What are the hidden fees at hotels?
Zoe Patterson
Updated on March 29, 2026
What are the hidden fees at hotels?
8 Hidden Hotel Fees to Look Out For
- RESORT FEE. iStock. Resort fees may be one of the sneakiest ways that hotels trick customers into paying more.
- EXTRA PERSON FEE. iStock.
- WI-FI FEE. iStock.
- PARKING FEE. iStock.
- EARLY CHECK-IN/EARLY CHECK-OUT FEES. iStock.
- SAFE FEE. iStock.
- PET FEE. iStock.
- COFFEE MAKER FEE. iStock.
Do hotels charge for housekeeping?
Request additional housekeeping and you’ll be charged a whopping $30 to $75, depending on the room category. Though some hotels may try to fly the flag of sustainability, housekeeping fees are likely just another sneaky way to make more money without raising room rates.
Can you refuse to pay resort fees?
A hotel manager may just waive the resort fee to keep you happy—and to keep you from filing further complaints or leaving a bad review on Yelp or TripAdvisor. Second, you can always dispute any resort fees charged to your credit card after the fact.
What is cleaning fee per stay?
A cleaning fee is a one-time fee for cleaning the space you stay in, set by the hosts. It’s an additional charge on top of the nightly rate when booking a listing. Cleaning fees help hosts account for extra expenses they have getting their listing ready before guests arrive or after guests depart.
Do hotels charge for extra towels?
If you take something from your hotel room, you can expect an extra charge on your bill. Robes and towels are so commonly stolen that many hotels now list the charge right on the hanger; they will automatically bill the credit card they have on file for the extra cost of replacing these items.
What can a hotel charge you for?
Here are ten common ones—and advice from Banas on how to keep these fees off your bill.
- Resort fees. Resorts often charge extra for the plethora of activities and services they offer.
- Early check-in fee.
- Additional person fee.
- Wi-Fi fee.
- Mini-bar and snack fee.
- Parking fee.
- Gym fee.
- Housekeeping gratuity.
How often should a hotel room be cleaned?
There are items that need to be cleaned every 6 months. A routine cleaning cycle should be implemented by the housekeeping department. Below you can find a list of items that have been cleaned or inspected by the room attendant.
How long does it take housekeeping to clean a hotel room?
It takes roughly 45 minutes for a housekeeping attendant to completely clean a room, although it may take less time if only a basic turn-down service is needed.
What is the vrbo cleaning fee?
It’s not hard to see why – go on VRBO or Airbnb and you’ll see the fees for cleaning a vacation rental vary from as little as $15 per stay to $200 per stay. Costs vary widely from location to location, too.
How do I set up a cleaning fee when booking?
To make changes to service charges like cleaning fees and other additional services, follow the steps below:
- Log in to the Extranet.
- Click Property, then Policies.
- In the Additional fees & charges section, click Edit.
- Click Add another fee.
- Under Type of fee, select the required type of fee from the drop-down menu.
How much does it cost to clean a hotel room?
Cleaning a room isn’t that expensive. Hotels spend about $10 per room for cleaning, according to Emma Atanasoska, a former hotel manager who publishes the industry blog HotelReader.com. That includes the cost of hiring a housekeeper and the equipment and supplies.
Is the lodging industry trying to profit from cleaning fees?
The lodging industry denies it’s trying to profit from cleaning fees. Veronica Hanson, who runs an Airbnb rental out of her primary home in Lake Oswego, Oregon, charges $300 for a cleaning fee.
How much does it cost to stay at resorts?
Resort Fees Resort fees are relatively common and not necessarily hidden, but they often aren’t disclosed as part of the total room rate, misleading travelers into thinking their screaming hotel deal is better than it actually is. Resort fees can range from as little as $4 per day to upwards of $50 per day — or more — depending on the hotel.
Will housekeeping fees become a standard room rate at resorts?
Resorts and city hotels are increasingly tacking on pesky resort fees — sometimes called destination or amenities fees — in an attempt to turn a profit without inflating the standard room rate, so it might just be a matter of time before housekeeping fees also become standard.