Top 10 Hidden Hotel Fees You Should Avoid

Honor Bar – Hands Off!

A hotel mini bar can be a trap for frugal travelers. Cashews, pistachios, cookies, and mini candy bars come in small canisters, each priced at $6 and up. Many times, you’ll find a bottle of water in your room that appears complimentary (and sometimes is), yet often costs $5 or more.

Tired guests have been known to open a cabinet stocked with high-priced items, grab one, and then replace it the next day with something they buy at the corner store. However, many honor bars come equipped with sensors that alert the front desk when something has been removed. Consequently, the charge is instantly added to your bill, making the process of getting that charge removed quite challenging. Therefore, it’s wise to buy your snacks and drinks elsewhere and let someone else pay for these high-priced treats.

Resort Fees and Other Vague Charges

It’s a delight to visit a beautiful resort property and enjoy all the amenities. At many destinations, these amenities are part of your room rate, elevating your stay with added benefits.

However, you might discover a “resort fee” that has been added to your bill, often at locations you wouldn’t ordinarily classify as resorts. Always question this charge, as it can frequently be vague and appear unfair. While you may not succeed in removing the fee, seeking clarification can provide you with an enlightening (and at times amusing) explanation. You can always share your experience in an online review, informing other travelers that the low room rate they think they’ve found can come with unexpected costs.

Breakfast Bills

Most travelers assume that the first meal of the day is included if they stay at a bed and breakfast resort; however, that’s not always the case.

It’s prudent to inquire early in the booking process whether breakfast is included. In some instances, a lavish buffet can leave you reeling when presented with a hefty tab after your meal. Most innkeepers tend to be straightforward about breakfast costs, but in business-class hotels, a buffet meal can easily exceed $20, as many business travelers simply consider it a cost of doing business.

Since most travelers aim for budget-friendly meals, be cautious with breakfast pricing. You can typically find an affordable breakfast option just a short walk or drive away.

Workout Charges

If you enjoy working out during your travels, many hotels include gym access within the room rate.

However, some guests may assume that all hotels provide free access to the exercise room, but this is not always the case. In fact, there are establishments that charge for gym access before you even begin your workout. Consequently, check your bill for workout charges and don’t hesitate to address them politely if you find discrepancies. Hotel management is often willing to waive these fees rather than engage in a lengthy dispute.

Parking Privileges

Free parking in urban hotels is becoming increasingly rare.

Parking fees, often accompanied by mandatory valet service, can exceed $100 or more for a multi-night stay in some locations.

There are strategies to avoid these excessive charges. One option is to explore nearby municipal parking garages, which might be less convenient but significantly cheaper than hotel parking. Alternatively, consider arranging a car rental as you check out. When using opaque pricing platforms like Priceline or Hotwire, be aware that parking fees could transform a great deal into an ordinary find.

Phone Fees

Hotel phone bills have become less of a concern for budget travelers, particularly as most guests now carry mobile phones.

However, before you pick up that convenient room phone to order a pizza or contact a friend, remember that some hotels may charge for local calls. Moreover, using collect or calling card connections can involve additional fees.

In fairness to the hotels, these charges can vary significantly from city to city and country to country. Always ask if local calls are complimentary and if there are fees for collect long-distance calls.

Towel Replacement Costs

In today’s environmentally conscious world, many hotels provide notes in bathrooms informing guests that daily towel replacement is no longer standard practice. They typically encourage guests to reuse towels and leave only those needing replacement on the floor. In some instances, replacing towels daily may incur an additional fee.

Water and energy resource conservation is essential in many parts of the world, making these charges commonplace, not just in places like Costa Rica but globally.

Room Service Costs

Most readers recognize that room service comes at a premium. That $10 sandwich can easily become a $20 meal once delivered to your room. On top of menu prices, many hotels automatically add a 15-18 percent gratuity to room service charges, and there may even be a clean-up fee for leaving dishes in the room.

Computer Connection Costs

You should not expect a consistent pattern in internet charges across hotels. In some budget hotels, wireless internet is free, while luxury establishments may charge $20 or more per day for such services.

As reliance on internet connectivity grows, many guests are willing to pay significant fees to ensure access. However, if you are not dependent on immediate internet access, you can save money by locating an Internet café off-site or utilizing the hotel’s business center.

In-Room Movie Fees

With the rise of streaming services and portable devices, the demand for in-room movies has decreased, leading to potentially increased costs for viewing on-demand content—already known to be quite steep.

Billing errors related to in-room movies are not uncommon. Therefore, it may be wise to avoid the hotel’s on-demand movie database altogether if possible.