Comments on: Time to say “aloha” to the resort fee capital of the world? http://www.elliott.org/blog/time-to-say-aloha-to-the-resort-fee-capital-of-the-world/ Consumer advocate Christopher Elliott's site. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:25:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: William Harrison http://www.elliott.org/blog/time-to-say-aloha-to-the-resort-fee-capital-of-the-world/comment-page-1/#comment-39311 William Harrison Tue, 11 May 2010 14:05:46 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/blog/time-to-say-aloha-to-the-resort-fee-capital-of-the-world/#comment-39311 I really liek you TV SHow..enjoy when I can catch it. Question Is there a WebPage that I can go to which will tell what item are NOT ALLOWED in checked luggage. I am almost 75 and need a HeatingPad to start my morning and wonder IF I can pack it in my (to be) checked lugage? My sister (1st Time) and I are going to Hawaii (my 3rd time) in early November and I have been researching hotels for a few months and wilbe using my AAA to purchase as they seem to have the best discount. After the rooms are purchsed I will go to Expedia and book Activities to do for the both of us. Once agian love your TV show. Bill Harrison I really liek you TV SHow..enjoy when I can catch it. Question Is there a WebPage that I can go to which will tell what item are NOT ALLOWED in checked luggage. I am almost 75 and need a HeatingPad to start my morning and wonder IF I can pack it in my (to be) checked lugage?
My sister (1st Time) and I are going to Hawaii (my 3rd time) in early November and I have been researching hotels for a few months and wilbe using my AAA to purchase as they seem to have the best discount. After the rooms are purchsed I will go to Expedia and book Activities to do for the both of us.
Once agian love your TV show.
Bill Harrison

]]> By: More Reasons to Choose a Vacation Rental Over a Hotel « Vacapedia Vacation Rentals Blog http://www.elliott.org/blog/time-to-say-aloha-to-the-resort-fee-capital-of-the-world/comment-page-1/#comment-11460 More Reasons to Choose a Vacation Rental Over a Hotel « Vacapedia Vacation Rentals Blog Thu, 24 Apr 2008 08:01:55 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/blog/time-to-say-aloha-to-the-resort-fee-capital-of-the-world/#comment-11460 [...] of all, there are some resorts which charge hidden - and mandatory - daily fees for just staying at the resort. As if the rate you’re paying for your room wasn’t [...] [...] of all, there are some resorts which charge hidden – and mandatory – daily fees for just staying at the resort. As if the rate you’re paying for your room wasn’t [...]

]]> By: Hawaii Innkeeper http://www.elliott.org/blog/time-to-say-aloha-to-the-resort-fee-capital-of-the-world/comment-page-1/#comment-10547 Hawaii Innkeeper Tue, 01 Apr 2008 19:24:48 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/blog/time-to-say-aloha-to-the-resort-fee-capital-of-the-world/#comment-10547 John Lindelow said: "by breaking out some of their expenses as a Resort Fee, the hotels can avoid paying the State’s tax of 7.25% on that portion (they still pay 4.16% General Excise tax but avoid the additional 7.25)" In that sense, the resort fee is saving 7.25% for the guests. At an all-inclusive resort, they would have to pay the 7.25% on parking, internet access, beach activities, etc., all of which should not be included in the occupancy tax. And for the guest that prefers home rentals to avoid paying the occupancy tax, unless they are renting for 6 months or longer, the 7.25% still applies. John Lindelow said: “by breaking out some of their expenses as a Resort Fee, the hotels can avoid paying the State’s tax of 7.25% on that portion (they still pay 4.16% General Excise tax but avoid the additional 7.25)”

In that sense, the resort fee is saving 7.25% for the guests. At an all-inclusive resort, they would have to pay the 7.25% on parking, internet access, beach activities, etc., all of which should not be included in the occupancy tax.

And for the guest that prefers home rentals to avoid paying the occupancy tax, unless they are renting for 6 months or longer, the 7.25% still applies.

]]> By: First trip to Hawaii in December - Early Retirement Forums http://www.elliott.org/blog/time-to-say-aloha-to-the-resort-fee-capital-of-the-world/comment-page-1/#comment-10529 First trip to Hawaii in December - Early Retirement Forums Tue, 01 Apr 2008 13:41:22 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/blog/time-to-say-aloha-to-the-resort-fee-capital-of-the-world/#comment-10529 [...] from your money, so keep your wallet hidden and chained up as much as possible. See, for example: Time to say “aloha” to the resort fee capital of the world? | elliott.org In any event, Hawaii ranks as the number one vacation destination in my mind. Just don't let it [...] [...] from your money, so keep your wallet hidden and chained up as much as possible. See, for example: Time to say “aloha” to the resort fee capital of the world? | elliott.org In any event, Hawaii ranks as the number one vacation destination in my mind. Just don’t let it [...]

]]> By: John Lindelow http://www.elliott.org/blog/time-to-say-aloha-to-the-resort-fee-capital-of-the-world/comment-page-1/#comment-10513 John Lindelow Tue, 01 Apr 2008 03:12:05 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/blog/time-to-say-aloha-to-the-resort-fee-capital-of-the-world/#comment-10513 Our company Travel Hawaii did the research on the resort fees at Hawaii hotels noted by Chris Elliott. We've asked ourselves why so many Hawaii hotels charge resort fees and risk the wrath of guests. There's three possibilities, or a combination thereof: First, by breaking out some of their expenses as a Resort Fee, the hotels can avoid paying the State's tax of 7.25% on that portion (they still pay 4.16% General Excise tax but avoid the additional 7.25). Second, the hotels don't have to pay commission to travel agents on what they charge for Resort Fees; and third, the hotels can make it seem like they have lower overall prices by advertising the room rate only and then adding the Resort Fee only when the client checks out. It's probably a combo of these factors, but it goes to show what happens when the bean counters get too much influence over the marketing department. Our company Travel Hawaii did the research on the resort fees at Hawaii hotels noted by Chris Elliott. We’ve asked ourselves why so many Hawaii hotels charge resort fees and risk the wrath of guests. There’s three possibilities, or a combination thereof: First, by breaking out some of their expenses as a Resort Fee, the hotels can avoid paying the State’s tax of 7.25% on that portion (they still pay 4.16% General Excise tax but avoid the additional 7.25). Second, the hotels don’t have to pay commission to travel agents on what they charge for Resort Fees; and third, the hotels can make it seem like they have lower overall prices by advertising the room rate only and then adding the Resort Fee only when the client checks out. It’s probably a combo of these factors, but it goes to show what happens when the bean counters get too much influence over the marketing department.

]]> By: Ed Kummel http://www.elliott.org/blog/time-to-say-aloha-to-the-resort-fee-capital-of-the-world/comment-page-1/#comment-10503 Ed Kummel Mon, 31 Mar 2008 23:13:26 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/blog/time-to-say-aloha-to-the-resort-fee-capital-of-the-world/#comment-10503 And with the recent decision of the County of Maui to increase taxes on timeshare owners, has created an environment of greed to vacationers. After spending a week in Maui last year, I seriously sat down and considered adding a Maui Timehshare to my stable of timeshares. But when I saw that Maui increased again it's taxes on non residents, I decided that perhaps a timeshare on one of the other islands would be a better purchase. I love going to Hawaii and try to get there every couple of years...but if Maui insists on punnishing the very vacationers who make up over 60% of the revenue of the island, they will find themselves wondering where the money went... Ed And with the recent decision of the County of Maui to increase taxes on timeshare owners, has created an environment of greed to vacationers.
After spending a week in Maui last year, I seriously sat down and considered adding a Maui Timehshare to my stable of timeshares. But when I saw that Maui increased again it’s taxes on non residents, I decided that perhaps a timeshare on one of the other islands would be a better purchase.
I love going to Hawaii and try to get there every couple of years…but if Maui insists on punnishing the very vacationers who make up over 60% of the revenue of the island, they will find themselves wondering where the money went…
Ed

]]> By: beatofhawaii.com http://www.elliott.org/blog/time-to-say-aloha-to-the-resort-fee-capital-of-the-world/comment-page-1/#comment-10489 beatofhawaii.com Mon, 31 Mar 2008 17:03:27 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/blog/time-to-say-aloha-to-the-resort-fee-capital-of-the-world/#comment-10489 Concur completely on the resort fees - in fact I don't think I've ever paid one. As for Aloha, just to get the story straight, what forced AQ into final bankruptcy wasn't competition, it was years of poor decisions. These included failure of the prior owners to modernize its inter-island fleet, expand its trans-pacific fleet beyond a handful of 737-700's, and obtain more lucrative mainland and international routes. These choices, which had been ruining their business over a period of years, were only exacerbated by competition and fuel costs. I'm not sure what Ron Burkle was thinking with his more recent $100M investment, but in the end, it was too little, too late. Too bad for the nearly 2,000 loyal employees and their families. Concur completely on the resort fees – in fact I don’t think I’ve ever paid one.

As for Aloha, just to get the story straight, what forced AQ into final bankruptcy wasn’t competition, it was years of poor decisions. These included failure of the prior owners to modernize its inter-island fleet, expand its trans-pacific fleet beyond a handful of 737-700′s, and obtain more lucrative mainland and international routes. These choices, which had been ruining their business over a period of years, were only exacerbated by competition and fuel costs. I’m not sure what Ron Burkle was thinking with his more recent $100M investment, but in the end, it was too little, too late. Too bad for the nearly 2,000 loyal employees and their families.

]]> By: Joe Farrell http://www.elliott.org/blog/time-to-say-aloha-to-the-resort-fee-capital-of-the-world/comment-page-1/#comment-10485 Joe Farrell Mon, 31 Mar 2008 12:31:56 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/blog/time-to-say-aloha-to-the-resort-fee-capital-of-the-world/#comment-10485 And you wonder why we always rent houses when we go to Hawai'i - a small two bedroom house in a real neighborhood with all the amenities is $1500 a week, or about $200 a day. Take a $200 hotel room, add the resort fee, bed fee, occupancy tax and $20 pot of coffee every day - and viola, I'm spending $300 a week less for more room, more comfort, and the ability to cook a meal. Hotels are so old school. And you wonder why we always rent houses when we go to Hawai’i – a small two bedroom house in a real neighborhood with all the amenities is $1500 a week, or about $200 a day. Take a $200 hotel room, add the resort fee, bed fee, occupancy tax and $20 pot of coffee every day – and viola, I’m spending $300 a week less for more room, more comfort, and the ability to cook a meal. Hotels are so old school.

]]> By: Time to say ‘aloha’ to resort fees | tripso.com - International travel news and commentary http://www.elliott.org/blog/time-to-say-aloha-to-the-resort-fee-capital-of-the-world/comment-page-1/#comment-10484 Time to say ‘aloha’ to resort fees | tripso.com - International travel news and commentary Mon, 31 Mar 2008 12:21:30 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/blog/time-to-say-aloha-to-the-resort-fee-capital-of-the-world/#comment-10484 [...] writer Christopher Elliott would like to see Hawaii’s infamous “resort fees” go. And he doesn’t mince words, calling the mandatory fees unfair, unethical and unconscionable. [...] [...] writer Christopher Elliott would like to see Hawaii’s infamous “resort fees” go. And he doesn’t mince words, calling the mandatory fees unfair, unethical and unconscionable. [...]

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