Letter: Finding new ways to gouge visitors

Tuesday, June 26, 2001 | 9:08 a.m.

My sister and I just returned from a six-day stay at the Riviera hotel-casino, where we attended a bridge tournament.

Since I've been a regular visitor to your city for the past 45 years, I'm writing to congratulate you on the innovative ways you've come up with to further gouge the tourists who come to you with their money.

On checkout we found the following charges on our hotel bill: $3.22 per day for the use of the safe in our closet; $1.50 each for energy surcharge; $2.46 each for reservation handling fee. It's the last one that I find especially imaginative.

Re the energy surcharge: as we were paying it, we were wearing jackets and hats to play bridge as the public rooms were so cold despite the 100-plus temperatures outside. Wouldn't it be more logical to turn down the air conditioning and -- this is a big leap! -- turn off all the Strip's lights at midnight in a real effort to save energy?

There's something obscene about charging the visitor for the lights that attract them there in the first place.

Your taxes on food and lodging are high -- but I guess that's still not enough. How about a chair fee for those of us who sit down to gamble?

Or, better yet -- how about an hourly fee to play the slots? This would bring in a few more dollars to feed your greedy coffers.

CLARE CHRISTIANSEN, Coupeville, Wash.