Over a dozen of Hawaii’s leading hotels charge mandatory “Resort Fees” of up to $26 per day that are automatically added to guests’ bills upon checkout.

For example, at the Grand Wailea Resort on Maui, guests are charged a Resort Fee of $25 per night (plus 4% tax). In exchange, guests receive a lei greeting and refreshment upon arrival, local & 800 number phone calls, in-room Internet access, in-room coffee, fitness center use, various free classes and tours, nightly turn-down service, and self-parking.

But other hotels offer similar amenities and don’t charge an extra dime for them. For example, the Mauna
Lani Bay Hotel on the Big Island uses as a selling point that it doesn’t charge a Resort Fee, and yet provides a host of free extras similar to those at the Grand Wailea.

So why do so many Hawaii hotels charge Resort Fees and risk the wrath of guests who feel they’ve been misled or nickel and dimed? “I’ve heard three reasons,” said John Lindelow, President of Travel-Hawaii.com “First, by breaking out some of their expenses as a Resort Fee, the hotels can avoid paying the State’s tax of 7.25% on that portion.”

“Second, the hotels don’t have to pay commission to travel agents on what they charge for Resort Fees; and third, the hotels can make it seem like they have lower overall prices by advertising the room rate only and then adding the Resort Fee only when the client checks out.”

Travel Hawaii maintains a web page: http://Travel-Hawaii.com/hawaiiresortfees.html showing all of the Resort
Fees at Hawaii hotels, and exactly what guests receive for paying such fees. There is also a breakdown of what is provided with each fee.

Keep in mind some of the resorts listed are also Hawaii Timeshares, so owners and traders should ask what additional fees are charged, and what is covered.

It will be interesting to watch the reaction if more and more guests steer away from resorts that appear to be padding the bill. The idea of offering fees for additional services is time tested and works. But not telling anyone till the end of the stay - that is poor business.