Kimpton Resort Fees
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2008
Location: WAS
Programs: AA Ex Plt
Posts: 1,630
Kimpton Resort Fees
Deleted --
Had a rant about resort fees ("hotel fee") at the Donovan House in DC and at Kimpton in general. Reexamined my thoughts and determined it's not worth making a stink since without a 2016 benies announcement, it doesn't matter all that much since I'm spending my $ away from Kimpton.
Cheers
Had a rant about resort fees ("hotel fee") at the Donovan House in DC and at Kimpton in general. Reexamined my thoughts and determined it's not worth making a stink since without a 2016 benies announcement, it doesn't matter all that much since I'm spending my $ away from Kimpton.
Cheers
Last edited by thegrailer; Aug 13, 2015 at 4:48 pm
#2
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 59
Kimpton Resort Fees
I noticed these facility fees were added to most of the DC hotels. The fees include upgraded wifi (useless for an IC member), local and long distance calls, and car service for 2 hours in the morning within 1 mile radius. Really, Kimpton?? Back to Hilton's in DC for me.
#3
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: JFK > LGA >> EWR
Programs: AA EXP 1.2mm, Kimpton IC, Starwood Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,180
Resort fees are such BS. They're just a devaluation (since they're applied to reward nights) and a scam (since some of the charges are opaque during booking for cash reservations). FTC should take action, the same way airlines are required to advertise all-in prices.
#4
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Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
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I had been thinking a bit about switching some of my stays from SPG/Marriott due to the merger, but if Kimptons tend to have resort fees now, no thanks!
#5
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Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
As the FTC has made clear that it will not wade into this issue so long as the fees are properly disclosed, the sole remedy is to vote with your feet.
If enough feet vote, there will be a change. Without it, there will not. Kimpton is betting that business travelers simply expense the fee and don't care and that most leisure travelers don't think about these things.
If enough feet vote, there will be a change. Without it, there will not. Kimpton is betting that business travelers simply expense the fee and don't care and that most leisure travelers don't think about these things.
#6
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: NYC/LA
Programs: DL Plat, AA Plat Pro, Marriott Titanium, IHG Diamond Amb
Posts: 7,486
My fear is that like airline checked bag fees, we're going to see this expand more and more, across chains, when it comes to urban properties. (I've already given up when it comes to Vegas and actual "resorts".)
#7
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 59
Kimpton Resort Fees
The fees are lumped in the breakdown with the taxes, not too noticeable. I only noticed because there were over $30 in taxes and fees for a $100 stay. I really enjoyed the Kimpton's in DC, especially the Palomar, but I will be switching my DC stays to Hilton.
#8
Join Date: Jul 2005
Programs: Alaska MVP Gold, Costco Executive Member, Safeway Club Card
Posts: 289
How much are the fees that you are seeing in DC? (I assume that they are flat and per night.)
#9
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: NYC/LA
Programs: DL Plat, AA Plat Pro, Marriott Titanium, IHG Diamond Amb
Posts: 7,486
Note that each DC property that has now added a "facilities fee" is owned by the same entity- the REIT LaSalle Hotel Properties. The Monaco and Carlyle are not owned by this entity.
#10
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: COS and PIT
Programs: UA Plat
Posts: 279
I just did a Priceline name your price and "won" the Kimpton Donovan in DC. I've never had a hotel in that area with a resort/facility fee. The bid price was good, not great, and with the added fee, I would've been better off booking a known hotel. They just ruined my favorite bidding location because now I'll never know if I'm going to have to pay an additional $15 over what I expect.
I've never stayed in a Kimpton before, but this is my first impression of them.
I've never stayed in a Kimpton before, but this is my first impression of them.
#11
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Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
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Posts: 102,095
Resort/facilities fees at DC hotels? Talk about a scam. Hopefully this kind of scam is shut down before it gets even worse and expands further across the US and the world.
I liked Kimpton hotels, but with this kind of scam in play at Kimpton hotels I'm not going to be singing their praises.
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2008
Location: WAS
Programs: AA Ex Plt
Posts: 1,630
So what does 2 hour car service mean? Can I reserve the car for the whole 2 hours and be driven around the District? If the car is unavailable, do I receive a refund of my fee?
#13
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 59
According to their website, the car service is for within one mile of the hotel. Maybe they'll drive you around the block for two hours?
#14
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Posts: 100,399
Two hours within a one mile radius would allow for a horrendous traffic jam.
#15
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For a couple of hours in the day, they will have a car available to take you from the hotel to some place that is a ten or fifteen minute walk away and may actually take longer in a car than to walk.