Hidden hotel fees continue to frustrate travelers, with a 2023 survey revealing that 95% encountered unexpected charges or misleading fees over the past year.
Here at Chicago West Loop, we get that hidden fees frustrate travelers. As a trusted stay spot, we’re upfront about full pricing from booking to checkout. In this quick guide, we’ll cover some sneaky hotel surcharges and offer tips to help guests spot and skip surprise charges. We want you to feel taken care of and know we’re here to answer questions anytime.
How to Spot Hidden Hotel Fees When Booking
Resort Fees
- Nearly impossible to avoid in tourist hotspots like Las Vegas or Hawaii
- Supposedly cover pool, beach chairs, wifi, and other amenities
- Ranging from $20-$50 per night, on top of room rates
- Always search for “resort fee” on hotel sites to determine if charged
Parking Fees
- Overnight parking at city hotels can cost $40-$60 daily
- Valet parking may add another $20+ per day
- Skip by choosing hotels with complimentary self-parking or hotels that have free parking spots nearby
Service & Cleaning Fees
- Extra housekeeping and property upkeep fees
- Generally $5-$20 added per day
- Read the rate listing carefully or call the hotel to ask about add-on service fees
Compare Total Price vs Nightly Rates
- Scan the final estimated total bill on booking sites
- This will reveal complete pricing with taxes, fees, and surcharges
- Avoid sticker shock at checkout by understanding full trip costs
Top Tips for Avoiding Hidden Hotel Fees
- Read the Fine Print Hotel Policies:
Don’t just glance at tempting nightly rates. Thoroughly scan terms and conditions, FAQs, and “what’s included” details, especially for resorts.
- Ask Detailed Pricing Questions Upfront
Directly inquire if taxes, parking, wifi, and amenities come included or at added costs. Leave no stone unturned by phone or email.
- Call the Hotel Directly Too
Speaking to an agent allows for clarifying any online gray areas around complete pricing. It also holds them accountable later for quoted rates.
Being Aware of Fees Upon Check-In
- WiFi Fees: Up to $15/day unless you specifically booked a room marked “wifi included”.
- Pool Access Fees: Kid pestering you to use the pool? Ensure it doesn’t come with a surprise $25/day pool admission charge.
- Fitness Center Fees: That hotel exercise room you were excited about may cost $10-15 per day to enter, unfortunately. Ask at check-in.
- Business Center Fees: Printing documents, scanning, and faxing services could all incur extra fees if using the hotel’s business center.
- Check-In/Out Fees: Yes, some hotels even charge $10 or more just to formally check-in/out at their front desk alongside your room fee itself.
What to Do If You Uncover Hidden Fees
- Inquire at the Front Desk: Politely ask staff to talk through the fees you didn’t anticipate from initial pricing quotes. Don’t get immediately hostile.
- Calmly Express Dissatisfaction: Explain your frustration around the lack of rate transparency, but avoid aggression. See if they’ll offer goodwill discounts for the misunderstanding.
- Attempt Courteous Fee Negotiation: For group travelers on longer stays, cordially negotiate the removal of the most extreme fees by speaking with the manager. But accept base taxes.
- Refuse Payment on Undisclosed Charges: Reject outright paying for fees that the hotel or booking sites never disclosed during the reservation process, or on their website.
- Involve Your Credit Card Company: Regulations like the Fair Credit Billing Act give travelers the power to dispute shady charges even after checkout. You can challenge extra fees that hotels sneak in outside room rate deals made during booking. But having documents ready is key, you need proof those fees weren’t part of the upfront pricing agreed on.
Reporting Hotels for Hidden Fees
- Better Business Bureau Complaint: File a formal grievance with the BBB outlining the hotel’s misleading pricing practices and unresponsive customer service. Added public scrutiny prods quick reviews.
- FTC Complaint for “Drip Pricing”: Report hotels to the Federal Trade Commission for suspicious “drip pricing” tactics, excluding required fees until final checkout.
- Small Claims Court Filing: For excessive hidden fees in the hundreds, travelers can represent themselves in small claims court with documented proof. The hassle motivates hotels to settle and refund.
The Checkout on Hidden Hotel Fees
While hidden hotel fees certainly present an annoyance for travelers, by identifying misleading charges promptly and disputing them vigorously, guests can manage the damage. And over time as more of us push back against opaque resort fees and deceptive surcharges, the less hotels will risk concealing them.
By demanding upfront rate transparency, doing comprehensive booking research, and directly questioning hotels on all fees, we travelers can minimize unpleasant surprises.
And when issues still creep up, remember even top-ranked hotels sometimes make billing mistakes. At our own Hotel Chicago West Loop, we aim for exceptional service and full pricing clarity from day one. But should oversights happen, trust our knowledgeable staff is here to promptly correct and make things right.
We hope these tips equip you to approach hotel bookings with confidence. Safe travels, and we’d be delighted to welcome you for a top-rated Chicago experience at our corner of the West Loop! Check us out at hotelchicagowestloop.com for current deals.
