MGM Resorts Vegas Strip Parking Costs Increase
Vegas has changed immensely over the past several years. Back in “the day” Vegas was a cheap destination on the surface. You could get a cheap hotel, eat cheap food and even see awesome shows without spending a fortune. Of course the entire city was designed to get you to drop your money in the casino. Not a bargain at all.
Back in the late 90s the city began to change. Hotels and restaurants got fancier and their prices went up. No longer were these loss leaders, but full revenue businesses that were expected to make money. Then the Great Recession hit in 2008 and hotel rates and occupancy plummeted.
As things began to recover, companies tried to find ways to boost revenues, thus the resort fee was born. (It existed elsewhere but not in Vegas.) At first resort fees were nominal and you could even get them waived with a fight. Over time though they skyrocketed and avoiding them became much more difficult. Some nights the resort fee is higher than the room rate!
Paid Parking Follows Resort Fees
Last year when MGM Resorts decided to implement paid parking, I argued the same would happen. It turns out I was right. Less than a year after implementing their paid parking scheme, MGM has now announced prices will be going up according to the Review Journal. In some cases the increases are 39%.
“We are adjusting the parking rates for a variety of business-related reasons,” said MGM spokeswoman Yvette Monet. “These adjustments are based on market analyses we have conducted since we implemented the program.”
MGM Resorts Vegas Strip Parking Costs Old & New
As a reminder, here are the current rates to park at their properties (through April 11, 2017):
And here is what you can expect to pay come April 12, 2017:
Valet Parking
- Aria, Bellagio and Vdara: $20 for up to four hours and $25 for four to 24 hours
- Mandalay Bay, Delano, MGM Grand, New York-New York, The Mirage and Excalibur: $15 for up to four hours and $20 for four to 24 hours
- Excalibur, Circus Circus, Luxor and Monte Carlo: $10 for up to four hours and $15 for four to 24 hours
Self-parking
There is no charge to park for 60 minutes or less at any property.
- Aria, Bellagio and Vdara: $7 for one to two hours, $12 for two to four hours and $15 for four to 24 hours
- Mandalay Bay, Delano, MGM Grand, New York-New York, The Mirage, Excalibur: $7 for one to two hours, $10 for two to four hours and $12 for four to 24 hours
- Excalibur, Luxor, Monte Carlo: $5 for one to two hours, $8 for two to four hours and $10 for four to 24 hours
- Circus Circus: No charge.
As you can see they have increased rates pretty much across the board and implemented a new 2-4 hours tier that didn’t exist before.
Caesars Entertainment Parking Charges Begin
These increases come at a time when Caesars Entertainment is rolling out parking charges at their properties. This past week The Linq was the first property to begin charging and others will follow quickly. You can find the Caesars Entertainment parking charges here.
Conclusion
With the economy doing well and Vegas occupancy at very high rates, I expect we will continue to see increases in both resort fees and parking charges until the market fights back. With both MGM and Caesar’s now charging for parking at their casinos, the majority of the Strip now charges to park. This will increase pressure on the parking facilities of the smaller hotels and just like with resort fees, free parking will fall one property at a time.
What are your thoughts? When will it be enough?!?
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[…] January 31, 2018. Rates will go up across the board, some as much as 25%. That’s a huge hike. In fact, this will be the second increase this year! MGM Casino parking used to be […]
I don’t get a car when I come to Vegas but I can tell you this is nothing compared to large cities. I stay in Chicago for weekends and overnight fees are up to $65 a night for valet $55 for self park. It was bound to happen. Have to pay for the T- Moblie arena somehow.
x2 the suggestion of just getting the Credit Card to get Free self parking at all mLife properties.
But if you can use uber while you are there to head up and down the strip is even better
Costs of everything on the strip have gotten out of hand. I started going to Vegas in 1980 and usually visited 2 or 3 times a year. Resort fees cut my trips to once a year. Paying to park will keep me off the strip for good. People need to stop patronizing strip hotels and casinos and maybe they will eventually cut out the nickel and diming.
[…] Entertainment properties recently began rolling out paid parking and MGM Resorts announced a parking price increase after less than a year. Since I know many people strive to avoid these types of fees, I thought I […]
Rip off after staying five years on the trot at Luxor I checked in last May to be asked for $329 aka resort fee after arguing with the manager it was reduced to 150 never again apartments this May no resort fees no greed tax Luxor loss
Doesn’t Uber/Lyft make this moot? It was dirt cheap in Vegas.
Having just returned from Vegas today after a three night trip I must admit that I am going to reconsider where we usually go for weekend getaways. Tight slots, mandatory resort fees, parking fees (many resorts charge tourists only….not locals) and $25-$35 mediocre buffets. The negatives are really starting to outnumber the positives here.
And just a data point, free parking is only offered on the strip at the Venetian and there are several casino hotels downtown ( four queens, california, fremont and main street station) where there are no resort fees..
+1. Having just spent a week in Las Vegas, returning a few days ago, I will say that the prices keep growing on everything, which in turn makes the value lower. I gambled a good bit, and feel that there should be some appreciation for my business. This nickel and dime stuff is pretty insulting. In conjunction with the ever increasing prices, there are fewer reasons than ever to visit.
is it free self parking if you stay at the casino? I have pearl status with MGM, how do i get free parking with the status?
MLife Pearl=free self parking Gold and above= free Valet or self parking. Just insert card when coming and going.
All MLIFE card holders except Sapphire get free parking
How much more expensive is Las Vegas compared to other big destinations is what I want to know.
“Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s…”
With many options for your gambling dollar……..don’t go and find another destination to make your “donation”