How to Get Resort Fees Waived: 16 Tips

You could be missing out on room rate savings on your next hotel booking. Resort fees are one of the most common hotel fees. They are charged nightly to guests for use of the property’s amenities, such as pools and workout facilities. Even if you don’t use the amenities, you have to pay the fee. That is, unless you know how to get resort fees waived. 

Knowing the right strategies and time to request a waiver gives you the best chance at getting resort fees removed from your hotel bill. If you’re a budget-conscious traveler looking to eliminate unnecessary booking fees, these tips will point you in the right direction.

Why Resort Fees Are Controversial

Hidden fees are never fun. Until recently, resort fees were just one of many hidden fees tacked on at the end of the booking process, making the final room rate more pricey than anticipated. For many guests, these fees were unknown and definitely unexpected during their hotel search. This bait-and-switch pricing tactic was considered controversial for short-term lodging.

The good news is that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) stepped in to introduce a new rule in 2024 requiring hotels to disclose all fees, including resort fees, in the advertised price. The rule increased hotel price transparency so guests know exactly what they’re paying for before making a reservation.

Although hotel pricing is now more transparent than before, it still raises questions about the purpose of resort fees. For example, many resorts charge resort fees to access standard amenities such as swimming pools and fitness centers, which guests already expect to have included with their base room rate. For guests who don’t use all the hotel amenities, resort fees can feel like an unnecessary expense that adds to travel costs.

Tips for Avoiding Resort Fees at Hotels

Did you know that you can avoid resort fees? Eliminating the additional nightly fee can significantly reduce the cost of your accommodations. For a budget-conscious traveler, these tips will help you save on your next hotel booking. 

Book your hotel directly

Get the best deal on hotel room rates when you book directly. Waived resort fees are among the many ways hotels can offer discounts to guests who book directly through their official channels, which remains the most popular method according to HOTREC digital trends in accommodations.

Book with points

Booking with rewards points, such as Hilton Honors or World of Hyatt points, is a strategy for getting resort fees waived. When searching for a hotel, change the search results filter to show prices in points instead of currency. The new points price excludes the resort fee. However, this only works when booking with 100% points. Combining points + cash with these programs will often still incur resort fees.

Pro tip: Compare the cost of booking with cash vs. purchasing points to book a reward stay.

Join your hotel’s loyalty program

Hotels offer the best perks to their loyalty program members. Basic membership includes perks like member rates and late check-out. Achieving higher tiers, such as reaching the Globalist level in the World of Hyatt program, waives all resort fees on paid stays.

Ask nicely

Resort fees aren’t always mandatory when booking a hotel. Guests can get the fees waived by speaking directly with the hotel’s front desk representative. 

A big advantage of booking directly is having a contact person at the hotel who manages your reservation and can fulfill your request. If you’re already at the property, the best time to speak with the front desk receptionist about waiving resort fees is during check-in.

Take advantage of hotel promo offers

Hotels are always coming up with new ideas for promotional campaigns to attract more guests to their property. For example, Resorts World Las Vegas has offered a limited-time promo for no resort fees. It’s an especially attractive offer in a travel market like Las Vegas, where resort fees are common at popular hotels. These types of promotions are typically only available to travelers who book directly with the hotel. 

Purchase a travel package

Explore travel packages in your destination for special pricing on accommodations, which may also include excluded resort fees to make the offer more exciting! According to Travel Weekly, Sahara Las Vegas offers no resort fees in its All-in Rate Experience Package. Again, these packages are typically only available to travelers who book directly with the hotel. 

Use a human or AI travel agent

Popular AI platforms, like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini, have become handy travel agents in the palm of our hands. They’re great for giving recommendations based on our travel preferences and will soon feature real-time, direct hotel rates from DirectBooker. 

Human travel agents still play a major role for travelers. They have established relationships with hotels to provide special rates to their clients. Travel agents can show their value by getting resort fees waived during the booking process. 

Take advantage of group rates

Are you in town for a big conference? Is one of your local organizations hosting a group getaway? Are you an invited guest at a destination wedding? Check with your organizers or hosts about special group rates on hotels. Hotels offer deals to guests who book blocks of rooms for events. The reduced group rates help avoid high resort fees during your stay.

Guests have limited access to hotel amenities

Amenities may be limited due to renovations or a private event. Read the fine print about what the hotel resort fees cover. Hotels charging resort fees for amenities that are not even available during your stay is a good reason to request a waiver.

Offset fees with resort credits

Resorts that offer resort credits help guests save money on food, drinks, and activities, which can offset the cost of resort fees.

Find an alternative hotel

Make sure to include resort fees in your total costs when comparing hotels. If you’re using AI for your hotel search, prompt it to include all fees for a realistic idea of what you’ll spend on accommodations. Be prepared for resort fees that push your first hotel pick outside your budget. If you can’t get the fees waived using our other strategies, consider staying at your second or third hotel choice with fewer (or no) resort fees.

Tips for Getting Resort Fees Waived in Las Vegas or Reno

Resort fees are most common in popular resort destinations like Las Vegas and Reno. Most hotels on the Las Vegas Strip have them, and more hotels introduce them every year. Here’s how to get resort fees waived on your next visit:

Reach qualifying loyalty program tiers

Stay at Caesars or MGM Properties and join their loyalty program to get resort fees waived during your stay. 

Guests with Diamond status on Caesars Rewards unlock waived fees at properties including Caesars Palace, Paris Las Vegas, The Cromwell, and Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino. MGM Rewards members require Gold status or higher to receive waived resort fees at the MGM Grand, The Cosmopolitan, The Bellagio, ARIA, and other properties under the brand.

Pro tip: Ask for a status match if you have a qualifying tier status with one rewards program but not the other. Many people have received complimentary status upgrades.

Stay off the Las Vegas Strip 

Location matters! Resort fees are most common at hotels on the Las Vegas Strip. The best way to avoid resort fees is to choose hotels off the Strip. The Best Western Plus Casino Royale is one of the only properties on the Strip with no resort fees. The best off-Strip Vegas hotels without resort fees are Marriott’s Grand Chateau and The Carriage House.

Show proof of Nevada residency

Some Nevada hotels offer discounts for residents. For example, the Fontainebleau offers locals-only rates. Show your official Nevada ID or driver’s license during booking (or check-in), and you may be entitled to special rates excluding resort fees.

Save on Resort Fees on Your Next Hotel Stay

Resort fees are increasingly popular in the hospitality industry. The fees provide hotels with another revenue source and a way to upkeep their most-used amenities. If you want to avoid paying resort fees, the first step is to check whether the hotel charges them. Next, use the strategies above to get resort fees waived and save on your next hotel stay.

Sources

HOTREC. “Digital Trends in Accommodation: Hotels, Booking.com and DMA.” HOTREC, 2 July 2024, https://www.hotrec.eu/en/news/digital_trends_in_accommodation_hotels_booking-com_and_dma_.html

“SAHARA Las Vegas Unveils Package With No Resort Fee.” Travel Weekly, 26 July 2025, https://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/Sahara-Las-Vegas-unveils-package-with-no-resort-fee. Accessed 7 Nov. 2025.

Bryan Shelmon

Bryan Shelmon is a travel writer with bylines in Lonely Planet, Midwest Living, and Wanderlust, known for immersive storytelling shaped by long-term travel across 25+ countries. He combines a background in business with nearly a decade of freelance experience, collaborating with tourism boards and capturing culture through art, language, and local exploration.

Our editorial process: DirectBooker curates insights from global hospitality experts and our network of industry insiders. Articles undergo rigorous fact-checking and quality review before publication, ensuring authentic, actionable advice for savvy travelers.