Hotel resort fees are usually mandatory nightly charges added to a room’s price, even when guests do not use the listed amenities. A property may call them destination, facility, or amenity fees. They can cover Wi-Fi, pool or fitness-center access, parking, or shuttle service, but the same label does not guarantee the same benefits at every hotel. The FTC’s analysis of hotel resort fees explains these common charges and inclusions.
To plan your trip budget, compare the total for your full stay rather than the first rate you see. Then check whether the fee covers anything you expect to use on your itinerary. Ask the property whether the charge is mandatory, what it includes, and whether taxes or other charges are due before payment. Save the written rate and amenity details with your confirmation. California’s SB 478, in effect since July 1, 2024, also generally requires hotels’ advertised prices to include mandatory charges.
Key Takeaways
- Hotel resort, destination, facility, and amenity fees are usually mandatory nightly charges that may apply even when guests do not use the listed services, and inclusions vary by property. The FTC’s analysis of hotel resort fees describes these charges and their varying inclusions.
- We recommend comparing each hotel’s total price for your full stay, then asking whether the fee is mandatory, what it covers, and whether taxes or other charges are due before payment.
- Hotel resort fees can add $50 or more per night, so check whether included services such as Wi-Fi, parking, pool access, or shuttle service fit your itinerary. FTC advice on vacation costs recommends checking what the fee covers.
- Since May 12, 2025, the FTC has required advertised prices for short-term lodging to include mandatory fees. The rule does not ban resort fees. FTC guidance on the Rule on Unfair or Deceptive Fees explains the requirements.
What Is a Hotel Resort Fee?
A hotel resort fee is usually a mandatory charge added per room, per night, whether or not a guest uses the listed amenities. Hotels may also call it a destination, facility, or amenity fee. Compare the full price of the stay, including any mandatory fee. The FTC’s analysis of hotel resort fees defines them as mandatory per-room, per-night charges.
The FTC’s analysis of hotel resort fees defines them as mandatory per-room, per-night charges and notes that hotels may use them to cover Wi-Fi, swimming-pool or fitness-center access, parking, and shuttle service. The services included can vary from one property to another, even when hotels use the same fee label.
A fee may still apply if you do not plan to use the pool or fitness center, or if you are traveling without a car. The charge remains part of the room’s cost rather than a payment tied to using a particular amenity. A hotel’s fee description also does not necessarily mean every named service is available at no extra cost. The FTC’s analysis of hotel resort fees explains that fees are mandatory and included services vary.
Check the property’s terms to see whether its fee is mandatory and exactly which services it covers. Confirming those details can help you tell which amenities are included and which may carry a separate charge.
Why Do Hotels Charge Resort Fees?
Hotels charge resort fees to collect a separate nightly amount for amenities or services they describe as part of a stay. The FTC lists internet access, parking, swimming-pool or health-club access, and shuttle service among the services hotels may say a fee covers. The FTC’s analysis of hotel resort fees notes that these services can vary from one property to another.
A resort, destination, facility, or amenity fee label does not tell you exactly what a specific hotel includes. One property might list pool access and parking, while another might include internet or shuttle service. Check the hotel’s amenity list, then consider whether those services fit your plans. Parking may matter if you are driving, while a shuttle may be useful if it serves places on your itinerary.
A fee can add to your trip cost without adding much value if you will not use the listed amenities. The FTC advises travelers that resort and similar fees can add $50 or more to a nightly cost. It also recommends asking about taxes and keeping confirmation details that show the promised rate and amenities. FTC advice on vacation costs is a helpful reminder to check what the charge covers before deciding whether it adds value to your trip.
How Can You Spot Fees Before Booking?
Spot mandatory hotel fees before booking by checking the full-stay price breakdown, confirming what the listed total includes, and saving the written booking details. Use this quick routine before committing:
- Open the final price breakdown. Look for resort, destination, facility, amenity, or other mandatory fees, and check whether the displayed amount covers every night of your stay. A nightly fee may appear separately from the room rate, so verify its total for the full stay.
- Separate mandatory fees from other charges. Look for taxes, optional add-ons, parking charges, and services that may cost extra. Don’t assume parking, shuttle service, or another amenity is included in the resort fee. Check the property’s terms for each item.
- Ask about anything unclear. Contact the property if the breakdown does not explain whether a fee is mandatory, how often it applies, or which amenities it covers. Ask whether any listed service has a separate charge.
- Compare like with like. Compare the total for your entire stay at properties with similar locations, room types, and amenities. Use each property’s full-stay total, rather than the first nightly rate displayed, to make a useful comparison.
- Save the booking details. Keep a copy of the rate, fee breakdown, amenity details, and booking confirmation. The FTC recommends keeping confirmation details that show the promised rate and amenities, which can help if the confirmation differs from what the booking page advertised.
How Should You Compare Hotel Costs?
Compare hotels by the full-stay total, including mandatory nightly fees and disclosed taxes, rather than by their initial room rates. A lower room price may not mean a lower overall cost if a separate fee is added. A more inclusive price may make the total easier to assess.
| Charge or cost | What to check |
|---|---|
| Room price | The room rate for every night of the stay. |
| Mandatory resort or destination fee | Whether the fee applies each night and its total for the stay. |
| Government charges | Which taxes or government-imposed charges are due, and whether they appear in the displayed total. |
| Optional add-ons | Any extras you can choose, such as a service or upgrade, and their cost. |
| Amenities that cost extra | Whether services mentioned in the hotel’s amenity list have separate charges. |
Then compare what each property includes with your itinerary. Will you use Wi-Fi, pool access, parking, or a shuttle? Ask the property to verify each item, including whether it is covered by the mandatory fee or costs extra. The FTC notes that hotels do not necessarily include the same services under similar fee labels, so check the specific property’s terms rather than making assumptions. Before you book, ask the property: Is the fee mandatory? What does it cover? Do any listed amenities or services cost extra? What taxes or other charges will be due? Ask for a clear breakdown of the charges for your stay, especially if the booking page uses a broad label such as “amenity fee” without explaining what it includes.
If the fee or an amenity description remains unclear, request written clarification from the property before paying. Keep its response with the rate, fee details, and booking confirmation so you can refer to the exact terms later. If the property confirms that a disclosed fee is mandatory, declining the amenities or raising the issue at check-in does not automatically remove it.
What Do U.S. Fee Rules Require?
The FTC’s Rule on Unfair or Deceptive Fees took effect May 12, 2025, and covers advertised prices for short-term lodging, including hotels and vacation rentals. It requires advertised hotel prices to include mandatory resort fees and the total price to be more prominent than other pricing information; it does not ban any particular fee or fee amount. Government charges and optional add-ons may be excluded from the displayed total, but their nature, purpose, and amount must be disclosed before the business asks for payment. FTC guidance explains these requirements. For a particular stay, check the total and the charge terms before payment, including which amounts are mandatory and which may be added separately.
Before You Confirm the Booking
Before you confirm, open the final price breakdown for your exact dates and length of stay. Check that the total reflects every night, and note any government charges or optional extras listed separately. For a U.S. hotel, the advertised price must include mandatory fees such as a resort fee. The FTC says excluded government charges must be disclosed before payment. The FTC’s fee guidance explains what the displayed total must include.
If the page does not make clear whether a destination, facility, or amenity fee is mandatory, pause and contact the property. Ask for the fee amount for your full stay, the services it covers, whether any listed amenity costs extra, and what taxes or other charges will be due. If you plan to park or use a shuttle, ask specifically whether that service is included and whether access has conditions.
Save the price breakdown and the property’s written answers with your confirmation. If the final total or fee description differs from what the property confirmed, contact the hotel before completing payment and ask for a corrected breakdown. This gives you a clear record of the rate and amenities you agreed to, ready to refer to as you plan the rest of your trip.