Perks worth the price: These hotels offer unexpected amenities with the resort fee

As far as we're concerned, we'd love to see the end of resort fees. They're the daily surcharge (its other aliases might be destination fee, amenity fee, etc.) that many hotels add to your stay to cover some of the property's amenities, from the gym and the bottles of water in your room to domestic calls and use of a business center. This amount can range from $20 to $70 per night depending on where you're staying — and some properties charge even more. In the past, we've provided tips on how to get out of having to pay resort fees (thankfully, there are hotels out there that avoid them altogether), but for the most part, if a hotel states this fee, guests must pay.

But they're not all frustrating money grabs — and all hotel resort fees are not created equal. (In 2025, how can Wi-Fi or a gym not be part of a room rate already?) Some resort fees cover unexpected perks and amenities that you may actually want to take advantage of during your trip. These benefits, if you choose to utilize them, could even make the fee worth the price. Now, depending on your interests and the purpose of your trip, your mileage may vary on what makes a resort-fee perk good value. But a museum as well as fitness-class passes plus free drinks and snacks at the lobby bar could be worth it to someone, right?

Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort

This design-forward 320-room hotel already sits on a pristine 15-acre beachfront estate. And sometimes, that might be all you want out of a Hawaiian vacation. But its $50 resort fee gets you so much more: guided kayak tours and standup paddleboard lessons are there if you're feeling adventurous; while hula, coconut husking and ukulele sessions are available, too. Fitness enthusiasts will love the twice-daily group fitness classes that this fee covers, too. One of the more surprising benefits is the 45-minute photo shoot around the property with Pacific Dream Photography. The actual photos, however, you will have to purchase.

Rates at Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort start at $920 or 45,000 World of Hyatt points per night.

Halcyon, a Hotel in Cherry Creek

The $35 fee at this stylish boutique hotel covers an impressive list of covetable amenities: The house car (based on availability) can whisk you away to addresses within three-miles of the hotel. You get day passes to the Denver Botanic Gardens (worth $15.75 each). The lobby-level Kitchen is constantly putting out drinks and snacks throughout the day. And you'll have access to the Gear Garage, stocked with tennis racquets, bikes, scooters, board games and more (all of it you can borrow as part of the fee). And while there is a 24-hour fitness center, the hotel also hands out passes to various fitness studios in the neighborhood, including SoulCycle and Climbr.

Rates at Halcyon, a Hotel in Cherry Creek start at $240 per night.

Related: The best Denver hotels to experience when staying in the Mile High City

The New York Edition

This luxury points hotel in Madison Square Park keeps its resort-fee structure straightforward: You pay $35 a night, and you get a $35 Lobby Bar credit, a $40 laundry credit and a $50 spa credit. All credits are extended for every night booked. This might be one of the best fee perks around, considering it includes a healthy mix of what's practical and what's indulgent. A resort fee that covers a glass of champagne (or two glasses of zero-proof cocktails) in New York City is one that we won't complain about.

Rates at The New York Edition start at $581 or 67,000 Marriott Bonvoy points.

Thompson Seattle

Located near the iconic Pike Place Market, this 158-room Seattle-based Hyatt hotel offers great views and a modern stay. And that's what the $29 resort fee, one of the lowest around, gets you, too: sparkling wine at check-in, a priority reservation at the rooftop hang The Nest Rooftop Bar & Lounge and modest discounts (typically from 10% to 20%) at local shops, like Armistice Coffee Roaster and Seleuss Chocolates. But one of the major perks here is the complimentary services at Antonio Salon. Just ask the concierge to set up your appointment and get a free bang trim or a dry styling session; otherwise, the salon also offers Thompson guests a 20% discount on other services.

Daily Newsletter

Reward your inbox with the TPG Daily newsletter

Join over 700,000 readers for breaking news, in-depth guides and exclusive deals from TPG’s experts

Email address

Sign up

By signing up, you will receive newsletters and promotional content and agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.

Rates at Thompson Seattle start at $205 or 10,000 World of Hyatt points per night.

Fairmont Scottsdale Princess

At 65 acres with 750 rooms, a 44,000-square-foot spa, a handful of pools and a golf course that hosts the annual Phoenix Open, this resort has plenty to keep you occupied. The $55 nightly resort fee can certainly help ensure a more seamless experience around the property. For instance, courtesy pole rental is included if you want to fish in the lagoon. And cruiser bikes are up for grabs if you want to explore the resort on your own. You'll also have access to a pickleball court, golf bag storage and preferred rates and tee times on the golf course. You may also want to take advantage of the complimentary shoe-shining. Another excellent perk is the $30 spa credit toward body and facial treatments. This will come in handy if you also want to use the wellness amenities (waterfall treatment pool, sauna, steam room, aromatherapy lounge, etc.) — accessible only to those who have booked spa services.

Rates at Fairmont Scottsdale Princess start at $306 per night.

Related: Fun in the desert sun: A family guide to Scottsdale, Arizona

Four Seasons Resort Whistler

In a mountain resort like Whistler, outdoor adventure is the primary purpose of a visit. But at this upscale chalet-style property, the laundry list of immersive experiences and amenities bundled into the 65 CAD (or approximately $45) resort fee might convince you to invest a bit more time at the hotel. In the winter, this includes wood-burning workshops and snowshoeing tours. During the summer, you can go forest bathing or sign up for a tasting of local beers. This is on top of daily fitness classes and tickets to nearby Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre. And if you did want to venture off on your own, complimentary shuttle service (or a house car) is available, too.

Rates at Four Seasons Resort Whistler start at $748 per night.

Fairmont Mayakoba

In lush, waterfront Mayakoba, there's already plenty to do, but the $35 feet at this Fairmont (featured in our list of the best all-inclusive resorts in Playa del Carmen) helps you get more out of your stay. For starters, there's the $40 per room, per stay credit for massages at the spa, and a $20 credit at The Sweet Spot, an in-resort candy shop. The hotel also builds a selection of complimentary daily activities into this fee: catamaran and bird-watching tours as well as tequila and mezcal workshops and the very family-friendly paint-your-own-alebrije class.

Rates at Fairmont Mayakoba start at $306 per night.

Alila Marea Beach Resort Encinitas

This fancy seaside hotel near San Diego has recently been rebranded as an adults-only property, but not much else has changed since it opened in 2021, including the lineup of benefits its admittedly high resort fee covers. The town of Encinitas is known for its surfing culture so it only makes sense that complimentary surfboard and wetsuit rentals are included. There's also a weekly sound bath experience and yoga classes to keep the wellness vibes going. The cold plunge and wood sauna were just introduced as free amenities, too. (Similar wet area amenities in the spa are otherwise only accessible to guests with treatment reservations.) And lastly, there is complimentary transportation service within three miles of the hotel, which is an excellent perk if you want to visit nearby golf courses, other beaches or fun local restaurants.

Rates at Alila Marea Beach Resort Encinitas start at $520 or 30,000 World of Hyatt points per night.

Related reading:

• The best hotel credit cards
• Get free breakfast, upgrades and more with the Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts program
• The best hotel rewards programs in the world
• The best premium credit cards: A side-by-side comparison