Hotel added fees, not just in Vegas.

NEW YORK (AP) — Forget bad weather, traffic jams and kids asking, "Are we there yet?" The real headache for many travelers is a quickly-growing list of hotel surcharges, even for items they never use.

http://news.yahoo.com/mimicking-airlines-hotels-fee-happy-070036814.html

 

I am concerned about the comment on mandatory tips. I can see that backfiring on the hotel as I can see folks refusing to tip servers in on site bars and restaurants because of it. That's one that will generate the most negative publicity.

 

We booked a hotel in Nassau last year - just to get the 2 tickets to Atlantis that came with the room. The cost of the room was cheaper than 2 tickets to the waterpark - and the room comes with 2 tickets to ALL of Atlantis, including the waterpark. These were the charges for that room.

Energy surcharge: 15.95 per person per night. Housekeeping gratuities: 5.00 per person per night These are additional charges not included in nightly estimated total and must be paid directly at the hotel.

What's really kind of ironic is that from what I read, many of the people just check-in and check-out - never set foot in the room - so I imagine they are using quite of bit of energy - not to mention how messy they are leaving the room

 

Nickel and diming is the way to go now for companies.

 

If the "fees" are mandatory, it should be mandatory that they are shown as the price because that's what they are.

 

I frequently use Priceline and Hotwire to book rooms so my biggest beef is that many of these fees are not disclosed until after I commit to a non-cancellable purchase. I think its only going to get worse before it gets better.

 

If fees were optional it'd be one thing but don't try to trick me by advertising a lower price only to get pinged later. Just give me the all-in price and based on that i will decide if I want to purchase your goods or services.

 

I dont mind seeing hotels make a profit. Think of the alternative. less profit means less services, less maint, less renovations.

if you like your Vegas hotels like the old stardust then thats what happens when they dont make a profit.

We are still getting a great deal for the money.

I dont see its trickery. i can and do read before commiting to pay.

 

We stayed at an Embassy Suites over the weekend. No free wi-fi. That is asinine. Every podunk Motel Hell along the interstate has no-line-item-charge wi-fi.

 

Warwick Hotel, downtown Seattle. Free in the lobby, but $10 in the room per day.

 

Easy revenue generators for the hotels and airlines.

I don't mind paying resort fees that are reasonable or at properties that I would expect to charge them (ex. properties on the Strip, resorts at the beach, etc.). However, what ticks me off is when a property charges $50+ in daily resort fees or when a downtown property charges a resort fee as well (ex. Hyatt Regency Orlando). Fortunately, I have hotel status with Starwood and Hyatt so I'm able to get the internet charges waived at most of the hotels I stay at.

 

Internet charges are usually at 4*/5* hotels. You don't see 5* hotels comping internet charges that often... It's usually the 1*-3* motels/hotels that provide free internet access, regardless of rate/status.

When I was younger, I never understood why the more expensive properties would do this considering they were already charging an arm and a leg for the room.