Marriott Rewards (including Ritz-Carlton) - Resort fees and related issues

I did a search on this but couldn't come up with any answers so:

Do you earn Reward points on the "Resort Fee?"

I just stayed at a Marriott Resort and while I received points for other incidentals, I did not for the "Resort Fee" that covers what otherwise would have been incidental charges such as local calls, fitness club access, in-room safe, Hi-Speed internet access, etc.

Seems to me that this fee is an incidental and is not a tax or local govenment fee of any kind, and that perhaps I should have received credit for it.

Expert ruling, personal experiences, or other advise?

I have earned points on resort fees from Puerto Rico and St. Thomas.

I don't know why this wouldn't count towards your points - it is money (not taxes) that you are paying to Marriott.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by PremEx:
I did a search on this but couldn't come up with any answers so:

Do you earn Reward points on the "Resort Fee?"

I just stayed at a Marriott Resort and while I received points for other incidentals, I did not for the "Resort Fee" that covers what otherwise would have been incidental charges such as local calls, fitness club access, in-room safe, Hi-Speed internet access, etc.

Seems to me that this fee is an incidental and is not a tax or local govenment fee of any kind, and that perhaps I should have received credit for it.

Expert ruling, personal experiences, or other advise?</font>

I would either email or call the Marriott Rewards desk and ask for the credit...I agree that you should have received them

Just spoke to Marriott CS about the crazy fees at the San Juan Marriott & Stellaris Casino. He confirmed what the hotel told me -- you can elect not to pay them.

I know that respondents will talk about the individual cost of services such as internet, local/800 telephone calls; water; beach umbrellas, etc. adding up to more than the cost of the resort fee -- that's true at resorts that charge a more realistic fee. I have stayed at resorts that had a $15 per day fee.

In the case of the San Juan Marriott, it is not realistic. The hotel's fee is calculated at 10% of the daily room rate. In my case, it was $30 per day. When I made my res., a suite was available for $700 - that guest pays $70 a day for the same services that I could have used.

As we had our aircard and cellphone, we didn't need hotel internet and telephone. On checkout, I requested and was given a full refund of the resort fee. You have to request that the fee be waived, nobody will not tell you.

Are there other Marriott resorts (or other hotel companies) that have such outlandish fees?

The resort where we own a couple of weeks does the same. It is in Mexico and the explanation is it distributed among service staff that serve up the amenities of a resort (restaurant staff, recreation staff etc). Although our fees have never been more than 35 pesos per day. They also can be removed at checkout but you have to ask. We've never asked because the fee is nominal and the staff are great. Our resort has a separate high speed internet charge, but it is optional. (Its not a Marriott resort though.)

High resort fees are pretty common. Mrs GHF has booked some corporate conferences at resorts where they whack business travelers for the fees - and will NOT allow them to be waived. That way they offer a compelling room rate, and load a lot of the other costs into "fees".

Welcome to the airline/cellphone business model.

I made a booking at this hotel in March for August this year. I have the e-mail for the original booking (acutally got a good deal with Look No Further Guarantee) and no mention of resort fee. We have stayed the last 3 years and have never been charged one.

I now notice on my online booking they have slapped on a 25 USD per day resort fee!! Does anyone know when this was implemented? Do I have to pay it - since I have an e-mail from them which does not mention it!!

i think you will. They are pretty strict on it.

Normally I'd agree, but if he's got the original confirmation & there's no note of it that may give him some wiggle room. All fees should be made clear up front.

Cheers.

The receipt I was sent out shows the details

Estimated government taxes and fees 9.01
Total for stay for (all rooms) 576.92

If I go online - it now shows

Resort fee
25.00
Estimated government taxes and fees
12.07
Total for stay (per room)
773.39

Even the cancellation fee has changed

before

You may cancel your reservation for no charge until arrival date (7 day[s] before arrival).
Please note that we will assess a fee of 82.42 USD if you must cancel after this deadline.


after

Rate Rules:
Canceling Your Reservation
You may cancel your reservation for no charge until arrival date (7 day[s] before arrival).Please note that we will assess a fee of 110.48 USD if you must cancel after this deadline. If you have made a prepayment, we will retain all or part of your prepayment. If not, we will charge your credit card. This fee equals 1 night of your room charge plus tax (for the first night of your reservation).

It is a new thing to charge a resort fee at this hotel - I am trying to ascertain when it was brought in.

Would you suggest telling them i have an "issue" now or when I check in - or when I check out and get the bill?

I certainly wouldn't wait until check out. I'd probably try to get it sorted out now. Also, are they legally allowed to add fees & change cancels after the original reservation/confirmation? I'd fight this one (but keep in mind if you stay there next you you then would know the policy). You might want to email or PM the Marriott concierge to see if Marie/Ira/Drew can help.

Cheers.

1st I think there is sufficient grounds to cx penalty free if you choose too

if you want to stay there and pay the fee, then I'd just go there and fight it tooth and nail

if you only want ot stay there if you do not have to pay I'd settle it up front but I'd also fight it tooth and nail still

I booked a 7 night stay at Wailea Beach Marriott Resort & Spa right in the nick of time (thanks to FT) for 150,000 points. Not bad because the best rate I can find (M11) is $289 (reg $385, AAA $327). Of course the new 'enhanced' MR program has the same 7 night stay is now 210,000 points. But I digress. :td:

At any rate, does anyone know if I will have to pay the $25/day resort fee on a rewards stay? Do incidentals room charges qualify for points on a reward stay? They do at Hilton.

Thanks

IIRC (we were here in September), the $25 a day covers parking, internet, and a bunch of other "ticky tack" charges. We paid it because it was better than paying all of the charges separately.

I think the charge was optional, but again that's only going by my memory.

A reward stay does not cover these fees but they are optional at this property. Enjoy your stay, nice choice!

I stayed there last year and really liked the property.

As I recall the resort fee was mandatory.

Now checking my reservation closer here's what it says

Hotel Reward: Seven nights, Category Seven Hotel 1 150,000
* Using your points will cover your room charge and tax, and no additional service charges or resort fees will be applied.
* On-site parking, fee: 15 USD daily
* Valet parking, fee: 18 USD daily

I might be covered

Anyone know about room charges? Eligible for MR points? I don't see why not.

We stayed there in September. If you are staying on points, the resort fee was optional. We chose not to pay it. There is another thread on here somewhere detailing what you do get with it.

It was optional for our point stay last August. We didn't take it as it seemed to be a waste of money. Just be careful on the room given to you. We were offered this and a room upgrade, declined both and got one of the worst rooms in the house overlooking a storage area. Although we ultimately found there were other rooms available, according to the hotel manager the rooms available on points aren't in the best of locations due to the way the resort is layed out. We got this worked out the next day and had a great time. It sure seemed like it was related to declining but who knows. I tend to think I'm correct given the response to my letter sent to Marriott and the hotel after we got home.
See the previous posts on the resort activities that are sold by the concierge and a private company (Expedia) on property. It's kind of a strange arrangement but the concierge is happy to offer better activities at a lower cost in addition to those offered Expedia. We used the concierge and were quite happy with their recommendations.

I am trying to make reservations at the Aruba Stellaris Resort.

When looking at points values, there is a notation that says "Please note: Point values apply to room only".

Is this referring to items such as standard resort fees and taxes OR only to items such as meals and incidentals?

TIA

I believe it is talking about meals and incidentals. When we stayed in Maui we didn't have to pay the resort fee or taxes.

Since taxes typically are charged as a % of the bill, you could argue that either they are covered or you're charged a % of $0, which is still $0. I think in some locations I have been charged the flat fee that the local government has applied.

Resort fees seem to be hit or miss - often charged on awards.

In Aruba specifically, I don't think I was charged anything last summer.

I've never paid taxes on any award stay.

Bobette

Ditto for me - never paid taxes on an award stay and I've stayed at some of the resort properties as well

There was a similar recent thread on the Hyatt board, and I believe in the distant past on the Marriott board. The answer is usually they are included, but it is not a given. Hotel option on resort and misc. fees and local government option on taxes. Not to deliberately contradict the prior answer, but I would have said we paid some decreased level of fees at the Maui property last year.

If its a trip breaker contact the hotel, and even if they say yes be able to pay if required. The person you speak to may or may not really know, and it can change by the time you arrive. More often than not I haven't paid, but at times I have been asked to (most recently at a hotel in Florida that changed its policy between my last two annual visits).

Ditto for me - never paid taxes on an award stay and I've stayed at some of the resort properties as well


Paid nothing at St. Kitts this year

I was booking a 1 night stay next April at the JW Desert Ridge in Phoenix and noticed they now charge a $25 'Resort Fee' ... something I certainly wouldn't benefit from on a 1 night stay and probably not if I stayed longer. I assume this applies only at Marriotts that have 'Resort' in their official name ... as I checked Camelback Inn and it also charges. But other Marriotts do not.

This seems a real rip-off and I thought a few years back Marriott stopped that practice due to some legal problems. When did it sneak back in? Is the only solution to book somewhere else?

Added: Also checked if they charge the Resort Fee on MR stays and found there were no days available next April for MR stays at all. So much for the new plan.

Here is some info on the Resort Fee lawsuit Marriott lost a few years ago:

http://www.lawcash.com/attorney/2538/marriott-international-lawsuit.asp

My family just got back yesterday from the same JW Desert Ridge. We were there for 5 nights. The Resort fee covers a variety of things for your $25 per day: Free kids meals each day (breakfast, lunch, dinner), free high-speed Internet and long distance calls, reduced valet parking rate ($15 instead of $25 per night), access to the health club, etc.

With the $10 reduction in parking and the free Internet ($13 per day), you might get your money's worth for the single day, but I understand why you wouldn't want to pay it for the single night.

All that said, we were given the option of selecting to pay the Resort Fee or not when we checked in. For us, with the extended stay and our kids in tow, it was an easy decision to pay the daily fee. But, I would hope they'd give you the option NOT to pay the fee if it didn't make sense for you. It was clearly presented to us as an option and not mandatory.

Hope this helps...

Our optional resort fee at the Marriott Resort at Wailea did not give us internet. Did not cover kids breakfast but did cover parking at $15 per day. The other savings were on hotel activies and spa stuff. We passed without issue.

Oh not this again!

A few years ago they introduced this fee at some resorts. It covers ancilliaries like cookies by the pool, cheap parking and sun beds! (what a cheek!)

In the end i thought that Marriott was taken to court about ikt and I received a claims form to get all the fees back.....

Here's the legal link ...

http://www.lawcash.com/attorney/2538/marriott-international-lawsuit.asp

Here's the legal link ...

http://www.lawcash.com/attorney/2538/marriott-international-lawsuit.asp


Nice one!

I will be directing the hotels to this site when they try and charge me a "resort fee" ;)

Oh not this again!

A few years ago they introduced this fee at some resorts. It covers ancilliaries like cookies by the pool, cheap parking and sun beds! (what a cheek!)

In the end i thought that Marriott was taken to court about ikt and I received a claims form to get all the fees back.....

Nice one!

I will be directing the hotels to this site when they try and charge me a "resort fee" ;)


IANAL but to my untrained eye it seems the reason that Marriott was sued was that they were not fully disclosing the resort fees up front. Lately it seems that the fees are very clearly stated when you make the reservation. I don't think that mentioning this previous lawsuit is going to make any difference, and my take is that it shouldn't. I don't like resort fees any more than the next person, but the previous suit isn't going to help us here.

All that said, we were given the option of selecting to pay the Resort Fee or not when we checked in. For us, with the extended stay and our kids in tow, it was an easy decision to pay the daily fee. But, I would hope they'd give you the option NOT to pay the fee if it didn't make sense for you. It was clearly presented to us as an option and not mandatory.

+1 - we were there in April, were presented option for resort fee, politely declined. No hard sell.

I made a reservation at the JW Desert Springs Resort a couple months ago. Not until the last portion of booking via the web was the resort fee disclosed.

I called the hotel to check on whether this was mandatory and let them know I was not interested in paying the fee. They indicated it was for parking (used to be free at the hotel), Internet (I have an aircard), Fitness Center (also used to be free and expected when I am staying at a hotel), and that it was not optional.

I thanked them, cancelled the reservation, and stayed at a hotel that did not charge this extra fee for services I expect of a hotel.

I didn't bother doing the math originally but it's somewhat deceiving how they list the resort fee as a single line item of $25 but it's never specified that it's per night unless you add up the room charge, taxes and compare it to the total which now reflects the $25 per day resort fee.

These charges for items formerly included in the room prices is very much like airlines charging for services that used to be included. It didn't help the airline fortunes and won't help Marriott either as their customers aren't fools.

I made a reservation at the JW Desert Springs Resort a couple months ago. Not until the last portion of booking via the web was the resort fee disclosed.

I called the hotel to check on whether this was mandatory and let them know I was not interested in paying the fee. They indicated it was for parking (used to be free at the hotel), Internet (I have an aircard), Fitness Center (also used to be free and expected when I am staying at a hotel), and that it was not optional.

I thanked them, cancelled the reservation, and stayed at a hotel that did not charge this extra fee for services I expect of a hotel.

I had made reservations for the Camelback Inn months ago. At that time no resort fee was indicated. It does not appear on my email confirmation. However, when I view my reservation online it does now show the $25 fee with this note "Changes in taxes or fees implemented after booking will affect the total room price." I can understand taxes, but fees that they impose seems very unfair. This note does not appear on my email confirmation. What do you think the chances are of getting this fee waived?

Probably none. I debated staying elsewhere due to the resort fee on my upcoming reservation but the cost of the rental car and parking would outweigh the cost of the resort fee so monetarily it doesn't make sense to me.

When I tried to use my points, I was offered a room with lounge access at the Amsterdam Marriott for 30k points and 65 euros surcharge per night. So I guess the $25/night resort fee is a steal. :eek:

Just learned of the $25 resort fee at the JW Marriott Camelback Resort in Phoenix. We have a block of rooms reserved for my daughter's wedding over Labor Day. The contract states nothing about the resort fee. However, upon booking my room today, the email confirmation showed a $25 per day resort fee. (This was not mentioned when the reservation was made and simply showed up on the email confirmation.)

When I called concerning the additional charge, I was told that it did not apply to "group rates." However, I was also told there was nothing they can do about removing it from email confirmations. I was then told it "would not be charged upon check-out." Having stayed at Camelback many, many times over the past 12 years, and having "look no further guaranteed rates" challenged on checkout, I'm not comfortable with having an email confirmation showing the $25 daily resort fee. And then being told, "it won't be charged on check-out." However, our guests making reservations will not realize this is "not to be charged" when their confirmations show it as an add-on!

What is most interesting is that this resort offers free parking so there are no parking fees to apply towards the resort fee. In addition, the resort fee does not gain you access to the fitness equipment in the spa - that's another $20 per day charge. What it does give you is a free appetizer, free breakfast for children under 12 with a paid adult entree (which we have no children under 12), free tennis courts (which were always free during the hot Phoenix summers), unlimited golf balls at the driving range (of which we don't golf), and free local calls (which is a benefit of the Marriott rewards program). So go figure! In this case, a pure profit for this resort.

Right now, I have another reservation for August, however, I will be cancelling that room. When the resort fee is 25% of the actual room rate, something is wrong with this picture.

If anyone has had any luck in waiving this fee at Camelback, please let me know your magic words!

Cheers - and thank you -

If you have a contract that doesn't mention a resort fee, just show them the contract at check-out and refuse to pay it. If they argue, just take it up to upward management levels that it gets removed. Take a hard line, and it will work for you.



Just learned of the $25 resort fee at the JW Marriott Camelback Resort in Phoenix. We have a block of rooms reserved for my daughter's wedding over Labor Day. The contract states nothing about the resort fee. However, upon booking my room today, the email confirmation showed a $25 per day resort fee. (This was not mentioned when the reservation was made and simply showed up on the email confirmation.)

When I called concerning the additional charge, I was told that it did not apply to "group rates." However, I was also told there was nothing they can do about removing it from email confirmations. I was then told it "would not be charged upon check-out." Having stayed at Camelback many, many times over the past 12 years, and having "look no further guaranteed rates" challenged on checkout, I'm not comfortable with having an email confirmation showing the $25 daily resort fee. And then being told, "it won't be charged on check-out." However, our guests making reservations will not realize this is "not to be charged" when their confirmations show it as an add-on!

What is most interesting is that this resort offers free parking so there are no parking fees to apply towards the resort fee. In addition, the resort fee does not gain you access to the fitness equipment in the spa - that's another $20 per day charge. What it does give you is a free appetizer, free breakfast for children under 12 with a paid adult entree (which we have no children under 12), free tennis courts (which were always free during the hot Phoenix summers), unlimited golf balls at the driving range (of which we don't golf), and free local calls (which is a benefit of the Marriott rewards program). So go figure! In this case, a pure profit for this resort.

Right now, I have another reservation for August, however, I will be cancelling that room. When the resort fee is 25% of the actual room rate, something is wrong with this picture.

If anyone has had any luck in waiving this fee at Camelback, please let me know your magic words!

Cheers - and thank you -

Just wondering if anyone else feels the same way about resort fees.

$25 dollars a day, but this is made up for by wonderful benefits!

Free Childrens Meals (I dont have kids!!)
Free Parking (Not driving!!)
Free local phone calls (dont know anyone locally!!)
Free use of swimming pools and sun beds (big deal.. I would expect that in the rate anyway!!)
Free Inernet (I am on holiday!!!)

So basically I am not getting anything (but questionably subsidising other peoples kids meals....... and other peoples car parking....

Not impressed ... if you want to rip me off then at least hide the costs in the basic rate. Do not tempt me with a cheaper rate and then lumber me with a rip off charge that insults my intelligence..... and my loyalty!

Is there anyway of "refusing" these wonderful benefits!!!!:mad: Or can I design my own benefits list that I would be prepared to pay for...

Free Drinks
Free Platinum Breakfast (even in a resort.....YAY!!!)
Free morning coffee!!!

A few years back I changed my loyalty from Sheraton to Marriott because of a similar charge in Hawaii... Sheraton charged, Marriott did not. Some time after I received a claims form because the charges were deemed illegal. I guess they have changed the law or something.....

Marriott, please listen.... get rid of these charges, or make them optional, then guests with kids can get a real benefit......

Did you ask the agent if the charges could be dropped as you wouldn't be using any of the benefits? I don't know if any Marriott hotels will drop the charges, but I do believe I have read in the Starwood forum that a lot of the hotels there that have these types of charges will drop it if requested and your willing to pay for the items individually.

And if the front desk agent says no or that they don't know, ask to speak with a manager. It can't hurt to ask and maybe you will get the charges dropped.

A few years back I changed my loyalty from Sheraton to Marriott because of a similar charge in Hawaii... Sheraton charged, Marriott did not. Some time after I received a claims form because the charges were deemed illegal. I guess they have changed the law or something.....Nope, they are just enforcing the existing laws that require full disclosure of the resort fee during the reservation process. The charges were deemed illegal because years ago the fees were not disclosed until as late as checkout.

Marriott had a policy for years of not having resort fees, but unfortunately, resort fees are the crack cocaine of the hotel industry and especially in this severe recession I guess Marriott is trying to grab a few extra dollars when they can.

While not a guarantee, you greatly increase your odds of having resort fees rebated if you raise a stink at check-in and elevate to a manager and then to the GM if not satisfied. Even then, during the current economic downturn I'm guessing your success rate might be 50% or less.

I have it removed every time at the JW Marriott Camelback Inn. At check-in, I simply tell them I will not be needing these benefits. No problem at all.

Here's what the Camelback Inn does:

Daily resort fee includes the following amenities ($150 value)
*High speed internet and wireless internet in guest rooms (have my own aircard & mini + I'm on vacation)
*Unlimited local and domestic long distance calls (own a cell phone or 2)
*Use of the resort's recreational amenities including
-unlimited range balls for driving range, chipping, putting (no golf)
-use of Calloway golf clubs and shoes on driving range
-shuttle service from resort to golf course
-use of 5 lighted tennis courts (don't play tennis in AZ)
-complimentary two hour bicycle rental (based on availability) (don't bike in AZ)
*Complimentary breakfast, lunch or dinner for children 12/under
with each adult ordering off the regular menu (no kids and I'm 19 so can't do that one either)
*One complimentary dinner appetizer daily with purchase of equal
or greater value, per room, in either BLT Steak, Rita's Kitchen (no dinner at BLT)
or R-Bar
*15 percent off retail purchases in resort shop, spa shop and
golf pro shop (I make purchases outside hotel, and already have a discount with Marriott Gold anyway).


My Dad was staying at the IC Montelucia and they would not waive the resort fee for him even though he pleaded that he does not need internet and has never even turned on a computer- the truth :D)

At least the Marriott is willing to remove without any hassle. For now at least... I get to do it all over again in a few days and we'll see how that goes.

-Kinglobjaw

I have it removed every time at the JW Marriott Camelback Inn. At check-in, I simply tell them I will not be needing these benefits. No problem at all.

Here's what the Camelback Inn does:

Daily resort fee includes the following amenities ($150 value)
*High speed internet and wireless internet in guest rooms (have my own aircard & mini + I'm on vacation)
*Unlimited local and domestic long distance calls (own a cell phone or 2)
*Use of the resort's recreational amenities including
-unlimited range balls for driving range, chipping, putting (no golf)
-use of Calloway golf clubs and shoes on driving range
-shuttle service from resort to golf course
-use of 5 lighted tennis courts (don't play tennis in AZ)
-complimentary two hour bicycle rental (based on availability) (don't bike in AZ)
*Complimentary breakfast, lunch or dinner for children 12/under
with each adult ordering off the regular menu (no kids and I'm 19 so can't do that one either)
*One complimentary dinner appetizer daily with purchase of equal
or greater value, per room, in either BLT Steak, Rita's Kitchen (no dinner at BLT)
or R-Bar
*15 percent off retail purchases in resort shop, spa shop and
golf pro shop (I make purchases outside hotel, and already have a discount with Marriott Gold anyway).


My Dad was staying at the IC Montelucia and they would not waive the resort fee for him even though he pleaded that he does not need internet and has never even turned on a computer- the truth :D)

At least the Marriott is willing to remove without any hassle. For now at least... I get to do it all over again in a few days and we'll see how that goes.

-Kinglobjaw

Fully agree with the original poster, that Marriott are just taking the mickey and trying to milk us of more revenue.

I am also very pleased to read your report that you do not pay the resort fee at the Camelback Inn because I am going back there in Dec and am very angry at the re-introduction of this "so called benefit". Like most people, I make my reservations online and so I have put a comment on my booking that i do NOT wish to pay the resort fee. If this is ignored, then I will make a fuss at checkin. I too am single (no kids), dont drive, dont want local calls (I'm a tourist and dont fancy chatting to the local Dominos just cos its free), dont play Golf etc etc.

I've also booked a rate of $319 a night which gives me $100 a night credit to b e spent in the resort (but not on the room bill), and therefore if i pay the $25 resort fee, my so called $100 suddenly reduces to $75.00 a night. What a con!

Does anybody know if there is a resort fee at the horseshoe bay near Austin and if it does have you been successful in getting it waived.

I am going there tomorrow and just happen to notice this thread.

When staying at the Waliea Marriott on points the resort fee was optional. I politely declined. Never stayed at a resort for cash so can't comment on if you have to pay it when not on points.

I have it removed every time at the JW Marriott Camelback Inn. At check-in, I simply tell them I will not be needing these benefits. No problem at all.

Here's what the Camelback Inn does:

Daily resort fee includes the following amenities ($150 value)
*High speed internet and wireless internet in guest rooms (have my own aircard & mini + I'm on vacation)
*Unlimited local and domestic long distance calls (own a cell phone or 2)
*Use of the resort's recreational amenities including
-unlimited range balls for driving range, chipping, putting (no golf)
-use of Calloway golf clubs and shoes on driving range
-shuttle service from resort to golf course
-use of 5 lighted tennis courts (don't play tennis in AZ)
-complimentary two hour bicycle rental (based on availability) (don't bike in AZ)
*Complimentary breakfast, lunch or dinner for children 12/under
with each adult ordering off the regular menu (no kids and I'm 19 so can't do that one either)
*One complimentary dinner appetizer daily with purchase of equal
or greater value, per room, in either BLT Steak, Rita's Kitchen (no dinner at BLT)
or R-Bar
*15 percent off retail purchases in resort shop, spa shop and
golf pro shop (I make purchases outside hotel, and already have a discount with Marriott Gold anyway).


My Dad was staying at the IC Montelucia and they would not waive the resort fee for him even though he pleaded that he does not need internet and has never even turned on a computer- the truth :D)

At least the Marriott is willing to remove without any hassle. For now at least... I get to do it all over again in a few days and we'll see how that goes.

-Kinglobjaw

Thanks for that.... Camelback is one of the places I have booked so will try and refuse the offer of all those unwanted benefits.

Best Wishes

is there a list of MR props that have resort fees, the amount and what they include?

I've been successful ~60% of the time in getting resort fees dropped by requesting it at the time of the reservation through the Platinum reservation desk. They passed the request on to the property.

When staying at the Waliea Marriott on points the resort fee was optional. I politely declined. Never stayed at a resort for cash so can't comment on if you have to pay it when not on points.

That's the way it should be done. "Resort fee" packages can be valuable to some guests, but they shouldn't be forced on everyone.

For example, I'd actually consider buying that Camelback package for a day or two if I could actually demo the year's newest Calloways. That's an interesting add-on I haven't seen before.

Just wondering if anyone else feels the same way about resort fees.

$25 dollars a day, but this is made up for by wonderful benefits!

Free Childrens Meals (I dont have kids!!)
Free Parking (Not driving!!)
Free local phone calls (dont know anyone locally!!)
Free use of swimming pools and sun beds (big deal.. I would expect that in the rate anyway!!)
Free Inernet (I am on holiday!!!)

So basically I am not getting anything (but questionably subsidising other peoples kids meals....... and other peoples car parking....

Not impressed ... if you want to rip me off then at least hide the costs in the basic rate. Do not tempt me with a cheaper rate and then lumber me with a rip off charge that insults my intelligence..... and my loyalty!

Is there anyway of "refusing" these wonderful benefits!!!!:mad: Or can I design my own benefits list that I would be prepared to pay for...

Free Drinks
Free Platinum Breakfast (even in a resort.....YAY!!!)
Free morning coffee!!!

A few years back I changed my loyalty from Sheraton to Marriott because of a similar charge in Hawaii... Sheraton charged, Marriott did not. Some time after I received a claims form because the charges were deemed illegal. I guess they have changed the law or something.....

Marriott, please listen.... get rid of these charges, or make them optional, then guests with kids can get a real benefit......

Help me out here, please. Were the resort fees not disclosed in the reservation process? If they weren't, there's no reason you should be paying them.

Mike

Help me out here, please. Were the resort fees not disclosed in the reservation process? If they weren't, there's no reason you should be paying them.

Mike

They are mentioned at the end of the reservation process....

But my point is that they are advertised as benefits.....

They are not benefits to me, I pay for them, but do not use them, so how is that a benefit.

Thanks for everyones comments, I will try and refuse the "benefits" when I check min to the relevant hotels. Camelback Inn is one of them.

I have it removed every time at the JW Marriott Camelback Inn. At check-in, I simply tell them I will not be needing these benefits. No problem at all.

Here's what the Camelback Inn does:

Daily resort fee includes the following amenities ($150 value)
*High speed internet and wireless internet in guest rooms (have my own aircard & mini + I'm on vacation)
*Unlimited local and domestic long distance calls (own a cell phone or 2)
*Use of the resort's recreational amenities including
-unlimited range balls for driving range, chipping, putting (no golf)
-use of Calloway golf clubs and shoes on driving range
-shuttle service from resort to golf course
-use of 5 lighted tennis courts (don't play tennis in AZ)
-complimentary two hour bicycle rental (based on availability) (don't bike in AZ)
*Complimentary breakfast, lunch or dinner for children 12/under
with each adult ordering off the regular menu (no kids and I'm 19 so can't do that one either)
*One complimentary dinner appetizer daily with purchase of equal
or greater value, per room, in either BLT Steak, Rita's Kitchen (no dinner at BLT)
or R-Bar
*15 percent off retail purchases in resort shop, spa shop and
golf pro shop (I make purchases outside hotel, and already have a discount with Marriott Gold anyway).


My Dad was staying at the IC Montelucia and they would not waive the resort fee for him even though he pleaded that he does not need internet and has never even turned on a computer- the truth :D)

At least the Marriott is willing to remove without any hassle. For now at least... I get to do it all over again in a few days and we'll see how that goes.

-Kinglobjaw

I just stayed at this hotel a few weeks ago. I didn't care too much about the resort fee as I was staying for work, but they did hook me up by only charging for the internet (12.95 -- my aircard was getting crappy signal) each night for my 2 night stay as opposed to the $25 resort fee. I was confused at first, as internet was supposed to be included in the resort fee, but the front desk explained that they occasionally charge for a lower priced item as a courtesy for MR Plats.

I checked-in last night and am staying once again at the JW Marriott Camelback Inn and fees were instantly removed.

"Would you please remove the resort fees from our reservation as we will not be using any of those services?"

"Certainly, sir!"

That was pretty easy. I hope other resort locations are willing to do such a thing.

-Kinglobjaw

I've been all over the Internet looking for a place to vent on this subject. In my opinion, this is the most blatant bait-and-switch tactic in the history of the hospitality industry.

I first encountered the RSF at the Westin in Rancho Mirage in 1999. When I questioned the charge, they immediately credited it back, as if they were embarrassed about it (which they should be!)

Since then, I've asked several hotel managers to justify charging a Resort Services Fee when we are already paying a premium to stay at a resort. You would not believe the range of answers I've received.

1. It's required by law.
No, its not, liar. Next.

2. It's there because services are taxed at a different rate.
They have these things now called "Computers" which can calculate different tax rates within the same charge in milliseconds. Try one some time. Besides, when you first implemented the RSF, did you carve it out of the existing rack rate, or add it on top? Yup, thought so.

3. It covers things like the key to the mini-bar in your room...
Oh...you mean the one that affords me the privilege of BUYING EVEN MORE STUFF FROM YOU?

4...the use of the resort facilities...
So, if I don't pay the RSF, you shoo me out of the room in the morning so I don't accidentally set foot in your precious swimming pool?

5...the WiFi...
You mean like the FREE WiFi at Super 8 motels? Or is this a special WiFi that gives me access to the Pentagon's servers?

6...and USA Today at your doorstep in the morning.
You've gotta be frackin' kidding.

7. Well, you're staying at a resort, and these things cost money.
So if I don't pay the RSF, this place magically converts into a Red Roof Inn?

I once checked into the Hyatt Regency in Palm Springs, and they hit me with a printed form that I had to initial to acknowledge that they were going to charge me a Resort Services Fee. I was ready. I had pre-printed a form that spelled out a Guest Privilege Fee and asked her to initial it. She said, "What's this about?" I said, "it's for the Privilege of having me as a Guest." She said, "Oh, come on, you just made that up." I said, "Hey, you started it!"

The most telling thing is that, since the ancient Romans, resorts have somehow gotten along without these fees, until roughly the mid-1990s, when Disney Resorts came up with this blatant thievery. Why do they do it now? Simple. They want a way to make their quoted rates sound more competitive. That is the ONLY reason for this. And they think that since mainly well-to-do people stay at resorts, no one's gonna complain, or if they do, they won't get any sympathy, because, after all, they're well-to-do. Well, I got news for ya. Us well-to-dos have resources to start movements and contact Attorneys General. Who's with me?

My friend, the point is not whether you use these things or not. The point is that by paying the inflated price of a resort, YOU ARE ALREADY PAYING FOR THEM. The average hotel is about $100 a night. The average resort is at least $150 up to $300 and beyond. They do that on purpose, because resorts have more stuff to pay for. I don't mind paying more to stay at a resort, but I want to pay it just once, not two or three times. The proof of what I say is in the fact that resorts never used to "resort" to this. Somehow they managed to pay their bills on their basic rack rates.

If we don't discourage this practice now, the next thing will be a Lobby Maintenance Fee. Or a Silverware Usage Fee. See where I'm going with this?

Just wondering if anyone else feels the same way about resort fees.

$25 dollars a day, but this is made up for by wonderful benefits!

Free Childrens Meals (I dont have kids!!)
Free Parking (Not driving!!)
Free local phone calls (dont know anyone locally!!)
Free use of swimming pools and sun beds (big deal.. I would expect that in the rate anyway!!)
Free Inernet (I am on holiday!!!)

So basically I am not getting anything (but questionably subsidising other peoples kids meals....... and other peoples car parking....

I too am for trying to fight this practice.

What are others experience with resort fees and staying on points? I have always had to pay the resort fees on top of the points in the past. I have questioned it and got the same, "Its the extra cost for washing towels and cleaning the pool, etc." But after reading this, I am going to try and fight them. I have also seen them add the tax to the resort fee, which irks me because all non-resorts, when I stay with points, are 100% free.

i avoid resorts just not to be nickeled and dimed to death

I too am for trying to fight this practice.

What are others experience with resort fees and staying on points? I have always had to pay the resort fees on top of the points in the past. I have questioned it and got the same, "Its the extra cost for washing towels and cleaning the pool, etc." But after reading this, I am going to try and fight them. I have also seen them add the tax to the resort fee, which irks me because all non-resorts, when I stay with points, are 100% free.

I have never had any trouble getting them to remove the resort fee whenever I ask. In some cases, I paid it because the delta cost over basic parking fees was very small and I would be using at least some other aspect of the package. I am not sure, but I believe being a Marriott Platinum gets me more leeway in this regard. Your also platinum so I would expect they would show you the same flexibility. Other MR members with less status/no status may have issues. YMMV...

--Jon

Checked into Wailea Beach Marriott Resort & Spa on Maui, staying 7 nights on points. Was told the $25 resort fee was optional.

I have another stay on Kauai, this time a paid stay, we'll see how that goes.

Just checked out of Kauai Beach Resort, on my final bill, No Resort Fees. All I had was the $12 parking charges.. Whatever! Was told to visit see the Marriott Vacation Desk... They want to book you on a time-scare deal of course.. Before I booked this, was offered a $50 resort credit, a Mahalo Card with misc discounts.. Took the two free rounds of golf, also got $40 credit at Waohai for lunch after the Time-Scare presentation ended.. I wasn't going to buy from the first minute... The most irritating part was 'The Closer' told me I wasn't properly utuilzing my MR points, and I had to re-correct him time after time about the MR Program. Guess that fool has no idea what FT is!

I wasn't going to buy from the first minute... The most irritating part was 'The Closer' told me I wasn't properly utuilzing my MR points, and I had to re-correct him time after time about the MR Program. Guess that fool has no idea what FT is!

Barry,

I had a similar problem with the TS Presentation at the Maui Ocean Club. The sales agent had incorrect information about the MR Reward Program, MR Award Stays at Vacation Clubs, and MVCI information. I kept trying to correct her but she wasn’t listening. My wife got annoyed with me because it just dragged the presentation on longer and we never even got to see one of the model units.

In retrospect, I agree with my wife. If I do another presentation, I'll just let them go through their spiel, make sure I do get to see a unit and politely thank them at the end and decline.

--Jon

P.S. In our case, we got two luau tickets worth $200 for our time. For Hawaii, I may just pay with cash rather than my time the next time. It just wasn’t a pleasant experience.

I checked-in last night and am staying once again at the JW Marriott Camelback Inn and fees were instantly removed.

"Would you please remove the resort fees from our reservation as we will not be using any of those services?"

"Certainly, sir!"

That was pretty easy. I hope other resort locations are willing to do such a thing.

-Kinglobjaw

as much as someone who hates these as much as the next guy the services thing really shouldnt cut it. I don't use many basic services at any property yet I subsidize those,the fees just seem to itemize these same subsidies

on that note, yes i fight like a dog to get them removed using the same excuse

Is there anyway to view what the resort fee actually is?

Going to be staying at the Marriott in Aruba. Any personal experiences with fees at this particular property?

i avoid resorts just not to be nickeled and dimed to deathThat's my general practice, too. The absence of elite benefits is another reason, of course.

Bruce

I just stayed at this hotel a few weeks ago. I didn't care too much about the resort fee as I was staying for work, but they did hook me up by only charging for the internet (12.95 -- my aircard was getting crappy signal) each night for my 2 night stay as opposed to the $25 resort fee. I was confused at first, as internet was supposed to be included in the resort fee, but the front desk explained that they occasionally charge for a lower priced item as a courtesy for MR Plats.

I was paying $42.95 per month for my COMCAST high speed connection (up to 16 Mbps). Now I am paying $19.99 for it. Why does the hotel need almost $390 per month for what are usually vastly lower speeds? Plus, they should get a discount for volume. I am surprised the "resort" fee doesn't cover the marvel called Cable TV

I stayed at the Marriott Wailea July 1-9 and paid their (difficult-to-escape) $30/day resort fee for 8 days (plus tax!). It didn't earn any Marriott Rewards points, so I called the service center to inquire. I was told that resort fees are like taxes and don't earn points. That certainly seems like the wrong answer. I don't see a resort fee as being fundamentally different from a room charge! The hotel gets the money, after all.

Has anyone else had experience with this issue?

Bruce

The answer to your question is No, they don't earn points as stated in the T&Cs. SHOULD they earn points, yes. Resort fees are merely a way to lowball the room rates and let the property compete with lower cost properties. This practice should be outlawed and all "mandatory fees" included in the room rate. It's all the cost of doing business and if you can't control your costs don't hide it by breaking it out as separate line items.

Out-the-door pricing should be mandated everywhere. Airlines doing fuel surcharges just allows them to fool their customers (and themselves) into thinking that they have competitive fares. Same for hotels. How much longer before we start seeing elevator use fees?

The T&C of the MR program exclude certain fees/charges from earning MR points. As Roger notes, these exclusive fees are hidden in a lot of products/services so it's not just a Marriot issue. I myself never pay much heed to those hidden Marriott fees as the bulk of my tab & resort spending does earn MR points. Every trip to the resort Tiki Bar is an opportunity to earn MR points ;) .

I see these occassional hotel fees in a mostly benign way as they are what they are and you at least actually receive a direct product/service. Not so for those car rental fees and stadium taxes that cities, counties, and municipalities add to a bill . . . . these fees/tariffs are plain and simple stealing, but that's how government entities work.

Barry

But shouldn't it be relevant that, unlike all those outrageous taxes, resort fees go directly to the hotel and are kept, just like the room charge? It makes no sense to me that if I stay at Marriott Hotel A, which charges $300/night and no resort fee, I earn points on the whole $300, but if I stay at Marriott Hotel B, which charges $270/night and a $30 resort fee, I earn points on just $270. Why is that? What's the logic behind it? Is it simply a way for Marriott to skimp a little bit on issuing points? Can Marriott really be that petty?

Bruce

Yes, that is PITA when we travel to the US. When we checked in to Circus Circus 3 years ago they charged us $1 resort fee per night. Their explanation back then was to cover local phone charges.

First thing I thought was 'hey it's not a resort - I can't even use the pool because it's winter'. Then the last trip to Vegas again we decided to stay away from Casino hotels since we don't gamble and we don't want to support this resort fee scam.

Back to the point, I think it might be smart for Marriott to introduce 'no hidden fee' concept, the price you see on your reservation is the price you pay. I have never experienced any resort fee because I don't stay at Marriott resorts, but these fees would definitely make me not stay at a resort.

In continental Europe you have at advertise the full amount including taxes and fees for anything. Singapore airlines is doing it on their website which is very nice.

I have twice gotten the Marriott Wailea resort fee removed from my bill (after talking with the GM).

Annoyingly resort fee do not earn Marriott Rewards points, but a suggestion, if you not mind playing a little "let's make a deal", I have successfully gotten two Marriott Resort properties to give me bonus Marriott Rewards points as I would not be earning points on their resort fees.

In my opinion, resort fee are not right, either raise your rate or ditch the fee, but do not spring a fee on the guest upon arrival.

Dan

And what I love is that at the property Bruce references the resort fee says the following:

Daily resort fee USD 30 plus tax includes self-parking, local/US/Canada phone calls and discounts at resort outlets

Onsite parking is $25, and if you paid for it separately and you would have received points for it.

Bruce, what kind of discounts did you get at the resort outlets?

The discounts were almost exactly the same as I get anyway as a Platinum member. In addition, I got two free drinks (per stay) and a 50-percent discount on one spa service (not utilized in my case). I did get free domestic phone calls and made use of that, but I could have made the same calls on my cellphone.

Bruce

So if the 50% Spa treatment and 2 free drinks were included as part of the resort fee, then for a 1 night stay this would be an awesome deal.

True!

Bruce

Bruce,

I am not a fan of the resort fees either. Having said that, I am going to be at this hotel in December.

How was your stay? How was the hotel? Any recommendations you can give regarding restaurants, shopping, etc.? ( I mention shopping as my wife and daughter will be with me)

Thanks in advance.

I thought the hotel was great. I didn't like paying for breakfast, but they give Marriott Rewards members a substantial discount (to $17/person). Lots more here:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/marriott-rewards/854069-wailea-maui-marriott.html

Bruce

I thought the hotel was great. I didn't like paying for breakfast, but they give Marriott Rewards members a substantial discount (to $17/person). Lots more here:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/marriott-rewards/854069-wailea-maui-marriott.html

Bruce



Thanks.

Resort fees = YQ

both are just ways to list low rates/airfares then jack it up at check out

sure its disclosed but its not the most transparent thing you'll ever come across on either one of these

We were there the some of the same days as you were. Wished I had know and I would have bought you a drink at Ma La.....

I will have to say the property took very good care of us, with a room upgrade several levels above what we booked, very late check out and a arrival gift that was above an beyond for our anniversary.

Bruce,

I am not a fan of the resort fees either. Having said that, I am going to be at this hotel in December.

How was your stay? How was the hotel? Any recommendations you can give regarding restaurants, shopping, etc.? ( I mention shopping as my wife and daughter will be with me)

Thanks in advance.

Shops at Wailea are less than a 5 minute walk with several restaurants, two convenience stores and multiple higher end shops. Restaurants include a cheese burger joint (not bad) Ruth Chris (excellent as always) Tommy Bahamas, and a Italian place. Ice cream shop as well.

Restaurant in the hotel was good for the two nights we ate there. They have a Pre-Fix menu that is not bad. Breakfast is a larger than normal buffet offering and as Bruce said is $17 for reward members, normally $29. Worth the $17, but not the $29. Drinks in bar run in the $10-12 range. Had a $18 cheeseburger by the pool that was big enough that two could have eaten it, but then for $18 bucks it should have been.

My wife did manage to get a new ring out of the deal from the jewelry store at the hotel for her anniversary present. Nice shop but a tad on the expensive side.

We rented a car and spent most of the week just seeing the island. Most enjoyable day was spent in the volcano crater riding horses through Pony Express. Not cheap but worth every penny.

I have to admit that the bfast at this prop is nice and the discount to $17 does make it worth it.

Dan

Anyone notice that Marriott "resorts" are tacking on a resort fee much more often now? In fact, I had a reservation that had no fee when I originally booked it, and now when I look at the res there is a 30/day resort fee tacked on, even on a points stay.

This is only from memory, but I thought reward stays didn't incur resort fees.

I have always been able to opt out if the original reservation didn't state the fees.

I hate these "add-on" resort fees that usually give me "access" to things I don't want or need.

In the past, the Camelback Inn in Scottsdale would just automatically waive their resort fee for platinum members (I was told they assumed that platinum elites were likely there for business and not partaking in the stuff that the resort fee covered anyway). It's been 2 years since we stayed there, though...

In fact, I had a reservation that had no fee when I originally booked it, and now when I look at the res there is a 30/day resort fee tacked on, even on a points stay.I would print a copy of your original reservation showing there is no resort fee and take that with you on your trip. I thought that hotels are supposed to show all fees at the time the reservation is made. Therefore, if not resort fee is mentioned, they are supposed to be able to charge it to you later.

I hate these "add-on" resort fees that usually give me "access" to things I don't want or need.

In the past, the Camelback Inn in Scottsdale would just automatically waive their resort fee for platinum members (I was told they assumed that platinum elites were likely there for business and not partaking in the stuff that the resort fee covered anyway). It's been 2 years since we stayed there, though...

Camelback still waives this for Platinums. Was there not too long ago.

A number of years ago Harbor Beach had a class action suit that resulted in a settlement based upon "resort fees" failing to be properly disclosed if I remember correctly.

I've had success as a plat getting Marriott resorts to waive resort fees. We have a stay planned at Dove Mountain later this year and I wondered if I could expect Ritz to do the same. Doesn't make much sense to get free internet as a gold/plat elite if you still need to pay the resort fee that includes internet.

I paid the $45 resort fee at the Ritz Grand Cayman last weekend.

The resort fee at Dove Mtn includes valet parking, among other things. I was able to get out of it but they don't actual make figuring out where you are really allowed to self-park very easy. The signs are totally confusing (there is a huge parking lot and every sign seems to indicate that every space is for valet or employees; we couldn't figure it out but parked in where we thought was okay, only to realize each time afterwards that there was yet another little sign saying it was for something else). However, in reality, the parking lot is really a very convenient short walk from the building.

1. I've had success as a plat getting Marriott resorts to waive resort fees.

2. We have a stay planned at Dove Mountain later this year and I wondered if I could expect Ritz to do the same.

1. You were lucky.
2. No.

Cheers.

My daughter is staying at the Eden Roc Renaissance Miami Beach using a 5 night points certificate and was told the reservation was subject to a $25/day resort fee. What does this 'surcharge' cover?

The reservation states - Additional service charges or resort fees may apply where applicable. When is it and when is it not applicable?

Unfortunately, it's common for resorts to charge daily fees that can cover a myriad of things (usually basic items) such as internet, health club, water in room, etc. Each property comes up with their own list of items included in the fee, so it's impossible to know what is included w/o asking the individual property... and it can change as they modify it from time to time.

This practice is very frustrating but has become commonplace in the industry... just another way to increase the room rate.

Since your daughter is staying at the hotel now... just ask her to have the front desk explain what's included.

Most resort fees are simply revenue enhancement charges so the property does not have to raise their rates and look unfavorable when compared to lower rate properties. It's just like the junk fees the airlines have been doing and should be abolished the same way. If the properties won't do it on their own, then government regulation should be brought into play to protect consumers. One property, I read, had the audacity to charge a CCF (Common Cleaning Fee) on a folio!

There may also be an issue of avoiding certain taxes if "resort fees" do qualify for occupancy taxes most hotels must collect. So maybe there is incentives for the local taxing authorities to get in the game here! I was at one property where the booked rate included breakfast, but instead of billing the room at the full rate, they reduced the room rate by their charge for breakfast, added breakfast as a separate line item and charged sales tax on that. Very clear some game playing was going on.

My daughter is staying at the Eden Roc Renaissance Miami Beach using a 5 night points certificate and was told the reservation was subject to a $25/day resort fee. What does this 'surcharge' cover?

The reservation states - Additional service charges or resort fees may apply where applicable. When is it and when is it not applicable?

I have asked and had the fee waived on a number of occasions because I was not going to actually use any of the facilities...but they were always on one night trips when I checked in without golf stuff. Still, it never hurts to ask.

My daughter is staying at the Eden Roc Renaissance Miami Beach using a 5 night points certificate and was told the reservation was subject to a $25/day resort fee. What does this 'surcharge' cover?

The reservation states - Additional service charges or resort fees may apply where applicable. When is it and when is it not applicable?

I stayed there 2 weekends ago over labor day on points. The resort fee covered internet access, 2 beach chairs every day, 2 bottles of water in the room, local phone calls and a welcome drink. As a platinum the resort fee was reduced to $17/day because internet access is already free as a platinum.

FYI, the hotel includes 18% gratuity for all restaurant charges and other various services throughout the hotel.

My daughter is staying at the Eden Roc Renaissance Miami Beach using a 5 night points certificate and was told the reservation was subject to a $25/day resort fee. What does this 'surcharge' cover?

The reservation states - Additional service charges or resort fees may apply where applicable. When is it and when is it not applicable?
What did the property tell your daughter when she called to ask?

What did the property tell your daughter when she called to ask?

She did not call but was advised at check-in. That's what is so galling….it’s a ‘hidden’ charge which is not even listed on the reservation other than ‘Using your points will cover your room charge and tax. Additional service charges or resort fees may apply where applicable.’

She did not call but was advised at check-in. That's what is so galling….it’s a ‘hidden’ charge which is not even listed on the reservation other than ‘Using your points will cover your room charge and tax. Additional service charges or resort fees may apply where applicable.’
Unfortunately, it's by no means a "hidden" charge. The possibility was disclosed to your daughter and she was then on notice to call the hotel if she wanted to determine whether there was a charge and, if so, how much. Needless to say, if it's more than she wanted to pay, she either would not have made the reservation or would have cancelled.

Personally, I'd like to see FTC and state rules similar to what DOT has issued for the air carriers. Price displayed must include all mandatory fees and then a link to optional fees.
I could care less whether a room is $400 with a $100 mandatory fee or $500. It's a $500 room.

But, it ain't that way, so consumers need to protect themselves and call first. Lesson learned.

The possibility was disclosed to your daughter and she was then on notice to call the hotel if she wanted to determine whether there was a charge and, if so, how much.

Hidden was the wrong term; more like stealth! I believe it is totally unreasonable to expect someone to call (from the UK) to receieve clarification. It simply should be highlighted if it is applicable or not and if so what the charge is.

Thank you for all your informative replies.

Hidden was the wrong term; more like stealth! I believe it is totally unreasonable to expect someone to call (from the UK) to receieve clarification. It simply should be highlighted if it is applicable or not and if so what the charge is.

Thank you for all your informative replies.

Agreed. Language like "other charges may be applicable" or "there may be a fee for a roll-away" etc. is bad form. In this electronic age any fees that are applicable to a reservation made on line is easy to program... with a little effort/expense on the IT side. Some hotel companies do this and it's a nice service to the guest. The "poor man's" way of doing it is to just have a list of fees that explains all of the extras that are applicable to the location. There is no excuse for not having that. A guest shouldn't have to spend extra effort to figure out if there are any additional fees that are applicable to a stay.

While resort fees are pretty standard these days (unfortunately) and understood by frequent travelers, I could see where people can be caught off guard. Any known fees need to be added to the rate on the reservation... just like taxes... plain to see. Other fees such as 3rd person, children, parking, health club, etc. are the type of fees that vary wildly and need to be disclosed in advance so there are no surprises.

Charges that may catch guests by surprise may be a source of extra revenue... and some may be completely justified... run the risk of alienating a guest... there's no excuse for it. If I were running a hotel I would make sure that ALL OF MY FEES WERE DISCLOSED so no guest was disappointed. It also takes the onus off of the staff having to defend a bad practice.

Businesses that try to squeak out a few extra dollars from folks will wind up losing in the long term... it's always amazing how many hotels just don't get that.

Fees are not at all like taxes in that the hotel keeps the fees just like it keeps money paid as the room rate. Taxes in principle are sent directly to the government. (The same idea holds when ccomparing airline fuel surcharges to genuine taxes. These categories should be disclosed and listed separately, never combined.)

Fees are not at all like taxes in that the hotel keeps the fees just like it keeps money paid as the room rate. Taxes in principle are sent directly to the government. (The same idea holds when ccomparing airline fuel surcharges to genuine taxes. These categories should be disclosed and listed separately, never combined.)

Agreed. To be clear, was trying to say that any applicable fees, like taxes, should be identified in advance. Taxes are typically identified on the rate screen and confirmation as a line item.

Point is... taxes, fees, service charges, or whatever needs to be disclosed and easily identified when the reservation is made... so there are no surprises for the guest.

Agreed. To be clear, was trying to say that any applicable fees, like taxes, should be identified in advance. Taxes are typically identified on the rate screen and confirmation as a line item.

Point is... taxes, fees, service charges, or whatever needs to be disclosed and easily identified when the reservation is made... so there are no surprises for the guest.
I would go farther and say that any mandatory fee must be disclosed at the time of booking and confirmed speccifically in writing on the reservation confirmation or it cannot be charged.

I would go farther and say that any mandatory fee must be disclosed at the time of booking and confirmed speccifically in writing on the reservation confirmation or it cannot be charged.

I love that idea... and no reason it shouldn't be that way.

My daughter is staying at the Eden Roc Renaissance Miami Beach using a 5 night points certificate and was told the reservation was subject to a $25/day resort fee. What does this 'surcharge' cover?

The reservation states - Additional service charges or resort fees may apply where applicable. When is it and when is it not applicable?

This is simply deceitful on the part of the hotel. If there is a required fee, then the amount should be stated during the reservation process and printed on the reservation. I hope your daughter refuses to pay and tells the hotel manager to read this thread.

Although I completely agree with all posts here (had a mini-rant myself in the Hyatt forum recently) I am confused...if your daughter is on a AWARD stay, this fee should be covered as a part of the award.

I cannot remember ever being charged a resort fee when on a rewards stay....

We are using awards for Dec stays at Frenchman's Reef on St Thomas and Scrub Island Resort. Both stays are charging me resort fees - $35.00 and $50.00 per night.

Although I completely agree with all posts here (had a mini-rant myself in the Hyatt forum recently) I am confused...if your daughter is on a AWARD stay, this fee should be covered as a part of the award.

I cannot remember ever being charged a resort fee when on a rewards stay....

Thinking of resort fees in the last couple of years, we have been charged resort fees at Waikoloa, Wailea, but not at Grand Cayman or Curacao on rewards stays.

Yes resort fees are one of those things that really tick me off now. Certain areas it is becoming a joke... try to go to Vegas and you can find a room for 39/nt but then there is a 25 resort fee.

Its yet another junk fee that hotels are using, just like airlines. Except in this case, you really aren't getting anything for the fee. Use of the beach and chairs and a couple bottles of water. Seriously, if you're staying at a beach property, the beach should be included in the room, not tacked on as another crap fee.

Oh and make sure you get your two bottles of water per day at Frenchman's Reef. I had to keep going after them for it since they 'forgot' to put them in the room when it was serviced.

Resort fees are a money grab. Straight forward greed on the part of the property. Why not asses it on everyone and only reverse it for those that complain (after all we are good guys... right). If the guest is going to leave the money on the table, why shouldn't the property take it?

If the property needs more money to keep the property maintained then that should be reflected in the room rate right up front. If they are worth it, they will get it, if not... I hate the idea of laws mandating common sense behavior, but since it was needed for the airlines, that same probably needs to happen for the hospitality industry.

Agreed. Language like "other charges may be applicable" or "there may be a fee for a roll-away" etc. is bad form. In this electronic age any fees that are applicable to a reservation made on line is easy to program... with a little effort/expense on the IT side. Some hotel companies do this and it's a nice service to the guest. The "poor man's" way of doing it is to just have a list of fees that explains all of the extras that are applicable to the location. There is no excuse for not having that. A guest shouldn't have to spend extra effort to figure out if there are any additional fees that are applicable to a stay.

While resort fees are pretty standard these days (unfortunately) and understood by frequent travelers, I could see where people can be caught off guard. Any known fees need to be added to the rate on the reservation... just like taxes... plain to see. Other fees such as 3rd person, children, parking, health club, etc. are the type of fees that vary wildly and need to be disclosed in advance so there are no surprises.

Charges that may catch guests by surprise may be a source of extra revenue... and some may be completely justified... run the risk of alienating a guest... there's no excuse for it. If I were running a hotel I would make sure that ALL OF MY FEES WERE DISCLOSED so no guest was disappointed. It also takes the onus off of the staff having to defend a bad practice.


Agree with the above.

Cheers.

Any reports of having these fees waived/reduced for Golds/Plats?

I will be staying at the Ritz on pts. The resort fee is $50/day. So for the $500, do I get the 20x pts a day (15x for plat, 5x CC), which would be 10k pts?

does the Ritz actually charge the resort fees on point stays?????????

internally, depends on how they code it......if same/similar to a tax, no, if other, likely............... but whatever you still should get that $500x5 if you use Marriott CC............

I will be staying at the Ritz on pts. The resort fee is $50/day. So for the $500, do I get the 20x pts a day (15x for plat, 5x CC), which would be 10k pts?

I will be staying at the Ritz on pts. The resort fee is $50/day. So for the $500, do I get the 20x pts a day (15x for plat, 5x CC), which would be 10k pts?

No you will not earn points on the resort fee. Ritz-Carlton only awards points on the room rate (but you will still get the 1000 point Platinum arrival bonus).

does the Ritz actually charge the resort fees on point stays?????????

Every RC property I have been to that charges flat rate resort fees (e.g. $25 a day), charges them on reward stays as well. Properties like RC San Juan, where the resort fee is a percentage of the room rate, do not charge them on reward stays.


.... but whatever you still should get that $500x5 if you use Marriott CC............

That is incorrect. Only the Ritz-Carlton Rewards credit card (the one with the $395 annual fee) earns 5x points on RC spend. If the OP does have this card, then he will earn 5x points on all of his spend during this stay.

That is incorrect. Only the Ritz-Carlton Rewards credit card (the one with the $395 annual fee) earns 5x points on RC spend. If the OP does have this card, then he will earn 5x points on all of his spend during this stay.

You can buy Marriott Gift Cards that qualify for Marriott spend + other purchase bonuses and use them to pay for folio charged expenses etc at RC's.

So I've been watching the infamous "resort fee" become more and more prevalent. Now I see some that got more expensive, and are including internet in the fee.

As GM+ we get internet included as part of the perk, but what happens now when resorts roll that into the mandatory fee? Good example is Frenchman's Reef. They started a $25 resort fee, but now increased it to $35 and added internet.

This looks like a nice way that resorts are getting around providing the benefit to elites by lumping it into the fee so we're stuck paying.

30 is LOW. On a 300 dollar room (pretty average rate for San Juan Resort or La Concha) the resort fee is the following: Mandatory 16 percent resort fee added to rate incl bottle of water in room/local phone calls/wireless Internet and more.


This amounts to about $50 per night resort fee.

Scrubb Island Charges $25 per person per Night.

The new Ritz in San Juan charges a Daily resort fee of USD 95 added to rate

Personally I don't think $35 is low (originally typed 30, but its 35). Resort fees are junk fees and just used to jack up the effective room rate. Used to be $25 which I thought was absurd, since you only get 2 bottles of water, newspaper, the gym, and beach chairs. You get access to the beach and gym anyway at the hotel.
Now its $10 more and you get "free" internet, which I also get anyway as a Plat.

My point is, resort fees in general are a trash fee, and they're getting sneakier at lumping more stuff into the mandatory fee that gold and plat would get for free previously.

Personally I don't think $35 is low (originally typed 30, but its 35). Resort fees are junk fees and just used to jack up the effective room rate. Used to be $25 which I thought was absurd, since you only get 2 bottles of water, newspaper, the gym, and beach chairs. You get access to the beach and gym anyway at the hotel.
Now its $10 more and you get "free" internet, which I also get anyway as a Plat.

My point is, resort fees in general are a trash fee, and they're getting sneakier at lumping more stuff into the mandatory fee that gold and plat would get for free previously.

I was being sarcastic. Pointing out that 35 isn't even the highest out there. :rolleyes:

Fees, fees and more fees.
Eventually 'staycations' will become the norm and the cycle will start over again.
One thing I hate is being nickel'd and dime'd to death.
Not sure how my kids will afford a house, education, yet alone a vacation to a hotel during summer.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/hotelcheckin/2013/01/28/hotel-fees-on-the-rise-in-2013/1872777/

Personally I don't think $35 is low (originally typed 30, but its 35). Resort fees are junk fees and just used to jack up the effective room rate. Used to be $25 which I thought was absurd, since you only get 2 bottles of water, newspaper, the gym, and beach chairs. You get access to the beach and gym anyway at the hotel.
Now its $10 more and you get "free" internet, which I also get anyway as a Plat.

My point is, resort fees in general are a trash fee, and they're getting sneakier at lumping more stuff into the mandatory fee that gold and plat would get for free previously.

Complete garbage and a nickel-and-dime way to treat your customers.

The "Resort Fee" is for stuff that should be included in the price already! It's already there, right? Maybe you do internet a-la-carte, but everything else . . . another scam.

ESPECIALLY when it is mandatory. If it is mandatory, then it is PART OF THE ROOM RATE, and should be stated and included as such.

Resort fees are like bag fees with the airlines. Paying for something that should already be included.

Exactly! If I'm going to a resort, I expect usage of thing like, oh say beach chairs and towels to be part of the rate, not be used to fill a list of things that the resort fee includes.

Remember those ridiculous per night "energy surcharges" that hotels were doing circa 2000? Sadly, unlike those charges, it seems like resort fees are not only here to stay but are increasing. One SPG property in NY is even adding one!

It's only a matter of time before someone tries to sue or cause sort of issue over the wording on the Marriott website for the elite benefits. Marriott may want to clean up the wording about free internet for Gold's and Platinums. Free means free, no disclaimer or foot note indicating this would only apply at hotels that do not charge resort fees.

It's only a matter of time before someone tries to sue or cause sort of issue over the wording on the Marriott website for the elite benefits. Marriott may want to clean up the wording about free internet for Gold's and Platinums. Free means free, no disclaimer or foot note indicating this would only apply at hotels that do not charge resort fees.

Careful, some marketeer will come up with: Internet free only at those properties that don't charge for it. :)

Years ago, a friend was shopping for his office and asked a Fry's clerk for a price guarantee while he gets the PO processed and the response was: Of course, if the prices don't go up. Explained why the "average" turn-time for Fry's employees was 30 days! Gotta really wonder about those that didn't make 30.

Free hotel rooms, with a $225.00 a nightly fee for using the hotel, bed, water, towels, lights, door key, hanger use, iron fee, soap, working alarm clock, it never ends. The future of fees.

Currently staying at the Courtyard VA Beach North. Just noticed the website for this CY and the CY VA Beach South added a parking charge of $5 per night from Memorial to Labor Day. Currently parking is free. According to FDC, they will also be charging a resort fee here that will include parking, local and nationwide long distance calls, premium internet, and towels at the pool for $20 per night. Anyone that doesn't want to pay the resort fee will still have to pay for parking. The fee will not be waived for elites. :td:

Regards,

RIP...

I noticed the same increase in resort fee charges because of the addition of "free wifi". I can't believe that hotels aren't including internet as a basic amenity yet! Especially hate hotels that charge separate internet fees for each device connected to the internet. Drives me crazy. I bought this wireless travel router for when I travel and have various meetings throughout the hotel: http://www.engadget.com/2013/02/14/satechi-releases-mini-router-repeater/

I look at the resort fees in the context of everything else that is happening to these "loyalty" programs.

Marriott (along with most other companies to one degree or another) are making it clear they do not value having a long-term loyal customer as much as short term revenue. I believe the resort fees are purely a way to increase rates without having to actually raise the base nightly rate (as much) so that the nights appear to be cheaper on the various travel portals like kayak, hotels.com or whatever. The low-information traveler who primarily looks at nightly rate and actually does a comparison search will be less likely to even notice a resort fee buried in the details at the last step of booking let alone be able to easily compare rooms across different chains.

Seems similar to the airlines fees for baggage, advance seats, etc... claiming it will make fares cheaper upfront only to be nailed with the fees on the day of departure.

If these fees were in fact keeping overall costs low for everyone then that would be fine but clearly the cutbacks are coming at the expense of loyalty program devaluation.

Charging me an extra $35 for basic amenities included at non-resorts for free like access to a swimming pool or gym, is bad enough, but now like OP mentioned things that we have "earned" through our "loyalty" such as internet access (which should be free for everyone honestly) is absurd.

I will however add that the one MR resort I've stayed in that included internet in the resort fees waived the entire fee for me as a platinum (JW Palm Springs CA) but this doesn't seem too common

since these "resort" fees seem to be hotel generated, why are you holding Marriott responsible for individual hotel gouging tactics???????

would is ease your pain for the props to just raise their rates and bury these "fees" into their new higher rates????????

I look at the resort fees in the context of everything else that is happening to these "loyalty" programs.

Marriott (along with most other companies to one degree or another) are making it clear they do not value having a long-term loyal customer as much as short term revenue. I believe the resort fees are purely a way to increase rates without having to actually raise the base nightly rate (as much) so that the nights appear to be cheaper on the various travel portals like kayak, hotels.com or whatever. The low-information traveler who primarily looks at nightly rate and actually does a comparison search will be less likely to even notice a resort fee buried in the details at the last step of booking let alone be able to easily compare rooms across different chains.

Seems similar to the airlines fees for baggage, advance seats, etc... claiming it will make fares cheaper upfront only to be nailed with the fees on the day of departure.

If these fees were in fact keeping overall costs low for everyone then that would be fine but clearly the cutbacks are coming at the expense of loyalty program devaluation.

Charging me an extra $35 for basic amenities included at non-resorts for free like access to a swimming pool or gym, is bad enough, but now like OP mentioned things that we have "earned" through our "loyalty" such as internet access (which should be free for everyone honestly) is absurd.

I will however add that the one MR resort I've stayed in that included internet in the resort fees waived the entire fee for me as a platinum (JW Palm Springs CA) but this doesn't seem too common

would is ease your pain for the props to just raise their rates and bury these "fees" into their new higher rates????????

YES, for three reasons:

1) I don't believe we earn points on the resort fees, whereas we would if it were included in the base room rate

2) Corporate discounts don't get applied to the resort fees

3) We still have to pay the resort fees on award stays

Of course, the properties are well aware of this. These "resort fees" are basically the hotel equivalent of airline YQs (fuel surcharges)

since these "resort" fees seem to be hotel generated, why are you holding Marriott responsible for individual hotel gouging tactics???????

would is ease your pain for the props to just raise their rates and bury these "fees" into their new higher rates????????

this is a Marriott Issue b/c they are very liberal with what they call a "resort".

Even their website is unclear as what is a resort and what is not unless you really look hard.

BTW....a Nice pool at a convention hotel does not make a "Resort". In Florida, Orlando especially this is a big issue.

totally wrong which is typical of your responses..............

Marriott has fully disclosed which props are resorts -
https://www.marriott.com/hotel-search/resort.hotels/?selectedRegion=USTS

from others posting, not all resorts charge these resort fees (they certainly don't here in asia) - they are individual prop charges, not Marriott imposed charges...........


this is a Marriott Issue b/c they are very liberal with what they call a "resort".
Even their website is unclear as what is a resort and what is not unless you really look hard.
BTW....a Nice pool at a convention hotel does not make a "Resort". In Florida, Orlando especially this is a big issue.

Resort fees are a money grab, plain and simple. The properties are hoping no one notices until they arrive and then it's too late. In addition to avoiding having to pay points and the such, I believe there is an element of tax avoidance going on too since resort fees do not get hit with occupancy taxes (and they probably tried getting past sales taxes until the states got wise). I'm hoping the FTC will rise up and declare mandatory resort fees are a deceptive practice, as they are, and rules their use illegal.

totally wrong which is typical of your responses..............

Marriott has fully disclosed which props are resorts -
https://www.marriott.com/hotel-search/resort.hotels/?selectedRegion=USTS

from others posting, not all resorts charge these resort fees (they certainly don't here in asia) - they are individual prop charges, not Marriott imposed charges...........

Bring back the toothbrush comment, it was spot on...

you and jr should get a room...........

Bring back the toothbrush comment, it was spot on...

you and jr should get a room...........

Got to admit, made me burst out laughing. Got to think you own a ton of Marriott stock. Thanks! :p

not even 1 share............

Got to admit, made me burst out laughing. Got to think you own a ton of Marriott stock. Thanks! :p

I don't like the absurd resort fees any more than the rest of you. Nor do I like paying for crummy food on airplanes or all the taxes and surcharges that double the price of my rental cars. But we have done this to ourselves. The buying public is so fickle that they will gravitate to the lowest advertised price, with no regard for the actual total price or the quality of service provided.

No legacy airline could survive pricing plane tickets at what it would take to turn a profit. I hate to say it, but people are too dumb to do the math. So they'll book Airline B who offers a fare $5 cheaper, then end up paying $75 to check a bag, $50 for a decent seat, $20 for a snack box and a beer...

So now hotels are stuck doing the same thing. If a Hilton, a Westin, and a Marriott are all in the same area and offer roughly the same product, the general public will book rooms at the one with the lowest advertised rate. They may not even notice the extra fees tacked on, or if they do they may grumble but that's about it. It's only those of us passionate enough about frequent travel to join and post at a message board like this who notice what's going on and rail against it.

What I'd like to see is MR to come out with a benefit that says plats will have resort fees waived. Think about what a public relations coup THAT would be in the frequent travel blogosphere...

30 is LOW. On a 300 dollar room (pretty average rate for San Juan Resort or La Concha) the resort fee is the following: Mandatory 16 percent resort fee added to rate incl bottle of water in room/local phone calls/wireless Internet and more.


This amounts to about $50 per night resort fee.

Scrubb Island Charges $25 per person per Night.

The new Ritz in San Juan charges a Daily resort fee of USD 95 added to rate

You need to find some new resorts for those fees.

totally wrong which is typical of your responses..............

Marriott has fully disclosed which props are resorts -
https://www.marriott.com/hotel-search/resort.hotels/?selectedRegion=USTS

from others posting, not all resorts charge these resort fees (they certainly don't here in asia) - they are individual prop charges, not Marriott imposed charges...........Let's Look at a REAL EXAMPLE of Marriott's Trickery as nobody searches through the link you provided, but rather uses the Search Functionality to find a hotel, rate and Availability.

If you search Orlando you find: Renaissance Orlando at SeaWorld®

No where in the name does it say it is a resort. NOWHERE. If you look at the website you see don't see RESORT anywhere in any of description of the property except where they substituted explore our resort instead of Explore our hotel. They Removed the word resort from the entire page in all the descriptions and verbiage highlighting the property.

So someone books the hotel only to find out that upon arrival that it is a resort and NO CL is provided or Breakfast provided and there are Resort Fees. Also To Call this hotel a RESORT is a BIG Stretch...REAL BIG.

Now Let's Compare this to another well known resort Frenchman's Reef & Morning Star Marriott Beach Resort . Note the Name has RESORT in it AND all over the hotel website the word RESORT is used to describe the property. ALL OVER THE PAGE. Do you see the difference? Over 7 uses of the word RESORT and Prominently. Why does one Resort get EASILY identified as a resort on Marriott's Site and another (that really most wouldn't consider a resort) does not? Almost as if they are hiding it? You do know the Orlando Property used to have RESORT in their name. Where did it go? BTW this has happened at several Marriott Properties in Orlando.

This is game playing by Marriott. Identify your properties properly and make it clear if you aren't going provide benefits at Resorts and charge these fees. No reason one property is VERY clear and the other is not. Not when it impacts your dollars spent and Benefits Received. Seems Marriott is doing this on properties that they are "calling Resorts", but don't have the typical features of a resort Like the Sea World Hotel and others in Orlando. A Nice Pool only does not make a Resort BTW especially at big convention hotel in Florida.

Let's take it step further. Both hotels have RESORT VIEW rooms ( I have stayed at both hotels)... Guess What Hotel offers RESORT VIEW rooms for sale and which one doesn't? That is right Frenchman's Reef & Morning Star Marriott Beach Resort offers the RESORT view rooms for sale and the SEAWORLD property does not sell Resort view rooms just "guest rooms" which just happen to view the Resort?. So even here the word Resort has been scrubbed. Why does Marriott do this? What would be the motive?

and then there are props like the Pattaya Beach Resort Marriott that provide Exec Lounge access(yes, a resort w an EL), upgrades, breakfast in either the lounge or breakfast room and all the rest of the std perks EVEN though it uses the term "resort" and is classified as a "resort"...............

Marriott provided the available link to specifically list out all props that are resorts..........now, YOU might not use the search link I provided which IDs all those Marriott props which YOU consider deceptive trade practices, including your complaint to the FTC which will determine your complaint to be TOTALLY without merit, but that does not mean that others with an ounce of intelligence don't...........

Let's Look at a REAL EXAMPLE of Marriott's Trickery as nobody searches through the link you provided, but rather uses the Search Functionality to find a hotel, rate and Availability.

If you search Orlando you find: Renaissance Orlando at SeaWorld®

No where in the name does it say it is a resort. NOWHERE. If you look at the website you see don't see RESORT anywhere in any of description of the property except where they substituted explore our resort instead of Explore our hotel. They Removed the word resort from the entire page in all the descriptions and verbiage highlighting the property.

So someone books the hotel only to find out that upon arrival that it is a resort and NO CL is provided or Breakfast provided and there are Resort Fees. Also To Call this hotel a RESORT is a BIG Stretch...REAL BIG.

Now Let's Compare this to another well known resort Frenchman's Reef & Morning Star Marriott Beach Resort . Note the Name has RESORT in it AND all over the hotel website the word RESORT is used to describe the property. ALL OVER THE PAGE. Do you see the difference? Over 7 uses of the word RESORT and Prominently. Why does one Resort get EASILY identified as a resort on Marriott's Site and another (that really most wouldn't consider a resort) does not? Almost as if they are hiding it? You do know the Orlando Property used to have RESORT in their name. Where did it go? BTW this has happened at several Marriott Properties in Orlando.

This is game playing by Marriott. Identify your properties properly and make it clear if you aren't going provide benefits at Resorts and charge these fees. No reason one property is VERY clear and the other is not. Not when it impacts your dollars spent and Benefits Received. Seems Marriott is doing this on properties that they are "calling Resorts", but don't have the typical features of a resort Like the Sea World Hotel and others in Orlando. A Nice Pool only does not make a Resort BTW especially at big convention hotel in Florida.

Let's take it step further. Both hotels have RESORT VIEW rooms ( I have stayed at both hotels)... Guess What Hotel offers RESORT VIEW rooms for sale and which one doesn't? That is right Frenchman's Reef & Morning Star Marriott Beach Resort offers the RESORT view rooms for sale and the SEAWORLD property does not sell Resort view rooms just "guest rooms" which just happen to view the Resort?. So even here the word Resort has been scrubbed. Why does Marriott do this? What would be the motive?

First of all, I believe pretty much all resort fees are unethical and serve only one intent: to trick and deceive the guests. Maybe some side benefits of defrauding commissioned travel agents or corporate discount clients, but I don't know about that firsthand.

If we don't want governments eventually outlawing the practice, then maybe one of the quality brands in the marketplace will step up and say "This is immoral, and we're banning it throughout our system." Sadly, it doesn't seem like any are willing yet - maybe because this issue hasn't gone big with mainstream media. Start charging garbage fees at crappy Courtyards, and maybe it will.

The Marriott list of resorts is fine for identifying the list of properties where they are withholding elite benefits. That's the purpose of that list to me: Marriott is clearly saying "Golds, Plats - we do not want your business here." OK, that's fair game, their choice, and a huge reason I added SPG Plat and HH Diamond when before I was only Marriott Plat. But that list doesn't correlate to the list of properties that charge resort fees and - more importantly (and perhaps the only factor that really matters) - the resort fee does not show up clearly on the initial search page when I'm looking at hotel rates.

would is ease your pain for the props to just raise their rates and bury these "fees" into their new higher rates????????

Yes. That's precisely what should be done by an ethical hotelier. Charge whatever rate the market will bear, but do it transparently and ethically.

I wish the law would force this upon all hotels, but since it won't it's a shame that one of the major brands hasn't stood up and enforced it for their own properties.

Yes. That's precisely what should be done by an ethical hotelier. Charge whatever rate the market will bear, but do it transparently and ethically.

I wish the law would force this upon all hotels, but since it won't it's a shame that one of the major brands hasn't stood up and enforced it for their own properties.

I'm hoping that as resort fees (which, as we've seen with the Parker Meridien in NYC, have now migrated beyond "resorts") continue to spread, the regulators will get involved, much as they have with requiring airlines to include all taxes and fees (including those ridiculous fuel surcharges) in advertised fares and in the fares that are displayed on their websites. If this would be applied to the hotel industry, the first screen displaying room rates would have to be inclusive of the resort fees.

and then there are props like the Pattaya Beach Resort Marriott that provide Exec Lounge access(yes, a resort w an EL), upgrades, breakfast in either the lounge or breakfast room and all the rest of the std perks EVEN though it uses the term "resort" and is classified as a "resort"....

SSSHHHHH! Don't go drawing attention to it ;):D

Currently staying at the Courtyard VA Beach North. Just noticed the website for this CY and the CY VA Beach South added a parking charge of $5 per night from Memorial to Labor Day. Currently parking is free. According to FDC, they will also be charging a resort fee here that will include parking, local and nationwide long distance calls, premium internet, and towels at the pool for $20 per night. Anyone that doesn't want to pay the resort fee will still have to pay for parking. The fee will not be waived for elites. :td:

Regards,

RIP...
Do you mean that even people who don't have cars parked on the property are being charged the $5 parking fee?

YES, for three reasons:

1) I don't believe we earn points on the resort fees, whereas we would if it were included in the base room rate

2) Corporate discounts don't get applied to the resort fees

3) We still have to pay the resort fees on award stays

Of course, the properties are well aware of this. These "resort fees" are basically the hotel equivalent of airline YQs (fuel surcharges)
4) Hotels don't pay travel agent and booking commissions on resort fees.

I'm hoping that as resort fees (which, as we've seen with the Parker Meridien in NYC, have now migrated beyond "resorts") continue to spread, the regulators will get involved, much as they have with requiring airlines to include all taxes and fees (including those ridiculous fuel surcharges) in advertised fares and in the fares that are displayed on their websites. If this would be applied to the hotel industry, the first screen displaying room rates would have to be inclusive of the resort fees.

That would be a good starting point. It would satisfy the primary consumer rights issue - the paying guest having complete visibility to costs in the initial list of search results.

There would still be the issue of properties using resort fees to effectively devalue the rewards programs, much like programs like BA have done for many of their own airline awards.

There would still be the issue of properties using resort fees to effectively devalue the rewards programs, much like programs like BA have done for many of their own airline awards.

Absolutely, I fully believe they are here to stay (and will spread), just like airline fuel surcharges. Which is why I find it so hard to believe there are those who are either apologists for the hotels when it comes to this issue, or simply dismiss it.

If state and local taxes on those fees are not being paid they then they are ripping of the taxpayers too who rely on those fees to fund schools, parks and stadiums.

Bottom line is along the lines of FTC's warning to some hotel chains. So long as the full mandatory price is disclosed, I could care less. If that were to become a uniform rule as it is for air carriers courtesy of DOT, the entire issue would go away.

This is all about the ability to advertise a $300 room for $200 + $100 fee. While I would hope that most on FT could add the numbers together without a disclosure, it's an annoyance.

As to non-mandatory fees which may the stay a la carte, that again gets to our obsession with finding the cheapest item which turns out not to be cheapest.

Absolutely, I fully believe they are here to stay (and will spread), just like airline fuel surcharges. Which is why I find it so hard to believe there are those who are either apologists for the hotels when it comes to this issue, or simply dismiss it.

It's not hard to believe. EVERY travel forum has one apologist, championing and defending that brand's choice of clearly customer unfriendly practices.

The "resort fee" should be included in the room rate as part of that rate. If it is mandatory, then it unquestionable should be part of the room rate.

Everyone hates them, but most folks grin and bear it. And like bag fees, it is becoming a very annoying industry standard. Marriott following the rest (or leading) plus $$$.

YES, for three reasons:

1) I don't believe we earn points on the resort fees, whereas we would if it were included in the base room rate

2) Corporate discounts don't get applied to the resort fees

3) We still have to pay the resort fees on award stays

Of course, the properties are well aware of this. These "resort fees" are basically the hotel equivalent of airline YQs (fuel surcharges)

+1 especially #3 because it amounts to a further devaluation of points.

Also don't forget to circle back to the original comments from the start of this thread that we are now increasingly being charged for things that are free for elites at a non-resort.

since these "resort" fees seem to be hotel generated, why are you holding Marriott responsible for individual hotel gouging tactics???????

Is this a serious question? These policies (among others) are contributing to those of us who are questioning our loyalty to the entire Marriott brand. You are really saying that Marriott has no power to prohibit their resorts from forcing extra mandatory fees upon their guests and/or should have no responsibility for an individual hotel under their brand's actions?

Further Marriott at least partially decides whether a hotel is a resort or not, which in turn dictates that some of our elite benefits are not available as determined by the Marriott Rewards program.

If you feel so strongly that our issues with these policies are our problems and not related at all to the Marriott experience, maybe you could actually contribute to the conversation and attempt to change our minds about the points we are raising instead of attacking people.

BTW, I'm being serious... I would love for someone to be able to put a fresh perspective on this discussion that makes me think its not a semi-sleazy way to further reduce the benefits of Marriott loyalty. BKKLEE just seems to be the only one who disagrees with this thread.

BTW, I'm being serious... I would love for someone to be able to put a fresh perspective on this discussion that makes me think its not a semi-sleazy way to further reduce the benefits of Marriott loyalty.

There is no fresh perspective because there is no upside to the consumer from these resort fees; just as there is no upside to the consumer from airline YQ/fuel surcharges.

There is no fresh perspective because there is no upside to the consumer from these resort fees; just as there is no upside to the consumer from airline YQ/fuel surcharges.

Agree there is nothing good to be had, just partly attempting to avoid encouraging certain posters.

I'm very close to dumping MR though, so trying to come up with anything that might help me hang on :)

For me though, the resort fees are way worse than fuel surcharges, and I liken them more to fees for baggage, seat selection etc... as things that really are part of the experience and often include benefits that used to be earned through loyalty.

At least the fuel surcharges are accounted for upfront when I book the ticket. Most of the resort fee nonsense is pushed off until the actual stay and entirely obfuscated at booking time (most likely purposefully); like when I try to book a MR night and the search says "resort fee applies see rate rules" and the rate rules don't have any mention of the resort fee, and even a call to platinum res line couldn't explain what was included or how much (I forget which hotel)

I seem to recall some sort of class action suit settlement regarding those nightly "energy" surcharges in vogue back around 2000 (as someone pointed out earlier). Notice you don't see them anymore. Maybe we need something similar.

If the FTC can force airlines to advertise the cost of fares upfront like they did 6 months ago, why not extend to everything in the travel industry?

let's get this straight.............I do not agree with the imposition of these extra fees, but what I do totally disagree with is jr's contention(s) that:
(1) Marriott is engaged in deceptive trade practices by not requiring all resorts to include the word resort in their website name since Marriott does not name these hotels, but the owners do (look I've argued the point about AC hotels either being AutoCol or AC by Marriotts rather confusing too but no ones changing the hotel names here either). Further, I've pointed out that Marriott has a website that provides a full and complete list of props that are considered resorts - those using & not using the term resort - so due to full disclosure there is no deceptive trade practice (but jr argues NO ONE in the world ever looks at this site even though it's published); and
(2) jr contends that Marriott has the power to force those props charging resort fees to waive them or completely drop them - since these resort fees are not imposed by Marriott they cannot force these props to CXL these fees just to please folks like jr.............next jr will argue that Marriott can force props to waive taxes imposed by gov't, state and city as these are add ons - just ludicrous (I expect jr to also demand all airlines not impose fuel sucharges to as these are imposed on flights whether as paid or reward tickets as he already stated that "free" night awards should not have resort fees charged - good luck on both - you can bang your head against the wall in your little temper tantrums all day long and it won't get you anywhere).

Do I like these extra fees - no, but I also have a choice of not accepting them by not staying at props that impose them. You can speak louder with your wallet then recent hissy fits here which will get one absolutely no where as there is no merit to jr's position(s).


-BTW, I'm being serious... I would love for someone to be able to put a fresh perspective on this discussion that makes me think its not a semi-sleazy way to further reduce the benefits of Marriott loyalty. BKKLEE just seems to be the only one who disagrees with this thread.

To those tirelessly complaining about the resort fees, have you ever simply asked at the elite desk that they waive the resort fee? I've never paid a resort fee while being PP. Never hurts to ask...

Competitor Hilton has started to implement Resort Fees at more and more properties as well. It is a way to circumvent the freebies given to elites. I have asked for the resort fees to be waived and was declined (Orlando).

Resort Fees at resorts makes sense if you are paying for the facilities that are offered to guests. A resort fee at a hotel would seem a bit over the top depending on the situation. Though as long as the fee is being used to maintain specific ammenities then I would believe them to be fair game.

Resort Fees at resorts makes sense if you are paying for the facilities that are offered to guests. A resort fee at a hotel would seem a bit over the top depending on the situation. Though as long as the fee is being used to maintain specific ammenities then I would believe them to be fair game.

But if I don't use that amenity, I shouldn't have to pay the fee. If the intent of the resort fee is to maintain, say, the spa, then charge it to the people who use the spa.

And what's the difference between a "resort" and a "hotel"? Specifically, technically...what is the exact difference?

To be honest I don't use any spas, gyms, fitness centers, or the like at a hotel. Don't use a pool either. All I really do use is the internet and potentially breakfast.

I am probably just to resigned that hotels and resorts are going to charge whatever they are going to charge anyway. Unless there is a mass boycott that actually affects business (which I don't see happening) I feel that fees are going to just become another norm of the industry.

.....Scrubb Island Charges $25 per person per Night......

Very true. Just cancelled an award reservation at Scrub Island.

It said, "$600 Resort Fee." It really rubbed us the wrong way. Add it to the price!
Made reservations for Lima and Cusco instead.

I can't stand resort fees.

:/

It's like Best Buy making you a pay for touchy/feely without buying the item. We need to charge all our customers a touchy/feely fee to improve your customer experience. That's what I call the cost of doing business.

If you buy the item, then there is a cashier fee, stocking fee, signage fee, energy fee, parking at our store fee, making our associate go to the back room and bring out the item fee. At some point, you lump it all into the price and call it the cost. This is what this item 'cost', not what this item is worth. Huge difference.

To be honest I don't use any spas, gyms, fitness centers, or the like at a hotel. Don't use a pool either. All I really do use is the internet and potentially breakfast.

I am probably just to resigned that hotels and resorts are going to charge whatever they are going to charge anyway. Unless there is a mass boycott that actually affects business (which I don't see happening) I feel that fees are going to just become another norm of the industry.

Hotels should be able to charge whatever they like. This isn't about putting price caps on them or otherwise interfere with the supply and demand for their product.

But they should not be able to add the mandatory fees later. They should be required to provide full disclosure in the total price shown on the initial search result screen.

This is not government overreach or some sort of impediment to capitalism. In fact, it protects both consumers and ethical hoteliers against fraudsters who seek to take business precisely by providing a bait-and-switch and false alternative to the actual supply and demand market that exists at the time.

I was told recently by Marriott Rewards that we don't get points credit for Resort Fees we pay (a substantial sum for a week in Hawaii). Is this correct? Doesn't make sense to me, but I see above that RC has such a practice.

Don't like the semi-opaque nature of Resort Fee charges (i.e., they don't show up in the advertised rate although at least on Marriott.com they do disclose them on the payment page - thumbs up for that.)

I was told recently by Marriott Rewards that we don't get points credit for Resort Fees we pay (a substantial sum for a week in Hawaii). Is this correct? Doesn't make sense to me, but I see above that RC has such a practice.

Don't like the semi-opaque nature of Resort Fee charges (i.e., they don't show up in the advertised rate although at least on Marriott.com they do disclose them on the payment page - thumbs up for that.)

I believe that is fairly standard throughout the industry...no point earning on resort fees.

I agree with you on the opaqueness of the fees. I'd rather them just bake it into the room rate and not nickel and dime me. Then again, the resort fee is probably already baked into the rate and the other line item i see on my statement called "resort fee" is just pure profit. It's ridiculous

I believe that is fairly standard throughout the industry...no point earning on resort fees.

I agree with you on the opaqueness of the fees. I'd rather them just bake it into the room rate and not nickel and dime me. Then again, the resort fee is probably already baked into the rate and the other line item i see on my statement called "resort fee" is just pure profit. It's ridiculous

Even though I think "resort fees" are insane and disgusting, they are far from pure profit at the resorts I have been to, since they always give you something (the value of that something is up to you, and only if you use what they are offering) in exchange for the fee. Some hotels give you "free" bicycle rental, or "free" beach cabana, or "free" Internet, or "free" parking. To me, all of those are of dubious value at best, since I am unlikely to want to rent a bicycle or to use a beach cabana, and as a Plat, I already get free Internet, and "free" parking is only valuable if I have a car, and if they are charging me something which includes parking, and I do not have a car, that is an insult to me to charge me for something I do not need.

On the other hand, for the resorts who offer a free daily poolside bar drink, or 20% off in the hotel restaurant, or a discount on spa services, or something along those lines, I am only mildly upset, because it is not a choice I have made, and I prefer to decide what I want to do with my money, rather than have it imposed on me.

Actually, I was not even aware that points are not earned on resort fees, but that just might be because I have not stayed at a Marriott resort property in at least three and a half years (since I attended my last professional conference held at a Marriott resort property), and try to avoid them because of the imposed resort fees.

IMHO we are much likely to see the return of a Stale breakfast before Marriott waives Resort fees for Platinums. My recent stay in Aruba had 50% Platinums in the Hotel. Imagine the Revenue that week from Resort Fees alone. Now compare that to what marriott would have to pay per person to provide a continental Breakfast (that many would either not use or pay to upgrade).

Proably would be helpful if we added a list of resort properties that will waive Resort fees for Platinum Guest.

since Marriott does not charge the resort fees, but the individual properties do, Marriott can't waive them, for plats or others............

IMHO we are much likely to see the return of a Stale breakfast before Marriott waives Resort fees for Platinums.

IMHO we are much likely to see the return of a Stale breakfast before Marriott waives Resort fees for Platinums. My recent stay in Aruba had 50% Platinums in the Hotel. Imagine the Revenue that week from Resort Fees alone. Now compare that to what marriott would have to pay per person to provide a continental Breakfast (that many would either not use or pay to upgrade).

Proably would be helpful if we added a list of resort properties that will waive Resort fees for Platinum Guest.

Actually, it would be great if we had a RESORT STICKY with a list of the current resort fees, along with whether those resorts do or do not waive resort fees, much like the executive lounge thread, updated regularly.

since Marriott does not charge the resort fees, but the individual properties do, Marriott can't waive them, for plats or others............

You must be joking! Marriott could easily have a rule that prohibits resort fees, for all, for just Plats, for Plats plus Golds, etc. Also, Marriott does charge the resort fees, since many or most of the resorts are actually MI managed, and considering that it was MI who originally came up with the resort fee concept, as a method of "revenue enhancement" more than 15 years ago.

If you stop to think that Marriott made the rule of free Internet for Golds and Plats, and applied it to all North American hotels, and later to international hotels too, then you realize that Marriott can generate other, similar rules for/against what individual properties do or do not charge.

I was told recently by Marriott Rewards that we don't get points credit for Resort Fees we pay (a substantial sum for a week in Hawaii). Is this correct? Doesn't make sense to me, but I see above that RC has such a practice.

Don't like the semi-opaque nature of Resort Fee charges (i.e., they don't show up in the advertised rate although at least on Marriott.com they do disclose them on the payment page - thumbs up for that.)

Stayed at the Marriott Waikiki Beach in Honolulu 2 weeks ago and go points for the resort fee, so it looks like it depends on the property.