HUNTSVILLE, AL (WAFF) -
Hotels are starting to increase fees on everyday services.
"I don't think it's fair sometimes because you're already paying pretty high fees for hotel rooms," said frequent traveler Karon Gibson.
Gibson said she's been hit with fees to use the safe in her room, the resort or gym regardless if she used it, receive a fax and a daily parking fee when she didn't have a car.
"I was pretty upset about that," said Gibson.
The fees are happening to more and more travelers. A new study estimated hotels are expected to collect a record high $1.8 billion from extra fees and surcharges this year. That's $100 million higher than last year.
Travel expert Ian Ford said he's seen fees at two star hotels to luxury hotels, and there's quite a range of costly charges. Ford said some of the fees include restocking the mini bar costs $5 to $15 regardless of the guest took anything out, a bellman charge of $8 even if you carried your own bags, a $3.95 energy charge for using the air conditioner and a $3.50 charge for every coffee capsule you drink in your room. Some hotels even charge $25 to $125 for luxury linens.
"They're passing on a cost whatever it is, sometimes it's a little more expensive than the actual cost, but they have to cover some of their other overhead," said Joe Mcinerney with the American Hotel and Lodging Association.
The AHLA said fees are increasing because the hotel industry now has more properties and rooms available than ever before, and hotels sometime 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.
"Hotels are charging fees for things that used to be free simply because they can," said Ford. "It's a new revenue stream and the consumer hasn't complained yet."
Experts said to avoid fees, call the hotel when the reservation is made and ask what they charge extra for, or check on the hotel website. Some hotel loyalty programs also give members breaks on some of the fees.
If you don't want a fee, before you check in try negotiating, and check your bill carefully when you check out. It's easier to dispute a fee while you're still at the hotel.
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