Resort Fees Explained: What They Cover & How to Avoid Them
A mandatory daily charge that isn't in the headline price: resort fees remain the most disliked line on any hotel folio. Here's what they cover, where they're worst, and when you genuinely don't have to pay.
Ben Campbell
2026-08-14 · Updated for 2026
What a Resort Fee Is
A resort fee (also 'destination fee', 'facility fee' or 'amenity fee') is a mandatory daily charge added by the hotel on top of the room rate, typically covering Wi-Fi, pool and gym access, local calls, and assorted extras you may never use. Because it's charged per night and often taxed, a '$25 fee' quietly adds $30+ per night to the real price.
Since 2024–2025, US regulation (the FTC's junk-fees rule) and pressure on booking platforms have pushed hotels toward showing the fee in the total price at booking — but the fee itself remains, and it's still typically collected at the hotel.
Typical Amounts by Destination
| Destination | Typical range per night | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Las Vegas | $35–$55 | Near-universal on the Strip; among the highest anywhere |
| Hawaii resorts | $30–$50 | Often bundles cultural activities and parking discounts |
| New York City | $25–$45 | Branded as 'destination fee' at city hotels |
| Florida / Caribbean resorts | $25–$45 | Beach amenities, loungers, water sports credits |
| Mexico all-inclusives | $0 or bundled | Usually folded into the all-inclusive price |
| Europe | Rare | City tourist taxes exist instead — a government charge, not a hotel fee |
What It Typically Covers
- Wi-Fi (standard tier), pool/beach access, fitness centre
- Local and toll-free calls, in-room coffee, bottled water
- Sometimes: daily food-and-beverage or spa credits, bike hire, beach loungers
- Almost never: parking, breakfast, premium Wi-Fi, or anything you'd actually pay for separately
Legitimate Ways to Avoid or Offset It
- Elite status: top tiers of the major loyalty programmes waive resort fees on award stays at some brands — and several programmes waive them on points bookings across the board.
- Book fee-free hotels: many midscale properties in the same city charge nothing; filter reviews for 'no resort fee'.
- Ask at check-in if any fee component was unavailable (pool closed, Wi-Fi down) — hotels remove fees for unusable amenities more often than people expect.
- Dispute unused, undisclosed fees: if the fee wasn't disclosed at booking, contest it at the desk before checkout — that's when leverage is highest.
- Corporate and negotiated rates sometimes exclude the fee; check the rate description.
Resort Fee vs Tourist Tax
Don't confuse the two: a resort fee is set by and paid to the hotel; a tourist or city tax is set by government and merely collected by the hotel. You can sometimes get a resort fee waived — the tax, never.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are resort fees mandatory?
Yes — if the hotel charges one, it's a condition of the stay regardless of whether you use the amenities. Your leverage is choosing a fee-free hotel, using elite status or points, or asking for removal when an included amenity was unavailable.
Do you pay resort fees on points bookings?
Depends on the programme: some major programmes waive resort fees on award nights, others charge them even when the room is booked entirely on points. Check the programme's award terms before assuming.
Why isn't the resort fee in the room rate?
Splitting it out lets the headline rate look lower in price comparisons. Regulators now require total-price display in much of the US, but the fee is still itemised separately and usually collected at the property.
How much is the resort fee in Las Vegas?
Most Strip hotels charge roughly $35–$55 per night plus tax in 2026. A handful of off-Strip and downtown properties advertise no resort fee as a selling point.
