Five Ways Hotels Pick your Pocket

Wow! I got such a deal on Priceline!

Think you've got bragging rights? Not so fast!

Hotels are keeping competitive by offering low or stable room
rates, then tacking on fees for everything from water to maid service. Five could-be-costly tricks:

  • Phone fees:
    the old standby of hotel 'creative revenue enhancers'. Sadly for hotels, people are wise to these exorbitant charges, and are now using cell phones and other mobile technologies to bypass this formerly lucrative scam. Still, beware.
    Make sure you're clear on what you'll be charged if a hotel advertises 'free' local calling.

  • Internet connectivity charge:
    Replacement for the phone access fee: the hotel may advertise 'free' Internet access, but then you'll be charged per-minute for actual time spent online.
    Find out where free local WIFI points are before you travel.

  • Resort fee:
    It's hard to understand how two people can use $28 worth of pool towels in a day, especially when they don't use the pool. But that's what happened when a companion and I stayed at a Florida 'resort' (motel) recently. The $14 per person resort fee wasn't waivable, and, although their web site mentioned a daily resort fee, silly me didn't know that it was mandatory, nor did it state how much we'd be paying. Always check a hotel's resort fees before booking.

  • Business services

    Their fees were once reasonable, but hotel Business Centers are now Profit Centers. Where once the in-room fax was a selling point for business travelers, their $5 per page sending fees can now be off-putting. Get a map to the nearest copy center and save $$.

  • Mini-bar

    Not only will that teeny bottle of spring water cost $5, you may now be charged a "restocking" fee if you so much as open the bar cabinet to browse. Stop doing that! Pack a couple of $3 Margarita nips, some mini-bottles of wine, and your own water. Wonder when a bucket of ice will start costing $5?
When you plan your trip with FastNet Travel, we carefully check hotel charges for you, so there'll be no surprises about budget-busting fees.

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