Strip Casinos Raise Resort Fees

I just read an article about Caesars Entertainment and MGM Resorts International raising resort fees for its Strip Casinos. Properties affected are Caesars Palace, Paris and Rio (Caesars), and MGM Grand, Bellagio and Mandalay Bay (MGM). Resort fees now range from about $30-$45 per night.

I don't think I've stayed on the Strip since they started charging a daily resort fee; and the last few trips I took to Vegas was via Vacations Hawaii, which doesn't include one.

I have mixed feelings about resort fees. The fee should already be included in the room rate vs. a separate charge. Or, if you're not going to use the amenities covered in the fee, you should be given the option of declining the fee. Otherwise, it seems like properties are just nickel and dime-ing you. I assume the fee also include parking at the property you're staying at, or else you'll also be paying the daily parking fee that was implemented last year! It would be really nice if the fee included parking for all casinos owned by the same entity, but I guess that would be asking for too much, right?

I don't play enough to get any hotel comps at these properties, but if you get your rooms comped, do you still have to pay the fee? I've used Starwood Points to stay at Hawaii properties, and I do know that the fee applies if you are using points, and you need to pay that separately (you can't use points to pay for the fee). Since I'm already getting the room for free, I didn't mind paying the $25 daily fee because $25 for a room in Hawaii is quite the deal.

I suppose I could apply that logic to Vegas prices as well. If you plan your trip accordingly, you can get a really good rate at one of the properties, and even with the fee, the room could cost less than $100/night.

What are your thoughts on resort fees? Is it just part of your vacation costs? Or does it bug you?