Resort Fees Explained: How to Avoid Paying Twice

You've found a great hotel rate online, only to be surprised by an extra charge at the front desk when you check in. This extra charge is often a resort fee, also known as a destination fee, amenity fee, facility fee or urban fee. Understanding these fees is key to transparent travel planning.

What a resort fee is

A resort fee is a mandatory per-room, per-night charge set by the hotel, separate from the room rate. It is collected at the property and usually subject to local tax. This fee is distinct from the advertised room rate and is added by the hotel to cover various amenities or services. It is a mandatory charge, meaning you must pay it, regardless of whether you use the services it supposedly covers.

Where you will meet them

Resort fees are overwhelmingly a US phenomenon. They are concentrated in popular tourist destinations such as hotels in Las Vegas, hotels in Orlando, hotels in Miami, Hawaii, and large hotels in major cities like New York and San Francisco. When booking internationally, you will find they are rare in Europe, where extra charges are normally the municipal city tax rather than a hotel-set fee. This distinction is important because a city tax is a government levy, whereas a resort fee is set by the hotel.

What the fee is supposed to cover

Hotels justify the resort fee with a bundled list of items. These commonly include Wi-Fi, pool and gym access, local calls, bottled water, newspapers, or a shuttle service. The critical point is that the fee is charged whether or not the guest uses any of these items. For example, if you book a hotel for a business trip and never use the pool or gym, you still pay the full resort fee. This practice often leads to traveler frustration, as it appears to be an unavoidable additional cost for services that may not be desired or utilized.

The 2025 US rule on hidden fees

New regulations in the United States aim to provide greater transparency for consumers. The Federal Trade Commission's rule on unfair or deceptive fees, which took effect on 12 May 2025, requires sellers of live-event tickets and short-term lodging, including hotels, to display the total price including all mandatory fees up front. While the fees must be itemised, the rule does not cap or ban the fees themselves. This means you will see the full cost earlier in the booking process, but the hotel resort fee will still be present.

It's also worth noting state-level changes. California's SB 478, in force from 1 July 2024, prohibits advertising a price that excludes mandatory fees. This is why California hotels now commonly show fee-inclusive prices directly in their initial rate displays, offering a clearer picture from the start.

How the fee shows up on a RoomKey24 booking

RoomKey24 is built around honest, low-margin pricing. When you search for hotels on our platform, mandatory fees that the hotel collects at the property are shown on the rate before payment as "pay-at-property" charges. They are not part of the amount charged online. This means the amount you pay us does not include these fees, but you are clearly informed of them.

Our room rates are VAT-inclusive. Local city or tourist tax, where it exists, is payable at the property and is disclosed before payment, similar to resort fees. RoomKey24 never claims that all taxes and fees are included, ensuring you have a clear understanding of your total potential spend. We believe in showing you the full picture of how RoomKey24 prices a room before you commit.

Ways to pay less

While resort fees are mandatory, there are limited situations where you might pay less or avoid them.

1. Loyalty Programs: Hotels sometimes waive a resort fee for loyalty members at higher tiers. If you are part of a hotel's loyalty program, check your benefits.
2. Amenity Closure: If an advertised amenity that the resort fee supposedly covers (for example, the pool, gym, or Wi-Fi) was closed, broken, or unavailable during your stay, you may have grounds to dispute the charge. Politely point this out to the front desk or hotel management. A short, polite line to use could be: "I noticed the pool was closed for maintenance during my stay. Since the resort fee covers access to that facility, could we adjust this charge?"
3. Negotiation: While less common, some hotels, especially smaller independent properties, might be open to waiving the fee if you express a strong reason, such as a very short stay where you use none of the bundled amenities. This is entirely at the hotel's discretion.
4. Booking on RoomKey24: While we can't eliminate the fee, our platform ensures you are aware of it upfront as a pay-at-property charge. This transparency helps you budget accurately and avoid unexpected costs at check-in. The most effective way to avoid paying twice is to ensure you factor in the disclosed pay-at-property charges when comparing total costs.

Frequently asked questions

Can I refuse to pay a resort fee?

Generally, no. A resort fee is a mandatory charge, and by booking the room, you agree to the hotel's terms, which include this fee. Refusing to pay can lead to issues like being denied check-in or additional charges.

Are resort fees the same as city taxes?

No, they are different. A resort fee is set and collected by the hotel to cover specific amenities. A city tax, or tourist tax, is a local government levy, often a percentage of the room rate or a fixed per-person charge, and is passed on to the local authorities.

Why do hotels charge resort fees separately?

Historically, charging resort fees separately allowed hotels to advertise a lower base room rate, making their property appear more competitive in online searches. However, new regulations, like the US Federal Trade Commission's rule, are changing this practice by requiring upfront disclosure of the total price.

Does the resort fee count towards loyalty points or status?

Typically, no. Resort fees are usually not considered part of the "eligible spend" for earning loyalty points or contributing to top-tier status, as they are often treated as a separate service charge rather than part of the room rate.

What if I don't use the amenities covered by the fee?

The fee is charged whether or not you use the bundled amenities. Hotels justify it as covering the availability of these services, not their actual use. You are still required to pay it even if you do not access the pool, Wi-Fi, or other inclusions.