Consumer advocate Chris Elliott is not shy about reporting accounting shenanigans that go on in the travel business. In one especially egregious instance, I even wrote him and told him he should reconsider what he was writing because he apparently didn't understand the implications of what he wrote. Naturally, he ignored me. Yet I continue to quote him often because he and I are really onbaord the same boat - trying to make travel better for all.
The fact that I WORK in a hotel makes me susceptible to being considered a robber baron myself, since I am aware of fees and extras that hotels tack on to a bill. I can say that MY hotel only has one such fee, a 'safe' charge for the safe we put in the room but we will gladly refund the $1.50 charge before, during or after a stay if it is noted by the guest they either aren't, won't or didn't use the safe. I myself would be upset over some of the other fees I have heard being levied on guests though, especially resort fees for use of towls or pool side chairs when in fact you may have never gone near a beach or pool.
Well, here come Chris with another report and I think you should read it, even if you infrequently travel. I found it on his syndicated column that came from MSNBC and it is titled: "Hotel Fees that Must Die and How to Kill Them". They may not ever appear on your bill but it seems once there, many hotels and motels have a hard time removing them. Therefore being aware BEFORE booking is key. Read the report and see if you don't agree.
Hi David,
I really appreciate you connecting me to expert travel advice with you blog posts. This one was so good I put it on Twitter and Stumble Upon. Robber Baron is a sweet term to call these corporations according to Elliott!
Posted by: DurhamDad | February 16, 2010 at 07:43 AM