How to Avoid Unexpected Marriot Group Hotel Fees 

A hotel stay is already expensive—the last thing you need is unexpected and unnecessary fees added to your bill. But that’s exactly what happens frequently to travelers all across the United States—additional, unexpected hotel fees charged for everything from safes they didn’t use to newspapers they didn’t read.

“Because of all of these add-on fees, it’s difficult for consumers to know how much it will cost to stay in a hotel,” said Anna Laitin, the director of financial policy at Consumer Reports. “Room rates that may seem like a good deal when you reserve can quickly balloon, making it hard for consumers to comparison shop and nearly impossible to budget for a trip.”

The practice of hotels adding in the full price of a room piece by piece with different hidden hotel fees, thereby concealing the full price from the customer initially, is known as “drip pricing.”

Types of Hotel Fees

There are a number of kinds of unexpected fees like this that hotels can charge along the way.

One of the most common such fees is usually referred to as a “resort fee,” and covers guests’ access to amenities like swimming pools or gyms, regardless of whether or not they actually use them. A resort fee, on average, was about $27 in 2018, according to the American Hotel & Lodging Association, Consumer Reports says.

Other common fees are parking fees and safe fees—also not dependent on whether these things were used. Guests commonly also ran into online reservation or booking fee, which can be charged per day.

In some hotels, guests have to pay for WiFi if they want that amenity, but do have to opt-in and actively pay for the service. In others, however, guests may be offered free WiFi—but then end up paying a WiFi fee on their bill.

Why Are You Being Charged?

Hotels often charge these additional fees, separate from the price listed for the room, in order to increase their profits while still convincing customers they’re getting a great deal. The hotel industry has pulled in billions of dollars by charging these kinds of fees.

How Fees Vary Within the Marriott Group

There are a number of hotels owned by Marriott that may be charging these unexpected fees, such as Marriott, Courtyard Marriott, Sheraton, Westin, SpringHill Suites, Residence Inn, and more.

Some of the 7,000 Marriott-owned hotels may charge more than others for certain types of fees. For instance, resort fees charged at the Marriott brand hotels can vary from $9 to $95 per day depending on the location. At Hilton hotels, the resort fee is $15 to $45 per night.

How to Avoid Hotel Fees

To avoid hidden hotel fees, it is best to do research ahead of time, checking travel websites and hotel websites. Calling the hotel directly and asking for a full rundown of these fees can help as well, and with any of these methods, it is best to have some form of documentation as proof in case you’re charged differently than they claim.

For instance, take screenshots of the websites where you find this information, or ask the hotel to email you a confirmation of the charges.

Sometimes, becoming a member of a hotel’s loyalty program can help avoid these hidden fees as well.

Filing a Hotel Fees Lawsuit

The District of Columbia recently filed a lawsuit against Marriott international over these kinds of deceptive fees.

If you have been affected by these kinds of unfair excess fees at a Marriott group hotel, you may be able to file a resort fees lawsuit and pursue compensation.

Filing a lawsuit can be a daunting prospect, so Top Class Actions has laid the groundwork for you by connecting you with an experienced attorney. Consulting an attorney can help you determine if you have a claim, navigate the complexities of litigation, and maximize your potential compensation.

If you stayed at a one of the Marriott group hotels and were charged unexpected fees that raised your rate higher than the advertised price, you may qualify to participate in a FREE Marriott hotel fees class action lawsuit investigation.

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This article is not legal advice. It is presented
for informational purposes only.