Questions on this come up a lot, so thought I'd have a crack at a guide on how to work out / break down your bottle service bill at clubs/pools. Not going to get into cash tipping (host, security, runner etc..), as there's already a great sticky on that here http://forums.jackcolton.com/showthread.php?t=10354.
So I'm only going to cover what goes on your bill - the thing you roll across the hotel room floor the next morning in horror, and wonder, 'how the f*&^ did that happen!?'
So let's use a hypothetical example. Host quotes you a $1000 minimum for a table/daybed/cabana.
The skinny is that you're committing to spend a minimum of $1000. For that, you get 'free' use of the space - the table/cabana etc.. for you and your group. The default is that this price doesn't include taxes, service and where applicable - Live Entertainment Tax (see below). Some hosts will quote an all in price, but this is really rare, and they will usually tell you its all in. Unless stated otherwise, assume that taxes and grat go on top. If in doubt, check with the host.
So what goes actually go on top of your minimum?
Sales tax is 8.1% - so on a $1000 spend, add $81
Service is typically 20%, some clubs are a little less/more, but 20% is the norm. If you want to get dollar perfect, check with the host on the service %. Using the 20% norm, on a $1000 spend, $200 in service will get added to your bill.
Live Entertainment Tax. Currently only Marquee charges this. Long story, don't ask, but the bottom line is if you get a table at Marquee, another 10% LET will get added to your bill - or $100 on a $1000 spend.
So if you 'spend' a $1000 at Marquee, your bill at the end of the night will total. $1,381. $1000 on drinks, plus tax, service and LET. This of course excludes cash tipping, but as I said at the start of the post, not covering that here.
Pools work exactly the same way as clubs, except the minimum is for food and bev. Ie, if you order food from the menu, it counts toward your minimum. Tax and service gets added to everything.
Some quick Q&A to the most common Q's:
Q. How much are bottles? Same price in every club etc..?
A. See here http://forums.jackcolton.com/showthread.php?t=4254 for bottle pricing in clubs. Short answer is no, some clubs have higher pricing (Bank is currently the most expensive), some clubs are lower vs the average (Tao and Lavo are good examples of this). Remember, all the pricing in a bottle pricing list is ex tax, service and LET. Sheetsvip is another good source for menus for many of the clubs, plus they also have floorplans, which is handy.
Q. What size are the bottles?
A. Standard bottle size in vegas for 'standard' drinks like Goose, Belvedere etc.. are 1L. More exotic stuff will be 750ml. Many club menus will identify if a bottle is 750ml, but if you stick to the usuals, 1L. If in doubt, check with the host.
Q. Can I pay cash?
A. Yes.
Q. Can we spend over our minimum? Eg, can we spend our mimimum on one card/cash, then open another card and keep going?
A. Shit yes.
Q. Will we get charged for mixers?
A Sodas, juices etc.. are FOC with your bottles. Anything in an individual can/bottle - red bull, water etc.. is not free. Prices for these are on the bottle service menus. Be warned that they are not cheap, but welcome to Vegas.
Hope this helps, here endeth the public service announcement.
So I'm only going to cover what goes on your bill - the thing you roll across the hotel room floor the next morning in horror, and wonder, 'how the f*&^ did that happen!?'
So let's use a hypothetical example. Host quotes you a $1000 minimum for a table/daybed/cabana.
The skinny is that you're committing to spend a minimum of $1000. For that, you get 'free' use of the space - the table/cabana etc.. for you and your group. The default is that this price doesn't include taxes, service and where applicable - Live Entertainment Tax (see below). Some hosts will quote an all in price, but this is really rare, and they will usually tell you its all in. Unless stated otherwise, assume that taxes and grat go on top. If in doubt, check with the host.
So what goes actually go on top of your minimum?
Sales tax is 8.1% - so on a $1000 spend, add $81
Service is typically 20%, some clubs are a little less/more, but 20% is the norm. If you want to get dollar perfect, check with the host on the service %. Using the 20% norm, on a $1000 spend, $200 in service will get added to your bill.
Live Entertainment Tax. Currently only Marquee charges this. Long story, don't ask, but the bottom line is if you get a table at Marquee, another 10% LET will get added to your bill - or $100 on a $1000 spend.
So if you 'spend' a $1000 at Marquee, your bill at the end of the night will total. $1,381. $1000 on drinks, plus tax, service and LET. This of course excludes cash tipping, but as I said at the start of the post, not covering that here.
Pools work exactly the same way as clubs, except the minimum is for food and bev. Ie, if you order food from the menu, it counts toward your minimum. Tax and service gets added to everything.
Some quick Q&A to the most common Q's:
Q. How much are bottles? Same price in every club etc..?
A. See here http://forums.jackcolton.com/showthread.php?t=4254 for bottle pricing in clubs. Short answer is no, some clubs have higher pricing (Bank is currently the most expensive), some clubs are lower vs the average (Tao and Lavo are good examples of this). Remember, all the pricing in a bottle pricing list is ex tax, service and LET. Sheetsvip is another good source for menus for many of the clubs, plus they also have floorplans, which is handy.
Q. What size are the bottles?
A. Standard bottle size in vegas for 'standard' drinks like Goose, Belvedere etc.. are 1L. More exotic stuff will be 750ml. Many club menus will identify if a bottle is 750ml, but if you stick to the usuals, 1L. If in doubt, check with the host.
Q. Can I pay cash?
A. Yes.
Q. Can we spend over our minimum? Eg, can we spend our mimimum on one card/cash, then open another card and keep going?
A. Shit yes.
Q. Will we get charged for mixers?
A Sodas, juices etc.. are FOC with your bottles. Anything in an individual can/bottle - red bull, water etc.. is not free. Prices for these are on the bottle service menus. Be warned that they are not cheap, but welcome to Vegas.
Hope this helps, here endeth the public service announcement.
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