Clint Henderson, managing editor at The Points Guy, explains why hidden hotel fees keep cropping up and what you can do to try to avoid them.

<div class="block">Prices are not always what they seem when you&#39;re looking to book a hotel room. Hidden resort fees pop up when you least expect them. Clint Henderson, managing editor at The Points Guy, explains why hidden hotel fees keep cropping up and what you can do to try to avoid them.</div>

Stretching Your Dollar

Don't Be Fooled By Hidden Hotel Resort Fees

We're gonna ban surprise resort fees that hotels charge on on your bill. Those fees can cost up to $90 a night at hotels that aren't even resorts. Biden got laughs for his stance on resort fees in his 2023 state of the union address. But experts say these fees are no joke also known as facility fees, destination fees, amenity fees and even urban fees. These hidden charges are hurting consumers. Bottom line, Clint Henderson, managing editor for the points guy says they've infected the travel industry. They started out as an extra little addendum that resorts and resort destinations like Hawaii or Florida were putting on hotels in order to pay for beach towels and Wi fi and water and things like that. And since then they've spread like a cancer all over the world. Henderson says a good trick if you want to find out what's included in a hotel, resort fee is to Google. The name of the hotel and resort fee. Here is the standard in New York City. The almost $35 a night rate covers things that are well, pretty standard like fitness center access and a room safe. It's just another way for hotels to jack up the price of hotel rooms without publishing that price so that it fools consumers. In my opinion, we reached out to five hotels in New York City for an interview but they got camera shy when they heard the topic was resort fees. But the American Hotel and lodging Association tells Cheddar news in a statement, these fees directly support hotel operations including wages and benefits for hotel staff when they are applied. Hotel websites clearly and prominently display them for guests during the booking process. Henderson says as a consumer, you can protect yourself by challenging the fee at. Check out, ask every single time you check out to have the resort fee taken off. That's the only way these hotels are going to change their minds. Henderson says you can also write to your local Congress person.