Have you ever booked a hotel room or a resort and then noticed an additional fee on your bill called a “resort fee”? This is a common practice in the hospitality industry, where hotels and resorts charge an extra fee on top of the nightly room rate.
This resort fee covers amenities such as Wi-Fi access, pool use, gym facilities, and other services that guests can avail themselves of during their stay. Some guests may be wondering if they can refuse to pay this extra fee. In this article, we’ll explore the legality of resort fees and whether or not guests have the option to decline them.
Understanding Resort Fees
Resort fees are not a new concept in the hospitality industry. They were first introduced in the early 2000s as a way for hotels and resorts to recoup some of the costs associated with providing amenities to their guests.
At first, these fees were relatively low, ranging from $5 to $10 per night. However, over time, they have increased dramatically. Today, it’s not uncommon for hotels and resorts to charge upwards of $50 per night for these fees.
What Does a Resort Fee Cover?
The amenities covered by resort fees vary from hotel to hotel. However, common amenities include Wi-Fi access, pool use, gym facilities, parking spaces, phone calls within the country or state (sometimes even international), beach chairs or umbrellas (if available), shuttle service within certain areas (if available), etc.
Can You Refuse to Pay?
Unfortunately for travelers who want to save some money on their hotel bills – refusing to pay a resort fee is not an option in most cases. When you book your room at a hotel or resort that has a mandatory resort fee policy (which most do), you agree to pay it as part of your reservation contract.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has even issued a statement on resort fees, stating that hotels must disclose these fees upfront to their customers. However, the FTC does not require hotels to include these fees in the advertised room rate. Instead, hotels can list the resort fee separately from the room rate and disclose it later in the booking process.
What Can You Do About Resort Fees?
If you don’t want to pay a resort fee, you can try to negotiate with the hotel or resort before booking your stay. Some hotels may be willing to waive the fee if you ask.
However, this is not a guarantee. Another option is to look for hotels and resorts that do not charge a resort fee. These properties are becoming more popular as travelers become more aware of resort fees.
- Look for hotels that offer free Wi-Fi access.
- Check if parking is included in your nightly rate.
- Research if there are other amenities available close by that might be cheaper than paying for onsite amenities.
The Bottom Line
Resort fees are an unfortunate reality for many travelers. While they may seem like an unnecessary expense, they are legal and often mandatory when staying at certain hotels or resorts. However, travelers can take steps to reduce their costs by researching properties that do not charge these fees and negotiating with hotel management before booking their stay.
So next time you book a hotel or resort stay, be sure to read the fine print, including any policies regarding additional fees like resort fees so you’re not caught off guard at checkout!