That's obv. an option, but if you go out of your way to walk to the bar and order your drink there over waiting for the free one at the slots, I wouldn't think you are super worried about paying $51 over at least ~$33. $15 + tax per drink is prolly the cheapest you get at any bar at one of the high end strip resorts.

I remember sweating through credit card roulette when we ran up a 500€ tab on 20€ Tanqueray Ten gin tonics at the Hyatt that hosted EPT Berlin a couple of years ago. The fancier the hotel, the bigger the rip-off on everything.

I see what they're doing too, ripping people off as much as they can trying to compensate for bad business decisions, which is preventing them from turning a profit.

Charging for parking on the strip will just discourage locals from visiting the strip. They can get free validation downtown, or just visit the smaller properties in the outskirts that don't charge for parking or a lot for food. Most were already doing that already, except the younger ones. Now even more will do so.

But you are right that many are not living and vacationing within their means. That's what the resorts' business model is relying on. That's kind of the purpose of going to a resort, no? To live like a king for a few days. And most "kids" who go there to visit the pool clubs or night clubs do it once or twice in a lifetime. You'd have to be rich to spend that kind of money regularly, and most aren't.

Maybe charge that kind of price for a fancy-assed drink off a menu, where you can see the price before you order.

Absolutely! Any normal person with a pair would do the same. "I'm not paying $25 for a rum and coke, friend."

Seems way out of line to me. The only way I'd pay it was if I didn't want to make a scene in front of a date, or seem cheap. Perhaps he was in a similar situation. And you can get fancy drinks made by a "mixologist" for $12 - $18 in many upscale restaurants. $25 for a rum and coke tells me the "resort" doesn't want me buying drinks, and probably would prefer I gamble elsewhere. I would oblige them.

I actually don't believe he paid $51 for 2 rums and cokes unless he gave a $20 tip. If he had paid that much, then perhaps it's better to just order some of the fancy schmancy rum drinks offered at the Cosmo such as:

The Chandelier
FLORA & Fauna - $16
(An exotic play on the classic Daiquiri)
Bacardi Superior Rum, Chareau Aloe Liqueur, Calamansi, Cardamom, House Made Ginger-thai Chili-Sesame Syrup

SCHNOZBERRIES TASTE LIKE SCHNOZBERRIES - $20
Dragonberry Rum, Sloe Gin, Aperol, Pickled Strawberry Lychee Pink Peppercorn Shrub,
over a Miracleberry Ginger Gobstopper Ice Sphere with a scented Lolligarden

Clique Bar & Lounge
UNDERNEATH THE SHEETS $25 (tableside mixology)
Strawberry Infused Kappa Pisco, Botran Blanco Reserva Rum, Lime,
Cointreau, Orgeat, & Cruzan 151 Rum Topped With A Strawberry

UP ALL NIGHT $25 (tableside mixology)
Cruzan Rum, Orgeat, Lemon, Ginger Syrup, Blackberries, Strawberries,
Peychaud’s Bitters, Served With A Sparkler To Help Burn The Midnight Oil

VITA MIXIN’ $20
Plantation 5 Year Rum, Carrot, Orange, Ginger, Lemon

450 POWELL $18
Captain Morgan Spiced Rum, Rooibos-Orange Cordial, Lemon, Cinnamon Sugar

Vespar Bar
Jungle Bird $16
Zaya Rum, Campari, Fresh Lime Juice & Pineapple Juice

Streaker with a Cause $16
El Dorado 12 yr Rum, Amaro Montenegro, Hum Liqueur, Caramelized Pineapple Puree, Lime Juice, Cardamom Ginger Syrup, Elemakule Tiki Bitters

I think it has already been established that casinos don't care about locals who don't make one of the higher tiers even though they have all year to do so. Maybe they even want to discourage those "cheap" people from coming to the strip?
Hotel bars are always outrageously expensive, in part because such a high number of customers have their company pay for it. That might be especially true in Vegas where people either come to gamble or for business. People who come to gamble use the complimentary drink service or care little enough about money that they pay bar prices anyway.

Again, I don't want to defend what they are doing, those prices are ridiculous. Just saying that it's unfortunately super standard for high end hotels everywhere in the world.

too logical, we (Vegas) don't need that kind of thinking around here sir.

A lot of locals who frequent casinos do so for the restaurants and bars and don't gamble much (obviously fewer in the more expensive joints). The geniuses who run these casinos don't seem to care or understand that.

$12 is an outrageous price for a rum and coke. $25 is beyond belief.

Makes sense except why leave a $20 tip on a $31 bill? Even if I was feeling generous I would leave a $19 tip to round it out to an even $50.

Really? Why? There are lots of restaurants and bars with better prices just because they're NOT in a casino. They also have parking that's not a PITA and you don't have to walk half a mile once you arrive to get to the place.

Yes, it is. Which is why no one in this thread actually believes that the story is true.

Bally's garage has new gigantic speed bumps. I wouldn't take a Ferrari or Porsche in there. You might leave some undercarriage behind.

They also have the gate things and big steel poles in place. They are damm narrow. I doubt a dually will fit through. A big S-class or Lexus might not either. The red/green lights above the parking spaces are working though.

$51 for two rum and cokes is about equally believable to Caesars owning the Cosmo.

Agree, either he lied or embellished, or ordered some absurd top end rum. $10-15 would be the expected "non-gambling" price, though just throw some $$ in a video poker machine at the bar is a better option.

Misread. Same principle, but with Cosmo it seems likelier that he top-shelfed himself (but I still don't really buy the story).

Has anyone parked in the self park at Encore lately? Does it fill up at all? Getting ready to book my WSOP trip and one of the key wins for Encore was how nice it was to self park (and not pay) and be within a few steps of the room elevators.

I'm with you. But there are a lot of folks who aren't as practical and who want to dress up and be where the "action" is, even if they don't want to gamble, or go to an expensive club.

Caesars is trying to roll out the paid parking on April 3rd is what I heard.

12 dollars is not unheard of. I remember seeing 14 dollars for a Sam Adams on a Menu in New York City. Just depends on the establishment.

Whoa! Don't you dare compare NYC to Vegas. I've lived in both and it's not even close. Them's fighting words!

Location is everything of course. The Goose Island bar at ORD charges at least $12 for a beer and long drinks at Jumeirah Beach in Dubai start around $20. Tanqueray Ten was closer to $30 IIRC. Most people just don't expect Vegas to transform into such a place..

For a six-pack, I hope.

.

Free parking with Nevada license at least

Hopefully that will end sooner than later.

Probably not for very long though. MGM did that too and now charges locals. Caesars will probably be charging locals within the next year.