Resort Fee
It's an unpleasant surprise to learn at check-in that you're required to pay a $20-$30 daily surcharge to cover the cost of amenities (newspaper delivery; fitness center access) that you may not use. Since these fees don't figure into the advertised room rate, they make it hard for a price-sensitive traveler to find the best lodging option. And it's not just travelers who are annoyed; the Federal Trade Commission warned 22 hotel operators that not clearly disclosing resort fees could be violating FTC laws.
Tip: Call and ask the front desk directly if there is a resort fee before you book especially if you're doing so through a third party such as an online travel agent or daily deal site.
Single Supplement
Solo travelers pay a price for their independent streak on the high seas or guided tours. The single supplement can be as high as 100% on certain cruises and tour itineraries and a minimum of 25% on the low end. Lately, however, changing demographics and travel habits have convinced some tour operators and cruise lines that there could be profit in accommodating single travelers with package prices closer to those paid for double occupancy.
Tip: Royal Caribbean's new "Quantum of the Seas" is being designed with solo travelers in mind. It will feature 16 studio staterooms with no dreaded supplement. Luxury outfitter Abercrombie & Kent's "Solo Savings" departures either waive the single supplement or reduce it by as much as 75% on popular itineraries including African safaris. Other companies offer guests the option to be paired with another single traveler to avoid paying the single supplement, such as Cosmos's "guaranteed share" program.
Wi-Fi
As we become ever more dependent on connectivity, hotel Wi-Fi is the fee we're most irritated by and yet perhaps most likely to grudgingly pay. Chains like Holiday Inn and Hampton Inn provide free Wi-Fi, yet paradoxically, many higher-end hotels and resorts continue to charge for in-room Internet, sometimes with two-tier pricing for high and regular-speed connections. A report by HotelChatter.com found that Wi-Fi fees range from $9.95 to $14.95 per day, but can be as high as $19.95.
Tip: Be loyal; Fairmont, Kimpton and Omni hotels give free Wi-Fi as a benefit when you sign up for their free rewards programs. Peninsula and Shangri-La Hotels have free Wi-Fi not only in all hotel rooms and common areas but also in their automobile fleets.
Car Rental Airport Fee
For the traveler who wants to get straight out onto the open road, the airport surcharge is deflating. The amount varies depending on the company and airport, but the difference can be steep. For example, renting a full-size vehicle at Denver International Airport can cost nearly twice the daily rate for the same car picked up from the convention center downtown.
Tip: The sharing economy is shaking up the car rental world. Startup FlightCar offers Bay Area residents the chance to rent out their car while they are away. Travelers arriving at SFO can rent a vehicle for around $30 a day. FlightCar is also available at Boston's Logan International Airport and is expected to arrive soon in Los Angeles.
One-Way Penalty and Airport Surcharge on Car Rentals
A four-day drive up California's Pacific Coast Highway is a lovely way to spend your vacation. What's less enticing is the hefty premium you pay to drop off your vehicle at a different destination from the point of origin. A recent online search found a four-day rental from Los Angeles to San Francisco that cost $379 extra, compared with the rate you'd pay to return the vehicle in L.A.
Tip: Shop around for your rental, using "one-way" as a search term. The major chains occasionally offer discount codes and coupons specifically for one-way rentals. Avis puts one-way rentals out of Arizona and Florida on sale in the spring to attract business from retirees who are headed back north for the summer.
Award Ticket Fees
After you've spent years building up a mileage balance for a free seat to Europe, it can come as a shock to be charged an award-processing fee. Add to that airport taxes, fuel surcharges and security taxes and the final total on a so-called "free flight" can easily reach three figures. Any kind of change also incurs fees in most frequent-flier programs ($75-$150 on major carriers). And canceling your "free" ticket will cost you if you want to get the miles re-deposited into your account ($150 on major carriers).
Tip: Plan ahead when booking award travel to minimize fees (some airlines charge a $75 rush fee on award seats booked fewer than 21 days before departure). The further out you book, the easier it will be to use the airlines' online award booking option, saving you from paying for help from a reservation agent.
Let Rawhide Travel and Tours help you with all your reservation needs. Call us at (602) 843-5100 or visit our website: rawhidetravel.com.
Presented By:
Rawhide Travel and Tours Inc
6008 West Bell Rd # F105
Glendale, Arizona 85308-3793
(602) 843-5100
rawhidetravel.com
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