How to spot these 7 hotel room booking scams that are costing you serious money
- If that amazing double room with a sea view you booked online seems too good a deal, it probably is
Hundreds of new hotels pop up around the world each year. With so many choices, the risk of getting scammed has never been higher.
According to the American Hotel and Lodging Association, fraudulent bookings cost US consumers US$3.9 billion a year. If you want to avoid contributing to that statistic, you should train yourself to recognise the hallmarks of the most devious hotel scams.
While using a travel agent or booking directly with a hotel and reconfirming with a manager are the best ways to make sure you don't get taken advantage of, with some diligence, you can ensure you get the room you wanted for the price you agreed on.
Here are seven of the worst scams you might encounter when booking a hotel.
1. Some hotels add staggering hidden fees to your bill
No one likes hidden fees, whether it's for a concert ticket or a hotel room. Unfortunately for consumers, hidden fees are legal and, in some cities, unavoidable.
In Las Vegas, for example, it's a long-standing tradition for hotels to add a hefty “resort fee” to your bill, meaning a US$60 room can actually cost upwards of US$100, according to Jeff Russell, an entertainment travel consultant at Aspen Travel.
These fees allow hotels to advertise lower rates without eating into profits. They're usually listed in the fine print of your booking agreement, but whenever you're staying in an upscale city, call the hotel and ask. Otherwise, your final bill could end up hundreds of dollars more than originally expected.
2. Don't be duped by an ‘ocean-view’ room that doesn't actually face the ocean
