The mere thought of a vacation is enough to motivate even the most work-weary among us. Naturally, we want the best deal for our hard-earned money when making our vacation plans, but once you start adding up the airfare, a rental car, some tickets to a performance, sporting event or some landmark sites, the cost of vacation begins to hit home – and that’s before you even think about accommodation.
These days, for anything more than a weekend trip away, the price of a hotel can easily become the most expensive component of a vacation. The average room rate across the US is around $91 per night. But stay in some of the big cities around the country and you’re paying a lot more.
*some of the below rates have dipped due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but 2021 is showing a race back to previous 2019 rates.
A sample of average room rates include:
- New York City average daily rate $275
- Miami $152
- San Francisco $195
- Nashville $142.
But instead of hotels making their pricing more affordable, or at the very least more transparent, the hotel and resort industry has only added to the pricing confusion, with something they like to call a ‘Resort Fee’ or ‘Convenience Fee’, among other names.
What started out in the late 1990s as a pricing model for Las Vegas resorts and casinos, is now showing up at hotels in destinations all across the country – even for properties one wouldn’t consider a resort.
What Is A Resort Fee And What Does It Cover?
A resort fee is an additional charge that is added to the advertised room rate and paid to the hotel directly on arrival. The fee is compulsory, meaning a guest must pay at the time of check-in if they want their room key.
A hotel typically charges a resort fee for such things as swimming pool and gym access, fax services, Wi-Fi, local phone calls, or complimentary newspaper. Beach resorts might even include beach access to the list of ‘benefits’ covered under the resort fee.
Of note during the COVID-19 pandemic, most of the facilities included in mandatory ‘resort fees’ were closed, yet hotels are still collecting the fees.
Imagine paying for a room at a beach resort, only to be told that an additional fee must be paid to access the beach. It’s almost like paying for a steak dinner at a restaurant, and then told a separate fee has to be paid upfront for the use of your table and chair, and the silverware you use to eat your meal.
In short, it’s a quick and easy revenue grab for the hotel and can be deceptive for consumers.
Aware of the consumer push-back around the term resort fees, some hotels have started referring to them as an ‘Urban Fee’ or ‘Destination Fee’ instead in a futile attempt to mask their actions.
While illegal to charge in many countries, unfortunately, US law does not require hotels to disclose resort fees in the initial phase of the booking process.
How To Get Around Paying A Resort Fee Or Destination Fee
Hotels should state upfront on their website at the time of booking that an additional fee will be charged at check-in, although at times you may need a magnifying glass to find the statement. If there is a fee charged, simply consider another hotel.
If using a consolidator site such as Expedia, Bookings.com or Orbitz, among others, beware of the fee that may not be displayed at the time of booking and could be an unwelcomed rude shock at check-in.
The best way to not get taken in by added resort fees is to do your homework. Before you or your travel agent make any hotel or accommodation booking, always check with the property directly and ask upfront if a resort or destination style fee will be added on top of your room rate.
You can also check websites such as Kill Resort Fees who call out hotels that charge a fee at popular tourist destinations across the country. According to Kill Resort Fees, there are a few simple ways to avoid paying a resort or destination fee.
1. Refuse to pay
Some hotel managers have the discretion to remove the fee if you state that you won’t be using the services covered at the time of check-in. If that doesn’t work, you may be stuck paying the fee upfront, but take the issue up later with the company direct later.
2. Dispute the charge with your credit card company
Once the charge has been applied, dispute it with your credit card company. Simply call them to advise you did not use any of the services but were charged for the service regardless and would like it reversed. They may ask for further proof but would be worth it to get the charge reversed.
3. File a complaint with the Attorney General
Fifty Attorneys Generals are currently investigating hotel resort fees for deceptive and misleading advertising. According to the Kill Resort Fees website, many people have been able to claim back their fees by filing a report with their state’s Attorney General’s office. Check their site for links.
4. Sue in small claims court
You may not need a lawyer in a small claims court. If you booked the hotel online sitting in your home, you have jurisdiction in your local small claims court to make a claim according to the Kill Resort Fees website. Fees range to make a claim (reportable between $10-$40). These court costs can also be claimed in the suit. In some cases, hotels have simply mailed a reimbursement check as it’s not worth their time, or expensive in-house lawyer fees, to fight it.
Please note nothing mentioned in this story constitutes legal advice. Please contact a lawyer if required.
10 Cities Where Resort Fees Are Common
According to the website Kill Resort Fees, the worse-offending destinations for resort fees at the end of 2020 include:
LAS VEGAS, NV
Resort fee up to $40/night
NEW YORK CITY, NY
Resort fee up to $35/night
HAWAII
Resort fee up to $40/night
LOS ANGELES, CA
Resort fee up to $45/night
SAN DIEGO, CA
Resort fee up to $45/night
DISNEYLAND & ANAHEIM
Resort fee up to $40/night
ARIZONA
Resort fee up to $55/night
WASHINGTON D.C.
Resort fee up to $32/night
BOSTON
Resort fee up to $40/night
NEW ORLEANS
Resort fee up to $40/night
The Worse Resort Fee Offender
And the prize for the worst offender in the United States we could find is Fisher Island Club and Resort in Florida, who charge a whopping $161 per night – with part of that fee to access their onsite restaurants!
The daily ‘Club Membership Fee’ includes access to South Florida’s most exclusive seaside golf country club, racquet club, casual and fine dining restaurants, spa, salon and wellness center, marinas, private beach club, the Vanderbilt Mansion pool and access to the club’s “exclusive member events.”
