Tourist Stunned by $224 Charge for Unplugging Outlet in Vegas Hotel

A tourist visiting Las Vegas was taken aback after being charged $224 for unplugging a power outlet in her hotel room. Sharina Butler, hailing from the Bahamas, stayed at the Paris Hotel on the Las Vegas Strip in August 2023. The incident occurred when her son disconnected a mini-bar power tray to charge his phone, leading to what Butler believes is an unreasonable fee.

Upon checking out, Butler was informed by a hotel employee that the unplugged tray would incur a charge of $56 for each day it remained disconnected. This resulted in a total charge of $224 for her four-night stay. “The writing on the tray is this small,” Butler remarked in a TikTok video, demonstrating the difficulty of reading the fine print. She expressed frustration over having to read the note on the tray, which was not something she intended to engage with while on vacation.

Confusion Over Charges

The small card next to the mini-bar tray outlined the fees, but Butler claimed it was not easily noticeable. At checkout, she received a larger version of the note, which stated: “Please refrain from unplugging the tray. If this occurs, a fee of $50 will be applied.” Despite her attempts to negotiate with the hotel staff, Butler was told that the charge could not be waived. “Ain’t no way. There is absolutely no way,” she recalled telling the employee.

Butler strongly objected to the charge, having already paid for her accommodation. “I blocked that card because there is no way you are charging me $56 to use a socket,” she stated. Her TikTok post about the experience has garnered over 100,000 views and sparked a discussion among viewers, many of whom shared similar experiences and frustrations.

Reactions and Industry Insights

Comments on Butler’s video echoed her disbelief, with one user stating they encountered a similar issue at the Paris Hotel, arguing over the removal of the tray altogether. “Tourism is dead in Vegas; they are trying to get money any way they can,” another commenter stated, highlighting a growing sentiment among visitors that hotels are seeking unconventional ways to monetize guest experiences.

However, some defended the hotel’s policy. A user employed at the Bellagio noted that many hotels utilize trays connected to sensors that help monitor items. “Most hotels have charging ports on lamps or nightstands, making it easier for guests to avoid issues like this,” the user explained.

The incident raises questions about transparency in hotel pricing and the communication of policies to guests. As tourism continues to recover, it remains crucial for hotels to foster trust and clarity with their customers to avoid misunderstandings and potential backlash.