Hotel Resort Fees, Explained
What they are
A resort fee (sometimes called a destination or amenity fee) is a mandatory daily charge layered on top of the advertised room rate, supposedly covering wifi, the pool, the gym, or local calls. It can run $20 to $50-plus a night and is often buried until the final price, which is why an advertised rate can understate the real cost.
When they get waived
Here is the lever: some hotel programs waive resort fees on award nights (stays paid entirely in points), and some waive them for top-tier elite members. Other programs still charge them even on awards. Because policies differ sharply by program, this is a real factor in which hotel currency is most valuable. See hotel points explained.
How to minimize them
Book award nights through a program that waives resort fees, lean on elite status where it exempts them, and always check the full price including fees before booking. A property with a high resort fee can be worse value than a cheaper-looking option once the fee is added. See how to book a hotel with points.
Frequently asked questions
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