1. Resort Fees

Resort fee in its own sense is a "genius" mechanism adopted by the hotel or resort management over the years. The fee is considered mandatory, but technically you just end up paying for services you may or may not even utilize. Resort fees can result in doubling up the amount of what you actually need to pay. Hence, it becomes a massive inconvenience, even trying to compare rents amongst different hotels.

Hawaii and Las Vegas were the first two infamous cities that started this absurd tradition. The other cities caught up quiet eagerly over the years. Different places tag the Resort fee with alternate names, such as “facility fees.” However, the ultimate result remains the same – you pay for a list of subsidiary services (excluding the room rate) irrespective of whether you require it or not, clearly hinting a stench of scam.

2. Housekeeping Fees

The concept of "tipping" the housekeepers in addition to everything you are already paying for the room rate is nonsensical. However, this is again another one of the preposterous fees that are quickly becoming "mandatory" in many hotel establishments. Some hotel management has gone on their way to put up notices reminding you that you are somehow obligated to tip the housekeepers.

While the resort fees are absurd in themselves, they are at least disclosed to you prior to your reservation. However, the housekeeping fee is something the hotel management wait until you are checked in, making it even more inconvenient.

3. Unattended Parking Fees

Unattended parking lot fee is another mechanism that hotels have adopted over the years to squeeze out some extra bucks. It may not be the case if you check into a rural motel with an open parking space. However, a handful of hotels do charge you for the unattended parking lot as well. The fee is especially hard to negotiate once you have already driven up till the hotel.

4. Early Check-In Hotel Fees

Showing up early for whatever occasion it may be is categorized as being punctual, self-disciplined, and even profitable in many cases. However, it produces the complete contradicting result when it comes to checking in early in your hotel room. A time existed when you could check-in early, as long as the room was ready. However, as per NYU reports some hotels, especially in Las Vegas, charge you an extra fee if you opt to check-in early regardless.

The most obvious solution to avoid this fee would be to wait in the reception area or leave your luggage and check-in at the specific hour.

5. Early-Cancellation Hotel Fees

The early-cancellation fee is another relevant stumbling block that the customers are currently facing. Earlier, the standard cancellation procedure was simple. You could cancel any reservation without any penalty costs before 24 hours of your scheduled check-in time. The maximum time limit was 2 days notice prior to cancellation.

However, the present standard duration of cancelling the reservation without any penalty costs has extended up to three days or more prior to your reservation time. Any cancellations later would mean you will have to pay for at least a night in the hotel. While avoiding this fee may not be the hardest thing, it does become extremely inconvenient if you suddenly have to change your plans in the eleventh hour.

6. The Wi-Fi Puzzle

The Wi-Fi facility has become one of the mandatory services that are expected from a standard hotel. However, there are ways/ methods through which some hotels try to avoid offering free Wi-Fi facilities by limiting the service only to those who make reservations through their official website only. People making reservations via a third party most likely need to pay for the service.

Other hotels deceptively charge the Wi-Fi service via the “Resort/ facility fees.” You can steer clear of this inconvenient fee by making reservations directly with the hotel. On top of that, you may even get a better deal as opposed to using a third party.

7. The Old Standbys

The existence of hotel fees has always been significant in one minor form or the other. Some of the oldest mechanisms include early departure, on-site computer or fax machine use, mini-bar restocking, sending/receiving package charge, baggage-holding charge for customers who use some of the services even after the check-out time.

Any relief?

Over the years, there have been various crucial customer advocate groups that have pressurized the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to discourage any magnitude of deceptive hotel fees, and that the entire process of advertising and buying cycle is fair.

Preceding several years of reluctance from the authorities, the FTC is finally taking up measures to discourage deceptive hotel fees.

In addition to that, deceptive pricing fee violates most state laws. Hence, different States may soon take up steps to address the mandatory hotel fees.