Hotel charges "Resort Fee"

[Stormy Kromer]

I just spent 3 nights in a nice hotel. I don't get around much. When I go somewhere I usually pack a tent.

Anyways, I booked a nice hotel for DW and I and when I got to the check in there was a 10% "Resort Fee" added on top of the room rate. At first I thought it was sales and local taxes, which seemed about right. But no, this 10% "Resort Fee" was on top of all that, plus, there was sales tax on top of the
Resort Fee.

When I looked at the bill it explained that the "Resort Fee" was for access go guest amenities such as the pool, games and complimentary coffee in the lobby.

Never seen this before.

I don't blame a business for charging what it needs to provide a service, but please, just include it in your base price. It reminds me of the time I was at a bar and the bar charged an extra $.50 for ice....just bill me for the final product.

Rant over.

 

[38Chevy454]

I agree, it is just a way to seemingly have low rates advertised, then add in all the hidden profit. You also don't get a choice about if you want to pay the resort fee.

 

[Aerides]

I don't get around much. ...
Never seen this before.

This is very much not new, I've seen it for as long at least 2 decades (and before that I probably hadn't paid for anywhere myself that could pull it off). But it's very common at anywhere resort-y. Usually anywhere from $25-50 per day.

Might include things like towel service at the pool/beach, wifi, parking, all sort of whatsits. Whatever they can book outside the actual room, to avoid (in most states) room tax charges on that portion of the cost.

However, it is expected to be disclosed - maybe just fine print - in the booking.

 

[Montecfo]

It's not new. Just another item to look out for.

 

[MichaelL]

This is typical in Nevada, at Casinos, both Las Vegas and Reno. You can expect the final room price to be 50% above the advertised base rate once the fees and taxes are added in.

 

[foxfirev5]

Yep. And it's been around for a long time. Just like the current $50 per day for parking on top of a $40 resort fee. That's why my resident travel agent, DW, only looks at the bottom line. We travel a lot and there are some tips. While I'm a lifetime Hilton Diamond member they just don't cut it. Go off the grid and find the undiscovered gems. We travel South Florida frequently and it is currently nuts.

Establish yourself with the locals and get a no BS rate. The only problem is that it takes years and many $$. Good luck.

 

[RetiredAndLovingIt]

Almost every hotel in Las Vegas charges anywhere from $18 on up whether they are a resort or not. Same in Laughlin Nevada another casino town. I've seen them at $36 in some places and it may include parking.
Anaheim California near Disneyland does the same.
For me personally when this started a long time ago and it's easily been ten years now, I pretty much stopped going to the casinos. I feel it's scam, I used to gamble once a month and now it's been almost 3 years since I've been to a casino and not just because of Covid. If I don't use the pool, free coffee or parking why should I pay their insane extra profit center. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Resort_fee#cite_note-21

 

[rodi]

Unfortunately, that's the norm... even for less fancy places.
Also sales tax is usually more than the nominal sales tax you'd pay at a store - there's a transit occupancy tax (TOT)... Locals have figured out how to charge people who aren't there full time. Here in San Diego the increased TOT will be used for convention center expansion and homeless services. I say "will" because it's tied up in litigation.

 

[jimbee]

It's another way to advertise fake prices legally. Also see car dealer "doc fee", pay TV "broadcast TV fee" and "regional sports fee", etc. Thank corporate lobbyists, what would we do without them.

 

[SecondCor521]

If you are unable to use any of the amenities and complain to staff at the time, they have the ability to credit you back the resort fee. IIRC I did this once in Las Vegas when the cable TV went out for a bit.

That's my recollection anyway - not sure why cable TV would be part of the resort fee and not the basic room rate. Maybe I was just annoyed at the cable TV being out and the resort fee being charged and they tried to make me happy.

 

[SecondCor521]

Another thing I don't like is some hotels lately are charging an extra parking fee on top of the room rate. I understand it, but I don't like it.

 

[CardsFan]

Another thing I don't like is some hotels lately are charging an extra parking fee on top of the room rate. I understand it, but I don't like it.

Standard in Chicago. Got a good room rate at about $140/night. Parking was $50/night. I knew this going in, so no problems. I could have found cheaper parking elsewhere, but was there for our son's wedding. Convenience was a factor I was willing to pay for.

 

[disneysteve]

As others have said, resort fees are nothing new. Neither are parking fees. Both have been around for many, many years.


That said, when resort fees first started showing up, they were often voluntary. You could decline them with the understanding that you wouldn't have full use of the hotel's amenities. Then they started making them mandatory. You had to pay them whether you intended to use the included amenities or not. That's the point at which they should have just rolled them into the room rate.


Marriott just recently lost a lawsuit about resort fees. https://www.usatoday.com/story/trav...s-upfront-pricing-pennsylvania-ag/8691311002/. It remains to be seen if other hotel chains will follow suit.

 

[rodi]

Another thing I don't like is some hotels lately are charging an extra parking fee on top of the room rate. I understand it, but I don't like it.

+1

 

[disneysteve]

Another thing I don't like is some hotels lately are charging an extra parking fee on top of the room rate. I understand it, but I don't like it.

Certainly not new. That's been around for ages, especially in big cities and resort areas. Even Disney World hotels, that had resisted it for decades, finally started charging for parking a couple of years ago.

 

[leftyfrizzell1963]

It's the norm in Vegas. Overall, it is dishonest, since it is tacked on afterwards on all rooms. It ought to be illegal.

 

[disneysteve]

It's the norm in Vegas. Overall, it is dishonest, since it is tacked on afterwards on all rooms. It ought to be illegal.

I've stayed at many hotels that had resort fees but I've never once had a situation where it wasn't clearly stated at the time I booked. If they didn't reveal it until check out, I would absolutely refuse to pay it.

 

[Dtail]

Agree it is normal and am sure we will experience it in Vegas next month.

 

[Stormy Kromer]

It's not new. Just another item to look out for.

I have to get off the farm more often to learn what's going on....

 

[Sunset]

Southern IL has a casino hotel, even with the resort fee it was a good/fair price for a nice room and I don't gamble but we would stay there.

I do watch for the resort fee when booking.

Thing I hate is it errodes the entire here is the price information!

Example: imagine a car dealer selling a new 150 truck for $10.99 + fee......

 

[RetiredAndLovingIt]

If you are unable to use any of the amenities and complain to staff at the time, they have the ability to credit you back the resort fee. IIRC I did this once in Las Vegas when the cable TV went out for a bit.

That's my recollection anyway - not sure why cable TV would be part of the resort fee and not the basic room rate. Maybe I was just annoyed at the cable TV being out and the resort fee being charged and they tried to make me happy.

Could it have been the internet? Insanely slow internet is included in the resort fee IIRC

 

[RetiredAndLovingIt]

Agree it is normal and am sure we will experience it in Vegas next month.

Oh yes you will, MGM $40 plus taxes per night

 

[dmpi]

For Reno or Vegas even if you get 'comped' rooms you might still have to pay the resort fee. There are two tiers depending on how much you play. For me I still pay the resort fee but one of my high-roller friends got us a room and everything was paid for. Nice.

 

[RobbieB]

I just checked, just to make sure...We've stayed there before...Don't remember a fee

Circus-Circus Reno, rooms for $39.95!

So I checked and I was amazed...$100/day resort fee. Gobstruck! How does the fee exceed the room?

Gonna buy a boat.

 

[flyingaway]

I have seen a few non Las Vegas casinos start charging resort fees. The Cherokee casino in the Great Smoky Mountains just started in last October. So the comped room is no longer free.