam and a camping trip to the Arctic Circle, where she biked over the sea ice. Other adventures have included hiking 25 miles in one day through Italy's Cinque Terre and climbing the 1,260 steps to Tiger Cave Temple in Krabi, Thailand.
June is a freelance writer and the author of “The Joy of Syntax" and “The Best Punctuation Book, Period.” A former staff writer, reporter and editor for the community news division of the Los Angeles Times, she also writes the weekly syndicated “A Word, Please” column that runs in newspapers in five states.
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Any trip to Las Vegas comes with some built-in risks: Your number may never hit at the roulette table. The show you booked might flop. The yard-long margarita? Maybe not your best life choice.
But nothing kills the vibe faster than opening your hotel folio and finding a line item you didn’t plan for: the dreaded resort fee.
In Vegas, those fees average around $40 a night (plus tax), and for what? “Perks” like Wi-Fi and gym access — things that are free in nearly every hotel in America. In other words, you’re paying for things that should’ve been included anyway.
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Here’s the good news: a handful of Vegas hotels skip them altogether. You won’t find endless options, but if you want to avoid shelling out for phantom perks, here’s where to stay instead.
What is a resort fee?
Resort fees are nightly charges tacked onto your hotel bill after the fact. They go by different names — “destination charge,” “amenity fee,” “urban experience charge” — but they all do the same thing: make your cheap Vegas hotel room suddenly less cheap.
Hotels argue they cover access to the pool, gym, and local calls. Critics argue it’s a sneaky way to advertise a lower rate online and charge more later. Both can be true, but either way, it’s money you won’t get back.
Nerdy Perspective
How do resort fees impact your decision to book a hotel?
Carissa Rawson
Contributing Travel Writer
One of the biggest reasons I refuse to book with Marriott and IHG is because they don't waive resort fees on award bookings. Hyatt and Hilton both do, and when it means I'm saving upwards of $60 a night, it just makes more sense for me.
One of the biggest reasons I refuse to book with Marriott and IHG is because they don't waive resort fees on award bookings. Hyatt and Hilton both do, and when it means I'm saving upwards of $60 a night, it just makes more sense for me.
Carissa Rawson
Contributing Travel Writer
Craig Joseph
Lead Travel Writer
I will generally just book a hotel with resort fees, then assertively try to get those fees removed at the desk when I check out. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. You can also request a discount or credit for the resort fees if the amenities you are being charged more for aren't up to snuff — things like the pool or gym being out of service or weak Wi-Fi.
I will generally just book a hotel with resort fees, then assertively try to get those fees removed at the desk when I check out. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. You can also request a discount or credit for the resort fees if the amenities you are being charged more for aren't up to snuff — things like the pool or gym being out of service or weak Wi-Fi.
Craig Joseph
Lead Travel Writer
Benjamin Din
Lead Writer
Resort fees can be a bummer, especially when you travel somewhere like Honolulu, where every hotel seems to have one. When that’s the case, I tend to favor using points from hotel loyalty programs that waive resort fees on award redemptions, namely Hilton Honors and World of Hyatt. However, make sure to check out what the resort fee includes. I recently stayed at a hotel where the fee covered free admission to an attraction I was planning to go to anyway, so that could make the resort fee worthwhile.
Resort fees can be a bummer, especially when you travel somewhere like Honolulu, where every hotel seems to have one. When that’s the case, I tend to favor using points from hotel loyalty programs that waive resort fees on award redemptions, namely Hilton Honors and World of Hyatt. However, make sure to check out what the resort fee includes. I recently stayed at a hotel where the fee covered free admission to an attraction I was planning to go to anyway, so that could make the resort fee worthwhile.
Benjamin Din
Lead Writer
Carissa Rawson
Contributing Travel Writer
One of the biggest reasons I refuse to book with Marriott and IHG is because they don't waive resort fees on award bookings. Hyatt and Hilton both do, and when it means I'm saving upwards of $60 a night, it just makes more sense for me.
One of the biggest reasons I refuse to book with Marriott and IHG is because they don't waive resort fees on award bookings. Hyatt and Hilton both do, and when it means I'm saving upwards of $60 a night, it just makes more sense for me.
Carissa Rawson
Contributing Travel Writer
Craig Joseph
Lead Travel Writer
I will generally just book a hotel with resort fees, then assertively try to get those fees removed at the desk when I check out. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. You can also request a discount or credit for the resort fees if the amenities you are being charged more for aren't up to snuff — things like the pool or gym being out of service or weak Wi-Fi.
I will generally just book a hotel with resort fees, then assertively try to get those fees removed at the desk when I check out. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. You can also request a discount or credit for the resort fees if the amenities you are being charged more for aren't up to snuff — things like the pool or gym being out of service or weak Wi-Fi.
Craig Joseph
Lead Travel Writer
Benjamin Din
Lead Writer
Resort fees can be a bummer, especially when you travel somewhere like Honolulu, where every hotel seems to have one. When that’s the case, I tend to favor using points from hotel loyalty programs that waive resort fees on award redemptions, namely Hilton Honors and World of Hyatt. However, make sure to check out what the resort fee includes. I recently stayed at a hotel where the fee covered free admission to an attraction I was planning to go to anyway, so that could make the resort fee worthwhile.
Resort fees can be a bummer, especially when you travel somewhere like Honolulu, where every hotel seems to have one. When that’s the case, I tend to favor using points from hotel loyalty programs that waive resort fees on award redemptions, namely Hilton Honors and World of Hyatt. However, make sure to check out what the resort fee includes. I recently stayed at a hotel where the fee covered free admission to an attraction I was planning to go to anyway, so that could make the resort fee worthwhile.
Benjamin Din
Lead Writer
Carissa Rawson
Contributing Travel Writer
One of the biggest reasons I refuse to book with Marriott and IHG is because they don't waive resort fees on award bookings. Hyatt and Hilton both do, and when it means I'm saving upwards of $60 a night, it just makes more sense for me.
One of the biggest reasons I refuse to book with Marriott and IHG is because they don't waive resort fees on award bookings. Hyatt and Hilton both do, and when it means I'm saving upwards of $60 a night, it just makes more sense for me.
Carissa Rawson
Contributing Travel Writer
Craig Joseph
Lead Travel Writer
I will generally just book a hotel with resort fees, then assertively try to get those fees removed at the desk when I check out. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. You can also request a discount or credit for the resort fees if the amenities you are being charged more for aren't up to snuff — things like the pool or gym being out of service or weak Wi-Fi.
I will generally just book a hotel with resort fees, then assertively try to get those fees removed at the desk when I check out. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. You can also request a discount or credit for the resort fees if the amenities you are being charged more for aren't up to snuff — things like the pool or gym being out of service or weak Wi-Fi.
Craig Joseph
Lead Travel Writer
Benjamin Din
Lead Writer
Resort fees can be a bummer, especially when you travel somewhere like Honolulu, where every hotel seems to have one. When that’s the case, I tend to favor using points from hotel loyalty programs that waive resort fees on award redemptions, namely Hilton Honors and World of Hyatt. However, make sure to check out what the resort fee includes. I recently stayed at a hotel where the fee covered free admission to an attraction I was planning to go to anyway, so that could make the resort fee worthwhile.
Resort fees can be a bummer, especially when you travel somewhere like Honolulu, where every hotel seems to have one. When that’s the case, I tend to favor using points from hotel loyalty programs that waive resort fees on award redemptions, namely Hilton Honors and World of Hyatt. However, make sure to check out what the resort fee includes. I recently stayed at a hotel where the fee covered free admission to an attraction I was planning to go to anyway, so that could make the resort fee worthwhile.
Benjamin Din
Lead Writer
Las Vegas Strip hotels without resort fees
Yes, they exist — but barely. Most major Strip operators like MGM and Caesars tack fees onto every booking. Still, there are a couple of loopholes.
Best Western Plus Casino Royale-Center Strip
(Photo courtesy of Best Western Plus Casino Royale–Center Strip)
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account the type of card being reviewed (such as cash back, travel or balance transfer) and the card's rates, fees, rewards and other features.
If being on the Strip is a must-have on your no-resort fee hotel wish list, meet the Casino Royale, which is a member of the Best Western Rewards program. Let’s be clear about something: You’re getting a hotel room and a great location — but not much else.
But the location is unbeatable, and the lack of resort fee is the cherry on top. If all you need is a crash pad after wandering the Strip, this is your play.
How to book the Best Western Plus Casino Royale-Center Strip
Best Western doesn’t have a set award chart, and prices for award nights can vary greatly. When searching for nights in the summer and fall, we found them as low as 16,000 points for weeknights and as high as 28,000 points on weekends. Cash prices fluctuate similarly. We found rooms as cheap as $80 per night, all the way up to nearly $300 per night.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account the type of card being reviewed (such as cash back, travel or balance transfer) and the card's rates, fees, rewards and other features.
One of the best ways to score enough points to book a stay here is via the Best Western Rewards® Premium Visa Signature® Card. It has an $89 annual fee. That card is currently offering the following sign-up bonus: Bonus points offer of 20,000 to 80,000 points with qualifying spend. You’ll see your bonus points offer before you apply.
If annual fees aren't your thing, there's also the $0 annual fee Best Western Rewards® Visa Signature® Card . That card's current sign-up bonus is: Bonus points offer of 10,000 to 40,000 points with qualifying spend. You’ll see your bonus points offer before you apply.
Marriott's Grand Chateau
(Photo courtesy of Marriott)
For a nice hotel near the Strip without resort fees, your best choice is Marriott's Grand Chateau.
The Grand Chateau is technically off the Strip — just across Harmon Avenue from Planet Hollywood and the Miracle Mile Shops — but it feels close enough so we're fitting it in here. This Marriott Vacation Club property trades slot machines for space: villas with kitchens, dining rooms, and multiple bedrooms are common.
No resort fees, free Wi-Fi, and two pools make this feel less like a Vegas casino and more like a timeshare resort. It’s especially good if you’re traveling with kids or a group of friends who don’t want to share one giant double bed.
How to book Marriott's Grand Chateau
Standard rooms at Marriott's Grand Chateau can usually be booked for between $200 and $300 per night. Marriott's Grand Chateau is part of the Marriott Bonvoy program, and award nights range from 40,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points to 53,000 points per night. You can quickly earn those points by meeting the sign-up bonus requirements on one of the Marriott-branded credit cards, which include:
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account the type of card being reviewed (such as cash back, travel or balance transfer) and the card's rates, fees, rewards and other features.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account the type of card being reviewed (such as cash back, travel or balance transfer) and the card's rates, fees, rewards and other features.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account the type of card being reviewed (such as cash back, travel or balance transfer) and the card's rates, fees, rewards and other features.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account the type of card being reviewed (such as cash back, travel or balance transfer) and the card's rates, fees, rewards and other features.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account the type of card being reviewed (such as cash back, travel or balance transfer) and the card's rates, fees, rewards and other features.
• 3 Marriott Bonvoy® points per $1 at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels.
• 2 points per $1 on grocery stores, rideshare, select food delivery, select streaming and internet, cable and phone services.
• 1 point per $1 on all other eligible purchases.
• 6 Marriott Bonvoy® points per $1 at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels.
• 3 points per $1 on up to $6,000 a year in combined purchases on grocery stores, gas stations and dining.
• 2 points per $1 on all other eligible purchases.
• 6 Marriott Bonvoy® points per $1 at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels.
• 4 points per $1 on up to $15,000 a year in combined purchases at U.S. supermarkets and at restaurants worldwide (including takeout and delivery in the U.S).
• 2 points per $1 on all other eligible purchases.
Terms apply.
• 6 Marriott Bonvoy® points per $1 at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels.
• 3 points per $1 at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines.
• 2 points per $1 on all other eligible purchases.
Terms apply.
• 6 points per $1 at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels.
• 4 points per $1 on restaurants worldwide, U.S. gas stations, on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers and on U.S. purchases for shipping.
• 2 points per $1 on all other eligible purchases.
Terms apply.
Welcome offer
Earn 30,000 Bonus Points after spending $1,000 on eligible purchases within 3 months of account opening with the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card.
Earn 3 Free Night Awards after spending $3,000 on eligible purchases within 3 months of account opening, and an additional 1 Free Night Award after spending $4,000 total on eligible purchases within 4 months of account opening with the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card. Redeem your Free Night Awards for a one-night stay at properties with a redemption level up to 50,000 points per night, a total value of 200,000 points. Certain hotels have resort fees.
Earn 175,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer Ends 5/13/2026. Terms Apply.
Earn 200,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer Ends 5/13/2026. Terms Apply.
Earn 3 Free Night Awards after you spend $6,000 in purchases and an extra 2 Free Night Awards after you spend an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Terms apply.
The pool deck at the Courtyard by Marriott Las Vegas Stadium Area. (Photo by Sally French)
If you’re heading to Allegiant Stadium for a Raiders game, a concert, or just want a no-nonsense place to stay near the Strip, the Courtyard Stadium Area is hard to beat. It’s a 10-minute drive from the airport, 6 minutes from Mandalay Bay, and yes, you can walk to the stadium.
Rooms here are huge — bigger than many Strip suites — and there are no resort fees. Parking is $20 a night, but during stadium events non-guests pay $75 for the same lot, so you’re winning by default. The pool has palm trees, there’s a fire pit and jacuzzi, and the whole place is smoke-free (which feels revolutionary in Vegas).
Pets are welcome ($100 per stay, not per night), and the on-site laundry and fitness center make it easy for longer trips. Points nerds will also appreciate that rates often land in the 20,000–30,000 Bonvoy range, perfect for burning a 35K free night certificate.
How to get Las Vegas resort fees waived
If your heart is set on a property that usually tacks on the dreaded fees, here are a few hacks to avoid resort fees in Vegas:
Hold hotel elite status
Certain hotel loyalty programs waive resort fees for members with certain levels of elite status. Some standout programs in Vegas include:
Caesars Rewards: With Diamond status or higher in the Caesars Rewards programs, resort fees are waived. The best Caesars hotels in Vegas include Caesars Palace, Planet Hollywood and The Cromwell. One of the best ways to reach Caesars Rewards Diamond status is via the Wyndham/Caesars status match option. You’ll need Diamond Wyndham status to match to Diamond in the Caesars program, which qualifies you for waived resort fees on any stay.
World of Hyatt: Hyatt doesn’t charge resort fees to members with Globalist status, which is the highest elite status level in the World of Hyatt program. Hyatt owns the Rio Hotel & Casino, which is located one block off the famed Las Vegas Strip on Flamingo Road. Thus, holding Globalist status is your ticket to avoiding the Rio's $40 daily resort fee.
Book award nights
Certain hotel loyalty programs waive resort fees for nights booked using points or other free night certificates. Given how high resort fees are in Vegas relative to most other cities, Las Vegas resorts can make for an especially-great redemption when using points. Some standout programs in Vegas include:
Hilton Honors: The Hilton Honors waives resort fees for stays booked on points. Hilton also waives resort fees for stays booked using a Hilton free night certificate.
Hilton operates dozens of hotels on or near the Las Vegas Strip, including Waldorf Astoria Las Vegas, Conrad Las Vegas at Resorts World, Crockfords Las Vegas, Las Vegas Hilton at Resorts World and Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, Curio Collection by Hilton.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account the type of card being reviewed (such as cash back, travel or balance transfer) and the card's rates, fees, rewards and other features.
Not only do those properties charge resort fees, but they can often command rates at or near $500 per night on peak nights, such as weekends. Given that, they can make for an excellent way to redeem Hilton free night certificates — as you'll pay neither a resort fee nor the actual room rate when you redeem them for a stay. You typically earn Hilton free night certificates through holding certain Hilton-branded credit cards.
For example, the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, which has an annual fee of $550, offers one Free Night Reward with your card and every year after renewal. The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card has a lower annual fee of $150. It offers a free night certificate after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases on your card in a calendar year.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account the type of card being reviewed (such as cash back, travel or balance transfer) and the card's rates, fees, rewards and other features.
World of Hyatt: Hyatt doesn’t charge resort fees for rooms booked on points or with Hyatt free night awards. There are a few ways to earn a free night reward, but among the most common is by holding the World of Hyatt Credit Card. In exchange for its annual fee of $95, among the card's top perks is a certificate for a free night at a Category 1-4 hotel each anniversary year.
Since the Hyatt-owned Rio is a Category 3 hotel, that can make for a smart redemption (especially on weekends when cash rates are high) given the Rio's $40 daily resort fee.
Use travel card statement credits
Some travel cards offer statement credits that cover a broad definition of travel. Charge a covered expense to the card, which typically includes hotel resort fees, and you can get a reimbursement.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account the type of card being reviewed (such as cash back, travel or balance transfer) and the card's rates, fees, rewards and other features.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account the type of card being reviewed (such as cash back, travel or balance transfer) and the card's rates, fees, rewards and other features.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account the type of card being reviewed (such as cash back, travel or balance transfer) and the card's rates, fees, rewards and other features.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account the type of card being reviewed (such as cash back, travel or balance transfer) and the card's rates, fees, rewards and other features.
Sometimes, it’s worth doing the math. If a Strip resort costs $75 a night plus a $40 fee, and your no-resort-fee option costs $160, you may still come out ahead staying on the Strip. Especially if you’ll spend your whole day at that resort’s pools, clubs, or shows — things you’d otherwise pay extra for.
How to handle Las Vegas resort fees
Resort fees are the most Vegas trick of all: a hidden charge that always feels like the house won. But they aren’t inevitable. When planning a trip to Vegas, comparison shop hotels and keep your eye out for resort fees, which are usually displayed before you input credit card information near the end of booking. There’s no shame in paying a resort fee as long as you factor it into your budget.
But if you're dead set on avoiding these fees? From the middle-of-the-Strip Best Western Casino Royale to the spacious Marriott Grand Chateau and the stadium-adjacent Courtyard by Marriott, you’ve got options.
If you’re allergic to resort fees (and who isn’t?), plan ahead, comparison shop, and don’t let those sneaky line items follow you home on your credit card bill.
To view rates and fees of the American Express Platinum Card®, see this page.
To view rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card, see this page.
To view rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, see this page.
To view rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card, see this page.
To view rates and fees of the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card, see this page.
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