Cheap vacation packages and cheap discount hotel rooms often end up not being so cheap after unanticipated hotel fees are added in when checking out. Recently USA Today took a survey asking readers to identify the hotel fees that annoy them the most. Common among readers complaints were mandatory hotel fees.
The following are the fees that were most frequently cited:
Internet fees were complained about the most. The irony is that limited service, more inexpensive hotels tend to provide free Internet access whereas full-service, more expensive hotels usually charge Internet fees, of between $9.99 to $12.99 per day.
Parking fees are a major issue, particularly when they cost $25 and up per day and usually dont count towards guests earning additional loyalty points.
Resort fees upset many guests because travelers believe if a fee is mandatory, which is usually the case with hotels that charge resort fees, than it should be included in the base price of the hotel.
Hotel telephone fees at upscale hotels often are surprisingly high and a real surprise upon check out.
Room-service fees are generally regarded as excessive. Such fees can cost 26 percent or more of the cost of the meal, and the hotel may still charge a separate delivery fee, city sales tax, and tip that need to be added to an expensive hotel meal.
Some hotels are now charging a daily room safe fee, in some cases regardless whether the safe is even used.
Beach cabana fees are negatively viewed at tropical locations because while it is technically not a mandatory fee, many vacationers dont think they can sit out in the sun without a beach cabana.
www.cheapfares.com