Last Updated on July 2, 2026 by Daniel Globe
Destination fee hotels charge an extra nightly fee on top of the advertised room rate, meant to cover Wi-Fi, fitness or pool access, and sometimes local perks like shuttle service or dining credits. These charges — also called resort fees, amenity fees, or urban fees — have become common at both resorts and city hotels, and they can add real money to your final bill if you don’t plan for them.
Quick Answer
A destination fee is a mandatory nightly charge, usually $10 to $50+ (sometimes over $100 at luxury resorts), added on top of your room rate. It’s essentially the same practice as a resort fee, just used at non-resort properties like city hotels, and it typically covers Wi-Fi, gym or pool access, and occasionally local perks like shuttles or dining credits.
Key Takeaways
- Destination fees are mandatory nightly charges added on top of the room rate to cover bundled amenities and services.
- “Destination fee” and “resort fee” describe the same practice — resorts tend to use “resort fee,” while non-resort hotels in tourist cities often use “destination,” “amenity,” or “urban” fee instead.
- Fees typically run $10–$50 per night, with some luxury resorts charging $100 or more; the average among fee-charging U.S. hotels is around $33/night.
- As of 2025, U.S. hotels are required to display these fees as part of the all-in nightly price shown during search, improving upfront transparency.
- Fees are rarely waived on request; the more reliable ways to avoid them are booking with certain loyalty programs or choosing hotels that don’t charge them at all.
The destination fee amount and inclusions vary significantly from property to property. A hotel in a major tourist city may charge a higher fee than one in a quieter area, reflecting the different amenities on offer. Guests may find these fees cover anything from Wi-Fi and fitness center use to shuttle service and local attraction discounts — though many of these same amenities are offered for free at hotels that don’t charge a destination fee at all.
Because the fee is disclosed separately from the room rate, it can lead to confusion when travelers compare prices across booking sites, especially if the fee only appears late in the checkout process.
Understanding the Purpose of Destination Fees
Hotels use destination fees to make advertised room rates look more competitive. By separating amenity costs from the base price, a property can list a lower headline rate while still collecting the same — or more — total revenue once the fee is added at checkout. This works especially well in price-sensitive markets where travelers compare rates before looking closely at the fine print.
Destination fees also give hotels a predictable revenue stream to offset the ongoing cost of running a fitness center, offering breakfast, or maintaining a shuttle service, without raising the base room rate for every guest. In theory, that revenue can fund facility improvements. In practice, critics — including consumer advocates and members of Congress who have pushed for a federal ban on hidden “junk fees” — argue that these fees mostly just increase hotel profit while charging guests for amenities that used to be free.
How Destination Fees Differ from Resort Fees
In practice, destination fees and resort fees describe the same underlying practice: a mandatory add-on charge for bundled amenities. The main difference is branding and context. Resort fees are traditionally associated with properties that have extensive recreational facilities — pools, spas, organized activities — usually in vacation destinations. Destination fees are the term non-resort hotels, especially in big cities, increasingly use for an almost identical charge.
Some travel sites also use “destination fee” or “destination amenity fee” more specifically to describe charges tied to access to local attractions, restaurant discounts, or guided experiences rather than on-site facilities. In rare cases, a property may even charge both a resort fee and a separate destination fee. Regardless of the label, the key point for travelers is the same: check the fee breakdown before booking, since it’s added to your total regardless of what you call it.
What is Included in Destination Fees?
Common Destination/Resort Fee Inclusions
| Connectivity | In-room and lobby Wi-Fi, sometimes local/domestic phone calls |
| Fitness & Pool | Gym access, pool access, sometimes fitness classes |
| Food & Drink | Coffee/breakfast credit, bottled water, occasional welcome drink |
| Local Access | Shuttle service, attraction/museum discounts, local tour credits |
| Resort-Specific | Beach chairs, pool towels, water sports equipment, in-room safe |
Some hotels add location-specific perks: a beachfront property might include beach chair or water sports rentals, while a hotel in a cultural district might offer discounted performance or event tickets. The value of these inclusions varies a lot — some genuinely save money if you use them, while others (like in-room safes or local phone calls) are amenities many hotels provide for free anyway.
Warning: Destination and resort fees typically range from $10 to $50 per night, and some luxury resorts charge over $100 per night. The average fee among U.S. hotels that charge one is roughly $33 per night, so a week-long stay can add over $200 to your bill even before taxes on the fee itself.
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Pros and Cons of Staying at a Destination Fee Hotel
The main potential benefit is access to amenities that would otherwise cost extra — a complimentary shuttle to major attractions or a dining credit can offset some of the fee’s cost if you actually use them.
The drawbacks are more consistent. Because the fee is mandatory, you pay it whether or not you use any of the included amenities. Many travelers also feel misled when a fee that wasn’t obvious during search appears at checkout — though this has improved somewhat since 2025 disclosure changes (more below). And some of the “amenities” bundled into the fee, like Wi-Fi or an in-room safe, are things many hotels provide free of charge, making the fee feel like a markup rather than added value.
How to Avoid or Negotiate Destination Fees
The most reliable way to avoid destination fees is to book a property that simply doesn’t charge them — comparison sites now let you filter or sort by all-in pricing, making it easier to spot fee-free hotels. Reading the rate details or cancellation policy page before booking usually reveals the fee breakdown even if it isn’t shown up front.
Note: Asking the front desk to waive a destination fee occasionally still works, but hotel staff increasingly treat the fee as non-negotiable. A more consistent approach is booking through a loyalty program that waives the fee outright — Hilton and Hyatt, for example, generally waive resort/destination fees on stays paid for with points, and Hyatt Globalist members can get the fee waived even on cash stays. Marriott and IHG, by contrast, typically still charge the fee even on award stays.
Since 2025, U.S. hotels have been required to display mandatory fees as part of the total price shown during search, following federal action targeting hidden “junk fees.” That’s made comparison shopping easier, but the rule applies to U.S. properties — travelers booking internationally may still encounter fees that aren’t disclosed until later in the process.
Tips for Making the Most of Destination Fee Amenities
If you can’t avoid the fee, get the most value from it. Before you arrive, check exactly what’s included so you can plan around it — for example, using a hotel’s shuttle instead of paying for a rideshare to the same attractions.
Pro Tip: If the fee includes a daily food or beverage credit, ask at check-in exactly how it’s applied (per stay vs. per day, and whether it rolls over) so you don’t leave money on the table.
It’s also worth asking hotel staff directly what’s covered — front desk teams often know which perks guests overlook, from local dining recommendations to lesser-known discounts bundled into the fee.
The Future of Destination Fee Hotels
Pricing transparency has already started to shift. The 2025 U.S. requirement that hotels display all-in pricing — including mandatory resort and destination fees — during the initial search, rather than only at checkout, is the biggest recent change affecting how these fees are shown to consumers. Some major chains, including Marriott, have gone further and folded these fees directly into advertised nightly rates, though the fee can still resurface separately on award bookings.
Whether this transparency reduces the fees themselves, rather than just how visibly they’re disclosed, remains an open question. Consumer advocacy groups and some lawmakers continue to push for eliminating these fees rather than just disclosing them more clearly, so travelers should expect continued scrutiny — and possibly further rule changes — in the coming years.
If you’re looking to save money on your next hotel stay, you may want to consider investing in a portable WiFi hotspot for international travel. This device can help you avoid the high destination fees that many hotels charge for internet access. Check out this article on portable WiFi hotspots to learn more about how they can enhance your travel experience.
FAQs
What is a destination fee at a hotel?
A destination fee is a mandatory nightly charge added on top of the room rate to cover bundled amenities and services, such as Wi-Fi, fitness center access, or local shuttle service. It functions essentially the same as a resort fee, just at a non-resort property.
What does a destination fee typically cover?
Common inclusions are Wi-Fi, fitness center and pool access, and sometimes local perks like shuttle service, attraction discounts, or a food and beverage credit. Exact inclusions vary widely by property.
How much is a typical destination fee at a hotel?
Destination fees typically range from $10 to $50 per night, with some luxury resorts charging over $100 per night. The average among U.S. hotels that charge a fee is roughly $33 per night.
Are destination fees mandatory at hotels?
Yes, destination fees are almost always mandatory. Guests are required to pay the fee as part of the total cost of the stay, regardless of whether they use the amenities it covers.
Can guests opt out of paying the destination fee?
Generally no. In most cases, the fee is charged automatically and can’t be opted out of. The main exceptions are certain loyalty program award stays — Hilton and Hyatt, for example, typically waive the fee when you pay with points.
How can guests find out about the destination fee before booking a hotel?
As of 2025, U.S. hotels are required to show mandatory fees as part of the total price displayed during search. You can also check the rate details or cancellation policy page, or contact the hotel directly, before booking.
Sources
- NerdWallet — How to Avoid Hotel Resort Fees — average nightly fee data and 2025 all-in pricing rule
- Bankrate — How To Avoid Resort Fees — typical fee ranges and legislative background
- KAYAK — What is a Resort Fee? — resort fee vs. destination fee terminology
- Upgraded Points — Hotel Resort Fees — fee ranges and per-chain examples
- East West Hospitality — Are Resort Fees Per Person or Room? — how fees are structured and disclosed