resort fees

Tag Archives for resort fees.

President Biden Calls For Ban On Hotel Resort Fees – Almost Guarantees Nothing Will Change

by Gary Leff on February 1, 2023

Feb 01 2023

President Biden went to war against hotel resort fees and other consumer fees this past fall. He directed federal agencies to find a way to clamp down on or ban them.

Now, however, the CFPB is prepared to limit credit card late fees to $8 but as for the rest of junk fees the President criticized, agencies will do nothing more than continue to “prioritize them” and he’s instead calling on Congress to act. That’s akin to doing nothing, but is also potentially better for the President politically.

Finally! The World’s Most Honest Resort Fee, Hotel Says It Includes ‘Nothing’

by Gary Leff on November 8, 2022

Nov 08 2022

Hotels really stretch to list amenities of value that are included in their resort fee, like the Hyatt which claimed it gave you access to the bathroom mirror or the Hilton which included use of the in-room TV.

These backflips are disingenuous at best. So it’s refreshing when a hotel is honest that the resort fee is nothing but an add-on, and provides literally no value to the guest.

Two Marriotts Introduce New Employee Protection Surcharge

by Gary Leff on November 7, 2022

Nov 07 2022

Surcharges have exploded at Marriott hotels, as well as other chains. Whether it’s fees to cover the light bulbs in your room, extra charges to cover a hotel’s property tax or gotcha charges for paying a bill by credit card (even Marriott’s own credit card).

Still a fee per night that guests now have to pay to protect housekeepers at the Marriott LAX still surprised me.

Does Hilton’s Hotel del Coronado Have The Country’s Worst Resort Fee?

by Gary Leff on November 4, 2022

Nov 04 2022

I’ve only seen one hotel ever claim that your room rate doesn’t cover use of the bathroom mirror or TV in the room, and that this was covered by a resort fee instead. But when I flagged the stupidity, the hotel addressed it.

Maybe the second-most egregious resort fee I’ve come across belongs to Hilton’s Hotel Del Coronado

President Biden Announces War On Hotel Resort Fees

by Gary Leff on October 26, 2022

Oct 26 2022

President Biden has declared war on ‘add-on’ fees, including hotel resort fees. While we can all sympathize with the sentiment, his announcement is unlikely to do much to benefit hotel guests.

Airbnb Now Adds Resort Fees, Because Cleaning Fees Weren’t Enough

by Gary Leff on October 19, 2022

Oct 19 2022

Airbnb is taking on the worst features of hotels, without mirroring the things that make hotels attractive. Their cleaning fees are legendary, even while hosts give lists of chores for guests to complete (not just taking out the trash, doing the dishes, and washing the sheets but sometimes even mowing the lawn).

Sometimes Airbnb – and competitors like Vrbo – are the best option like when renting a house with a whole family or in a town without hotels. But it seems like they’re working hard to kill that advantage, as evidenced by this reported listing where the owner even charges you extra for booking with them and then adds on a resort fee.

Why Airlines Are So Good Disclosing Fees, While Hotels Get Away With Deceiving Guests

by Gary Leff on September 29, 2022

Sep 29 2022

While the federal government’s proposed rules for airlines say it’s not acceptable to disclose even optional fees like those for seat assignments and checked baggage during the purchase process – they must be available at the first instance a price is shown in a search – the government (through the Federal Trade Commission) says resort fees are fine as long as they are disclosed prior to confirming the reservation.

Marriott Charges Resort Fees To Hotels That Want To Charge You Resort Fees

by Gary Leff on September 5, 2022

Sep 05 2022

Marriott actually makes hotels pay them for the right to charge you a resort fee. Having just audited the franchise agreement for their AC Hotels and Westin brands, I found it fascinating that they charge a one-time $1500 fee, plus $550 per year, to hotels that bill customers resort or destination fees. Marriott also has the right to exempt elite members from paying resort fees, under their franchise agreement, but doesn’t do this.

Tsk Tsk: Marriott Hotel Advertises One Resort Fee, Charges Another

by Gary Leff on July 24, 2022

Jul 24 2022

Advertise one thing, charge something else, is the very problem with resort fees to begin with – but charging a different resort fee than what’s published on the hotel website seems next level.

Sheraton Hotel Charged “Bonvoy Rewards Service Fee” When Members Redeemed Points

by Gary Leff on January 29, 2022

Jan 29 2022

Marriott doesn’t have control over its hotels, and properties tend to run amok. So it really shouldn’t come as a surprise – yet still seems more egregious than most anything that I’ve seen – when a reader shared that the Sheraton Puerto Rico Hotel & Casino is adding two separate fees onto award redemptions,

Not only is a ‘Bonvoy Fee’ something that isn’t disclosed to guests during booking, it’s forbidden by the program’s terms and conditions.