Ritz Carlton Resort Fee
Jan 8, 2019, 8:50 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 88
Ritz Carlton Resort Fee
Does anyone have a way to avoid the resort fee? their website list these as the benefits
The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel assesses a $50 resort fee per room, per night. Amenities and services included in the resort fee are:
The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel assesses a $50 resort fee per room, per night. Amenities and services included in the resort fee are:
- Wireless, high-speed Internet access in guest rooms and common areas
- Unlimited local telephone calls in Southern California
- 24-hour computer access to the Private Business Centers
- Daily Yoga and Pilates classes on the lawn overlooking the Pacific Ocean
- Individual guest use of The Ritz-Carlton Spa’s sauna and steam rooms
- Shuttle service to and from Salt Creek Beach on an individual guest request basis (not applicable to group transfers)
- Access to resort’s Beach Butler Service and use of beach recreation equipment including fins, towel service, umbrellas, and beach chairs
- Unlimited use of the Tennis Courts including rackets. Tournament and clinic fees are additional
- Preferred golf tee-times at Monarch Beach Golf Links, including shuttle service and golf bag storage on an individual guest request basis. (not applicable to group transfers)
- Participation in the resort’s daily scheduled Eco-Adventure Center Garden Tour
Jan 8, 2019, 11:12 am
#2
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 343
You're better off posting this in the resort thread. My assumption is that it's very YMMV, but you can ask at checkin. If you have status it may help. Resort fees are essentially cash grabs, they do not care if you use the amenities included.
Jan 8, 2019, 11:46 am
#3
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
Best way to avoid is to book elsewhere.
But, nothing prevents you from calling the property directly (not the toll-free number) and expressing your displeasure and asking whether it can be removed. If that does not work, do it again at check-in.
But, to be frank, if you have already booked, they know they've got you.
BTW - While "resorts" still call these "resort fees" many downtown locations now impose similar "destination fees".
But, nothing prevents you from calling the property directly (not the toll-free number) and expressing your displeasure and asking whether it can be removed. If that does not work, do it again at check-in.
But, to be frank, if you have already booked, they know they've got you.
BTW - While "resorts" still call these "resort fees" many downtown locations now impose similar "destination fees".
Jan 8, 2019, 1:34 pm
#4
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Bounding Around The Good 'Ole USA In My Chevrolet
Programs: UA Gold
Posts: 381
Jan 8, 2019, 2:56 pm
#5
formerly leemaj
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: California
Programs: Bonvoy Titanium and LTP, Hyatt Globalist, UA Gold, SW Companion Pass
Posts: 217
I haven't had any success removing them. Recently stayed at Ritz Dove Mountain, which also has a $50 resort fee (and doesn't even include spa/sauna!). We decided to try and take advantage of as much of it as we could and had a lot of fun.
Jan 9, 2019, 4:38 am
#6
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Somewhere in Florida
Posts: 2,616
As others have said, resort fees are just dishonest marketing. The kicker is when the resort fee + parking fees = $50+/night for a $75/night room like some of the full service Marriotts are.
I've never had any luck with removing resort fees. Parking fees, yes, but never resort fees.
I've never had any luck with removing resort fees. Parking fees, yes, but never resort fees.
Jan 9, 2019, 5:46 am
#7
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
As these fees are all disclosed, the savvy consumer adds the room rate to mandatory fees and arrives at the disbursement he will make. Properties use the pricing method because most consumers sort online searches by lowest price and do not look further. There are multiple threads on this issue on FT and all boil down to the same thing.
Jan 9, 2019, 4:31 pm
#9
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 522
OP cross posted in the hotel's master thread and received a reply that booking a Club Level room is the answer.
Here's the link to that single post.
Here's the link to that single post.
Jan 9, 2019, 4:36 pm
#10
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,369
SPG had a policy that if the resort fee includes Plat benefits (such as internet) then the property should offer some alternative amenity for Plats, which was often minor but a few properties waived or reduced the resort fee for Plats.
Jan 9, 2019, 8:12 pm
#11
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2005
Programs: Delta Diamond, Marriott Ambassador & Lifetime Titanium, Hertz President's Circle, United Silver
Posts: 6,334
I've protested at several properties, before and after 8/18 about paying a resort fee for things that I'm entitled to receive on a complimentary basis. Most properties either waive resort fee in its entirety or reduce it by $10 per day.
I've read some reports of folks filing consumer protection complaints. Some tweets on Twitter in response to a blogger from The Points Guy complaining about a "destination fee" indicated New York's attorney general is or was going after hotels doing this.