Free parking on the Las Vegas Strip had almost become a relic of the past, and a pay-to-park model was now just as common in Vegas as the dreaded resort fee. There were a few places you could park on the Strip for free, but that list could just about be counted on one hand.
Wynn and Encore to eliminate parking fees for guests on July 1
However, in a ‘winning’ turn of events, the Wynn recently announced the return of free self and valet parking at the Wynn and Encore properties! Beginning on July 1, 2018, overnight parking for guests will be free…or rather, it will be included in the $39 per night resort fee that is not increasing as a result of this change.
In a statement, the President of Wynn Las Vegas said, “We have come to believe that charging additional parking fees is counter to the personalized service we provide. This new policy directly reflects the way we know our guests want and deserve to be treated.” To that, I say amen, as there is no question that parking fees and procedures have started to plague the carefree Vegas experience.
Now, the skeptic in all of us may feel that this parking fee change is just a way for the Wynn to drum up some positive press in light of all of the recent negative Steve Wynn stories. That may well be true, but I’ll still put it in the win column since it keeps cash in visitors’ pockets.
For Wynn and Encore visitors, parking will be validated with $50 spent at Wynn or Encore retail stores, restaurants, theaters, nightclubs, lounges, and any gameplay. Furthermore, you can have the parking validated for multiple vehicles with enough spending. This means if you met a friend for a $100 dinner, then two cars can have their parking validated. They don’t want every Tom, Dick, and Hannah visiting other Strip properties to just park at the Wynn, without spending some cash first.
Until July 1, 2018, self-parking at the Wynn is $15 per night and valet parking is $27. Let’s hope this move puts pressure on the other Las Vegas Strip properties to rethink their ever-increasing pay-to-park strategy. Until that magical day comes when all of the casinos back away from parking fees, remember that free self-parking at the Mlife properties can be yours by simply obtaining the Hyatt Visa that conveys Discoverist status and then matching that status to Mlife Pearl. Learn more.
Feature image by Eric Lo / Getty Images.
