How to Stop Stealing Hotel Fees
Hotels are already expensive, so the last thing you want is hidden charges that add unexpected expenses to your travel budget. Hotel fees are not always something to avoid, especially at popular resorts, but you shouldn’t be surprised at them either. With that in mind, here are some of the frequently charged commissions that you might want to skip over if you’re a diligent shopper.
How to avoid hotel fees and other add-ons
There are several ways to avoid hotel fees. One is to join hotel chain loyalty programs, which typically eliminate the additional costs – Wi-Fi, late check-out, parking, resort fees – that are typically charged to regular customers. Hotel bonus cards are also free of commission and provide cash refunds or points that can be redeemed for free hotel rooms or airline tickets.
In addition, the knowledge – the power, if you know what to look for, you can avoid inflated hotel chains commissions – before you book a hotel room (at Nerdwallet have a good overview of fees for hotel network ). Unfortunately, this requires more research as many booking sites only list room rates in their search results and additional fees are added only at the end of the booking process. This is why you want to take a close look at your subtotal for additional costs in excess of the quoted room rate. If the booking site is unclear, you can always book a room directly with the hotel and ask for a breakdown of its fees (if their site doesn’t already list them).
Hotel fees shouldn’t come as a surprise
While you cannot really avoid all hotel fees if you choose to stay at the listed hotel, you have the right to know how much you will end up paying – no surprises. The best way to do this is to visualize your trip from start to finish and think about what the fees might be causing based on the list below. Once you’ve done that, you can find a hotel that minimizes your costs for something you don’t really need.
Resort fees
Resort tax (or “destination tax”) is one of the largest sums of money in the hospitality industry. It is supposed to be charged for the use of the resort’s amenities, although regular hotels with some amenities do charge for it. too much. Resort tax is around $ 30 per day or more, which can add 10-20% to your hotel bill.
It is difficult to avoid resort tax in places like Las Vegas or Miami, but you can at least take a closer look and minimize the cost as resort fees vary by hotel. The Resort Fee Checker website is a good place to start. Otherwise, if you are stuck with an unexpected resort fee, politely ask the hotel manager how much it costs. If you have not used the services covered by the resort fee, they may deduct it from your bill.
Early check-in fee
If you are on a cheap red-eye flight, you will want to confirm if the hotel will charge additional early check-in fees, as this can sometimes cost up to 50 percent of the daily room rate , which can negate the savings on your flight.
Additional person fee
Hotels often charge between $ 20 and $ 50 for an additional adult per night, so keep this in mind when traveling with a travel companion. They are probably worth the extra charge, but it’s still good to know ahead of time.
Wi-Fi fees
Hotels (especially luxury brands) can be downright shameless in charging Wi-Fi fees, which can cost anywhere from $ 10 to $ 20 a night, even though free Wi-Fi is common and is perceived by most consumers as courtesy and not as a premium service. For this reason, I personally do not stay in hotels that charge Wi-Fi fees.
Terrifying minibar
The snacks in your room’s minibar are often so absurdly expensive ($ 16 for an M & Ms package!) That they should be avoided entirely. If you need help avoiding the appeal of the available midnight snacks, you can look for hotels that don’t have a stocked minibar.
Also, don’t assume that bottled water in your room is free – you will often have to pay a very high price for any bottle you open.
Parking Fee
If you’re driving, expect hotels in major cities to charge $ 25- $ 35 per day for parking, plus a tip if it’s only valet service. One trick is to also look for free or cheaper parking near the hotel.
Gym fees
This option can be just as bad for getting cash as paying for Wi-Fi, albeit less common. Again, unless the rest of the hotel is perfect and you don’t see yourself using the hotel’s gym during your stay, you should avoid hotels that charge this fee.
Cleaning tip
Hotels sometimes charge a mandatory tip for the cleaning lady – usually around 10% – but this is rare and so it can be a surprise that you might tip twice.
Safe board
If you never use a hotel safe, you probably won’t want to pay for it. The secure service fees are usually a few dollars, but it is not known exactly what he pays for (secure service?).
Other fees
You might think we’ve covered it all, but hotels may also include charges for sun loungers and umbrellas; multilevel internet speeds; phone charges (including local); pet fees; and an extra charge for a rollaway bed. Read the fine print and order accordingly.