BBB Chief Exective Jim WinsettQ: Last year we went on a vacation trip and what we thought was a bargain ended up costing us 30 percent more after all the hidden fees were added. I am in the midst of planning for this year’s trip, and I do not want to be taken in like last time. Does the BBB have any tips to avoid extra travel fees?
A: Going on vacation and traveling is a highlight for many families throughout the year. You work hard all year, budget wisely, and when you think you have a great deal, hidden and extra fees can make it rain on your vacation.
Hotels can charge extra fees for any number of services, including “resort fees” for hotel services ranging from Internet access, use of gym facilities, newspapers to a safe in your room. The fees may be charged whether you use the services or not.
The Federal Trade Commission says resort fees are part of a business model known as “drip pricing,” in which firms advertise only part of a product’s price and reveal other charges later as the customer goes through the buying process.
Extra fees ranging from $10 to $30 a day are seldom disclosed and often are not included in the checkout price on online travel booking sites. In many cases, consumers do not learn about the fees until they check into or out of a hotel or resort.