Worst hotel fees and what to do about them

Airlines have repeatedly raised the ire of passengers over their new found wealth of billions of dollars in fees. Less publicized but perhaps just as contentious are ever-rising hotel fees, often for non-used services.

What are the worst fees and what can hotel guests do about it?

Some good candiates for most obnoxious fees to watch out (cited by Forod's and writer Sarah Schlichter in The Independent Traveler);

• $5 for a safe even if you don't use it.
• Mandatory tips for bellhops and housekeepers.
• $5 for that water bottle on your dresser (you could be forgiven for thinking it was complimentary).
• A one-day penalty for a room cancellation.
• A fee for checking in early.
• Charges to store your luggage.
• Don’t want or like your mini-bar? Some hotels charge you to empty it before your arrival. It’s sometimes called a “restocking fee” and can be as much as $50.
• Check the bill before you tell the bartender to keep the change. Posters on travel boards have reported seeing charges for 20 percent of each drink added to their tabs for the bartender gratuity.
• Shuttle service from the airport. In the good old days, it was free but it often will now cost you.
• Energy fees. Intended to recover the rising costs of providing electrical power, this charge can add $3-$6 dollars a day to your bill.
• Some hotels charge up to $25 to mail packages.
• “Resort fees” of up to $25 a day for a variety of services that might include a business center, pool and gym.
• Want an extra towel at the pool? It might cost you $3.

Then, there’s also random incorrect charges: Numerous posters on travel forums have reported getting charged for smoking in non-smoking rooms, for example. Other random fees include being charged for unordered movies and unmade phone calls.

Hotels are certainly getting better at disclosing fees up front, maintains Scott Booker at Hotels.com. He gives some credit to the Internet.

"If people are unhappy, they won't want to return, and they'll talk about it," he said.

But on the other hand, these often hidden fees can be painful.

“Beyond taxes, it can be difficult to figure out which fees will be charged at a particular hotel or resort before you book. Most of the fees listed above aren't listed on hotel booking sites in your final breakdown of charges,” writes Schlichter.

So what can you do as a consumer?

Here’s more than a half dozen tips on avoiding fees:

1. Check multiple sources for fee charges since hotel sites may cite charges but don’t count on it. Travel sites such as Travelocity, however, often break down what you will be paying.
2. There’s some information online but often it’s better to call the hotel to ask about fees. Even fees among chains will sometimes vary, so keep that in mind.
3. Before you leave a tip for your housekeeper, make sure the hotel isn't already charging you a housekeeping gratuity fee. If it is, you can skip the additional tip — or ask for the fee to be removed so that you can tip at your own discretion.
4. Bring your own snacks and bottled water to help yourself resist the lure of the minibar or the edible "gifts" the hotel leaves on your desk.
5. During your stay, don't take anything for granted. Before using the gym or taking an extra towel at the pool, ask if a fee applies.
6. Joining a loyalty program can save you money for fees. Some hotels offer special perks — including waived fees — to members of their loyalty programs.
7. Hotel telephones are pricy so you probably already know to bring your own cell phone.
8. Federal law requires that all hotel fees be clearly disclosed. This usually happens in the fine print — so take the time to read the terms and conditions of your reservations agreement carefully.

By David Wilkening