What to know about new resort fees at some Hawaii hotels
In theory (according to hotels, anyway), resort fees should help hotel guests save money. Rather than charging individually for amenities like pool towels, beach chairs and entertainment, some hotels group these fees into one fee that is added to your room rate.
In reality, resort fees have become a thorn in the side of many travelers for a few reasons. One, travelers often aren't able to take advantage of all of the amenities included in the fee, especially during a short stay. Two, some hotels charge guests an amenity fee for "perks" like free local calls, rollaway beds and discounts on laundry and pet fees. And three, many hotels do their best to hide these fees until you are well into the booking process.
Though some hotels are facing resort fee lawsuits and the Biden administration is pushing back against resort fees, destination fees and so-called junk fees, resort fees are currently one of those small annoyances that many travelers have grown to accept as a part of life.
Unfortunately, that annoyance has grown disproportionately at some Hawaii hotels.
TPG reader George Knudsen originally brought this new trend in hotel fees to our attention while he was searching for a Hawaii hotel stay. The hotel in question was one of a handful of Destination by Hyatt properties in Hawaii operated by Destination Residences Wailea. Rather than the standard resort fee, which is charged as a flat fee tacked onto the nightly rate, the Wailea Grand Champions Villas charges a resort fee that is nearly 10% of the nightly room rate.
The exact wording reads as follows: "This property charges a 9.98% nightly resort fee per room plus tax in order to provide services and amenities which enhance the guest experience." In fact, most of the properties operating under the Destination Residences Wailea umbrella use this method of charging a resort fee as a percentage of the nightly rate.
After digging around a bit on the property's website, it appears the "services and amenities which enhance the guest experience" are:
- Welcome lei greeting
- Maikai grocery discount card
- Limited housekeeping services
- In-room coffee maker with a welcome packet of Maui coffee and condiments
- In-room washer and dryer with laundry detergent
- Fully equipped kitchen
- Bathroom toiletries
- Use of beach towels
- Printing of boarding passes
- Self-parking
- "Island Host" to assist with activity planning
- Netflix account use upon request
- Local calls
None of these are out of line with what other resorts include in their resort fees, but you could be paying a wildly different price for them based on the nightly room rate during your stay.
For example, a stay in a two-bedroom condo at the Wailea Grand Champions Villas in November averages $429 per night, making the resort fee $42.81 per night. A January 2024 stay in a two-bedroom condo at the Polo Beach Club, a Destination by Hyatt Residence, also operated by Destination Residences Wailea, averages $999 per night, bringing the resort fee up to $99.70 per night for an all-in cost of $1,099 per night.
One hundred dollars is well above average for resort fees, which typically range between $25 and $50 per night but can sometimes climb above $100 at luxury resorts. In addition to the above-mentioned resorts, Wailea Ekolu Village and Wailea Ekahi Village also charge a 9.98% nightly resort fee, while Wailea Beach Villas charges a lower resort fee of 5.87%.
It is worth noting that the resorts do nothing to hide these fees. In fact, they are upfront about the fees by displaying the all-in rate (minus taxes) with a note that tells guests the resort fee is included. It's not the disclosure that's troublesome about this alternative method of charging resort fees — it's the fact that whether you pay $429 or $999 per night for your room, you are receiving the same inclusions in the resort fee.
Regardless of how much you pay per night, you receive the same amenities. You don't get more beach towels, welcome leis, coffee packets or laundry detergent just because you pay more per night. However, one might argue that if you are paying nearly $100 per night for these amenities, maybe you should ask for extra coffee, shampoo and laundry detergent.
When asked if discovering this practice would deter him from staying at one of these properties, Knudsen told TPG, "I'd definitely look at other options. I'd even consider paying a bit more elsewhere that doesn't disguise fees like this." Despite learning to deal with resort fees like the rest of us, "adding a percentage to the rate to 'enhance' things is just laughable," he added.
Because this group of resorts consists of privately owned condos that are rented out through Hyatt, you can still stay at these resorts and avoid the nightly resort fee by redeeming World of Hyatt points.
Aside from that, though, resort fees are something travelers are stuck with for now. The best you can do is stay alert and informed — know how much you are paying and what you are getting before you click "book now."
Representatives from Destination Residences Wailea and Hyatt did not respond to a request for comment before publication.
Related reading:
- A review of the Wailea Ekolu Village a Destination by Hyatt property
- Everything you need to know about World of Hyatt
- The best credit cards to reach elite status
- What is World of Hyatt elite status worth?
- Which credit cards offer the most lucrative rewards for hotel stays?
- The best hotel rewards programs in the world
- Best hotel credit cards
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
- Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
- Ability to earn MQDs through spending
- Various statement credits for eligible purchases
Cons
- Steep annual fee of $650
- Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
- Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees