If you’re currently in the midst of planning your summer vacation, you’ve definitely been browsing for places to stay. And I even dare to say that you’re probably looking for hotels with the best amenities out there, right? Well, comparing actual hotel prices might prove to be quite tricky, and hidden hotel fees are definitely to blame.
Hotel fees and surcharges set the stage as a proper practice in the industry back in 1997. However, they might take up a large portion of your vacation budget if you don’t pay attention. As a matter of fact, you might not even be aware of the fees hotels charge until you’ve booked a room or even received your bill at the checkout.
Luckily, this could soon change. A brand new bill, known as the Hotel Fees Transparency Act, has been recently introduced by U.S. Senators Jerry Moran and Amy Klobuchar. Now, you will know the exact price you will ultimately pay.
The FTC also proposed a rule to ban junk fees, which they might refer to as “bogus fees that might harm consumers.” More often than not, Americans make online reservations that are met with hidden fees.
This whole process makes it very difficult to compare prices and understand the true value of an overnight stay. The bipartisan legislation might help improve transparency so travelers can make the right decisions. Luckily, you can easily avoid extra charges if you know exactly which amenities hotels might add, no matter if you use them or not.
Resort fees
Resort fees oftentimes might charge extra for all the activities and services they have in store, even if you don’t use them. That’s why you need to ask what kind of fees are charged when you book a room. Also, you should find out whether you will have to pay something if you use the services or not.
If they say that you don’t, you need to make sure those charges don’t show up on your bill for services you didn’t use. If they do, just ask to have the fees removed.
Early check-in fee
Some hotels might charge you extra if you check in before a certain hour. For example, if you arrive early, you need to ask whether there is an early check-in fee. If so, make sure you also ask if the hotel will store your bags for free (most of them will without hesitation) until you can check in later. That way, you can start visiting the sites you want without dragging around your bags.
Additional person fee
Hotel room rates are mainly based on double occupancy. You generally don’t have to pay extra for kids in the room. However, hotels often charge up to $50 per additional adult per night. If you want to avoid this strenuous fee, you have to be fully aware of it before you book. This way, you can easily search for another hotel that won’t charge it.
Wi-fi fee
Most hotels will charge $10 to $20 per night for Wi-Fi. A rather efficient way to get around the charge is simply to sign up for the hotel’s loyalty program, which in most situations is completely free. Generally, you might get a series of privileges, like free Wi-Fi. It’s also worth mentioning that you should expect to get free Wi-Fi at budget hotels.
Mini-bar and snack fee
The majority of travelers know that the beverages in mini-bars can be quite pricey. There’s a good reason why so many people avoid them. You really don’t have to consume them to notice a huge surge in your bill. Simply moving an item in the mini-bar could result in a charge, especially since everything in that refrigerator is on a sensor.
If you see a charge for something you didn’t use or consume, just show the hotel clerk that it’s still there and try to contest the charge. Also, try to watch out for those complimentary-looking bottles of water or baskets of snacks.
Trust me, I’m 100% positive they aren’t free, either. Even if you don’t see any price attached to them, just ask whether there is a charge or not. It doesn’t hurt to know. If you’re afraid you might get hungry and don’t want to pay extra bucks for the mini-bar and snacks, make sure you stock on these wonderful beef jerky packages!
Parking fee
When it comes to hotels in big cities, you should expect to be charged $25 or $35 a day for parking. Some hotels even have mandatory valet parking, so you might have to pay a tip as well. Before you get to the hotel, try to use Google Maps to get a street view of the area where you will spend your vacation, and even look for nearby parking garages.
Then, make sure you call to get a price. The good part is that you can wander around and find the cheapest option.
Gym fee
Some hotels might try to slip in a gym fee, which I must say I find extremely amusing. What if you don’t plan on using the gym? That’s why you need to make sure you ask them to remove it if you don’t plan on using the gym.
Housekeeping gratuity
If you generally leave a tip for the housekeeper, make sure you check your bill first next time. Some hotels might add a 10% housekeeping gratuity.
Spa gratuity
When you decide to make a reservation at a spa, make sure you ask if any gratuity for massage services will be added to your bill. Also, don’t fall victim to over-tipping by leaving a little cash for the therapist!
Telephone surcharge
Also, don’t pick up the phone in your hotel room unless you plan to call the front desk. Trust me on this one: hotels charge for long-distance calls, but in many cases, they also make you pay for local calls.
That’s why you should use your own phone for any type of call. Unfortunately, avoiding all these strenuous fees also means more work for you, which is pretty much the opposite of what you should be doing on vacation.
Tip: Use travel statement cards.
Some travel credit cards will provide statement credits that cover a lot of the costs of travel. For example, if you charge a covered expense to the card (which might include ferries, buses, campgrounds, and even extra fees such as luggage), you might get a reimbursement.
Generally, resort fees are also reimbursed under travel statement credits. For instance, the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card will offer as much as $300 back on a yearly basis as statement credits for booking through Capital One Travel.
Also, the Chase Sapphire Reserve offers up to $300 in statement credits as reimbursement for travel purchases that are charged to your card every anniversary year. As a general rule, resort fees do qualify.
What are the hotels with the highest and lowest resort fees?
If you want to better understand what the best and worst hotels are for resort fees, you won’t be surprised to find out that Wyndham properties have the highest average resort fees, with Hyatt coming in strong in second place.
Also, the Choice Hotels had the fewest resort fees, but that shouldn’t say too much, considering they generally lack resort amenities. Marriott also had the second-lowest resort fees as a percentage of room price, and it’s actually seen as the winner, especially since it’s quite a high-end chain of hotels.
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