Fed up with hotel fees? Fight back!

Are you fed up with fees? First the airlines made headlines by charging for things that used to be free, then it was banks. Now, we've found that hotels are checking in on the fee frenzy. Frequent traveler Karon Gibson says she's fed up with hotel fees. "I don't think it's fair sometimes because you're already paying pretty high fees for hotel rooms."  She's been hit with fees to use the safe in her hotel room, resort fees even if she didn't use the gym or pool, fees to receive a fax, and most outrageously she says, a daily parking fee when she didn't even have a car!  She's upset because
she checked into a hotel and checked out with a much higher bill than she expected, and it' happening to more and more travelers.

A new study estimates hotels are expected to collect a nearly record high, $1.8 billion from extra fees and surcharges this year. That's up $100 million in a year.   

"I find people are extremely mad about the situation," says Ian Ford, travel expert.  Ford says he's seen fees at two star hotels to luxury hotels and there's quite a range of costly charges such as, restocking fees ranging from $5 to $15 for just opening the mini bar and not even taking anything out.

A bellman charge of $8 even if you carry your own luggage, a $3.50 fee per 'coffee capsule' you drink in your room. Several hotels are even charging you between $25 and $125 if you wan luxury linens.
Joe McInerney with the American Hotel and Lodging Association says that "they're passing on a cost whatever it is, sometimes its a little more expensive than the actual cost, but they have to cover some of their other overhead."

The Association says fees are increasing because the hotel industry now has more properties and rooms available than ever before.

Sometimes hotels have to pay a third party to run the gym, operate the pool, provide internet access or other services. "Unfortunately we'd like to give away as much as we can but the economics are that somebody has to pay for it when it's all said and done," said McInerney.

Experts say if you want to avoid fees you can call when you make your reservation and ask what they charge extra for, or check the hotel website.

Some hotel loyalty programs give members a break on the fees. If you don't like a fee, before you check in, try negotiating and tell the hotel you're going to stay somewhere else if they won't budge.

"Hotels are charging fees for thing that used to be free simply because they can. It's a new revenue stream and the consumer hasn't complained yet." said Ian Ford.

Check your bill carefully when you check out. It's easier to dispute a fee while you're still at the hotel. That's what Karon did and got the parking charge removed from her bill.