How Hotel “Junk Fees” Can Ruin Your Travel Budget

If you are planning to book a hotel for your next trip, you might want to check the fine print before you confirm your reservation. You might be surprised by the extra fees that hotels can charge you on top of the room rate and taxes. These fees, often called “junk fees” or “resort fees”, can significantly inflate your hotel bill and ruin your travel budget.

What are hotel “junk fees”?
Hotel “junk fees” are additional mandatory charges that hotels add to your bill at check-in or check-out. They are usually not included in the advertised room rate, and they can vary from a few dollars to hundreds of dollars per night. Hotels claim that these fees cover amenities and services that they provide to guests, such as Wi-Fi, fitness center access, concierge services, newspapers, bottled water, and more. However, many travelers argue that these are services that should be included in the room rate or offered as optional extras.

Hotel “junk fees” are also known by different names, such as “destination fees”, “hospitality service fees”, or “facility fees”. They are more common in North America, especially in popular tourist destinations like Las Vegas, New York, Orlando, and Hawaii. According to ResortFeeChecker.com, the average hotel resort fee in the US is $26 per night, up 3% from last year.

How do hotel “junk fees” affect travelers?
Hotel “junk fees” can have a negative impact on travelers’ experiences and overall costs. Many travelers feel deceived and frustrated by these fees, as they are not clearly disclosed during the booking process. Some travelers may not even be aware of these fees until they receive their final bill at check-out. These fees can also make it difficult for travelers to compare prices and find the best deals online.

Hotel “junk fees” can also affect travelers’ rights and protections. For example, some hotels may use these fees to avoid paying commissions to online travel agencies (OTAs) or taxes to local authorities. Some hotels may also use these fees to circumvent consumer protection laws that require them to honor the lowest available rate or to refund cancellations.

What are the actions taken against hotel “junk fees”?
Hotel “junk fees” have sparked public outcry and legislative actions in recent years. Several bills have been introduced in Congress to eliminate deceptive fees and promote transparency in hotel pricing. The most recent one is the Junk Fee Prevention Act, which was proposed by President Biden in his State of the Union speech in February 2023. The bill would ban surprise “resort fees” that hotels tack on to guests’ bills.

Some state attorneys general have also taken legal action against hotel operators for deceptive trade practices related to mandatory fees. For example, in 2019, the District of Columbia sued Marriott International for using “drip pricing”, a technique that hides part of the room price until later in the booking process. In 2020, Nebraska sued Booking Holdings for misleading consumers about resort fees and taxes.

How can travelers avoid or fight hotel “junk fees”?
Travelers can take some steps to avoid or fight hotel “junk fees”. Here are some tips:

• Research the hotel’s fee policy before booking. You can use websites like ResortFeeChecker.com or KillResortFees.com to find out if a hotel charges resort fees and how much they are.
• Ask for a fee waiver or discount at check-in or check-out. You can try to negotiate with the hotel staff and explain why you think the fee is unfair or unnecessary. You can also ask for a refund if you did not use any of the amenities or services covered by the fee.
• Dispute the fee with your credit card company. You can contact your credit card issuer and request a chargeback for the fee amount. You will need to provide evidence that the fee was not properly disclosed or authorized by you.
• File a complaint with the authorities. You can report the hotel’s fee practices to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), your state attorney general’s office, or the Better Business Bureau (BBB). You can also join a class-action lawsuit against the hotel operator if there is one.

Hotel “junk fees” are a controversial and costly issue in the hotel industry. They affect travelers’ experiences and overall costs, and they raise questions about fairness and transparency. Travelers should be aware of these fees and take action to avoid or fight them.

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, msn.com, forbes.com, ResortFeeChecker.com, KillResortFees.com, usatoday.com