Price the whole trip
| Bucket | Commonly missed costs |
|---|
| Lodging | Resort fee, taxes, parking, early check-in, room upgrade |
| Transport | Airport ride, surge pricing, tips, transit passes |
| Food | Tax, gratuity, service fees, bottled water, late-night premium |
| Shows | Ticket fees, premium seats, minimums, transport |
| Pools/nightlife | Cover, minimum spend, locker, gratuity, dress-code replacement |
| Gaming | Separate entertainment bankroll; never treat as trip funding |
Resort fee examples verified July 17, 2026
| Example | Price verified July 17, 2026 | What the reader must check |
|---|
| Wynn / Encore resort rooms | $55 daily resort fee plus tax | Current terms include self-parking for up to two vehicles, Wi-Fi, daily bottled water, calls, fitness access for two, and a digital newsstand. Confirm the exact room type and final total. |
| OYO Las Vegas | $44.95 resort fee plus tax; official offer pages display $50.96 total per night | The fee can exceed a bargain headline room rate. Current inclusions listed by OYO include Wi-Fi, two daily waters, fitness center, seasonal pool, calls, and boarding-pass printing. |
| MGM self-parking | $20 Mon–Thu or $25 Fri–Sun for non-hotel guests; registered hotel guests $20 | First hour is complimentary. Special-event pricing may be higher. One paid period can cover same-day self-parking at participating MGM resorts, subject to current terms. |
| Wynn visitor self-parking | First 3 hours complimentary, then $25 per day | Registered Wynn/Encore guests currently receive complimentary self-parking. Special-event prices and eligibility exceptions can apply. |
Three-night planning budgets
Planning scenarios for one person sharing a room with one other adult. They exclude airfare and gambling because both vary too widely to hide inside a single total.
| Style | Lodging share | Food + local travel + fun + buffer | Plan |
|---|
| Lean | $225–$360 | $405–$690 | $630–$1,050 |
| Comfortable | $450–$750 | $920–$1,800 | $1,370–$2,550 |
| Premium | $900–$1,800 | $2,250–$5,400 | $3,150–$7,200+ |
- Price the exact dates: conventions, sports, holidays, and major concerts can overwhelm any benchmark.
- Keep gambling in a separate envelope. A win is not part of the trip-financing plan.
- Add airfare after comparing baggage, seat, and airport-transfer costs — not only the headline fare.
- For a solo room, add the other half of the lodging estimate; for a family, price every ticket and meal by age.
Fee defense
- Screenshot the final checkout page and cancellation deadline.
- Ask whether parking, Wi-Fi, gym access, and local calls are actually included or merely bundled into a fee.
- At checkout, compare the folio with your confirmations before leaving the property.
- Never assume a third-party price includes every mandatory charge.
- Casino-floor ATMs can add a large operator surcharge, and your bank may add another fee. Bring a planned amount, use an in-network bank ATM, or decline after reading the on-screen fee. Never convert a credit card withdrawal into an expensive cash advance.
Tipping baseline
| Service | Practical starting point |
|---|
| Restaurant or bar service | 15–20% of the pre-tax bill, adjusted for service and any included gratuity |
| Casino cocktail service | $1–$2 per delivered drink is a common baseline; service is not truly free |
| Bell staff | $1–$2 per bag; add more for unusually heavy or complex service |
| Valet | $2–$5 when the car is returned; event or premium service may justify more |
| Housekeeping | $2–$5 per day, left daily because staff can change |
| Other hotel help | $2–$5 for a simple request; more for substantial work |
A disclosed service charge or automatic gratuity may already be on the bill. Read before adding another tip.
Street-smart Strip rules
- A bracelet, CD, flower, trinket, or other item handed to you is not automatically a gift. Do not accept it unless you knowingly want the transaction and have agreed to the price.
- Before posing with a showgirl, superhero, mascot, or other street character, agree on the total price for the entire group and number of photos. There is no mandatory street-photo fee.
- Keep control of your phone and wallet. Do not let a stranger create urgency, separate your group, or escort you to an ATM.
- LVMPD says visitors are not obligated to pay, tip, or donate to street characters, performers, water distributors, CD vendors, or club promoters. If someone harasses or threatens you, move toward hotel security or call 702-828-3111; call 911 for an emergency.
- Do not buy or accept an open beverage from an unlicensed street vendor.
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