Fees hotels state
503
Name a case it is not charged
23
Open to anyone booking
13
Across 65 US cities. A case counts only where the hotel's own sentence says it. 40 of the fees carry a condition of some kind; 9 of those are a condition rather than a case where the fee is not charged — a discount for a long stay, the fee already inside the rate — and 8 say something ("some rates do not include it") without naming which rates, counted under none of the kinds below.
The short answer
Where the hotel charges one, yes. It is a mandatory condition of the stay, the hotel collects it itself, and the site that sold you the room cannot remove it. The FTC’s rule made the fee part of the total price shown from May 12, 2025; it did not ban the fee. What changes it is the hotel you choose: 81 of the 584 hotels whose own websites answered either way state that they charge none.
What hotels actually write down
Every exception below is quoted from the hotel’s own page. They fall into a few kinds, and the commonest case where the fee is not charged is booking directly with the hotel, at 7 hotels. A discount or a fee already inside the rate is marked as what it is: the fee is still paid.
Booked directly with the hotel · 7
A rate booked on the hotel’s own website or by calling it, open to anyone.
- Vive Hotel Waikiki · Honolulu · $40.00 a night
“Waived when booked directly on the hotel's own website.”
- Ella's Cottages · Key West · $45.00 a night
“waived on the collection’s Book Direct Exclusive rate booked on keywesthistoricinns.com: "Save up to 25% when you book direct, plus we'll waive your $45 nightly Guest Amenity Fee" (offer terms: "Guest Amenity Fee waived ($45 nightly value)"; "Blackout dates may apply. Not valid for groups or negotiated corporate accounts. Cannot be combined with other offers."); no end date stated”
- Fitch Lodge · Key West · $45.00 a night
“waived on the collection’s Book Direct Exclusive rate booked on keywesthistoricinns.com: "Save up to 25% when you book direct, plus we'll waive your $45 nightly Guest Amenity Fee" (offer terms: "Guest Amenity Fee waived ($45 nightly value)"; "Blackout dates may apply. Not valid for groups or negotiated corporate accounts. Cannot be combined with other offers."); no end date stated”
- Lighthouse Hotel · Key West · $45.00 a night
“waived on the collection’s Book Direct Exclusive rate booked on keywesthistoricinns.com: "Save up to 25% when you book direct, plus we'll waive your $45 nightly Guest Amenity Fee" (offer terms: "Guest Amenity Fee waived ($45 nightly value)"; "Blackout dates may apply. Not valid for groups or negotiated corporate accounts. Cannot be combined with other offers."); no end date stated”
- Ridley House · Key West · $45.00 a night
“waived on the collection’s Book Direct Exclusive rate booked on keywesthistoricinns.com: "Save up to 25% when you book direct, plus we'll waive your $45 nightly Guest Amenity Fee" (offer terms: "Guest Amenity Fee waived ($45 nightly value)"; "Blackout dates may apply. Not valid for groups or negotiated corporate accounts. Cannot be combined with other offers."); no end date stated”
- Winslow's Bungalows · Key West · $45.00 a night
“waived on the collection’s Book Direct Exclusive rate booked on keywesthistoricinns.com: "Save up to 25% when you book direct, plus we'll waive your $45 nightly Guest Amenity Fee" (offer terms: "Guest Amenity Fee waived ($45 nightly value)"; "Blackout dates may apply. Not valid for groups or negotiated corporate accounts. Cannot be combined with other offers."); no end date stated”
- Warwick Seattle · Seattle · $30.00 a night
“Waived for Warwick Journeys members who book directly via the hotel's official website or reservations line.”
A long stay · 4
A stay of at least the number of nights the hotel names.
- Chateau on the Lake Resort Spa and Convention Center · Branson · $28.00 a night
“Not charged on the hotel's "A Chateau Christmas" two-night package ("complimentary resort fee"; "Valid for stays 11/15/2026 - 12/30/2026"), and halved on its "Save BIG!" offer: "Enjoy 30% off your room rate and 50% off the resort fee when you stay for two nights or more." ("Limited-time offer", "Minimum 2-night stay required", no end date stated) (chateauonthelake.com/branson-resort-deals).”
- Catbird Hotel · Denver · $30.00 a night · reduced, not waived
“Destination amenity fee is discounted to $25 a night for stays for 6-13 nights, $20 for 14-29 nights, and a flat fee of $100 for guests who stay 30-plus nights (charged every 30 days).”
- The Atlantic Hotel & Spa · Fort Lauderdale · $45.00 a night · reduced, not waived
“Extended stays of 14 to 31 consecutive nights, and of 32 consecutive nights or more: 'Reduced daily resort fee' (amount not stated).”
- CoCo Key Hotel & Water Park · Orlando · $45.00 a night
“Waived on stays of 7 or more nights.”
A named package or offer · 6
A package or offer the hotel sells under its own name, open to anyone who books it.
- Chateau on the Lake Resort Spa and Convention Center · Branson · $28.00 a night
“Not charged on the hotel's "A Chateau Christmas" two-night package ("complimentary resort fee"; "Valid for stays 11/15/2026 - 12/30/2026"), and halved on its "Save BIG!" offer: "Enjoy 30% off your room rate and 50% off the resort fee when you stay for two nights or more." ("Limited-time offer", "Minimum 2-night stay required", no end date stated) (chateauonthelake.com/branson-resort-deals).”
- The Shores Resort & Spa · Daytona Beach · $35.00 a night · reduced, not waived
“Discounted to $20 a night on the hotel's 'Park Free, Stay & Save' offer, two-night minimum, subject to availability and blackout dates: "$20 Discounted Resort Fee (Regularly $35 + Tax Per Night)" (shoresresort.com/specials/park-free-stay-and-save/).”
- Ko'a Kea Resort on Po'ipu Beach · Koloa · $50.00 a night
“Paradise Renewed offer (book by 11/01/26, stays 07/31/26 - 12/20/26, promo code PARADISERENEWED): "Enjoy up to 20% off stay dates through 12/20, plus enjoy a $150 resort credit and a waived resort fee."”
- Compass Hotel by Margaritaville Naples · Naples · $22.00 a night
“Waived on the hotel's 'Tis the SeaSon offer (promo code WINTER): "your resort fee is waived".”
- Hilton Phoenix Tapatio Cliffs Resort · Phoenix · $39.00 a night
“Not charged on the resort's "Suite Savings" package (plan code P7), which hilton.com's offers page describes as including "a $50 food & beverage credit ..., no resort fee"; its terms give no end date.”
- Hotel Max · Seattle · $29.00 a night
“Waived on the hotel's 'Fee-Free in the City' offer, which the hotel says is "For travel now through 2026" and "requires pre-payment and is non-refundable and non-cancellable".”
A local-resident rate · 1
A rate for people who live in the state, shown with ID at check-in.
- The Capri Inn · Naples · $35.00 a night
“Waived on the hotel's Florida Residents offer ("Valid Florida ID is required at check-in"), booked by October 31, 2026, for stays through November 24, 2026.”
A points or reward stay · 3
A stay paid with the chain’s own points or a free-night certificate.
- La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Oceanfront Daytona Beach · Daytona Beach · $12.50 a night
“For Free Nights, this fee is included in the rate displayed. For Discounted Nights with Points + Cash, this fee will be added at checkout and cannot be paid with points.”
- Super 8 by Wyndham Kissimmee/Maingate/Orlando Area · Kissimmee · $10.00 a night
“For Free Nights, this fee is included in the rate displayed. For Discounted Nights with Points + Cash, this fee will be added at checkout and cannot be paid with points.”
- Wyndham New Orleans - French Quarter · New Orleans · $25.00 a night
“For Free Nights, this fee is included in the rate displayed. For Discounted Nights with Points + Cash, this fee will be added at checkout and cannot be paid with points.”
A government rate · 4
The hotel says its government rate does not carry the fee.
- The Allegro Royal Sonesta Hotel Chicago Loop · Chicago · $32.00 a night
“The Government Rate includes a waiver for the hotel's daily Destination Fee.”
- The Royal Sonesta Chicago Downtown · Chicago · $32.00 a night
“The Government Rate includes a waiver for the hotel's daily Destination Fee.”
- Sheraton Phoenix Downtown · Phoenix · $30.00 a night
“Not charged on government per diem rates: "Enjoy per diem rates with no destination fee at the Sheraton Phoenix Downtown." (marriott.com rooms page)”
- The Royal Sonesta Washington DC Capitol Hill · Washington · $35.00 a night
“The Government Rate includes a waiver for the hotel's daily Destination Fee. (Federal, State, Local Government and U.S. Military employees; subject to availability, not available to groups, valid Government or Military ID required at check-in.)”
A negotiated or corporate rate · 2
A rate an employer or agency negotiated with the hotel; not a rate an individual can book.
- The Godfrey Hotel Chicago · Chicago · $20.00 a night
“with the exception of certain negotiated rates”
- Margaritaville Resort Times Square · New York · $49.95 a night
“Resort Fee may be waived at times for corporate, group, or promotional rate plans.”
Already inside the rate · 5
The hotel says the fee is included in the room rate rather than added at the desk — so the quoted price already carries it, and it is still paid.
- Sheraton Dallas Hotel · Dallas · $25.00 a night
“The hotel's page says this fee is "included in room rate": the room rate marriott.com quotes for this hotel already contains the daily $25.”
- Hotel Zoso · Palm Springs · $44.00 a night
“a resort fee of $44 plus tax daily is included in the nightly price”
- Palm Mountain Resort & Spa · Palm Springs · $29.00 a night
“a resort fee of $29 per night is included in the nightly price”
- Paradise Point Resort & Spa · San Diego · $46.00 a night
“the Resort Amenities Fee ($46 per room, per night) is included in the guestroom rate”
- The State Hotel · Seattle · $29.00 a night
“The hotel's FAQ says this fee "is included in the nightly price": the nightly rate the hotel quotes already contains the $29.”
Only on bookings from a date · 1
The fee starts on reservations made after a date the hotel names: an older booking does not carry it.
- The Whitney Hotel Boston · Boston · $30.00 a night
“Applies to new reservations made on or after April 1, 2026.”
Points and free-night stays: what each program’s terms say
A stay paid with points follows the loyalty program’s own terms, not the hotel’s page. Each reading below is ours; the words under it are the program’s, quoted from its terms on the day we read them. A program not listed here is one whose terms we could not read, and it has told us nothing either way.
Hilton Honors · not charged on an award stay
A stay booked entirely with points, or with a promotional free-night certificate, does not pay the resort fee.
“At Participating Hotels with resort fees, Members on Reward stays booked using all Points or using a promotional free night reward certificate (e.g., issued by credit card partners, etc.) will not pay resort fees.”
Hilton Honors terms, Effective July 15, 2026, read .
Marriott Bonvoy · charged on an award stay
An award stay covers the room, its tax, service charge and extra-person charges; the member pays the resort fee and every other charge. At its all-inclusive properties the award covers the resort fee.
“The Award Redemption Stay includes the cost of a guest room (with existing bedding) at a Participating Property, room tax, service charge, and extra-person charges (except at eligible all-inclusive properties), if any. All other charges, including incidentals, resort fees and The Ritz-Carlton Club level charges, rollaways, and other fees, are the responsibility of the Member and are not included in the Award Redemption Stay.”
“At the all-inclusive properties (described under 2.1.b), the Award Redemption Stay covers the cost of the all-inclusive package which includes, but is not limited to, the standard room (with existing bedding), room tax, service charge, resort fee, and standard food and beverage, for up to two people.”
Marriott Bonvoy terms, Updated September 2026, read .
Wyndham Rewards · not charged on an award stay
A Go Free award covers the room with its local taxes and resort or facility fees. At Caesars Rewards hotels, a Go Free award does not include the resort fee.
“a Go Free Award is valid only for the room rate for one (1) single or double standard hotel room for up to the maximum occupancy of the room (or, in the case of a Participating Hotel that exclusively offers all-inclusive rates (occasionally referred to hereinafter as an “All-Inclusive Participating Hotel”) up to two (2) guests), including local taxes and resort/facility fees”
“Caesars Go Free Awards do not include resort fees, optional services (such as, but not limited to, parking or pet fees) or incidental charges (such as, but not limited to, long distance telephone calls or movie rentals).”
Wyndham Rewards terms, Terms effective May 2024, read .
Caesars Rewards · not charged for some members
Diamond and Seven Stars members pay no resort fee on one room per stay, where the benefit applies.
“Valid for one room per stay per Diamond or Seven Stars member. Resort Fees are not automatically assessed for Diamond or Seven Stars members, but such packages may be purchased upon request with Reservations or Front Desk Agent.”
Caesars Rewards terms, read .
What this does not say
It does not say the other 463 hotels will refuse you. It says they have not written an exception down, which is a different thing — and the reason this page counts sentences rather than collecting advice. A hotel that waives a fee at the desk for a complaint has published nothing we can count, and a page that told you otherwise would be inventing evidence.
It is also worth knowing which way the money moves. A fee the hotel collects at the desk is not ours to waive: it never reaches us, and nobody selling you the room can remove it.
Questions people ask
- Do you have to pay a resort fee?
- Where the hotel charges one, yes: it is a mandatory condition of the stay, collected by the hotel, and the site that sold the room cannot remove it. The FTC's rule made it part of the total price shown from May 12, 2025; it did not ban it. 81 of the 584 hotels whose own sites answered state they charge none.
- Can I ask a hotel to waive the resort fee?
- You can ask, and some hotels do. What we can show you is only what hotels have written down: 23 of 503 name a case where the fee is not charged, and the commonest is booking directly with the hotel, which anyone booking can use. 10 need something a traveler has or does not, such as a government rate, points, an employer’s negotiated rate or local residency.
- Do points or free-night stays avoid the resort fee?
- It depends on the program, and its own terms say which. Hilton Honors: A stay booked entirely with points, or with a promotional free-night certificate, does not pay the resort fee. Marriott Bonvoy: An award stay covers the room, its tax, service charge and extra-person charges; the member pays the resort fee and every other charge. At its all-inclusive properties the award covers the resort fee. Wyndham Rewards: A Go Free award covers the room with its local taxes and resort or facility fees. At Caesars Rewards hotels, a Go Free award does not include the resort fee. Caesars Rewards: Diamond and Seven Stars members pay no resort fee on one room per stay, where the benefit applies. Beyond the programs, 3 of the hotels we have read say on their own page that a reward stay does not carry their fee.
- Is the fee ever already in the price?
- Yes, at 5 of them: the hotel says the fee is included in the room rate, so the quoted price already carries it and nothing is added at the desk.
What the fee is and why it is not in the price is in what is a resort fee, and the hotels that charge none are in hotels without resort fees.