Condé Nast's Primer On Hidden Hotel Fees

Above, the Dormy Inn in Niigata, Japan. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Recently, I posted about how greedy hotels are becoming by tacking on fees and surcharges for different amenities, just as the airlines are doing.

Condé Nast Traveler has posted an article on how to avoid these extra fees and, if wrongfully charged, get them off your bill.

They begin with:

Hotels have been notorious for offering "convenient" products and services, then finding a way to tack on the extra charges to your hotel bill before you leave. According to a recent report, those fees will total up to $2.25 billion for hotels in the U.S. for this year alone. 

While some fees and surcharges are unavoidable—i.e. the infamous Javits Convention Center tax in New York City, and state and municipal taxes—there are other fees that aren't always clearly marked, like that daily newspaper charge that is actually optional, or the pool towel surcharge that isn't listed anywhere except in small print at the bottom of a sign far away from the pool entrance.

To read the full article, go here.