The holidays are almost here, and that means holiday travel. If you think those airline fees are bad, get ready to dish out even more cash for your hotel. In tonight’s Dollars and Sense, Lynn Martinez shows us what fees you need to look out for when checking in.

Your holiday shopping budget is the least of your money concerns this holiday season. The real issue for many who are traveling is hotel fees.

Jeffrey Miller, FAU Hospitality Instructor: “Well, they’ve changed now where you’re getting nickel-and-dimed. They’ve taken a lesson from the airlines.”

That can of soda you broke down and popped open, and the bag of chips from the mini bar your kid scarfed down, are not the only extra charges you’re facing.

Jeffrey Miller: “Resort fee, a fee for the use of the pool, Wi-Fi fee, there’s a fee for the spa. A lot of places, there’s no free parking anymore. Even if it’s not valet, you have to pay to park.”

Need to check out by noon but don’t have a flight until 5 p.m.? Hotels used to store luggage for free. Now, they’re cashing in on your inconvenience — charging per bag.

Want to check in early or check out a little later? You’ll pay extra for that, too.

Jeffrey Miller: “The hotels are looking for every possible dollar they can get in revenue, so there’s all kinds of charges.”

One of the most common charges to look out for: the resort fee. Most hotels slap on $15 to $60 a night, per person.

All of those fees add up to more than $2 billion a year and you’re the one picking up the tab.

Jeffrey Miller: “You want to ask about the fees. Legally, the hotels and online travel agencies that are selling the hotel have to disclose them.”

You can save some cash by skipping the web reservations.

Jeffrey Miller: “Every major hotel chain in this country will honor any rate you give them from an online travel agency. They publicly disclose that.”

The hotel desk also has a lot of pull. If you see a fee you don’t like, point it out to them.

Jeffrey Miller: “They’ll say, ‘Well, you have to pay the fee, but we’re going to upgrade you to a suite or we’re going to give you breakfast coupons.'”

Fees aren’t expected to disappear anytime soon.

Jeffrey Miller: “I think the idea now that they got out of the recession, it’s other ways to derive revenue. As long as there’s not a lot of pushback from their guests, they’re going to do it.”

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Jeffrey Miller, Miller Law LLC
jmillerlaw.com

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