Are Resort Fees Legal?

By Alice Nichols

If you’ve ever booked a hotel room, you may have noticed an extra fee tacked on to your bill called a “resort fee.” This fee is meant to cover additional amenities and services provided by the hotel, such as access to the gym or pool. However, some consumers are questioning the legality of these fees.

So, are resort fees legal The answer is yes, but with some important caveats.

Firstly, it’s important to understand that resort fees are not mandatory. Hotels are required by law to disclose all mandatory fees upfront when advertising their room rates. This means that if a hotel charges a resort fee, they must include it in the advertised price of the room.

However, hotels are not required to include resort fees in the initial price quote when booking a room. This means that you may see a lower advertised rate for a room and then be surprised with an additional resort fee when checking out.

Additionally, some consumers argue that resort fees are deceptive because they make it difficult to compare prices between different hotels. If one hotel includes all amenities in their base price and another charges a separate resort fee, it can be hard to determine which option is truly more affordable.

Despite these concerns, resort fees are still legal as long as they are disclosed upfront and do not misrepresent the true cost of the room. In fact, many hotels argue that these fees allow them to offer more amenities and services without raising their base room rates.

That being said, if you feel like you’ve been misled or taken advantage of by a hotel’s resort fee policy, there are steps you can take. First and foremost, always read the fine print when booking a hotel room and look for any mention of additional fees or charges. If you’re unsure about anything, don’t hesitate to reach out to the hotel directly and ask for clarification.

If you believe that a hotel has engaged in deceptive practices related to resort fees, you can file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) or your state’s attorney general. These agencies have the power to investigate and take legal action against hotels that violate consumer protection laws.

In conclusion, resort fees are legal as long as they are disclosed upfront and do not misrepresent the true cost of a hotel room. However, consumers should be aware of these fees when booking a room and take steps to ensure that they are not being misled or taken advantage of by hotel policies.