How to Get Out of Paying a Hotel Resort Fee — It Can Be Done

Resort fees are, bluntly, a scam. They're banned in most places outside the United States, yet American travelers continue to be hit with surprise surcharges of $20 to $50 per night — often covering amenities they never used, like fax machines, newspapers, or a fitness center that was closed.

The good news? You don't have to just accept it. Guests can — and do — successfully push back. Here's a step-by-step guide.

Step 1: Push Back at Check-In (or Checkout)

Many hotel guests don't realize that resort fees are often negotiable, especially if you booked directly with the hotel (not through a third-party OTA).

Try one of these arguments:

• You didn't use the amenities. If the fee covers services like faxes, a newspaper, or in-room coffee that you never touched, point that out. You shouldn't pay for what you didn't use.
• The amenities didn't work. Slow Wi-Fi? Closed pool? Gym under renovation? Demand a refund because the hotel didn't deliver what the fee promised.
• You weren't told about it at booking. If the resort fee wasn't clearly disclosed before you paid, call it out as a deceptive business practice and ask for it to be removed.
• You're a loyalty member. Make clear that your continued business depends on being treated fairly. Some front desks will quietly waive the fee rather than risk losing a repeat guest.

Always ask to speak with a manager if the front desk clerk says the system won't let them remove the fee — that's often a systems issue, not a policy one.

Golden rule: be nice. Service workers usually know the fee is unfair and didn't create the policy. Kindness gets refunds; threats get nothing.

Step 2: Dispute the Charge with Your Credit Card

If you had to pay to get your room key, you still have options after checkout. Call your credit card company and initiate a dispute.

Come prepared with documentation:

• Screenshot of the hotel's website advertising free Wi-Fi — then your bill showing a Wi-Fi charge buried in the resort fee.
• Any other evidence that you paid for something not delivered, or for a service not disclosed at booking.

No credit card company believes their customers should be subject to travel scams. Most will side with you if you make a clear case.

Step 3: File a Consumer Complaint with the Attorney General

Every state has an Attorney General whose job includes enforcing consumer protection laws. Hotel resort fees have been under AG scrutiny across the country — Marriott was even subpoenaed as part of a multi-state investigation.

Filing a complaint takes about 60 seconds and has helped many travelers recover resort fees. You can file with the AG of the state where the hotel is located, or your own home state if you booked online.

Pro tip: The Nevada AG has reportedly been less receptive to resort fee complaints. If you stayed in Las Vegas or elsewhere in Nevada, file with your home state AG instead.

👉 See our full list of state Attorney General complaint links here

Step 4: Sue in Small Claims Court

This is the nuclear option — but it works. Small claims court is designed to be accessible without a lawyer. If you booked the hotel online from your home, you likely have jurisdiction in your local small claims court.

Filing fees range from $10 to $40. Hotels — represented by expensive corporate attorneys — rarely want to appear before a judge over a $100 dispute. Most simply mail you a check.

If it does go to court, the argument is simple: you bought a hotel stay at the advertised price, paid the required taxes, and were then charged an additional undisclosed amount at check-in. Most judges rule in the consumer's favor.

The Easiest Solution: Vote with Your Wallet

The most powerful message you can send to the hotel industry is simple: don't stay at hotels that charge resort fees. Research before you book. Sites like KillResortFees.com track hotels that impose these charges.

The Bottom Line

Resort fees are a deceptive practice that exploits the fact that most travelers don't know their rights. But you have real tools: negotiation at the desk, credit card disputes, Attorney General complaints, and small claims court. You don't have to just accept being overcharged.

And while this topic sits a little outside our usual tax and financial services content, it reflects the same principle that drives everything we do here: consumers and business owners deserve transparency, fair dealing, and someone in their corner who knows the rules.

For questions about your tax situation, business finances, or any of our services, contact Randall Parker, MBA for a free consultation.