Many hotels, especially in the United States, have gotten a bit carried away when it comes to fees. We’ve seen resort fees and destination fees spread like crazy over the years, even as the government has stepped in to regulate them.
We’ve also seen hotels add all kinds of creative ways to nickel-and-dime customers, ranging from sustainability fees to package handling fees. Well, here’s a new one for me…
In this post:
Hyatt Place St. Augustine Vilano Beach mandatory $25 parking fee
View from the Wing flags this LinkedIn post about the Hyatt Place St. Augustine / Vilano Beach. Long story short, the hotel has a mandatory $25 “hotel parking fee,” which covers valet parking, regardless of whether or not you have a car.
Now, the fee is sort of disclosed. When you go to book the hotel, you’ll see the following note on the rates page, explaining the $25 fee:
NOTICE: Hotel Parking Fee – $25 (+ Tax) per night, limit 1 vehicle per room. Fee includes full-service Valet Parking & access to Golf Cart Shuttle (Vilano Pier & Vilano Beach access only).
However, that doesn’t actually state that this is mandatory, and that it applies to all guests. Furthermore, when you go through the booking process, that $25 fee isn’t added to the rate, and doesn’t show with the taxes & fees breakdown, where all mandatory fees (like resort fees and destination fees) are supposed to be displayed.
I had wondered if maybe this was all a misunderstanding, and if this in fact wasn’t mandatory. However, I called the hotel’s front desk, and an associate confirmed this was in fact a mandatory fee, but talked about all the value it offers.
The guest who reported this explains that he complained to the hotel about this fee, and was told that he was given a letter at check-in outlining the mandatory fee. After a bit of an argument, a manager ultimately refunded the fee. He shares the below folio, and while this has nothing to do with the mandatory fee situation, PEOPLE STILL BUY IN-ROOM MOVIES AT HOTELS?! Man, over $50 in guest room movies…
Hotel groups need to rein in their properties
It sure seems like many hotels (especially in the United States) have forgotten that they’re in the hospitality industry. The issue is that guests aren’t actually the customers of the major global hotel groups, but rather the hotel owners are. The major hotel groups care about signing new properties and growing their portfolios, and we’re the product that they can sell to prospective hotel investors.
Still, something needs to be done to better prevent hotels from engaging in these kinds of practices. The way I view it, there are a couple of issues at play here.
The biggest issue — and this borders on fraud — is the lack of disclosure. The hotel doesn’t make it clear that this is a mandatory fee, and then doesn’t include this mandatory fee in the section about taxes & fees, where it should be listed.
Hotels should be able to charge whatever rates they want to, and they can break them down however they’d like. What’s important is that there’s transparency about what the total cost of a hotel stay is (including all mandatory fees), and that this is clear from early in the booking process. This way consumers can compare their options, and vote with their wallets.
If this hotel wants to have what ultimately amounts to a destination fee that includes parking, then so be it. But show us the rate including that from the beginning, so that consumers aren’t misled.
What I’m curious about is what the process is for hotels to have these “notes” up on their booking pages with these kinds of fees. Can hotels just freely edit that section however they’d like, or does that somehow go through corporate? And if it goes through corporate, are they just totally fine with these kinds of practices, or what?
I’d love to see a major hotel group take a stand on these kinds of fees, and create clear policies for hotels about what they can and can’t do.
Bottom line
The Hyatt Place St. Augustine / Vilano Beach has a $25 mandatory parking fee, regardless of whether or not a guest parks a car. While that seems a bit extreme, that’s the hotel’s prerogative, I suppose.
The issue is how this isn’t really clearly disclosed during the booking process. There’s mention of a $25 fee, but no mention of it being mandatory. Furthermore, it’s not included with the breakdown of mandatory fees when you click to confirm your booking. This is pretty low, if you ask me…
What do you make of this mandatory parking fee?
Thank you Ben @ One Mile at a Time for your coverage of the "Junk Fee Equalizer" - and thank you for going the extra mile to confirm for yourself how absurd it is to charge a mandatory valet parking fee even if you are not driving / parking a car!
And yes, some of us still watch in-room movies esp if we're not allowed to watch them at home LOL! I really enjoyed Kingdom...
Thank you Ben @ One Mile at a Time for your coverage of the "Junk Fee Equalizer" - and thank you for going the extra mile to confirm for yourself how absurd it is to charge a mandatory valet parking fee even if you are not driving / parking a car!
And yes, some of us still watch in-room movies esp if we're not allowed to watch them at home LOL! I really enjoyed Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes BTW!
In regards to your comment "I’d love to see a major hotel group take a stand on these kinds of fees, and create clear policies for hotels about what they can and can’t do." - so would I - and some have including Hyatt which has a corporate policy on this! It's just that the franchisers don't follow it and should be punished when they break this policy.
I know the Hyatt Place St. Augustine/Vilano Beach will not be getting my group business anytime in the near future. And that's a shame because otherwise it was a great affordable option for my nonprofit groups.
Hyatt Place is such a disappointment for me. As a Globalist, I get breakfast, but was still surprised when I was at the Warwick, RI location to find they are in a pilot to start charging for breakfast. Are you kidding? That was part of the appeal for a basic hotel that had little else going for it. Enough!
Agree with you Ben.
Lets see which CEO has the strong spine.
If I may go slightly off topic here? State tax, I understand, but what is 'occupancy tax'? Does it go to the state or is it a fee in disguise?
It's a state tax in FL. I feel like every state has one.
Hypocrisy at it's finest.
It's the government's own version of "resort fees" on top of taxes.
Same goes when the government has it's own idea of "carrier imposed surcharges" they legitimized it with fluff such as passenger facility, 9/11 security, etc.
Umm, aren't those already funded by the government, who is funded by our tax, which is already charged in the ticket price.
Rather then hunting down corporate for hidden junk fees, maybe try...
Hypocrisy at it's finest.
It's the government's own version of "resort fees" on top of taxes.
Same goes when the government has it's own idea of "carrier imposed surcharges" they legitimized it with fluff such as passenger facility, 9/11 security, etc.
Umm, aren't those already funded by the government, who is funded by our tax, which is already charged in the ticket price.
Rather then hunting down corporate for hidden junk fees, maybe try lead by example and eliminate your own hidden fees first.
Pay the $25 a day for the free golf buggy and ride the hell out of it. Orlando here we come!!
As everyday is a school day, I for one have learned something valuable after reading the article and comments.
One will now be on the lookout for this con trick during my next visit to the ‘colonies’.
Thank you Ben, for highlighting this extremely sharp practice.
My blood is boiling. I’m so sick of the exorbitant rates plus garbage fees.
The problem is these mileage folks. They don’t spent money at the onsite places. They should just simply limit points to off brand locations that have availability same day. Miles and points should NOT be considered loyalty when from other locations. Such greedy consumers. 1600 a night in cities should be cheap or don’t travel. If you want free service use your points to transfer to a cheap movie.
Youre a moron.
Slightly related: there is a Hyatt House in suburban Morrisville, NC that now charges for overnight parking in the lot in front of the property, unless you're Explorist or higher (they'll give you a comp code). It's a bit ridiculous since the place is in a giant shopping center and you can just park your car overnight 10 feet away from the paid boundary. Pure money grab and pretty weak on the part of the...
Slightly related: there is a Hyatt House in suburban Morrisville, NC that now charges for overnight parking in the lot in front of the property, unless you're Explorist or higher (they'll give you a comp code). It's a bit ridiculous since the place is in a giant shopping center and you can just park your car overnight 10 feet away from the paid boundary. Pure money grab and pretty weak on the part of the franchisee. None of the other RDU-area Hyatt properties (even the HH in North Hills which could easily get away with charging for parking) do this.
The hotel should just change this to a mandatory resort fee of $25 with a benefit of "free" valet parking for those who choose to drive in as a way to collect the fee from everyone without looking like thieves. That will make it fair for everyone
Agreed. Though as I mentioned below, I have a feeling they're trying to call it something other than a resort fee to get out of having to waive it on award nights (and possibly for Globalists on paid stays).
(Not that Hyatt's rules are supposed to allow that, but this seems to give them some cover of plausible deniability for now.)
Remember the Hyatt Place Chicago O’Hare Airport franchisee who assessed an electricity fee, not even based on consumption but room rate? That lady who owns and runs the place is the worst.
I booked the Hyatt Place Denver Tech Center. They wanted to charge me a parking fee as a Hyatt globalist. I had used points. So, parking was free. The front desk clerk, who claimed to be a manager, canceled my reservation when I said I was entitled to complimentary parking and told me to leave the premises. I complained to my Hyatt globalist concierge agent and Hyatt took the property's side, saying this is allowed.
Recommend you contact Hyatt Consumer affairs. Concierge is good, but sometimes weak to stand for what is right.
Recommend you contact your AG.
You're not Hyatt's customer, the owners are.
I was there in February and no such fee appeared on my Folio, so somewhat new
An interesting caveat: So the hotel is essentially charging a resort fee but calling it a "parking fee" instead. But it functions identically to a resort fee, meaning it should be waived on all award nights, per Hyatt's rules. However, three different TripAdvisor reviews confirm that this is NOT the case. They are still charging this fee to people on award nights (except Globalists apparently?), with or without a vehicle! Ridiculous indeed.
From December 2023:...
An interesting caveat: So the hotel is essentially charging a resort fee but calling it a "parking fee" instead. But it functions identically to a resort fee, meaning it should be waived on all award nights, per Hyatt's rules. However, three different TripAdvisor reviews confirm that this is NOT the case. They are still charging this fee to people on award nights (except Globalists apparently?), with or without a vehicle! Ridiculous indeed.
From December 2023: "My husband and I stayed on points for two nights in early December... TIP: Limited parking around the building. They do have valet parking but they charge you $25 a day unless you are a top tiered Hyatt member, so FYI."
From June 2024: "We are Hyatt Discoverist level and were using our Hyatt credit card free nights at this hotel. ... With our Hyatt card & hotel level we have always had resort fee waived (as it clearly stated on Hyatt site). No so at this hotel. They charged a [mandatory] resort fee and said it included parking. We didn’t want our car parked. There were quite a few handicap spots directly across the street from entrance that were so much more convenient for frequent in & outs as well as saving multiple valet tips. We were still charged even after showing them Hyatt’s written policy."
From July 2024: "My daughter was visiting and wanted to stay at Vilano. She booked a room for us. She used her Hyatt points (so I am not a paying customer). ... Negatives: we did not know about the 25 dollar a day parking fee until we checked in. When I protested (because we weren’t parking there), they said, oh it also includes the golf cart to the beach - (they give you wrist bands). We also weren’t going to use that at all and then were told “that’s just our fee” so for 75 dollars we paid the hotel for nothing."
I stayed at Hyatt House in Burlington, MA Monday night. The parking lot had signs galore all over their lot telling you to scan the code on sign and pay the parking fee. I'd never seen such a thing at a Hyatt before and it was a huge turn-off. If I hadn't made a reservation..I think I would have gone elsewhere. I did not scan the sign and at check-in I mentioned my displeasure. I...
I stayed at Hyatt House in Burlington, MA Monday night. The parking lot had signs galore all over their lot telling you to scan the code on sign and pay the parking fee. I'd never seen such a thing at a Hyatt before and it was a huge turn-off. If I hadn't made a reservation..I think I would have gone elsewhere. I did not scan the sign and at check-in I mentioned my displeasure. I was told since I have status at Hyatt I didn't need to pay the fee. I did find out the fee was $10.
If this is going to be the new norm at Hyatt I may start staying at IHG or Choice properties.
Ah the american way of doing business. Always trying to,find a way to scam your customers. It is so much nicer to travel,anywhere else.
@ Capo You clearly got issues with yourself for making that statement. Do you really think that only American businesses nickel and dime their customers? There are lots of American businesses that have amazing customer friendly policies such as Costco. There are many non-American businesses that nickel and dime their customers as well. You truly are not part of the ‘how the well-traveled travel.’
Sure, nickel and diming goes happen elsewhere too. But most of the world has laws that don't allow companies to scam people by advertising half the price and then adding a bunch of nonsense pseudo-fees on top of it. What you see is what you pay.
Absolutely. Being nickel and dimed is part of the price of living in or visiting the US. Between the various nonsense fees of this sort that are tacked on in so many places, not just hotels ("convenience "and other junk charges while booking a ticket to an event, for example) and the rabidly out of control expectation to tip anyone who lives and breathes – adding on fees and surcharges is a national sport here.
Playbook for removal
___
Step 1. "There is a mistake on my bill, can you help me? I never used valet parking."
Step 2. "Just so I understand. You charge everyone for valet parking, even if they do not use it. That doesn't make any sense, does it?"
Step 3. "Here is the itemized list (rate, taxes, and fees) shown to me at booking. There is no valet parking fee. The valet parking charge...
Playbook for removal
___
Step 1. "There is a mistake on my bill, can you help me? I never used valet parking."
Step 2. "Just so I understand. You charge everyone for valet parking, even if they do not use it. That doesn't make any sense, does it?"
Step 3. "Here is the itemized list (rate, taxes, and fees) shown to me at booking. There is no valet parking fee. The valet parking charge on my folio is not correct. Can you remove it, please?"
Step 4. "I will be standing here until this fee is removed. You can call the police if you want. I just showed you everything I need to prove that you are charging me an illegitimate fee that I never agreed to for a service I never used."
Clearly you’re not a lawyer.
@Paul Weiss
You sure know a lot of nothing for 14 year old pretending to be a biglaw.
I'm sure you can stand there until the police come and charge you with trespassing and theft of service.
And while you're at it, why don't you employ the same playbook at Chuck E Cheese when you need more tokens to play newer games.
New Step 4: Report unfair business practices to State AG's office. For all I know (and somewhat expect), Florida might be worthless in this respect. However, in my state (and likely many others), I'm confident your problem would be resolved quickly.
I'm not so sure re: Florida. I don't think this is a neatly partisan issue as both the DC and Texas AGs, among others, have sued hotel chains over this.
This hotel also clearly states, "No early check-in or late checkout options available." I would assume this does not apply to Globalists but it really is something to state this so boldly as a blanket policy.
@Colin Where is that stated? I couldn’t find it on the app. Nonetheless, this hotel is utterly ridiculous. Their check in time is at 4 pm and check out time is at 11 am. That in itself is also showing how they want to make more money off of you by making you stay as short as possible. The industry standard is three pm check in time and 12 pm checkout time. If the hotel...
@Colin Where is that stated? I couldn’t find it on the app. Nonetheless, this hotel is utterly ridiculous. Their check in time is at 4 pm and check out time is at 11 am. That in itself is also showing how they want to make more money off of you by making you stay as short as possible. The industry standard is three pm check in time and 12 pm checkout time. If the hotel can do it, I would not be surprised if they try to make it a five or six pm check in time and check out at 10 am haha.
There is PLENTY of free parking around this hotel. I asked and got the parking fee removed.
Playbook for removal
Step 1. "There is a mistake on my bill, can you help me? I never used valet parking."
Step 2. "Just so I understand. You charge everyone for valet parking, even if they do not use it. That doesn't make any sense, does it?"
Step 3. "Here is the itemized list (rate, taxes, and fees) shown to me at booking. There is no valet parking fee. The valet parking charge on my...
Playbook for removal
Step 1. "There is a mistake on my bill, can you help me? I never used valet parking."
Step 2. "Just so I understand. You charge everyone for valet parking, even if they do not use it. That doesn't make any sense, does it?"
Step 3. "Here is the itemized list (rate, taxes, and fees) shown to me at booking. There is no valet parking fee. The valet parking charge on my folio is not correct. Can you remove it, please?"
Step 4. "I will be standing here until this fee is removed. You can call the police if you want. I just showed you everything I need to prove that you are charging me an illegitimate fee that I never agreed to for a service I never used."
“Playbook for removal”
Clearly you’re not s lawyer.
I was just at a Hilton at LAX and the self- parking fee was $61.75 +++ tax ...nuts but I have seen $75 ++++tax in Chicago hotels.Gotta love those liberal cities
Question.
Are hotel franchises required to share the fees they charge and collect (Like parking and destination or resort fees), outside of the room rate, with the franchisor?
The revenue sharing agreements they have may be driving franchisees to create more fees.
I stayed there last november and was not charged a parking fee as a globalist.
Btw what's happened to the current administration initiative regarding junk fees? Is it likely to come into life in any meaningful way soon?
"Hotels should be able to charge whatever rates they want to, and they can break them down however they’d like."
I disagree. Having byzantine pricing doesn't benefit the consumer in any way nor is it even pro-capitalism. If anything, it's anti-capitalistic, because the hotel isn't trying to compete on a better product or pricing or value; it's trying to dupe unsuspecting consumers and obscure the real price, making comparisons against its competitors harder. Millions of...
"Hotels should be able to charge whatever rates they want to, and they can break them down however they’d like."
I disagree. Having byzantine pricing doesn't benefit the consumer in any way nor is it even pro-capitalism. If anything, it's anti-capitalistic, because the hotel isn't trying to compete on a better product or pricing or value; it's trying to dupe unsuspecting consumers and obscure the real price, making comparisons against its competitors harder. Millions of customers either end up wasting their time and/or their money.
This practice should be outlawed.
In the rest of that paragraph, Ben goes on to say:
"What’s important is that there’s transparency about what the total cost of a hotel stay is (including all mandatory fees), and that this is clear from early in the booking process. This way consumers can compare their options, and vote with their wallets."
It sounds like you ultimately agree, provided that the final cost is clearly shown to the guest (which is not the...
In the rest of that paragraph, Ben goes on to say:
"What’s important is that there’s transparency about what the total cost of a hotel stay is (including all mandatory fees), and that this is clear from early in the booking process. This way consumers can compare their options, and vote with their wallets."
It sounds like you ultimately agree, provided that the final cost is clearly shown to the guest (which is not the case with this hotel). But yeah, open deception/fraud like this should definitely be illegal IMO.
I also have stayed at this hotel and enjoyed it. I also visit Florida frequently and would otherwise likely return, but this is a big turnoff. Hyatt - Please fix this!!!
The real question is why you're spending $50 on movies.
Choking the chicken.
Business traveller on an expense account looking to "relax" after a long days work...
I think this is fraud, plain and simple.
Do Globalists get charged the parking fee on awards?
This is a simple fix. I’d pay the fee and then dispute the entire charge with my credit card company. Likely the stay will be free.
You seem to misunderstand what "dispute" means.
As often as people try to abuse this, banks do side with the merchants more often than you think.
Charge back is not a magic transaction remover.
Outrageous Floridian hotel practice.
Look no further to the governor.
I stayed here last month for one night on a longer road trip and found the hotel nice, clean and not "nickel-and-diming" other than this giant exception with the parking fee. Breakfast was generous, other fees were waived and service was solid for a Hyatt Place. I knew about the $25 fee going in so I figured I might as well valet the car (would have parked for free in the spots you see in...
I stayed here last month for one night on a longer road trip and found the hotel nice, clean and not "nickel-and-diming" other than this giant exception with the parking fee. Breakfast was generous, other fees were waived and service was solid for a Hyatt Place. I knew about the $25 fee going in so I figured I might as well valet the car (would have parked for free in the spots you see in the photo next to the hotel otherwise) and keep it out of the sun. I know part of the justification for the parking fee is that they have golf carts to shuttle you around Vilano Beach, but the whole strip is probably a 10 minute walk from the intracoastal to the ocean. My wife and I walked our dog up and down the street and then grabbed some shrimp at Beaches.
Another reason I don’t travel in the US unless it is for business. I spend my money in Europe where you get way more value for your money.
I have to say that I was thinking along these lines - though, living here makes it hard to avoid traveling here....
This business with fees and gratuities are out of control. And, frankly, having sales taxes added on top of the price is annoying too. And most people not from the US find it offensive. They're right: if something costs $100, it should cost $100. And all of your crap fees should be baked into that single $100 "cake".
I don’t think it is that difficult to not travel in the US if you don’t feel you need to always go out. In my household we travel 4 weeks per year on family vacation, 2 to Europe and 2 to Latin America. Outside these 4 weeks we work and lay low just enjoying what we have around where we live. We cook mostly at home and avoid overpriced and overrated restaurants that charge too...
I don’t think it is that difficult to not travel in the US if you don’t feel you need to always go out. In my household we travel 4 weeks per year on family vacation, 2 to Europe and 2 to Latin America. Outside these 4 weeks we work and lay low just enjoying what we have around where we live. We cook mostly at home and avoid overpriced and overrated restaurants that charge too much and add all sorts of BS fees plus have sometimes 30% tipping expectations. Why? We eat like royalty those 4 weeks we travel outside the US and enjoy a nice meal as a family or with friends at home. I think if more people do this and you apply the law of supply and demand people will wake up here and get back to reality.
"Humble bragging" about how you spend 4 weeks traveling here as well?
Also on LALF you claim to spend more than 2 weeks in Europe each year...
Lol Santastico always has an anecdote about some fancy travel in business class/first class or fancy hotel (humble brag indeed) but I enjoy his comments
All mandatory fees should be illegal. Price your hotel any way you want, but stop charging customers for crap that they DO NOT WANT NOR DO THEY USE. BUNDLE IT INTO THE PRICE IF YOU WANT TO HIDE IT.
More regulation is in order here.
Yes, I said it, THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE GOVERNMENT REGULATION ON THESE "MANDATORY" FEES.
I absolutely agree-- while some states have sued the hotel companies to force disclosure of mandatory fees there needs to be NATIONWIDE legislation that forces all hotel companies and booking engines to include all mandatory non-tax fees in the base room rate