Paris Las Vegas Guest Outraged Over $50 Charge for Using Electrical Outlet

View From The Wing was the first to report on the latest story about nickel and diming clients in Las Vegas, just when we thought we had heard it all.

According to Gary Leff, a travel expert with View From The Wing, a recent visitor to Paris Las Vegas on the Strip was incensed when they were charged $50 for laptop charging.

Paris provides a minibar as well as a tray of bottled water and other drinks and snacks, just like almost every other casino property on the Strip.  Caesars Entertainment, which runs Paris, uses an electric tray to keep an eye on the room-temperature appetizers and beverages.

Based on weight, the electric trays determine if an item has been removed.  For example, when a visitor lifts a Red Bull or water bottle, the tray automatically bills the item to the visitor's room after detecting the product based on the weight removed.

Startling Charge

The visitor from Paris, Las Vegas, informed Leff that their daughter needed to charge her laptop and take care of several other issues.

"The only suitable workspace was a small desk and chair that also housed the minibar. She set up her laptop on the desk and looked for an outlet. There was one right above the desk, but it was full, so she unplugged one of the cords and plugged in the computer,” the woman explained.

The parent reported seeing a $50 charge when they checked out.  The Paris workers responded that it was because the electrical tray had been unplugged when they questioned reception about the reason.  A picture of the desk area with the warning label that reads, "Please refrain from unplugging the tray," was swiftly provided by the front desk.  There will be a $50 fine if this happens.

"The little sign was not near the outlet. Disgusted, I asked to have the charge removed. The woman there told me that they couldn’t remove it because it was a third-party fee. She even had a picture of the minibar with the sign at her fingertips to show me the warning,” the guest reported.

Leff tells Casino.org that for a number of years, he has been receiving more complaints from customers about Las Vegas.

“There does seem to be a rise in complaints, though that is an increase off a long-running trend dating to a couple of years before the COVID-19 pandemic,” Leff said.

Prices in Paris

The importance of mini bars isn't well-known, and Paris Las Vegas is no exception.  It costs $14.99 for a bag of M&Ms or a box of Sour Patch Kids sweets.  Gatorade costs $9.99, while Red Bull costs $10.99.

The electric monitoring tray is there because Caesars and all other casinos are aware that visitors may purchase these products for a few dollars by walking down to the Strip and the nearby CVS.

Since many travelers arrive at their hotel rooms with their bags after a lengthy flight and are thirsty and in need of a snack, a small bar is convenient.  The third-party company running the mini-bar and Caesars wants to ensure that they turn a healthy profit on the goods and that no guest refills the tray before they depart.