12 Sneaky Ways Hotels Trick You Into Spending Money

Finding a great rate on a hotel room doesn't necessarily mean that you've cracked the code to traveling or spending the night away from home on the cheap. Sure, you aren't paying more for a place to sleep than necessary — but your final hotel bill might not necessarily be limited to the per-night price. Even beyond the surprisingly high hotel taxes that everyone has to pay, it's all too easy to rack up add-on charges when you're staying at a hotel, including ones that you weren't expecting. 

The best way to prevent sticker shock when it's time to check out is to be aware of the various (and more than a bit sneaky) ways hotels may try to trick guests into spending money. After all, knowledge is power. When you're informed about the surprising ways hotel fees and miscellaneous costs could find their way onto your bill, you'll know what to watch for and be able to be vigilant in taking steps to avoid incurring unnecessary extra charges. 

Using the internet to book hotel rooms can be very convenient, and sometimes it's a great way to find a terrific rate. However, that's not always the case. Don't assume that the fact that you've found a hotel rate online means that you've gotten the best available price. In many cases, you'll be able to get a better price by calling the hotel directly and asking. You'll be in a better position to do so, however, if you've done some online research first and can let the hotel employee know the best rate you found online in case the price they initially quoted isn't lower than what you found online. 

Most hotels, even ones with highly recognizable brand names, are independently owned and operated. The hotel owners have to pay booking fees for reservations made via their brand's corporate website, and third-party travel booking websites receive sales commissions for bookings processed through their sites. When you call a hotel directly, the property doesn't have to pay fees and sales commissions to a third party, so they may be willing to pass on (or at least share) that savings with guests.

You don't have to stay at a fancy resort to find yourself being stuck with what a property has deemed as a mandatory resort fee (or similarly-named junk fee) tacked on to your hotel bill. When resort fees were first introduced, they were typically limited to super high-end resorts with loads of upscale amenities, but now even mid-range properties sometimes add on this type of fee, on a per-night basis, without quoting it as part of the room rate. Resort fees are sometimes called by other names, such as amenity fees or destination fees. 

Not all hotels charge resort fees, but the ones that do typically add between $25 and $35 per night to the room cost. And they don't all clearly disclose this fact when quoting rates. So, you might think you've scored a $100 hotel room, but if the property has a resort fee, the real cost could be between $125 and $135. Congress is working to ban charges like these, but as long as they remain legal this is something you'll need to ask about before booking a room based on the assumption that the nightly rate you see on the property's website tells the full story. 

There are more pet-friendly hotels now than ever before, making it easy for guests who love to travel with their four-legged friends or other companion animals to find places to stay. However, the fact that a hotel is pet-friendly does not mean that your pets can stay in the room with you for free. Most hotels charge some pet fee, which is certainly understandable due to the extra cleaning that may be required. However, pet fees can vary greatly from one hotel to another and may vary based on a variety of factors. 

Before snagging a pet-friendly hotel, it's important for you to fully understand the fees so you don't see a sneaky surprise on your bill. Some hotels charge a flat pet fee for a visitor's entire stay, which is generally the best deal if you're staying for several days or are traveling with more than one animal. Some properties charge by the night and per pet. You may see a $100 pet fee on one hotel site, while the fee is $40 on another. At first glance, the lower fee may seem like a better deal, but that depends on the fine print. Chances are that the $100 fee is a flat rate for however many pets you're traveling with (up to the hotel's limit) for your entire stay, while the lower amount is likely a per-night fee that applies to every pet, which can add up very quickly. 

Many consider high-quality Wi-Fi to be a must-have when traveling. From needing to keep up with work to checking your social or streaming shows via your favorite apps, chances are that the answer is yes. Most hotels do offer high-speed internet service these days, but it isn't always free. Even hotels that tout free Wi-Fi might not have no-cost Wi-Fi that meets your needs. Sometimes the free option is very limited and slow, and you'll have to pay an upcharge if you need or prefer better access. Some hotels even limit guests to connecting just one or two devices per room without an upcharge. That might not even be enough connections for one person, let alone everyone who is sharing a room. 

When you're booking a room, don't take a hotel's claim of free Wi-Fi at face value. Look to see (or call and ask) if they offer different levels of Wi-Fi with varying charges. If they do, you can bet that the free level will be very limited. Don't forget to ask how many devices are included in the free plan or whatever paid option you're considering. That way you'll know what to expect before you check in and start trying to get connected.

After a busy day of sightseeing or business meetings, the idea of staying in for dinner when you get back to the hotel is appealing. However, the convenience of buying dinner from a hotel restaurant comes with a potentially hefty price. Whether you go into the hotel restaurant for a meal or order room service, chances are that you're going to pay a lot more than if you went off-site for a similar meal. After all, hotels with on-site restaurants know that hotel guests are a close-to-captive audience, many of whom will gladly pay extra for convenience. 

Room service costs even more than restaurant dining. When you order room service, you'll be charged extra fees, such as a service charge, delivery fee, and/or in-room dining surcharge. These fees do not replace the traditional gratuity you're expected to leave. Not only that, food prices are often higher on room service menus than for the same items in the restaurant. Practices like these often cause hotel guests to look elsewhere for meals.

If you belong to any hotel loyalty programs, chances are that you regularly receive emails enticing you to buy additional points for cash. Some hotels even offer special (higher) rates that come with extra points. Such opportunities may seem to be a great way to build your balance, but this generally isn't the case. Enticing email or not, the amount hotels charge to buy loyalty points usually exceeds the actual value of the points. 

If a hotel that you keep a high point balance with is running a great sale on points, it might make financial sense to top up your balance, but buying points usually just helps the hotel company drive up its revenue with no benefit to loyalty program members. For example, on average, a free night at a Marriott requires around 50,000 points. The standard cost to purchase 50,000 Marriott points is $625. In most situations, you'll be able to book a room at a Marriott for a whole lot less than $625 per night. And, if something is going on with occupancy that causes room rates to be that expensive, chances are that the hotel won't have any rooms available that can be reserved with points.