A couple of weeks ago a hotel charged me a mandatory safe fee even though I didn't use the safe.
Today I'm paying a $9.95 daily wireless fee.
Why do hotels charge separately for these fees? Why don't they just increase the room charge?
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A couple of weeks ago a hotel charged me a mandatory safe fee even though I didn't use the safe.
Today I'm paying a $9.95 daily wireless fee.
Why do hotels charge separately for these fees? Why don't they just increase the room charge?
Because not everyone wants to pay 9.95 for wireless internet (i.e. if you have a tethered phone or wireless broadband through a cell provider).Quote:
Originally Posted by alaskaguy
I've never been charged for a safe, though, and I've stayed in hundreds of hotels.
Plus it would make their rates look way worse than other hotels.
Because once your in the room they've got you, it's all a trap
So it looks like they have a lower rate than they actually do, I think. At some hotels you can ask to have the safe fee removed if you don't use the safe, but I hate that they make you do it, knowing many people won't.
As far as wireless, it seems the better the hotel, the more likely you will pay, and I hate that.
Super 8 or the bates motel have free internet while nice ones don't :no:Quote:
Originally Posted by LindenCy
Exactly! It's the same reason for fees with airlines. They can say the room is only x dollars to draw business from competitors, once your in the door your less likely to leave because of some extra fees. Just a way to trick you out of more money.Quote:
Because once your in the room they've got you, it's all a trap
There are plenty of "nice" hotels with free internet. Most of the pay ones are full-service places in urban areas.Quote:
Originally Posted by TykeClone
Good bets for free internet are generally places like Hampton Inn, Holiday Inn Express, courtyard etc.
All Marriotts now have free internet, FWIW. Like Jumbo says, it's mainly at full service hotels that you pay the internet fee. But, it's not automatic, typically. You have to ask for access in order to be charged for it. Also, all you have to do is ask for the safe charge to be removed and it will...
You can also ask them to remove the "USA Today" from your room charge and save $0.75/day.
The reason they stick those charges on your bill is because the clients at most of those places are "corporate clients" and don't care about the incidentals.
Motel 6 clients are generally paying themselves and would pitch a fit about paying $9.95 for internet when every bar in the U.S. provides that service for free. Most luxury hotels are purchased with corporate money, so the clients couldn't care less about incidentals.
Hampton Inn, however, is on that fringe between corporate clients and leisure travelers. That's why some of them offer a happy hour and some don't. But almost all offer free internet. With that, they are ahead of Starbucks...
When did they do this?Quote:
Originally Posted by AnkenyCy24
Sorry. I meant to say all Marriott Select Service hotels. i.e. Fairfield, Residence, Towneplace, Springhill...Quote:
Originally Posted by rworkman83
Why should some hotel guests who don't use or need these services pay for the guests who do need these services? The hotel should not have charged you a mandatory safe fee. Only should have charged you if you got the lock or the PIN for the safe.Quote:
Originally Posted by alaskaguy
What hotel charged you this? I ask because I plan on avoiding it like the plague.
I have had no problems with places like the Hilton Garden Inn (as someone said, "fringe" hotels) - free internet, free full-service breakfast, etc.
Whenever I'm in a hotel that charges a fee for the safe, I just tell them I didn't use it when I check out and most will deduct it from your bill.
I stay in hotels 100+ nights per year. It is getting ridiculous. Lately I have paid resort fees of $10 per day, safe fees, and parking fees. Don't even think about drinking that bottle of water in the room, it will cost you $5. The worst thing though is the amount of tax that they are piling on visitors. I paid $18 in taxes recently on a $73 room in Minneapolis. Wow. The airlines are getting even worse. I booked a trip to Vegas on allegiant. My advertised fee of $308 ,which included the taxes,came to $400 even after I checked two bags and selected window seats.