Hotels may start charging fees now--groan

[Lana Bortolot]

Well, this just in. I know they have to make a living, too, do I really want to pay for storing my bag? I'm already get gouged on things like Internet access (up to $25 for 24 hours last week at a hotel in Jerusalem) or for inadvertantly jiggling the mini bar.

Interesting quote: "Fees have 'become more accepted as part of the travel experience.' ”

I suppose so.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/04/business/04hotels.html

[Northeast News]

Last year I noticed this in Europe a lot, too: Hotels were charging me for internet access. The United States is behind a lot of countries when it comes to cellphone use, but on the other hand, I've gotten use to expecting free wi-fi.

You must have been furious about the mini-bar. That has happened to me a lot, too, because I like to pull a few soft drinks out, use the space for things that I'm carrying, and then return the soft drinks when I check out. I should not have to pay for this.

[Allan Lynch]

A friend of mine is in charge of ten properties (city hotels and urban resorts). He is driven mad by people who grab an on-line deal then show up at the front desk trying to negotiate an even lower price: 'if I don't wear the bathrobe will you take $2 off?' 'I don't have a car, can you take $5 off?' 'I won't be eating breakfast, how much will you deduct?' 'I have my own shampoo, how much can you take off?'

I suppose this is just another negotiating tactic. I sometimes travel with group buyers and I've seen one man walk out before the site inspection because the 5-star hotel charged for computer connections. His rationale was that discount chains offer it for free, yet the luxury segment expects him to pay for this - and 200 rooms for five nights is not cheap!

[Sarah Lee]

This was always going to be a problem as the low-cost airlines have been getting away with adding more and more surcharges and travellers are embracing it with a 'you get what you pay for' attitude. But where do you stop getting what you pay for and start losing service altogether - it's a fine line.

The best way to deal with such surcharges is to choose your hotel carefully. I just posted a blog on how a free wifi report makes a useful planning tool: http://su.pr/2tpegY. I for one try to steer clear of the $25/24-hour internet places.

[Barbara Ramsay Orr]

I advise my readers to think about changing the way they travel - choose your hotel based on your preferences and needs. I never stay in a hotel that charges for Wifi, unless I am on a conference and the choice isn't mine. And if I am at a conference hotel that charges, I make sure I tell the manager that those charges mean that I wouldn't be staying there voluntarily. Also, traveling light these days is the answer. Uncomplicate and simplify your packing and you automatically avoid fees for checking luggage and storing it.
The mini bar thing? Does anyone ever consume that overpriced junk food and booze, unless they are charging their companies for it? To charge for 'rearranging' the contents of the minibar is outrageous. Although I guess the hotel saves employee time if the mini bar is untouched and thus doesn't need to be checked.
It's just irritating, isn't it? It's not just the few extra dollars. If I were a hotel owner, the last thing I would want to do is irritate my customers.

[Maralyn D Hill]

Extra fees make me shy away from certain hotels when I'm aware ahead of time. If I discover it after the fact, I'm apt to not recommend the property.

When I store baggage, I already tip--so I'd resent another charge.

The internet charges have paid for their system within the first 3 months of installation. It forced me to purchase a wireless usb.

Maralyn

[Lana Bortolot]

I'm often on press trips with pre-arranged accommodations, so I have to go along with the policy. On one hand, if I'm hosted, a bag fee doesn't seem like that much to complain about--considering the big picture (though it does feel slightly like being taken hostage). But it's one more thing in the trend of diminishing service—whether I'm traveling with or without the benefit of a host—that adds up at the end of the day.

To wit: I've just booked travel to the west coast: I'm not even on the plane yet and I just spent $35 to check one bag (a necessity since my camera/laptop bag counts as a carry on and not a purse, I'm told), and have an aisle seat. And you can bet I'm going to get a bag of chips for lunch :(

Thank goodness, as a wine writer, there's usually plenty to drink at the other end of the journey. :)

[Dick Jordan]

Here's a recent piece on this topic from the New York Times: http://nyti.ms/8YXaRW