TRAVEL ALERT: BELLAGIO HOTEL

They say that "revenge is a dish best served cold," but I didn't waste any time getting my revenge on the Bellagio for their deceptive practice of charging guests for the use of an Ethernet Cable by including it in the minibar and calling it a "souvenir." Early this morning, the hotel sent me an "urgent" message, offering a deep discount of more than $200 if I wanted to extend my stay for an extra night. Evidently, the Bellagio, like all the other hotels in Las Vegas, is suffering based on the less-than-expected attendance at the Consumer Electronics Show this year. Tempting as it was to stay an extra night, I decided to rush right downstairs and give the hotel my answer in person. "Well, Norma," I explained to the woman at the check-out desk, "I'd love to extend my stay for another night but that $14 charge on my bill for the "Refreshment Center" is actually for an Ethernet Cable, something that every other hotel I have ever stayed at provides for free. It's leaving such a bad taste in my mouth that I've decided to check-out rather than stay another night." Norma was quite understanding, encouraged me to send a note to the hotel management (which I have already done) and mentioned, almost sheepishly, that just this morning the Bellagio management raised the price of the Ethernet Cable by another dollar. "Not to worry," I said happily as I checked-out, "By my calculations, the Bellagio has just lost $115 and gained another empty room for tonight." By the way, I concluded my note to the Bellagio management by telling them: "For more information on my experience, I invite you to run a Google search on either Bellagio Hotel, Las Vegas Hotels or Bellagio Internet Cable. I've posted my opinions online to forewarn future guests about your Deceptive Internet Charges and -- yes -- I used my "souvenir" Ethernet Cable from your "Refreshment Center" to do it ...!"

THE BEST AND WORST OF THE BELLAGIO ...

What I like the most about my hotel here in Las Vegas, the Bellagio, is that they go all out to make every guest feel like a celebrity. Just this morning, I felt like Augustus Gloop when I stumbled across a genuine Chocolate Fountain in the lobby. It's filled with 2 tons of white and dark chocolate rising nearly 27 feet above the Jean Philippe Patisserie and is, according to the Guiness Book of World Records, the largest chocolate fountain in the world.

Later, I felt more like the victim of a con job in The Grifters when I realized just how much the Bellagio charges its guests to connect to the Internet. I don't mind the $14.99 per day connection fee. Most hotels charge a daily rate for high-speed Internet access and I would expect the Bellagio to charge more than most. What I do mind is the creative way they further jack-up the price. Unlike most major hotels, they don't offer Wireless Internet Access. Instead, they tell you to "use the Ethernet Cable near the minibar" to get connected. What they don't tell you -- unless you look very closely at the Minibar Menu -- is that the Ethernet Cable is, in their opinion, a "Souvenir" for which they charge you an additional $12.99. Yes, that's right, the cable -- which every other hotel I've ever stayed at provides for free -- comes in a shrink-wrapped "gift box" and the minute you open it, the Bellagio charges you an additional $12.99. Now that's what I call an ISP (Indecent Superfluous Price) ...!