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My new 'trick' for avoiding pesky resort and destination fees on last-minute stays
Zach Honig
Contributor
June 30, 2021
•
3 min read
My new 'trick' for avoiding pesky resort and destination fees on last-minute stays
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Few things grind my gears as much as resort fees — and their relatively new in-town equivalent, the "destination fee."
While they're typically disclosed at checkout, these fees give hotels a revenue boost without bumping up the room rate — if you're doing some comparison shopping, you'll likely see the base rate, before taxes and fees.
Related: 5 pitfalls to avoid when booking hotels
As a result, travelers end up paying more than initially advertised for benefits they may not need, like long-distance calls or discounts on scooter rentals or, in the case of Wi-Fi and fitness center access, perks other hotels include for free.
I'll usually avoid staying at a hotel that charges a resort or destination fee, but in the case of my most recent booking, I really didn't want to miss out on a $155 last-minute rate at San Francisco's Hyatt Centric Fisherman's Wharf, so I figured I'd try a different approach.
After confirming availability via Hyatt's app, I called up the hotel and politely explained that I was planning to make a same-day booking until I noticed the destination fee. I wouldn't be using any of the amenities, so if they were willing to waive the fee, I'd book a two-night stay.
The agent agreed to make a "one-time exception." She instructed me to book my stay and said she'd remove the fee from my account. Sure enough, at check-in, another agent confirmed that the roughly $35 daily "destination fee" wouldn't apply on this stay.
Related: How to avoid resort fees
Still, she was friendly as can be and handed me a card outlining the destination fee perks, saying I was free to take advantage even though I wouldn't be paying this time around. Score!
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There was one challenge left to overcome: avoiding the hotel's $62 parking fee. I ended up driving around for a few minutes and found a lot for $25 per night just up the street — combined with the resort fee, I saved more than $70 each night with just a bit of extra effort, enough to cover two fantastic dinners in San Francisco.
Bottom line
Is this "trick" guaranteed to help you avoid a resort or destination fee every time? No, I'm sure some properties won't be willing to budge, but in this case, it was a win-win, giving the hotel some extra revenue it would have otherwise missed out on while saving me a bundle on my stay.
If you're looking for a bit more of a sure thing, I'd book an award with Hilton or Hyatt (they don't charge resort fees on award stays), or simply avoid hotels and resorts that work in sneaky fees. I feel much better about giving my business to properties that don't try to trick consumers into paying extra fees.
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
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Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
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$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
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- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.