Are resort fees legal?

Yes, but hotels must disclose them before you complete your booking. The FTC is cracking down on hotels that hide fees until checkout. If a hotel adds a resort fee at check-in that wasn't disclosed when you booked, you can dispute it and should report them to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov.

Can I refuse to pay a resort fee?

No. If the fee was disclosed when you booked (even in fine print), it's mandatory. Hotels will not check you in or will charge your card on file. If it wasn't disclosed, you have grounds to refuse and dispute the charge with your credit card company.

Do all hotels charge resort fees?

No. Budget chains (Holiday Inn Express, Hampton Inn, most Courtyards) rarely charge them. Independent hotels often don't. Resort fees are most common at higher-end properties in vacation destinations: Las Vegas, Hawaii, Miami, Orlando, Cancun, and ski resorts. Urban business hotels usually don't charge them.

What's the difference between a resort fee and a destination fee?

Nothing. 'Destination fee', 'amenity fee', 'urban fee', and 'facility fee' are all resort fees with different names. Hotels use different terms to make them sound less like junk fees. They all work the same way: mandatory charge per night on top of your room rate.

Do I pay resort fees when booking with points?

Usually yes. Most hotel loyalty programs charge resort fees even on award stays. Hilton waives them for Diamond members and above on points bookings. Hyatt does not waive them. IHG does not waive them. Marriott does not waive them. Always check your program's policy.

Will resort fees ever go away?

Unlikely. Hotels make billions from resort fees and have no incentive to stop. The FTC proposed a rule in 2023 requiring all-in pricing up front, which would make fees more visible but not eliminate them. Your best defense is choosing properties that don't charge them or factoring fees into your total cost comparison.

How to Spot and Avoid Hidden Resort Fees

Resort fees are mandatory charges hotels add at checkout, typically $20-50 per night, covering amenities you may not use. You can avoid them by booking hotels that don't charge them, staying at independent properties, or using points and loyalty programs that sometimes waive the fees. Always check the total price before booking, not just the room rate.

Check the total price before you book. On booking sites, look for 'total price' or 'price breakdown' links. The nightly rate is never the real price. Most booking platforms now show resort fees in the breakdown, but some bury them. On hotel websites, proceed to checkout to see the full cost. If a $150 room jumps to $220 at checkout, you've found hidden fees.
Search for properties that don't charge resort fees. Filter by 'no resort fee' on booking sites, or search '[destination] hotels no resort fee'. Independent hotels, smaller chains, and most budget properties don't charge them. Marriott, Hilton, and Hyatt properties in resort destinations almost always do. Airbnb and vacation rentals never have resort fees, though they have their own cleaning and service fees.
Read what the resort fee actually covers. Hotels claim resort fees pay for WiFi, gym access, pool towels, or bottled water. These are amenities that used to be free. Make a list of what you'll actually use. If you won't use the gym or pool, you're paying $40 a night for WiFi you'd get free at a coffee shop. This helps you decide if the hotel is worth it.
Book with points or check your loyalty status. Some hotel loyalty programs waive resort fees for elite members or points bookings. Hilton Diamond and above sometimes get resort fees waived. Marriott does not waive them for points stays. Check your program's benefits page. If you're booking with points anyway, call the loyalty desk directly and ask about fee waivers.
Ask for a fee waiver at check-in (low success rate). At check-in, politely ask if the resort fee can be waived or reduced. This works maybe 10% of the time. Say you won't use the amenities or that you're a return guest. If you booked through a third party, they'll say no immediately. If you booked direct, small independent properties are more likely to negotiate than chains.
Factor fees into your total accommodation budget. A hotel advertising $120/night with a $35 resort fee costs $155/night. For a 5-night stay, that's $175 in fees. Compare that total against a $160/night hotel with no extra fees. The second hotel costs $800, the first costs $775 but you may get fewer amenities you actually want.

Are resort fees legal?: Yes, but hotels must disclose them before you complete your booking. The FTC is cracking down on hotels that hide fees until checkout. If a hotel adds a resort fee at check-in that wasn't disclosed when you booked, you can dispute it and should report them to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
Can I refuse to pay a resort fee?: No. If the fee was disclosed when you booked (even in fine print), it's mandatory. Hotels will not check you in or will charge your card on file. If it wasn't disclosed, you have grounds to refuse and dispute the charge with your credit card company.
Do all hotels charge resort fees?: No. Budget chains (Holiday Inn Express, Hampton Inn, most Courtyards) rarely charge them. Independent hotels often don't. Resort fees are most common at higher-end properties in vacation destinations: Las Vegas, Hawaii, Miami, Orlando, Cancun, and ski resorts. Urban business hotels usually don't charge them.
What's the difference between a resort fee and a destination fee?: Nothing. 'Destination fee', 'amenity fee', 'urban fee', and 'facility fee' are all resort fees with different names. Hotels use different terms to make them sound less like junk fees. They all work the same way: mandatory charge per night on top of your room rate.
Do I pay resort fees when booking with points?: Usually yes. Most hotel loyalty programs charge resort fees even on award stays. Hilton waives them for Diamond members and above on points bookings. Hyatt does not waive them. IHG does not waive them. Marriott does not waive them. Always check your program's policy.
Will resort fees ever go away?: Unlikely. Hotels make billions from resort fees and have no incentive to stop. The FTC proposed a rule in 2023 requiring all-in pricing up front, which would make fees more visible but not eliminate them. Your best defense is choosing properties that don't charge them or factoring fees into your total cost comparison.