Paul Szydelko
For visitors who use their own cars to get to Las Vegas or rent a car when they arrive, parking fees have become ubiquitous since MGM Resorts International began instituting them in 2016. Prices to park at major Strip resorts have since risen substantially, but there are both benefits and ways to work around them.
Rates for self-parking generally start at $18 to $20 for the first day, regardless of the amount of time parked. Valet parking, when it is available, is more expensive, and tipping (at least $2 to $5 each interaction with a valet runner) is suggested. Guests staying at the hotel typically pay a lesser rate. Higher fees can be expected for weekends and special events.
Granted, a good number of visitors to the city are arriving at Harry Reid Airport and likely won't be in need of parking. The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority or Reid Airport did not provide figures on what percentage of those guests rent a vehicle upon arrival. But according to the LVCVA's 2023 Visitors Survey,
about 54% of visitors arrived in Las Vegas via ground transportation,
up from 49% in 2022. One-half (50%) of visitors drove their own vehicle
during their visit, up from 44% in 2022.
The LVCVA study found that about
one in six visitors (16%) in 2022 visited nearby destinations before or after
their trip to the city, up from 12% in 2021.
The fees are a way to generate another modest income stream but
have also funded improvements to the parking experience, according to Alan
Feldman, an MGM Resorts veteran who is a distinguished fellow in
responsible gaming for the International Gaming Institute at the
University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
"There was a time when free
parking and air conditioning were two big draws for the casino
industry," Feldman said. "Then the industry itself started to evolve and
started offering a whole lot of other really wonderful things … and
the hotels themselves transformed into four-star, five-star properties.
And all the while, parking remained free out of historic respect."
While Las Vegas locals still consider free parking practically a
birthright, travelers have generally become resigned to the fees, which
have been common in the large cities and tourist attractions
for a much longer time.
"What has happened is Vegas has gone from
being cheap to being well worth the money. ... We've transformed the
city from being all about value for money into being value for
experience. And that's the sign of a maturing, growing, healthy
marketplace -- but it also costs money," Feldman said.
Here are some tips
So where can drivers get a break?
Fashion Show, Casino Royale,
Circus Circus, Sahara Las Vegas and Treasure Island (TI) are among the
very limited places on the Strip that offer complimentary self-parking.
In addition to the M Resort and Silverton, off-Strip properties such as
Rio, Palms, Orleans, Westgate and Virgin Las Vegas and suburban Boyd
Group and Station hotels continue to offer free parking.
Fontainebleau
Las Vegas, completing its first full year of operation next month,
doesn't charge a self-parking fee for hotel guests, and the first four
hours are free for all visitors.
Joining a resort's loyalty program or
getting a credit card associated with a hospitality brand are the
primary ways to get free or reduced prices on parking.
And if guests have no choice but to pay for a spot, informational websites such as Las Vegas Advisor and Las
Vegas Direct, a
site to book hotels, shows, tours and attractions, routinely update
pages with comprehensive listings of parking fees (although visitors who go to the Advisor site will have to pay a fee to access the latest info).
"While
parking fees are a pain, when you look at the overall value you get
from staying in Las Vegas compared to other cities, it is still very
economical compared to other destinations around the world," said Dale Bock, who founded Las Vegas Direct 26 years ago.