Elliott Confidential

Elliott Confidential

Hotel fees gone wild: Why some travelers feel like hostages now

With mandatory fee disclosure, hotels are finding creative ways to make extra money. What basics will they charge for next?

Christopher Elliott's avatar
Christopher Elliott
Aug 03, 2025
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Should your hotel room include air conditioning? Victoria Holtz thinks so. Her resort in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., did not.

"The air conditioning in my room didn't work," recalls Holtz, a professional speaker based in Houston. "It was hot, humid, and uncomfortable."

When she called the front desk, a representative said they couldn't fix the AC in her room im…

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