What Are Resort Fees? And Are They Legal?

You know the feeling: you spot the perfect hotel room for $300 per night, but by the time you get to the checkout page, it has skyrocketed to $375 per night. It’s time to say hello to every traveler’s pet peeve: resort fees. 

Resort fees can quickly push a hotel room out of your budget. Unfortunately, many people don’t know what they’re paying for if they go through with the hotel booking. For the unsuspecting traveler, resort fees can be a hassle when booking hotels. As for the savvy traveler, there are ways to actually avoid paying them and secure your hotel room for your preferred price. 

What Are Resort Fees?

Resort fees, sometimes called amenity fees or destination fees, are additional fees implemented by the hotel for guests’ use of services, amenities, and facilities. They are typically charged on a nightly basis, regardless of whether you use the hotel’s amenities or not.  

These fees can cover basic amenities, such as Wi-Fi, in-room coffee, pool access, and gym access. Other resort fees can include more specialized amenities, such as beach gear rentals and shuttle services.

Are Resort Fees Illegal?

 Resort fees are a controversial topic, depending on who you ask. On one hand, this article by MarketWatch says travelers are calling resort fees the “biggest scam in travel.” On the other hand, the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) released data stating 80% of hotel-goers are willing to pay resort fees if the amenities are worthwhile.

Resort fees are not illegal throughout the world. However, some travelers suggest hotels are being sneaky about the additional fees by hiding them late in the booking process, and legislators have taken notice. For example, in the United States,  the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) created a rule to promote better price transparency. In the European Union, hotels cannot hide fees if the fee is mandatory. So if all travelers must pay a resort fee, it must be reflected in the advertised price, not at the last stage of booking. 

When Do You Typically Pay a Resort Fee?

Resort fees typically only appear on your reservation when the hotel offers amenities. They are more common in mid- to upper-tier hotels than in lower-tier hotels that offer only a basic stay. The fee is due on a nightly basis and is included in your room reservation.

Resorts in major markets like Las Vegas, Florida, and Hawaii are more likely to include resort fees. For example, a beachfront five-star resort like the Ritz-Carlton in Naples, FL charges $55 daily resort fee to cover beach chairs and towel service. Travelers can expect a $55 resort fee for the amenities at The Bellagio on the Las Vegas Strip. Alternatively, stay downtown at the El Cortez Hotel for a modest resort fee of less than $30 per night. 

How to Avoid Paying Resort Fees

Good news! There are a few loopholes savvy travelers use to avoid paying resort fees. Here are a few strategies to try on your next booking:

Book directly

Booking your stay directly with the hotel can help you avoid extra fees often tacked on by third-party sites. Because hotels don’t pay commission on direct bookings, they can sometimes offer lower rates, better perks, or even waive resort fees.

Many consumers are now starting their travel research on AI platforms. These Large Language Models (LLMs) are already making it easier to compare options and find hotels that offer the best overall value. Soon, with DirectBooker’s technology, you’ll be able to compare hotels with LLMs, such as ChatGPT, Claude or Gemini, with real-time hotel data and offers - including the prices, amenities and benefits, such as waived resort fees, that you can only access when you book direct.

Join the hotel’s rewards program

One of the best ways to avoid resort fees is to join a hotel’s rewards program. Waived resort fees are a very enticing perk that can save a lot of money for frequent stays. Most programs reserve this perk for higher-tier elite members, for example, the Globalist on the World of Hyatt program and the Diamond tier in Caesars Rewards.

Check for exclusions 

Resort fees are a way hotels can regulate demand for stays in top tourist destinations. However, some hotels may provide exclusions for locals. Check the resort’s terms and conditions to see whether local or regional residents are excluded. You may have to contact the hotel directly to submit ID verification. 

Purchase a travel package

Travel packages offer an all-inclusive price. The benefit of travel packages is paying a cheaper price than booking flights, accommodations, activities, and other travel-related expenses separately. Hotels are incentivized to make their property the preferred accommodation for popular travel packages. Waiving resort fees is one strategy hotels use to keep their rates competitive. 

Book with a travel agent

Travelers booking hotels with a travel agent rely on the specialist’s expertise for the best hotel recommendations. Travel agents with a direct relationship with the hotel can negotiate waived hotel fees as a courtesy for recommending their property to travelers.

Book through your employer

Major corporations often establish partnerships with hotels to offer exclusive rates to their employees. Making hotel reservations through dedicated travel portals at your job can feature lower room rates, excluded resort fees, and other perks. Consult with your company’s human resource department to see if your company has any travel programs available to employees.

Book with a travel credit card

Credit cards offer plenty of perks when booking travel. For example, the Hilton Aspire Card is a popular travel card with $400 annual resort credit that can be used to cover resort fees at Hilton properties. The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card is another traveler pick, offering up to $300 in statement credits to help offset mandatory resort fees. 

Redeem with points instead of cash

Time to finally put those travel points to use! Redeeming points versus paying cash is not always the equivalent price. Redeeming points is often cheaper than booking with cash. Earning points is a rewards program perk that offers benefits like lower rates and the exclusion of resort fees. 

Don’t have enough points to book your room? Compare the price of purchasing points to make the reservation to paying with cash. Avoiding the nightly resort fees can make this strategy the cheaper option.

Look for “no resort fee” promotions

Hotels run promotions throughout the year. For example, Treasure Island and Resorts World in Las Vegas have both offered recent promotions waiving resort fees. These are limited-time offers, and reservations must be made within the applicable dates to benefit from the offer.

Ask to waive them

For special cases, the hotel may waive resort fees. The best way is to ask in person at the front desk when checking in. Sincere reasons, such as a short overnight stay or being a frequent guest, can persuade them to waive the fees. Be sure to remain polite if your request is denied, as it’s often outside their control.

Book an accessible room

Accessible hotels may provide special discounts for guests with disabilities. Call the hotel to inquire about any discounts.

Visit during a different time of year

Seasonal tourist hotspots, such as beach destinations, may charge a resort fee only during their busy season. Room rates in the off-season may have reduced or eliminated resort fees.

Dispute charges if prices are not transparent

Recent legislation has increased transparency in pricing in the travel industry. Resort fees were once hidden fees. Now, hotels must clearly display the charges during the booking process. Unfortunately, many travelers are still unaware of what they’re being charged per night.

If you have a legitimate reason regarding price transparency, you can make a claim with your credit card company. Disputing the charges can reimburse you after your trip is completed.

Select a different hotel

Sometimes, you can’t get away from paying resort fees. If these strategies don’t work and you don’t want to pay them, the best solution is to find a new hotel. Even in popular resort fee areas, like Las Vegas and Florida, you can still find options that don’t charge resort fees.

Skip the Resort Fee on Your Next Hotel Stay

The next time you’re searching for a hotel, remember to factor in resort fees. These daily charges can add up quickly and affect the real price of your stay. Some hotels waive them for loyalty members or during special promotions, while others include them under different names like “amenity” or “facility” fees. Before booking, it pays to know what you’re getting and what you’re paying for.

As more travelers start their trip planning on the largest AI platforms, like ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini, they’ll soon be able to leverage these advanced large language models (LLMs) together with DirectBooker’s technology, to see resort fee details instantly: what each property charges, what’s included, and whether it’s worth it based on the amenities offered. That way, you can book at the true total price, skip unnecessary third-party markups, and enjoy a more transparent, streamlined booking experience.

Bryan Shelmon

Bryan Shelmon is a travel writer with bylines in Lonely Planet, Midwest Living, and Wanderlust, known for immersive storytelling shaped by long-term travel across 25+ countries. He combines a background in business with nearly a decade of freelance experience, collaborating with tourism boards and capturing culture through art, language, and local exploration.

Our editorial process: DirectBooker curates insights from global hospitality experts and our network of industry insiders. Articles undergo rigorous fact-checking and quality review before publication, ensuring authentic, actionable advice for savvy travelers.