You book a hotel room in Las Vegas, see a number that looks totally reasonable, and feel good about your budget. Then checkout hits and suddenly there’s an extra charge stacked onto every single night. It didn’t appear in big bold letters. It was never front and center. It just quietly showed up, like an uninvited guest at your own vacation.
That’s the reality of resort fees in Las Vegas right now, and honestly, a lot of travelers are fed up. The good news? A small but growing group of off-Strip hotels is doing something quietly radical: charging you exactly what they advertised. Nothing more. Let’s dive in.
The Resort Fee Problem Is Bigger Than You Think
Most people who’ve booked a Las Vegas trip know the feeling. Resort fees have sadly become a way of life in Vegas. These per-night add-ons can turn a cheap Vegas deal into an unexpected splurge, especially since some resort fees are collected at check-in rather than at the time of booking. That’s a pretty significant detail they hope you won’t notice until it’s too late.
With resort fees commonly running between $35 and $55 per night, a three-night stay can add roughly $105 to $165 in fees before taxes, which many visitors view as a material add-on to the advertised nightly rate. Think about that for a second. That’s basically the cost of another night’s stay, just evaporating into thin air.
On the Strip alone, Caesars Entertainment properties like Caesars Palace, Bally’s, Paris Las Vegas, Planet Hollywood, Flamingo, Harrah’s, The LINQ, and Cromwell charge $45 plus tax per night in resort fees. Multiply that across a four-night trip and you’re looking at a seriously painful surprise on your credit card statement.
Why Off-Strip Hotels Are Winning Right Now
Here’s the thing: the Strip’s grip on value is genuinely loosening. Business travelers are staying on the Strip, but budget-conscious visitors are moving to properties away from the central corridor. Red Rock Resorts, which operates non-Strip venues, reported a record quarterly net revenue of $526.3 million in 2025, an 8.2% increase, suggesting that travelers are still coming to the city but actively avoiding the high costs of the central Strip.
The Strip has the fewest hotels without resort fees, while the majority of fee-free properties reside off the Strip, closer to where locals actually live. This is not a coincidence. Off-Strip hotels have built a real competitive advantage by offering something the big resorts won’t: a final price that actually matches the advertised one.
Desert Rose Resort: Suites, Pools, and Zero Fees
Just two blocks from the south end of the Las Vegas Strip, the Desert Rose Resort is a well-regarded option for travelers who want a bigger living situation. The resort features one and two-bedroom suites that include a separate sleeping room, a living room with a sofa sleeper, a private patio or balcony, and a fully furnished kitchen. That’s a lot of comfort for zero mandatory fees.
Desert Rose provides plenty of amenities including continental breakfast, a fitness center, a spa salon, table tennis, billiards, and free Wi-Fi. What really stands out to me is that this property genuinely feels like a place built for people who want to relax, not just pass through. No fees, no drama, just a clean and honest price.
The Carriage House: Vegas’s Best Kept Secret
Tucked away between the MGM Grand and Planet Hollywood, the Carriage House is the ideal Las Vegas hotel just off the Strip, offering comfortable accommodations and convenient in-room features including complimentary Wi-Fi. It brands itself as “the best kept secret in Las Vegas,” and honestly, that’s not far off.
Along with its no-resort-fee policy, the Carriage House offers a fitness room and is just minutes from amazing restaurants, nightclubs, and entertainment on the Strip. Its position also places it near Harry Reid International Airport, the MGM Grand Arena, T-Mobile Arena, and Allegiant Stadium. For a property this well-located to charge nothing extra, it’s a genuinely compelling option for anyone who knows where to look.
Marriott’s Grand Chateau: Upscale, Fee-Free, and Family-Friendly
For a nice hotel near the Strip without resort fees, Marriott’s Grand Chateau is a top choice. The Grand Chateau is technically off the Strip, just across Harmon Avenue from Planet Hollywood and the Miracle Mile Shops. 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. It’s hard to say for sure, but this might just be the best deal hiding in plain sight near the Strip corridor.
Four Queens Hotel: Downtown Vegas Character, No Added Costs
The Four Queens Hotel and Casino is a retro-style Las Vegas hotel with no resort fees that contains over 650 rooms. The entrance features a huge neon sign reminiscent of the early 1960s, and the complex connects to the Fremont Street Experience in old downtown. The location is ideal for the person wanting to experience the glamour of yesteryear.
Guests can reserve a table at Hugo’s Cellar, the hotel’s romantic restaurant, or check out Chicago Brewing Company or the Patio Bar for a more casual dining experience. This hotel also has an outdoor pool and fitness center. Let’s be real: Four Queens gives you a lot of Las Vegas personality with zero of the mandatory fee nonsense. That’s a trade-off worth making.
Wyndham Grand Desert Resort: Families and Pools Galore
The Wyndham Grand Desert Resort is a lovely Las Vegas hotel without resort fees that will transport you to a world of tranquility in the middle of the action. Although it’s a five-minute walk from the Strip, this hotel is a relaxing refuge with all the amenities you need. Free shuttles to the Strip are also available.
As a non-gaming hotel, the Wyndham Grand Desert is perfect for a quiet couples’ getaway or a fun family vacation. Both the apartment-style suites and traditional rooms are spacious and clean. Guests can take advantage of free parking and in-room Wi-Fi, and the property features a gorgeous Mediterranean-inspired atmosphere with three outdoor pools and four hot tubs. Three pools and four hot tubs at no extra daily charge feels almost illegal by Las Vegas standards.
Embassy Suites Convention Center: All-Suites, No Surprises
Embassy Suites Convention Center is an all-suite hotel with no resort fees and a range of family-friendly amenities. This Hilton-affiliated property is great if you’re traveling with kids or pets, and it’s just minutes from the Strip. The all-suite format is genuinely useful, especially for families who need a bit of breathing room without booking two separate rooms.
Not only are there no resort fees, but guests can also take advantage of a free scheduled shuttle to nearby attractions including the Convention Center and the Strip Monorail. This is also one of the few Las Vegas hotels with an indoor pool, as well as a fitness center, outdoor hot tub, and sundeck. Complimentary breakfast and in-room Wi-Fi round out the package. Complimentary breakfast alone can save a family a significant chunk of money over a four-day trip.
Hampton Inn and Suites Las Vegas Red Rock/Summerlin: Nature Meets Value
Hampton Inn and Suites doesn’t charge resort fees at any of its locations, and this particular one is great for those who want to go hiking while in Vegas. Staying near the Strip is perfect for being in the middle of the action, but this is a more peaceful alternative. Just a nine-minute drive to Red Rock Canyon, the hotel is known for its friendly staff and spacious rooms.
For those who want Strip time too, it’s around a 20-minute drive from the main action, and there’s free parking onsite. I think this one is genuinely underrated. If your Las Vegas trip includes any outdoor adventure, this property makes a whole lot of sense, especially with zero fees added to the bill each night.
The FTC Finally Stepped In: What Changed and What Didn’t
The Federal Trade Commission announced a final Junk Fees Rule to prohibit bait-and-switch pricing and other tactics used to hide total prices and bury junk fees in the live-event ticketing and short-term lodging industries. The FTC stated these unfair and deceptive pricing practices harm consumers and undercut honest businesses. It’s been a long time coming.
Importantly, the FTC’s rule does not prohibit any fees or pricing strategies. It simply requires that businesses that advertise their pricing tell consumers the whole truth up front, clearly and conspicuously disclosing the true total price inclusive of all mandatory fees. So resort fees are not gone. They just have to be visible from the start. It’s a start, not a solution. Hotels that already charge zero mandatory fees still hold the moral high ground here.
The Berkley Las Vegas: Spacious Suites Far From the Chaos
The Berkley Las Vegas, which features fully furnished suites, is perfect for families, groups, and business travelers who don’t mind being a little distance from the Strip. Located five miles south of the Strip along Dean Martin Drive, The Berkley features 382 studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom suites ranging from 400 to 1,200 square feet. Each suite is fully furnished with an updated interior, a complete kitchen, separate living area, washer and dryer, and large bathrooms.
In-suite amenities include free Wi-Fi and cable television, while onsite amenities include an outdoor swimming pool, hot tub, fitness area, BBQ area, business center, and free parking. Surrounding activities are a short drive away, including a five-minute drive to Town Square Las Vegas and the Casino at South Point Hotel. With a washer and dryer in the suite and a full kitchen, you could genuinely live here for a week and spend far less than a Strip hotel would cost in fees alone.
The Bigger Picture: Transparency Is Winning
The honest truth is that resort fees worked for a while because travelers didn’t fight back hard enough. LVCVA figures show average daily rates near $193 in 2024, with resort fees, parking charges, and premium show and dining prices stacked on top. Coverage from business and gaming outlets describes a perception shift in 2025, where many travelers still see Las Vegas as exciting but no longer see it as acceptable value for a spontaneous long weekend or multiple trips per year.
The FTC estimates the final rule will save Americans up to 53 million hours annually on pricing searches, equating to over $11 billion in savings over a decade. That’s a staggering number. It tells you just how much mental and financial energy people have been burning just trying to figure out what a hotel actually costs.
Off-Strip hotels charging $0 in mandatory fees aren’t just offering a bargain. They’re offering something rarer in modern travel: honesty. The price you see is the price you pay. No traps, no fine print, no last-minute “gotcha.” In a city built on spectacle, that kind of transparency might just be the most refreshing thing Las Vegas has to offer right now.
What do you think: would you skip the Strip entirely for a fee-free stay? Drop your thoughts in the comments below.
