No one told me about the resort fee

[sean_nc]

I agree that the quoted price from any business should be the final bill. That's just dishonest and any 10 year old kid would say so. This reminds me of the commercials with the kid on the bike with the lines around it?

Just stay away from any web site that allows this dishonest practice and for God's sake, don't make excuses for them, they are liars and should be held in disdain.

I totally agree about it being dishonest and just a sleazy business practice.

The websites are probably in a tough spot. I don't blame Hotwire or Priceline even though they should try to do something about like not allowing them to offer rooms anymore if they get reports of shady deals.

If a business quotes a price, even through a third party, that should be the price. Optional things like access to the gym or spa make sense but that's it.

 

[DandyDon]

I've already 'accepted' the fee mentally by making the reservation, so why be mad?

That would be true only if it was part of the quoted deal. In the case given, it was not. It was a surprise fee to be added later.

I have had to pay "resort fee" at a few places, all of those were booked with places like Travelocity or Expedia or hotels.com. The fees are usually right on the website though, so no reason to be angry about it.

Again, sure - if it were. It was not. Frankly, those sites are all hype but suck generally.

The websites you mention cannot include these fees upfront because, in reality they actually don't exist as part of the "room rate" in your reservation. Sounds semantic, I know, but it's simply not there. Just like if the website said "Hotwire does not include anything you eat from the minibar, rounds of golf, pay-per-view porn, or any other charges you may incur during your stay.

No those are options one can take or not at the time. Totally different than a secret fee to be added on regardless of use.

folks who use sites like hotwire and such to book hotels, flights etc and think they are getting "the best deal" are fooling themselves. They are a good way to comparison shop, but they don't save money per se.

I have yet to see Hotwire, Expedia, or Priceline yield the best deal. Sidestep.com does have the option of shopping them along with some other popular search sites, and I compare - but they fail when the links actually go to those sites.

On a search just now, many of those did not book at Chichen Itza, but of those that did, Expedia suggested $110....

Then that became $110+tax...

Then $130...

Hotels.com did the same thing...

Sidestep.com finds the better rate and quotes w-taxes upfront...

And when I continue on thru Orbitz, the total is $102 - not $130, for the same "Superior" room....

Now for you who think you can get the same deal at their own site or bricks & mortar agent...

Think again. Sidestep & Orbitz really did save $28/21.5% as compared to Expedia, Bookit, and Mayaland.com on the same Superior room. Maybe some of y'all have not yet saved money with better shopping, but it is possible - so stop saying that it is not.

Oh about this experience...

I shop Sidestep.com for fares & rates that include taxes and fees generally, but I caught one trying to sneak in an extra fee at booking once. An extra fee to be announced later would be too much...!!

Sidestep stopped connecting to them.

 

[covediver]

I have heard that one of the reasons the airline and others started tacking on "fees" for baggage and what not, besides revenues, was that with the rise of travel search engines people using these engines often do the lowest price first pick, which means that items included in the base put some establishments at a competitive disadvantage if they did not follow the trend.

 

[robint]

So....... Don, I am confused about who you are accusing of added fees at check-in.

I have used Expedia for about 10yrs and used some of the others occasionally over the years. I have been sticking with Expedia for the past several years because I know what I am getting, if there is any additional fees, etc. But that is only for non-dive related activities!

robin

 

[shoot2retrieve]

RJP, I find it funny that your occupation in your profile states "Making consumers buy stuff they didn't know they wanted". Which is spot on for the defense, I just thought it was humorous. I respect your opinion and see what both sides are talking about! I definitely prefer knowing the total bill from the get go and would think for better business practice they would research for hidden charges to notify their customer. But, I think Roatanman and RobinT advice is probably what I will follow to avoid any problems. Hope everyone has good trips no matter who they go thru!!!

 

[DandyDon]

So....... Don, I am confused about who you are accusing of added fees at check-in.

I have used Expedia for about 10yrs and used some of the others occasionally over the years. I have been sticking with Expedia for the past several years because I know what I am getting, if there is any additional fees, etc. But that is only for non-dive related activities!

robin

Yes, I remember you mentioning using Expedia before. Want to pay less for the same thing, and know what you're getting up front? You should try Sidestep comparisons.

You said...

I have had to pay "resort fee" at a few places, all of those were booked with places like Travelocity or Expedia or hotels.com. The fees are usually right on the website though, so no reason to be angry about it.

I agreed...

Again, sure - if it were. It was not.

Except the case in post #1 was that a secret fee was added, not like your experiences, hence the title: "No one told me about the resort fee"

 

[RJP]

RJP, I find it funny that your occupation in your profile states "Making consumers buy stuff they didn't know they wanted". Which is spot on for the defense, I just thought it was humorous. I respect your opinion and see what both sides are talking about! I definitely prefer knowing the total bill from the get go and would think for better business practice they would research for hidden charges to notify their customer. But, I think Roatanman and RobinT advice is probably what I will follow to avoid any problems. Hope everyone has good trips no matter who they go thru!!!

Again, to be clear: I dislike the fees as much as anyone. Just saying that the website is just the messenger. The hotels do not include the fees in the data feed that the travel websites access. There's no possible way for the travel sites to know what they are.

Everyone does understand that the whole thing is automated/database driven, right? There is no "person" from one of these websites actually verifying anything. If the hotel puts "$3" in the database as the room rate subject to a $300 "resort fee" there's just no way for the website to know that.

Also, wont make anyone feel better but you're gonna pay that fee no matter what. Even more in fact, if it wasn't a "fee." Basically the "resort fee" is done as "a fee" and not "room rate" in order to lock up some portion of "profit" that is:

• not commisionable to travel agencies/websites/tour operators/etc
• not discountable based on corporate/government/affinity/promotional rates
• not taxable at the same "occupancy tax" rate at hotel rooms, which can be taxed at nearly 20% in some places
• not subject to service charge percentage
• not be treated as a variable "real estate based" cost from an internal cost-accounting standpoint, which will then be subject to variances in real estate values, amortization costs, etc, etc

Think of it this way, because it really is acurate, and intellectually should make you feel somewhat better if you're into the whole "reality" thing:

• the hotel is going to make a profit on you; that's what they do
• their CFO has already told them the minimum dollar/% profit that's going to be
• if you're staying at a resort with a $25 fee, it's probably not a $29/night roadside motel, so they are going to make AT LEAST $25 profit on you
• the $25 fee is essentially THE FIRST $25 profit, not an "additional" $25

You'll say "then just put it in the room rate" right? Be careful what you ask for!

If they put the $25 in the room rate, it will have to be grossed up..

• 20% or so to cover taxes, service charges, etc
• 5% or more to cover potential commisions
• another 5-10% to cover corporate/government/affinity/promotional discounting
• a couple of percent to cover internal cost accounting variances

So, again, under the assumption that they are going to get that first $25 out of you, would you rather have it be a $25fee...or a $34.50 increase in the room rate.

Because that's what it will cost you to have it added on to the room rate.

Hate to be the "bearer of reality" but...

:cool2:

 

[shoot2retrieve]

I hear ya, I'm just glad to be educated on the fact to be aware of this. I had no idea about these fees. I know I will be a much more aware consumer for sure. I've learned quite a bit from this thread. Of, course when I tell my wife she will probably just say "Oh, yeah you didn't know that they did that!!" She's always a step ahead on the traveling side of things!!

 

[firelaw]

I have taught Consumer protection law for over 30 years. I have to say that RJP has swallowed the vendor's lines hook line sinker rod boat.
It takes a while but the bottom line in moSt civilized countries is

1) a booking agent is fully responsible for proper disclosure A BOOKING AGENT IS NOT A PAPER BOY.

2) Any automatic fee has to be properly disclosed before you make any kind of deposit, not merely at check in
3) Any non automatic fee where the hotel does not provide proof of your use cannot be charged

Yes I know we dive in some corrupt countries where the rule of law is at a minimum, but the booking agents are fully amenable to our courts

I do agree that as an experienced consumer lawyer, I NEVER EVER EVER deal with Hotwire. Life is just too short and I dont need that much practice

 

[scubafanatic]

Again, to be clear: I dislike the fees as much as anyone. Just saying that the website is just the messenger. The hotels do not include the fees in the data feed that the travel websites access. There's no possible way for the travel sites to know what they are.

Everyone does understand that the whole thing is automated/database driven, right? There is no "person" from one of these websites actually verifying anything. If the hotel puts "$3" in the database as the room rate subject to a $300 "resort fee" there's just no way for the website to know that.

Also, wont make anyone feel better but you're gonna pay that fee no matter what. Even more in fact, if it wasn't a "fee." Basically the "resort fee" is done as "a fee" and not "room rate" in order to lock up some portion of "profit" that is:

• not commisionable to travel agencies/websites/tour operators/etc
• not discountable based on corporate/government/affinity/promotional rates
• not taxable at the same "occupancy tax" rate at hotel rooms, which can be taxed at nearly 20% in some places
• not subject to service charge percentage
• not be treated as a variable "real estate based" cost from an internal cost-accounting standpoint, which will then be subject to variances in real estate values, amortization costs, etc, etc

Think of it this way, because it really is acurate, and intellectually should make you feel somewhat better if you're into the whole "reality" thing:

• the hotel is going to make a profit on you; that's what they do
• their CFO has already told them the minimum dollar/% profit that's going to be
• if you're staying at a resort with a $25 fee, it's probably not a $29/night roadside motel, so they are going to make AT LEAST $25 profit on you
• the $25 fee is essentially THE FIRST $25 profit, not an "additional" $25

You'll say "then just put it in the room rate" right? Be careful what you ask for!

If they put the $25 in the room rate, it will have to be grossed up..

• 20% or so to cover taxes, service charges, etc
• 5% or more to cover potential commisions
• another 5-10% to cover corporate/government/affinity/promotional discounting
• a couple of percent to cover internal cost accounting variances

So, again, under the assumption that they are going to get that first $25 out of you, would you rather have it be a $25fee...or a $34.50 increase in the room rate.

Because that's what it will cost you to have it added on to the room rate.

Hate to be the "bearer of reality" but...

:cool2:

...why not drop the 'room rate' to $ 0.00 , and make everything just a 'fee' ? ...or at least make the 'fee' the bulk of the customer charges ? apparently that would chop out at lost of the unnecessary costs/middlemen costs ?