Comments on: Hotel fees that must die — and how to kill them http://www.elliott.org/the-travel-critic/hotel-fees-that-must-die-%e2%80%94-and-how-to-kill-them/ Consumer advocate Christopher Elliott's site. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:25:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: carver http://www.elliott.org/the-travel-critic/hotel-fees-that-must-die-%e2%80%94-and-how-to-kill-them/comment-page-1/#comment-41717 carver Sun, 06 Jun 2010 20:30:37 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=10742#comment-41717 @shannon I suspect that they don't advertise the fact because if they begin to charge they look stupid. That happened a few years ago to Marriott. They didn't have resort fees, now they do @shannon

I suspect that they don’t advertise the fact because if they begin to charge they look stupid. That happened a few years ago to Marriott. They didn’t have resort fees, now they do

]]> By: matthewsf http://www.elliott.org/the-travel-critic/hotel-fees-that-must-die-%e2%80%94-and-how-to-kill-them/comment-page-1/#comment-41709 matthewsf Sun, 06 Jun 2010 17:40:32 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=10742#comment-41709 A related but different fee re. bellhop service in New York City to watch out for is the mandatory fee for storing a bag at the hotel. Yes, some hotels do charge you a small fee to hold your bag AFTER you check out of your room, a service which I can justify. But the DoubleTree Metropolitan on Lexington/51st will charge a fee to hold your bag if you're early or your room isn't ready...in other words, BEFORE check-in. And if I recall (and I'm not 100% certain on this as it's been a while since I used their service) they might even charge you PER TRIP-to drop it off and to retrieve it. This fee was a union settlement to most likely make up for lost tips. Once I found out they enacted this, I refused to stay at this hotel any longer. There are too many choice in the city where you can avoid this surcharge. If you stay there, beware of this practice, make note of when/how often you have to pay, complain to their GM and never return. A related but different fee re. bellhop service in New York City to watch out for is the mandatory fee for storing a bag at the hotel. Yes, some hotels do charge you a small fee to hold your bag AFTER you check out of your room, a service which I can justify. But the DoubleTree Metropolitan on Lexington/51st will charge a fee to hold your bag if you’re early or your room isn’t ready…in other words, BEFORE check-in. And if I recall (and I’m not 100% certain on this as it’s been a while since I used their service) they might even charge you PER TRIP-to drop it off and to retrieve it. This fee was a union settlement to most likely make up for lost tips. Once I found out they enacted this, I refused to stay at this hotel any longer. There are too many choice in the city where you can avoid this surcharge. If you stay there, beware of this practice, make note of when/how often you have to pay, complain to their GM and never return.

]]> By: MC http://www.elliott.org/the-travel-critic/hotel-fees-that-must-die-%e2%80%94-and-how-to-kill-them/comment-page-1/#comment-38529 MC Sat, 01 May 2010 16:46:35 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=10742#comment-38529 I emailed Mr. Elliott about a ridiculous deal through Hotwire. I am being charged a $20/day RESORT fee for a place, Blue Water Resort, in the Bahamas, which claims to be a 3 star hotel. After paying, you find out the "resort" is a townhouse/condo, with its own kitchen, and laundry, and 1 small restaurant. So now I have to pay extra to rent a car to buy my own groceries, and laundry detergent... I do all this at home!!! And I have to pay a RESORT fee??? You can live at Extended Stay America, and do your own laundry and cook your own meals, but there is no resort fee! I emailed Mr. Elliott about a ridiculous deal through Hotwire. I am being charged a $20/day RESORT fee for a place, Blue Water Resort, in the Bahamas, which claims to be a 3 star hotel. After paying, you find out the “resort” is a townhouse/condo, with its own kitchen, and laundry, and 1 small restaurant.
So now I have to pay extra to rent a car to buy my own groceries, and laundry detergent… I do all this at home!!!
And I have to pay a RESORT fee???
You can live at Extended Stay America, and do your own laundry and cook your own meals, but there is no resort fee!

]]> By: Tom Mulhall http://www.elliott.org/the-travel-critic/hotel-fees-that-must-die-%e2%80%94-and-how-to-kill-them/comment-page-1/#comment-34666 Tom Mulhall Thu, 25 Feb 2010 19:13:18 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=10742#comment-34666 What I hate are "phony" room sales. There are hotels that ALWAYS advertise 50% OFF room rates sales, yet, they NEVER charge their printed "rack rate." Their "sale rate" is really their regular rate. They then make up for it with resort fees, high parking charges, etc. Here in Palm Springs, we have some hotels that do that. It is very misleading as people who do not know any better think they are staying at a nicer quality hotel and that the rooms really are on sale. In my opinion, hotels should have to consistently charge the higher rate, like 50% of the time or more, before they could advertise a sale. Otherwise it is just false advertising. What I hate are “phony” room sales. There are hotels that ALWAYS advertise 50% OFF room rates sales, yet, they NEVER charge their printed “rack rate.” Their “sale rate” is really their regular rate. They then make up for it with resort fees, high parking charges, etc.

Here in Palm Springs, we have some hotels that do that. It is very misleading as people who do not know any better think they are staying at a nicer quality hotel and that the rooms really are on sale.

In my opinion, hotels should have to consistently charge the higher rate, like 50% of the time or more, before they could advertise a sale. Otherwise it is just false advertising.

]]> By: Shannon http://www.elliott.org/the-travel-critic/hotel-fees-that-must-die-%e2%80%94-and-how-to-kill-them/comment-page-1/#comment-33350 Shannon Tue, 09 Feb 2010 18:20:36 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=10742#comment-33350 What I don't understand is why hotels that don't charge extra fees don't advertise this. This would be a HUGE selling point, I would rank it up there with the airlines that don't charge for baggage. I am an avid business traveler so I have become accustomed to the NYC occupancy fee and etc. but if I have the choice between two similar hotels, one with a resort fee and one without, most likely I am choosing the latter of the two. When I am making a reservation I usually ask the agent if they could please find out if there are any type of fees that hotel charges such as facilities charges, refort fees, gym fees.. and I make note of it so the next time I am travelign to that city I know. And, you should never book with a company that charges you to modify your reservation. If you are not booking directly with the hotel, book with a third party company like quikbook. They let me make, change, and cancel my reservations without a charge, and I don't pay a thing until I check out. What I don’t understand is why hotels that don’t charge extra fees don’t advertise this. This would be a HUGE selling point, I would rank it up there with the airlines that don’t charge for baggage. I am an avid business traveler so I have become accustomed to the NYC occupancy fee and etc. but if I have the choice between two similar hotels, one with a resort fee and one without, most likely I am choosing the latter of the two. When I am making a reservation I usually ask the agent if they could please find out if there are any type of fees that hotel charges such as facilities charges, refort fees, gym fees.. and I make note of it so the next time I am travelign to that city I know. And, you should never book with a company that charges you to modify your reservation. If you are not booking directly with the hotel, book with a third party company like quikbook. They let me make, change, and cancel my reservations without a charge, and I don’t pay a thing until I check out.

]]> By: Andrej W http://www.elliott.org/the-travel-critic/hotel-fees-that-must-die-%e2%80%94-and-how-to-kill-them/comment-page-1/#comment-33175 Andrej W Tue, 09 Feb 2010 01:57:29 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=10742#comment-33175 I agree with all of your points but the air-conditioning fee, believe it or not. The airport hotel that you refer to is the Tune Hotel in the KL Low Cost Carrier Terminal. It's owned by Air Asia which is Asia's biggest low cost carrier. Tune Hotels is a chain of budget hotels which proudly employs a strategy of pay only for the services you need in order to offer the most value for your money. Their rooms cost $18. Like low cost carriers, you can love them or hate them but it turns out there is a large segment of travelers who, given the choice, want to pay the lowest dollar to get from point A to point B even if they have to put up with ultra bare bones amenities. The same seems to be true for a certain segment of hotel travelers. Believe it or not there are many travelers in Southeast Asia who don't like using air conditioning (ironically it's usually westerners who espouse this idea). For more mid- and upmarket hotels, it would be of course ridiculous to charge for air conditioning or towels. In this case, Tune Hotels is absolutely clear about the fees and concept on their website. The traveler who complained about it certainly had the option to stay elsewhere if budget hotels were not his or her style of travel. I agree with all of your points but the air-conditioning fee, believe it or not. The airport hotel that you refer to is the Tune Hotel in the KL Low Cost Carrier Terminal. It’s owned by Air Asia which is Asia’s biggest low cost carrier. Tune Hotels is a chain of budget hotels which proudly employs a strategy of pay only for the services you need in order to offer the most value for your money. Their rooms cost $18.

Like low cost carriers, you can love them or hate them but it turns out there is a large segment of travelers who, given the choice, want to pay the lowest dollar to get from point A to point B even if they have to put up with ultra bare bones amenities. The same seems to be true for a certain segment of hotel travelers.

Believe it or not there are many travelers in Southeast Asia who don’t like using air conditioning (ironically it’s usually westerners who espouse this idea).

For more mid- and upmarket hotels, it would be of course ridiculous to charge for air conditioning or towels. In this case, Tune Hotels is absolutely clear about the fees and concept on their website. The traveler who complained about it certainly had the option to stay elsewhere if budget hotels were not his or her style of travel.

]]> By: Phil http://www.elliott.org/the-travel-critic/hotel-fees-that-must-die-%e2%80%94-and-how-to-kill-them/comment-page-1/#comment-33173 Phil Tue, 09 Feb 2010 01:04:03 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=10742#comment-33173 So if the hotel is going to charge a housekeeping fee then tell them you don't want housekeeping, go without it, you don't need your bed made for a stay of up to a week, nor do you need clean towels, you don't have clean towels daily at home so why at a hotel. Tell them to knock off the charge, you go without. Questions should be asked at time of check-in as to what fees are going to be charged to your hotel bill in addition to the nightly room rate. Travelers must get more aggressive with these charges and stop them when checking in not when checking out. So if the hotel is going to charge a housekeeping fee then tell them you don’t want housekeeping, go without it, you don’t need your bed made for a stay of up to a week, nor do you need clean towels, you don’t have clean towels daily at home so why at a hotel. Tell them to knock off the charge, you go without. Questions should be asked at time of check-in as to what fees are going to be charged to your hotel bill in addition to the nightly room rate. Travelers must get more aggressive with these charges and stop them when checking in not when checking out.

]]> By: RobertKCole http://www.elliott.org/the-travel-critic/hotel-fees-that-must-die-%e2%80%94-and-how-to-kill-them/comment-page-1/#comment-33172 RobertKCole Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:46:10 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=10742#comment-33172 A recent Starwood initiative may start signaling the unbundling of housekeeping services for hotels. Guest may choose to receive a $5 hotel credit or 5,000 star points per day (for up to 3 consecutive days) if they decline to have their room cleaned. It is being positioned as a "Green" initiative, but realistically, the only material green that is saved is labor cost for the hotel operator. Sheets and towels do not need to be washed daily - that can represent a legitimate saving of water & gas/electricity. However, aside from the electricity associated with vacuuming and perhaps room lighting, (or if you want to count the CO2 exhaled by the housekeeper...) there is not much in the way of negative environmental impact. As labor costs represent the by far the greatest expense for a hotel guest room operating budget. It would be logical to assume that a natural extension of this policy would be to initially discount the hotel rate for a room without housekeeping services, and then offer housekeeping as an optional upgrade for a fee. The hotel would then also be able to quote a lower base retail price (which is the underlying objective behind all these fees.) Like with air travel, all these clever pricing tricks ultimately lead to an undermining of the consumer value proposition and an unraveling of the traditional service delivery system. Deconstruction of pricing helps commoditize products and rarely works to drive incremental profit unless the product offering is dramatically enhanced or efficiently differentiated. I hope hotels don't follow airlines down the path of touting record incremental fee revenues that are trading dollars with base fares that reflect stagnant/falling revenue per seat mile. Here is the link to the WSJ article: http://j.mp/9pJhoJ A recent Starwood initiative may start signaling the unbundling of housekeeping services for hotels. Guest may choose to receive a $5 hotel credit or 5,000 star points per day (for up to 3 consecutive days) if they decline to have their room cleaned.

It is being positioned as a “Green” initiative, but realistically, the only material green that is saved is labor cost for the hotel operator. Sheets and towels do not need to be washed daily – that can represent a legitimate saving of water & gas/electricity. However, aside from the electricity associated with vacuuming and perhaps room lighting, (or if you want to count the CO2 exhaled by the housekeeper…) there is not much in the way of negative environmental impact.

As labor costs represent the by far the greatest expense for a hotel guest room operating budget. It would be logical to assume that a natural extension of this policy would be to initially discount the hotel rate for a room without housekeeping services, and then offer housekeeping as an optional upgrade for a fee. The hotel would then also be able to quote a lower base retail price (which is the underlying objective behind all these fees.)

Like with air travel, all these clever pricing tricks ultimately lead to an undermining of the consumer value proposition and an unraveling of the traditional service delivery system. Deconstruction of pricing helps commoditize products and rarely works to drive incremental profit unless the product offering is dramatically enhanced or efficiently differentiated.

I hope hotels don’t follow airlines down the path of touting record incremental fee revenues that are trading dollars with base fares that reflect stagnant/falling revenue per seat mile.

Here is the link to the WSJ article: http://j.mp/9pJhoJ

]]> By: Noah http://www.elliott.org/the-travel-critic/hotel-fees-that-must-die-%e2%80%94-and-how-to-kill-them/comment-page-1/#comment-33158 Noah Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:12:04 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=10742#comment-33158 "The cost of your room should include housekeeping. Use of a concierge or bellhop should be optional, not mandatory. Explain to a manager that if they ever want your business again, the fees must be removed. Immediately." --Obviously, they have to clean the room before I check in, and I agree that that fee should be included in the room rate. But I would be very happy if I did not have to pay for daily housekeeping when I stay in a room for several days. I don't vacuum and dust my apartment on a daily basis; why do I have to pay a hotel to do that for my room, if I don't want to. In short, I would LOVE the housekeeping fees to be more a la carte. “The cost of your room should include housekeeping. Use of a concierge or bellhop should be optional, not mandatory. Explain to a manager that if they ever want your business again, the fees must be removed. Immediately.”

–Obviously, they have to clean the room before I check in, and I agree that that fee should be included in the room rate. But I would be very happy if I did not have to pay for daily housekeeping when I stay in a room for several days. I don’t vacuum and dust my apartment on a daily basis; why do I have to pay a hotel to do that for my room, if I don’t want to. In short, I would LOVE the housekeeping fees to be more a la carte.

]]> By: MeanMeosh http://www.elliott.org/the-travel-critic/hotel-fees-that-must-die-%e2%80%94-and-how-to-kill-them/comment-page-1/#comment-33005 MeanMeosh Mon, 08 Feb 2010 07:25:23 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=10742#comment-33005 The only way these fees are going to go away is 1) people stop patronizing establishments that charge them, and 2) when you choose to not patronize such an establishment, call or write them and tell them you gave your business to a competitor that didn't charge the fees. If enough people do this, they'll get the message eventually. The only way these fees are going to go away is 1) people stop patronizing establishments that charge them, and 2) when you choose to not patronize such an establishment, call or write them and tell them you gave your business to a competitor that didn’t charge the fees. If enough people do this, they’ll get the message eventually.

]]> By: William Rowell http://www.elliott.org/the-travel-critic/hotel-fees-that-must-die-%e2%80%94-and-how-to-kill-them/comment-page-1/#comment-32935 William Rowell Sun, 07 Feb 2010 22:24:09 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=10742#comment-32935 1. LOGIC???? From a hotel???? oh, you are an optimist...... 2. Next, let's take a shot at insane rental car charges. I rented a car at LAX this week, 2 days @ $39.60 = $79.20 + $36.88 in fees, taxes, CFC, VLF etc.... = $116.08. 1/3 of the bill was fees & taxes...... 1. LOGIC???? From a hotel???? oh, you are an optimist……

2. Next, let’s take a shot at insane rental car charges. I rented a car at LAX this week, 2 days @ $39.60 = $79.20 + $36.88 in fees, taxes, CFC, VLF etc…. = $116.08. 1/3 of the bill was fees & taxes……

]]> By: Kim http://www.elliott.org/the-travel-critic/hotel-fees-that-must-die-%e2%80%94-and-how-to-kill-them/comment-page-1/#comment-32934 Kim Sun, 07 Feb 2010 22:19:17 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=10742#comment-32934 I'm guessing the "mandatory bellhop fee" is NYC. That fee has been around for a while at hotel where the bellhops are unionized. It used to be about $3 per person and I can't remember if that was per day or not. I never use bellhops, unless I'm staying in NYC when it's already paid for. I’m guessing the “mandatory bellhop fee” is NYC. That fee has been around for a while at hotel where the bellhops are unionized. It used to be about $3 per person and I can’t remember if that was per day or not. I never use bellhops, unless I’m staying in NYC when it’s already paid for.

]]> By: Steve Surjaputra http://www.elliott.org/the-travel-critic/hotel-fees-that-must-die-%e2%80%94-and-how-to-kill-them/comment-page-1/#comment-32932 Steve Surjaputra Sun, 07 Feb 2010 21:27:14 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=10742#comment-32932 @EricR Well, with the litigous stuff that's happening lately, I wasn't sure. But anyway, it's the Luxor. It's actually part of their $12.95 resort fee. http://www.vegas.com/resorts/luxor/ @EricR

Well, with the litigous stuff that’s happening lately, I wasn’t sure. But anyway, it’s the Luxor. It’s actually part of their $12.95 resort fee.

http://www.vegas.com/resorts/luxor/

]]> By: Nicholas Helke http://www.elliott.org/the-travel-critic/hotel-fees-that-must-die-%e2%80%94-and-how-to-kill-them/comment-page-1/#comment-32929 Nicholas Helke Sun, 07 Feb 2010 19:05:37 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=10742#comment-32929 Another fee I would like to add to the list is WiFi. No hotel should charge for it. Especially not the >$200/night kind. It is so in expensive that even Greyhounds buses offer it for free. Cf. http://nhelke.tumblr.com/post/376461636/wifi-should-be-free Another fee I would like to add to the list is WiFi. No hotel should charge for it. Especially not the >$200/night kind. It is so in expensive that even Greyhounds buses offer it for free. Cf. http://nhelke.tumblr.com/post/376461636/wifi-should-be-free

]]> By: Andy Hayes | Sharing Travel Experiences http://www.elliott.org/the-travel-critic/hotel-fees-that-must-die-%e2%80%94-and-how-to-kill-them/comment-page-1/#comment-32928 Andy Hayes | Sharing Travel Experiences Sun, 07 Feb 2010 18:39:32 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=10742#comment-32928 I also find it frustrating that hotels are more expensive to begin with have more fees than the discount shops. Why can't you just tell me how much it's going to be and move on? I also find it frustrating that hotels are more expensive to begin with have more fees than the discount shops. Why can’t you just tell me how much it’s going to be and move on?

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