I travel a lot, and have seen some pretty ridiculous hotel fees. For example, when I last stayed at the Fairmont Royal York in Toronto, I had to borrow a cellphone charger, which had a $100 non-return fee. I’ve also seen fees for using too many towels, and even a fee to use a hotel concierge. However, this fee has to take the cake…
I’ve recently enjoyed a stay at the Ritz-Carlton Boston. It’s a decent hotel, and I get that luxury hotels often charge silly fees, but this one is ridiculous:
The text is minuscule, and is hard to read in person… here’s the offensive part:
A $5.00 delivery charge, a 18% service charge, a 1% order taker fee and 7% tax will be added to your bill. [emphasis added]
I get it. Hotels need to make money. And room service is a luxury, and I’m perfectly fine with a delivery charge and a mandatory service charge (though the latter part of the picture suggests that the 18% fee isn’t actually a tip). However, a “1% order take fee”, while insignificant, feels like a big middle finger to a guest. It’s so unnecessary, just make the service charge 19 or 20%.
What’s the most ridiculous hotel fee that you’ve ever seen?
Actually it sounds like the $5 delivery charge is NOT a tip, but the 18% and 1% service charges are? In which case I guess I would be okay with a 19% gratuity placed on room service.
The higher the hotel price, the more penny-pinching.
For sure. When various people in our hobby loudly defend how they go Vendoming because it’s a heightened experience and you get 5-star service, all I see is a chance to get ripped off 1000 different ways. Like $5 per sock laundry.
No offense to the people of Boston, but I find myself getting nickeled and dimed at every turn each time I visit there. The cabbies especially will rob you blind talking you the long way.
Blame the unions. If this is a union hotel, I can almost 100% guarantee you these fees are union related. That’s why everything is so expensive in union cities like NY
The 19% is not a gratuity if it’s required. They should just increase all the prices by 19% and show a $5 per order fee.
$30 hotel parking fee for parking in the hotel’s garage. Told the front desk look right out that door see those handicap parking spaces. We parked there. Take the fee off! I wanted there until she did.
This was also the same hotel that wanted to charge me $5 per day Utility charge due to the energy problems in Southern Calf in the late 90s. had them remove that also as it was not on my reservation .
So first they charge 3x the normal price of the food then they want to charge another 18% service fee and 5 for delivery and 1% order fee? That’s rediculous I’m surprised no consumer protection agency is investigating. While I agree there should be a premium for the “luxury” when does the premium end and down right ruthless greed kick in? I guess I’ll have to order a pizza in Boston for sure…..
$5 per day to use the in-room safe which did not have any disclosure of the fee but did explain that the hotel was not responsible for any theft or damage to items in said safe.