Comments on: More #$@!*# hotel fees: here are two new ones

By: SuzieQ

SuzieQ — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 06:25:46 +0000

@ Stacy,

Interesting, I worked as an accounting clerk at a hotel that charged that exact amount for that exact story… except in my case, the general manager had been notified by housekeeping about the incident and she made the determination to keep the charge on the bill. I witnessed the damage and it actually cost the hotel $500.00 to have the mattress professionally cleaned. Oh and a new hotel mattress will cost you much more than $250.00 to replace it, unless it is a roach motel, so it was more likely a cleaning fee.

I wonder if you the person who called me a heartless B***? JK, it would be too small of a world for that!

By: stacy

stacy — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 20:35:27 +0000

I was charged 250.00 for a new matress because a woman in my room started her monthly cycle and had a small amount of blood on the bed.
They did not notify me of the charges ahead of time and charged my card 250.00.
I called the hotel they would not let me speak with the general manager.
my bank account has been overdrawn to the max because of this issue.
Is this even legal?
The blood on the bed was very minimal!!!

By: John Herrmann

John Herrmann — Tue, 25 Dec 2007 20:07:23 +0000

I was told at the desk of a Holiday Inn that there was a $50non-refundable deposit for
having a dog in one’s room. When I complained that a non-refundable deposit was a charge and not a deposit, I was corrected by the clerk. “It is a deposit against silage and breakage.” I asked if she knew the difference between deposit and charge, and she told me that at Holiday Inn there is no difference.I went elsewhere for the night.

By: Barbara

Barbara — Tue, 25 Dec 2007 17:26:11 +0000

In December 2006, I stayed at the Bellagio in Las Vegas. When I received my credit card bill, I noticed that I had a $20 charge for use of the mini-bar even though I didn’t consume anything. Upon calling the hotel to request a refund, I was told that the mini-bar registers “movement,” and a fee is automatically assessed if a “movement” is registered. I told the Bellagio representative that I opened the door to look at the contents of the mini-bar, but I did not consume anything. I was denied a refund b/c I could not prove that I did NOT eat or drink anything from the mini-bar. I suppose I should be grateful that there wasn’t an earthquake while I was in LV, or I would’ve had to take out a loan to pay the mini-bar charges. I think the Bellagio should change its name to “The Orwell,” and I guess the tag line, “what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas” refers to these unconscionable hotel rip-offs.

By: z

Tue, 25 Dec 2007 15:30:11 +0000

The one I find is at most Choice Hotel locations which is a charge for a “Safe Fee” of about a dollar or so. You could get it off your bill by telling them you didnt use the safe but its a major pain! Hey, its MY money so let ME keep it!

By: pam

pam — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 16:36:01 +0000

We just finished a whirlwind trip we came smack up against the “resort fee” time and time again. When I asked what it covered – and I did, every time, I was told it was for things like use of the spa,pool, and internet. As our laptop had died and we had no time for sitting by the pool, ever, I found this especially aggravating. “Why isn’t it just on the room charge?” I asked, “if it’s not optional? And if it is, well, I won’t be using those things.”

It didn’t go very well.

By: Drew

Drew — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 17:58:03 +0000

I found an interesting hotel surcharge in Markham (Toronto), Ontario a few weeks ago…

I was staying at a Courtyard by Marriott, and my bill had a “DM Administrative Fee” on it.

I asked at the front desk, and was told that it was a “District Marketing Fee” that was required to be charged by all hotels in the region… and, to top it all off, it was taxed as well!