Resort Fees Explained: What They Cover and How to Avoid Them

A resort fee is a mandatory daily charge that a hotel adds on top of its room rate, usually $20 to $55 a night plus tax, said to cover things like Wi-Fi, pool access and the gym. Since May 2025, a US federal rule requires hotels and booking sites to include mandatory fees in the advertised total price, so you now see them upfront. They still exist. To avoid them, book hotels that don’t charge one, use loyalty points at chains that waive fees on award stays or compare total prices carefully.

Resort fees have frustrated travelers for more than 20 years. They started in places like Las Vegas and spread to beach resorts, big-city hotels and even roadside properties calling themselves “urban destination” hotels. For a long time, hotels showed a low nightly rate in search results and added the fee near the end of booking, or even at check-in. That practice, known as drip pricing, made comparing prices almost impossible. The rules have changed. The fees haven’t gone anywhere.

• $20–$55Typical resort fee per night
• Plus taxFees are usually taxed like room rates
• May 2025US total-price rule took effect
• MandatoryYou can rarely opt out at check-in

What resort fees actually cover

Hotels say resort fees cover amenities, and the list often includes Wi-Fi, fitness center access, pool access, local phone calls, a newspaper, bottled water, beach chairs or bike rentals, and sometimes a daily credit at the hotel’s restaurant. In practice, many of these were included in room rates in the past, and many guests never use them. You pay whether you swim, work out or touch the Wi-Fi or not.

The honest explanation is simpler. Resort fees let hotels advertise lower nightly prices while collecting more money per room. Because many travelers sort by price, a hotel listing $159 plus a $45 fee used to rank above one listing $199 with no fee, even though the second was cheaper. That incentive is why the fees spread.

Some fees do include genuine value, like a daily food and drink credit, free parking, airport shuttles or activities for kids. If you will use those, the fee may not sting. But read the list carefully before assuming you are getting a deal.

A short history of the fee

Resort fees began appearing in the late 1990s, at first mostly at genuine resorts with beaches, pools and activities, and in Las Vegas. Through the 2000s and 2010s, they spread widely. In 2012, the Federal Trade Commission sent warning letters to dozens of hotel operators, saying the practice of hiding mandatory fees might be deceptive. Little changed. Over the next decade, several state attorneys general sued major hotel companies over drip pricing, and some companies agreed to show fees earlier in the booking process.

The real shift came with the federal total-price rule in 2025, which applies across the industry. It doesn’t cap or ban fees, but because travelers now see the full price immediately, hotels can no longer use low base rates to win the first click. Over time, that may push more hotels to drop fees and fold the cost into room rates. Some already have.

A worked example

Imagine a four-night stay on the Las Vegas Strip. The room rate is $129 a night, or $516. The resort fee is $45 a night, or $180. Lodging tax of about 13 percent applies to both, adding about $91. Self-parking costs $20 a night, or $80. Your total is about $867, or roughly $217 a night, for a room advertised years ago at $129. Under the current rule, the booking site should show you about $174 a night before tax, including the fee. That’s more honest. It is still a lot more than $129.

Other names for the same thing

Resort fees have cousins. Watch for “destination fees,” common in big cities like New York, Chicago, Washington, DC and Nashville, “amenity fees,” “facility fees,” “urban fees,” “service charges” and “hospitality fees.” They all work the same way: a mandatory nightly charge on top of the room rate. Parking fees are separate and often optional, though in some downtown hotels you have few alternatives.

The 2025 rule: what changed

In December 2024, the Federal Trade Commission finalized its Rule on Unfair or Deceptive Fees, which took effect on May 12, 2025. For short-term lodging, which covers hotels, motels and vacation rentals, it requires businesses that advertise a price to display the total price, including all mandatory fees, more prominently than other pricing information. Taxes and government charges can still be shown separately, and optional extras don’t have to be included.

What that means for you: when you search on major booking sites or hotel websites, the price you see should already include the resort fee. You can compare hotels more fairly. But the fees haven’t been banned, and many hotels simply raised totals. Several states have passed their own laws too. Always look at the full breakdown before you book, and check that the total matches what you expect at checkout.

Where resort fees are worst

These are rough ranges based on typical charges in recent years. Fees change often. Read our Las Vegas on a budget and Miami travel guide for destination-specific advice.

How to avoid or reduce resort fees

1. Book hotels that don’t charge them. Many hotels, especially smaller chains, motels and independent properties, don’t charge resort fees at all. Some brands have publicly dropped them. Search with total-price display turned on and sort by total, not base rate.

2. Use points. Some major hotel loyalty programs waive resort fees on award stays booked with points. Others don’t. Check your program’s rules. If you have points, this can be a big saving in places like Las Vegas.

3. Stay off the Strip, or off the beach. Hotels a few blocks away from the main tourist strip often charge lower fees or none. Downtown Las Vegas, for example, often has lower fees than the Strip.

4. Ask for a waiver, politely. If you didn’t use any of the amenities and the fee wasn’t disclosed clearly, you can ask at checkout. Some hotels will remove it, especially for elite loyalty members. Many won’t. It doesn’t hurt to ask nicely.

5. Factor it into a comparison. A hotel with a $40 fee and a $150 rate costs the same as one with a $190 rate and no fee. Think in totals.

6. Book packages carefully. Some flight and hotel packages don’t include resort fees in the package price, leaving you to pay at the hotel. Read the fine print.

Which hotels usually skip the fee?

Fees are less common at budget and mid-range chain hotels along highways, at most motels, at many independent inns and bed-and-breakfasts, and at hotels in smaller cities and towns. National park lodges generally don’t charge resort fees. Some casino resorts in downtown Las Vegas charge lower fees than the Strip. And a few major brands have announced no-fee policies at their properties. When you search, turn on total-price display, sort by total, and the no-fee hotels will rise to the top on their own.

Do resort fees get taxed?

Usually, yes. Resort fees are generally subject to the same lodging taxes as the room rate in most places, which can add 10 to 18 percent depending on the city. A $45 fee can become more than $50 with tax. Over a week, that adds up.

International visitors: a note

If you are visiting the US from abroad, two things may surprise you. First, many US hotel prices are shown before tax, unlike in much of Europe and Asia, where taxes are usually included. Lodging taxes vary by city and can be significant. Second, resort fees and destination fees are much more common in the US than in most other countries. Budget an extra 20 to 35 percent on top of the base room rate in tourist hotspots to be safe.

Parking: the other hidden fee

Parking often costs more than the resort fee. Downtown hotels in big cities commonly charge $40 to $70 a night or more for valet. Many Strip resorts in Las Vegas now charge for self-parking. Beach resorts in Hawaii and Florida often charge $30 to $50 a night. If you are driving, compare total costs including parking, consider hotels outside the core with free parking, or skip the rental car on city trips. Our guide on how to find cheap hotels covers more ways to save.

What about vacation rentals?

Vacation rentals have their own version: cleaning fees and service fees. They are covered by the same federal total-price rule for advertised prices. Cleaning fees are charged once per stay, so they hurt short trips most. Our Airbnb vs hotel guide compares the true cost of both.

Common misconceptions

“I can refuse to pay it at check-in.” Usually not. If the fee was disclosed when you booked, it’s part of your contract.

“Resort fees only apply at resorts.” No. City hotels charge the same fees under different names.

“The new rule banned resort fees.” It didn’t. It requires them to be included in the advertised total price.

“Booking sites always include them.” Most do now. Still, double-check the final total and taxes before paying.

What to do if you are charged unexpectedly

Ask the front desk for an itemized bill and compare it with your confirmation. If the fee wasn’t disclosed, ask to have it removed, and escalate to a manager calmly if needed. If you booked through a travel site, contact them; they may help. If the hotel refuses and you believe the fee was hidden, you can dispute the charge with your credit card company and file a complaint with the FTC or your state attorney general. Keep screenshots of your booking showing the price.

Getting value from a fee you can’t avoid

If you are paying a resort fee anyway, use what it covers. Read the list at check-in and ask the front desk what is included. Some fees cover beach chairs and umbrellas, bike rentals, paddleboards, fitness classes, airport shuttles, late checkout, printing, or a daily food and beverage credit. Use the pool. Use the gym. Take the free bottled water. If the fee includes a credit at the café or bar, plan a breakfast or a drink around it. None of this makes the fee fair, but it can turn a pure loss into something you actually get value from.

One more tip: ask whether the fee includes parking or premium Wi-Fi. At some hotels it does, and at others the same things cost extra on top of the fee. Knowing before you unpack saves an argument at checkout.

Frequently asked questions

Before you book your next hotel

1. Compare total prices, including fees, taxes and parking.
2. Check whether your loyalty program waives resort fees on points stays.
3. Read the list of what the fee includes and whether you will use it.
4. Screenshot your booking total in case you need to dispute a charge.