How To Avoid Resort Fees When Booking A Vacation

Resort fees are a mandatory charge that hotels generally add per night, even if guests don't use any of the extras that these fees supposedly cover. They are often not listed as part of the initial listed room price, and can sometimes only appear after you receive your receipt or confirmation. This is just one of the many sneaky ways that hotels trick you into spending more. These fees usually cover things like Wi-Fi, pool or gym access, beach chairs, local calls, shuttle rides, or even coffee in the lobby. They can add anywhere from $20 to up to $90 to your bill, per night. Kiplinger suggests asking a hotel directly — before you book — whether they charge nightly resort or facilities fees. If so, you should then ask if the fee can be waived if you don't use the amenities. These questions can ultimately save you from a pricey surprise at checkout.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) calls these hidden fees this bait-and-switch pricing, and in an effort to stop it, the FTC rolled out a new rule. Starting in mid-May 2025, hotels, travel sites, and ticket sellers now must display full inclusive pricing – including resort fees, parking, and service charges — right from the start. For travelers, this new rule means that hotels can't tuck fees into the fine print, a practice that has previously left many travelers considering renting a vacation home over booking a hotel room. This new rule makes it easier than ever to accurately compare hotel options, even if it does nothing to actually get rid of these junk fees.

One way you can help yourself avoid resort fees is to use points to book a hotel stay. Hilton Honors and World of Hyatt both scrap all resort or destination fees if your stay is fully paid for with points, no matter which hotel or where it's located. Hyatt's Globalist members also get an extra break — fees are waived even on regularly paid for hotel stays. For travelers who stay often, this can save as much as $90 per night in high-fee destinations. Bankrate notes that when you book a free night with points through Hilton, Hyatt, or Wyndham, resort fees vanish automatically at checkout. Similarly, Hilton Gold status, which is available via the Hilton Surpass credit card, can wipe out nightly resort fees and even has a casino-matching agreement with MGM and Caesars that can make a trip to Las Vegas more affordable. 

If chasing points doesn't work for you, try rewards programs like Wyndham Rewards, which was credited as the best hotel rewards program of 2025. These programs can offer different status levels depending on how many nights you stay with the hotel. Similarly, IHG Hotels offers a 2025 "Fast Track" promo – with users gaining Silver status right away, and moving up to Gold after five nights and Platinum after ten.

You can also avoid resort fees by simply picking hotel brands that skip this fee trap altogether. NerdWallet highlights Drury Hotels, Ovolo Hotels, and Disney-owned resorts. Drury Hotels is a family-run chain operating over 150 properties in 27 states. The brand also throws in extras, like hot breakfast and Wi-Fi, for the rate you see when you book. Drury also offers something known as a 5:30 Kickback to guests which includes up to three free beers, wines, or mixed drinks per adult. Most Drury locations also include indoor–outdoor pools, and fee-free self-parking at nearly every property. 

If you are traveling abroad, Ovolo Hotels, based in Hong Kong, also avoids surprise resort and destination charges when you book with them directly. Everything is included in the room rate including minibar snacks, self-serve laundry, gym access, and even daily happy-hour drinks. The chain has locations in Sydney and Melbourne, Australia, Bali, and Hong Kong.

Disney-owned hotels also keep it simple with no hidden resort fees. This policy covers all 25-plus properties in the Walt Disney World Resorts Collection, plus beach resorts like Aulani in Hawaii. Guests also get special perks baked into their room price like free self-parking, early access to Disney theme parks, and complimentary transportation between Disney locations — all without facing any added surcharges at checkout.