Most travelers are familiar with basic hotel fees like pay-per-view movies, room service, telephone calls, spa services and hotel taxes, but there are a bunch of other fees you might not know about such as resort fee, bed type guarantee, early check-in/late check-out, luggage storage, minibar restocking fee, water, safe, towels, newspaper, internet, fitness center, parking, package receipt and energy fees.Here’s how to avoid some of the most common hotel fees:
Resort fee: Many hotels charge a “hotel resort fee” either at the time of booking or at checkout. This fee is essentially a higher nightly rate hidden in the fine print, so even if you prepaid for your reservation, you might still find an extra 10 percent or more surcharge per night at checkout. Avoid resort fees by speaking to the hotel before booking to see if the hotel charges this fee. If they do, you can try to negotiate to have it removed, particularly if you are staying for an extended period of time, it’s low season or it’s a last-minute booking.
Airport shuttle: Gone are the days when travelers could assume the hotel shuttle is free. Ask at the time of booking to avoid any surprises.
Bed type guarantee: Prefer to have a king or queen size bed? At some hotels, locking this preference in may cost you. Avoid this fee by asking at the time of booking if the hotel charges to place a bed preference in the reservation. You can also avoid the fee by booking at hotels that only offer king and queen size beds as options.
Early check-in/late check-out: While many hotels will gladly accommodate travelers who wish to arrive early or leave later, an increasing number are charging for this. Ask to speak to a manager to see if the fee can be waived or store your bags with the bellhop or concierge and begin to enjoy the resort’s amenities like afternoon tea or a spa treatment.
Bellhop/housekeeper gratuities: This “service charge” is often levied per day or per stay. There isn’t a way to avoid this, but it’s important to factor it into your travel budget.
Luggage storage: Need a safe place to stash your bags before or after checkout? While many hotels still offer luggage storage for free (though tipping is recommended), some do not. Ask before you hand over your luggage. If your hotel charges a fee, see if your destination offers an in-city airport check-in option that allows you to not only check yourself in for a flight but your baggage as well.
Minibar restocking fee: Given that it’s rare to find a hotel that offers free minibar snacks, most travelers are accustomed to paying for food and drinks from the minibar. However, an increasing number of hotels are also adding a minibar-restocking fee to the price of a canned soda or snack. Some tech-savvy hotels have extended the minibar to other parts of the room, automatically charging for items, which are detected as removed from the minibar via sensors. If the snack remains in your hands for too long, you’ve just bought it. Best advice: don’t touch the minibar at all.
Water: It’s increasingly commonplace to see water bottles placed in hotel rooms, particularly in destinations where the water isn’t potable. Some hotels stock bottled water on the counter and in the fridge, designating one type as free and the other for a fee. If there is a fee, consider stocking up on bottled water at a local supermarket or bringing your own water bottle from home and filling it with a complimentary glass of water from a hotel restaurant.
Safe: Many hotels offer an in-room safe, a convenient place to securely stash your items, but some hotels charge guests who opt to use the safe and others charge just because it is in the room (the justification is that the fee covers both the cost of the safe and insurance for its contents). Avoid this fee by double checking with hotel staff to confirm if the safe is free. If it’s not free, ask if items can be stored in the hotel’s main safe for free.
Towels: Most hotels offer complimentary towels in-room (hostels and lower end hotels around the world often rent towels and bed linens), but, if in doubt, ask. The more common towel charge is from resorts that often charge for beach and pool towels and even fitness center towels. Avoid this fee by staying at resorts that offer free towels, packing your own towel or using the room towels at the beach and pool. Just be sure that if you have to ask for extra towels that there isn’t an extra charge for that too.
Newspaper: An increasing number of hotels have moved away from placing a complimentary newspaper at your door each morning, but some still do (even if you don’t request it) for a fee. Avoid this fee by asking upon check-in if the newspapers offered are free. If they aren’t, politely opt out of newspaper delivery.
Internet: Some hotels have staggering surcharges for in-room Internet and Wi-Fi. Some charge by the room per day while others charge by the device. Avoid Internet fees by asking if your room rate or loyalty membership includes free Internet. If not, use the free Internet offered in public areas (like the lobby) or head to a nearby coffee shop that offers free Wi-Fi.
Fitness center: Many properties offer the use of the fitness center for free, but sometimes this isn’t the case. Avoid fitness center fees by calling the hotel and asking before you complete your reservation if the gym is included. If not, you can find other ways to exercises outdoors – take a city walking tour or go swimming in the ocean.
Groundskeeping fee: If your resort is in a bucolic setting, you might see this charge on your bill. There isn’t a way to avoid this, but it’s important to factor it into your travel budget.
Parking: Some hotels, particularly in large cities, charge for parking and valeting the car. Avoid parking fees by skipping the car rental (opt for public transport or a taxi instead), parking near the hotel or staying out in the suburbs where parking may be free.
Package receipt: Need to mail something to the hotel before your stay? Ensure the hotel doesn’t charge you a fee for holding on to your packages prior to your arrival.
Energy charge: Introduced in 2000, the energy charge was established to help hotels cover rising utility costs, but some hotels take advantage by charging a hefty amount. Try to negotiate the rate, particularly if you are staying for several nights or it’s low season. If the hotel manager won’t budge, ask for a better room rate.Image:
TheDeliciousLife,
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