Are resort fees illegal?
You might’ve seen headlines claiming resort fees are now illegal — but that’s not exactly true. What did happen is that the FTC passed a new rule requiring hotels to include all mandatory fees (like resort fees) in the upfront advertised price. That means no more “$49/night” listings that balloon to $95 after checkout. Many people have successfully gotten back their resort fees by filing a consumer complaint with their Attorney General. You can file a complaint with the Attorney General of the state you stayed in or with your own state Attorney General (if you live in another state and booked the hotel while sitting at home).You cannot simply refuse to pay resort fees, but — just as some hotel employees are occasionally empowered to compensate you — the employee might have authority to remove your resort fee. Just understand that this is the exception, not the norm. And while it doesn’t hurt to ask, it helps to ask nicely.No. You do not legally have to pay any hotel resort fee. Resort fees are in violation of nevada’s deceptive trade practices law. Fifty attorneys general are currently investigating hotel resort fees for being deceptive and misleading.
Is it legal to charge resort fees?
Hotels CAN, and do, charge a “resort fee”, as long as it’s clearly disclosed to you upfront. That’s the law you’re referencing. It’s called the “Hotel Fees Transparency Act”. You should be aware of the total price at booking. Hilton Honors and World of Hyatt loyalty programs do not charge resort fees on award stays. Hold elite status: Sometimes hotels waive resort fees for members with high levels of elite status. Hyatt, for example, won’t charge you if you have Globalist elite status.Ask for a waiver If all other avenues fail, you can always reach out to the hotel and see if it’ll waive the resort fees. The motto “It never hurts to ask” applies to virtually any scenario, including getting resort fees waived. You may be able to make a good case for why the hotel shouldn’t charge resort fees.
Can I avoid resort fees?
While it may be frustrating to see this extra charge, it is usually non-negotiable. Some hotels may allow you to opt-out of certain amenities included in the fee, but they will not waive it entirely. Since the resort fee is typically disclosed at the time of booking, it is important to read the fine print. The rule bans hotels from excluding resort fees, often labeled “junk fees,” from advertised rates for short-term lodging.