Resort fee: the daily hotel charge that may not be in the price
The booking price looks good, but at check-in a daily charge for hotel 'services' appears. It is called a resort fee, and it is not always included in the total you see when booking.
How it works
A per-night charge on top of the price
It is usually charged per night and presented as access to the pool, Wi-Fi or other services, whether you use them or not. The amount varies by hotel and city.
Where it usually appears
It may appear in the booking conditions or in a section on 'charges payable at the hotel'. Look for it before confirming.
How to avoid the surprise
Add it to your budget
Work out the total price by multiplying the fee by the number of nights and compare it with other options, not just the base price.
Keep the receipt
Ask for the itemised invoice at check-out. If the charge wasn't in the conditions, it is your backup to dispute it.
A simpler way to check your trip
To see which charges on your bookings may differ from the total, upload them to AuditorTravel: it compares amounts and flags with a traffic light (๐ข ๐ก ๐ด) what deserves a second look.
You pay once per trip, it's not a subscription you have to remember to cancel.
๐ Check your booking for free at auditortravel.com.
AuditorTravel is an automated information tool; use it as a guide. The final decision is always yours.