Originally Posted by iahphx

I have an upcoming C&P stay at the Westin Mission Hills in Rancho Mirage, CA and I've glanced at my reservation. I see the resort fee is up to $27, and it looks like all I'm really getting is parking and internet. So I guess instead of paying $60 + 4000 points (a very good deal) I'm paying $87 + 4000 points (a good price, but perhaps beatable on sites such as priceline).

I'm pretty sure I know why the resort fee at Mission Hills is so high: Palm Springs is a very competitive resort market, and shifting the room cost into a mandatory resort fee makes their rates look more competitive (especially during the off-season, when room rates are lower).

But is there anyone -- even the folks who work for Starwood -- who think this practice is "right" or "fair"? Heck, effective this month, the Feds are making the airlines include ALL TAXES in their fare quotes. In this case, the hotels are allowed to hide their own "real" prices from the general public. It reminds me of a common practice in Argentina restaurants to charge a mandatory "cubierto" (cover charge) to make their menu prices look lower (maybe I shouldn't give our hospitality industry any ideas ).

It seems to me the "room rate" should include all mandatory costs that a guest MUST pay. Anything else is just deceptive. I'm not a big fan of government regulation, but this is a regulation that is overdue. What's next -- a $50 "resort fee"?