Originally Posted by
inside_edition
Although most places don't base their resort fees on rewards level, remember that many time you do get extras included. For instance, in
Puerto Rico, the resort fee includes high-speed internet, local calls, 800-number calls, $5 casino coupon, a bottle of water, use of the business center, and a bicycle rental. Many places also include things like parking. If you were to pay for these things separately, usually they would cost much more than the resort fee.
Recently, Mrs Flyer Jon was at the Marriott Stellaris PR. She had her internet aircard - didn't need to connect via hotel's service; her cellphone - didn't need local calls -- a 10% resort fee, in this case, is a waste of money.
The other nonsensical aspect of this hotel's resort fees - if you stay in a suite at, say, $750 a night -- that's $70 a day for the same services that the Mrs was asked to pay $30 a day, based on a room rate of $300 per night.
Now for the interesting bit.......... I called the hotel to question the resort charge, especially as she hardly used any of the included services. The front desk agent told me
the fee was optional!! And, she should have asked for it to be waived on check-out. "How would she know?" I asked. The answer was illuminating -- if you make a booking through central res - they will tell you, or, if you make it online , it will say. Neither scenario is true, nor is it mentioned on the resort fee inclusion card (well, it wouldn't be, would it?).
Lesson learned -- always ask for waiver.