Earlier this year, my family took a pre-spring break trip to a popular water park hotel just north of Chicago. We chose a standard room that slept four and included passes to the massive indoor water park. For $119 per night, I thought it was a steal. Unfortunately, by the time taxes and resort fees were added on, the bill for our two-night stay ballooned to more than $300, not including meals or parking.
Resort fees can really take a bite out of your vacation budget, regardless of whether you book a summer stay or one in the dead of winter. What’s more, if you shop online you may not be privy to the exact amount of the fee until after you’ve booked a nonrefundable reservation.
It’s vital that you get all the facts on a hotel fees before you whip out your credit card. These days, the sky’s the limit when it comes to the type of items and services that are included. For example:
Early check-in/Late check-out: This is what killed us at the water park hotel. We got charged $20 for checking in before 4 p.m. (the regularly scheduled check-in time) on the day of arrival and $20 for checking out an hour late (noon, instead of the standard 11 a.m.). In our case, we wanted to get to the water park ASAP since we were only there for two nights, so we sucked it up and spent the extra money. However, if you don’t want to dig deep for this “convenience” I would suggest touring the area around the hotel until you can check in free of charge.
Room-service: If you want to splurge on room service, be sure to check the facts on gratuity. Many hotels add a service charge of 17 to 20% to your bill, plus a delivery fee. Save yourself a few dollars by checking your bill before you tip the room-service server.
Luggage holding: Years ago, many hotels would willingly hold on to your bags at the front desk between check-out and your departing flight, but these days, not so much. Most major hotel chains now charge guests to leave their bags at the front desk. If you are traveling on a budget, it’s a good idea to confirm if this service is free.
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