Many U.S. hotels charge mandatory resort fees for access to amenities such as pools and fitness centers. You generally pay the fee even when you do not use those facilities. The name and amenities vary by hotel, so compare the full stay price instead of the room rate alone.
Quick Answer
Yes. A mandatory hotel resort fee can cover pool and gym access, and not using them does not normally remove the charge. Since May 12, 2025, U.S. lodging sellers must show mandatory fees in the upfront displayed total. Government taxes and genuinely optional extras can appear separately before payment.
Last checked: November 1, 2026. Dates and figures were verified against official sources.
Key Takeaways
- Fee policies are set by individual hotels. A brand name alone cannot tell you what you will pay.
- Pool entry may be included, while cabanas, spa areas, or personal training still cost extra.
- Some Hyatt and Hilton award stays waive fees. Most Marriott award stays do not, with an all-inclusive exception.
- MGM Rewards Gold or higher can qualify for a waiver on up to two directly booked rooms per trip.
What Are Hotel Resort Fees and What Do They Cover?
A resort fee is usually a required charge per room, per night. Hotels may also call it a destination fee, facility fee, urban fee, or amenity fee. The label does not decide whether the charge is optional. The booking terms do.
If the charge is mandatory for your booking, skipping the pool, gym, or Wi-Fi will not usually save you money. A fee often bundles access to several amenities rather than charging only the guests who use them.
| Commonly Listed Benefit | What to Check Before Paying |
|---|---|
| Pool access | Operating season, hours, age rules, guest limits, and whether cabanas or daybeds require extra rental fees |
| Fitness center | Number of registered guests included, operating hours, and whether classes or wet spa areas cost extra |
| Wi-Fi | Device connection limits, bandwidth speed, and whether high-speed streaming internet costs extra |
| Food, drink, or activity credit | Eligible participating outlets, daily expiration times, minimum spend limits, and rollover policies |
| Parking, calls, water, or rentals | Quantity caps, vehicle size limits, advance reservation requirements, and equipment availability |
For a verified example, Wynn Las Vegas and Encore list a $55 daily resort fee plus tax. It covers in-room Wi-Fi at 15 Mbps, bottled water, domestic phone calls, self-parking for up to two vehicles, and fitness center access for up to two people. Wynn says some facilities are subject to availability. Tower Suites also include valet parking within the fee.
Treat any required resort fee as part of the room price, not as a charge you can decline by skipping the amenities.
Which Hotels Charge Resort Fees for Pool and Gym Access?
Casino resorts, beach hotels, and some city properties commonly charge resort or destination fees. But the policy belongs to the individual hotel. Two hotels in the same chain may charge different fees or include different services.
Common Hotels Charging Fees
Properties operated by Hilton, Marriott, Hyatt, MGM, Caesars, and independent resorts may charge mandatory fees. Do not assume every hotel under one of these names follows the same policy. The exact room offer and hotel terms control what applies to your stay.
At ARIA Resort & Casino, the daily fee includes its Fitness Center and 24 Hour Cardio Center. ARIA lists a separate $100 daily facilities pass for spa wet areas and other amenities, subject to availability. Its pool access is for registered hotel guests.
Amenities Typically Included
Some resort fees include pools and gyms; others cover Wi-Fi, local calls, bottled water, fitness classes, bicycle rentals, or beach chairs. An included benefit is not necessarily unlimited. Always distinguish general access from paid premium services.
| Often Included in Resort Fee | Often Charged Separately |
|---|---|
| General pool entry for registered guests | Cabanas, daybed reservations, VIP pool deck access, and non-guest passes |
| Standard gym / cardio room entry | Spa facility day passes, massage treatments, personal training, and specialized classes |
| Standard in-room Wi-Fi | Premium high-bandwidth Wi-Fi or multi-device conference packages |
| Modest daily food/beverage credit | Dining charges exceeding the credit allowance or gratuities |
| Local calls or bottled water | Valet parking, self-parking, room service, and minibar consumption |
Warning: A mandatory fee does not guarantee the pool or gym will be open throughout your visit. Weather, repairs, and guest restrictions can affect access. Hotels do not necessarily give automatic refunds for closures.
Waiving Resort Fees: Loyalty Rules and Casino Status
Hotel loyalty rules can remove a resort fee, but not every points booking qualifies. Some elite members also get waivers on eligible paid stays. Check the kind of award, the rate, and any property exclusions before assuming the fee is gone.
| Program or Booking Method | Current Waiver Rules |
|---|---|
| World of Hyatt Free Night Award | Hyatt waives resort, destination, or facility fees for qualifying Free Night Awards, subject to property exclusions. Points + Cash and Room Upgrade Awards do not receive this waiver by themselves. Globalist members also get waivers on eligible paid rates at participating properties; separate service fees can still apply. |
| Hilton Honors all-points Reward Stay | Hilton waives resort fees on Reward Stays paid entirely with points and on promotional free-night rewards. Points & Money stays do not receive this published fee-waiver benefit. |
| Marriott Bonvoy Award Stay | Most Marriott Bonvoy Award Redemption Stays exclude resort fees, so members pay them separately. Eligible All-Inclusive by Marriott Bonvoy award stays are an exception: their package includes the resort fee for the standard covered occupancy. |
| Casino Status (MGM / Caesars) | MGM Rewards Gold and above waive resort fees on up to two direct-booked rooms per trip if the member meets the published conditions. Caesars Rewards lists a no-resort-fee benefit for Diamond status and above; its eligible booking terms should be confirmed separately. |
| Standard Cash / OTA Bookings | Assume the resort fee applies in full unless the rate explicitly confirms an all-inclusive package or promotional waiver. |
Identifying Resort Fees: What to Look For Before Booking
In the United States, lodging sellers must display a total price that includes mandatory resort fees whenever they advertise or offer prices. You can still see a separate fee breakdown. Government taxes and optional services can increase the final payment amount.
Key Fee Indicators
Look for these fee labels in the room details and price breakdown:
- Resort fee / Destination fee
- Amenity fee / Facility fee
- Urban fee / Daily mandatory charge
- Service package / Hospitality charge
Confirm whether the charge is per room or per guest, whether tax applies, and which amenities are covered. An advertised rate can include a mandatory fee while still showing that fee as a separate item.
Booking Transparency and FTC Rules
The FTC Rule on Unfair or Deceptive Fees took effect on May 12, 2025. When a hotel or booking site displays a lodging price, the total must include mandatory fees and be more prominent than partial prices. The rule applies to short-term lodging offers made directly or through booking platforms.
The rule does not ban resort fees or cap their amount. Government taxes and truly optional items, such as parking you choose to add, may be shown later, but sellers must disclose the final payable amount before asking you to pay. A refundable incidental hold is different from a resort fee because it is a temporary card authorization, not a nightly service charge.
Note: Government taxes and optional services may sit outside the first displayed total. If the required fee is missing from the advertised price, save the offer and ask the seller for a corrected breakdown before booking. For a billing-rights question, consult your card issuer or a consumer protection agency.
Illustrative Cost Comparison: Resort Fee vs. No Resort Fee
A lower base rate does not always mean a cheaper stay. This made-up three-night example uses an assumed 14% tax on the room-plus-fee subtotal at each hotel. It is not a quote or a universal lodging-tax rate.
| Cost Factor | Hotel A (“Low Rate + Fee”) | Hotel B (“No Resort Fee”) |
|---|---|---|
| Advertised Base Rate | $150 / night | $185 / night |
| Mandatory Resort Fee | $45 / night | $0 / night |
| Subtotal (3 Nights) | $585 | $555 |
| Illustrative Tax (14%) | $81.90 | $77.70 |
| Illustrative Total | $666.90 | $632.70 (Saves $34.20) |
Here, Hotel B has a $35 higher nightly base rate but costs $34.20 less over three nights. Hotel A’s $45 nightly fee reverses the apparent savings. Your real total may also include parking or pet charges. For wider trip planning, see our comprehensive travel budget guide.
Strategies to Avoid Paying Resort Fees
You can avoid many resort fees by choosing a no-fee property or a booking that qualifies for a published waiver. Simply refusing the amenities will not cancel a required charge. Use these steps before paying.
- Choose an explicitly no-fee hotel. Use the total for your exact dates and room type, not the fee policy alone, to decide which stay costs less.
- Use qualifying hotel awards. Hyatt Free Night Awards and Hilton all-points stays can waive resort fees under their published rules. Check the exclusions before redeeming.
- Apply eligible casino status. MGM Rewards Gold and higher has a direct-booking benefit. Caesars Rewards Diamond and higher advertises a no-resort-fee benefit, subject to its terms.
- Review card and package benefits carefully. American Express Fine Hotels + Resorts includes eligible on-property credits and other benefits, but its $100 property credit is not a blanket waiver of resort fees. A separate Wi-Fi credit can apply when that service is bundled into a mandatory property fee.
- Ask about closed key amenities. If the main pool or gym is unavailable, document the closure and ask management whether a credit or partial waiver is possible. It is not guaranteed.
Pro Tip: Save a screenshot showing the fee-inclusive price, cancellation terms, and listed amenities. It gives you a clear record if the bill or available facilities differ later.
Which Hotel Chains Do Not Charge Resort Fees?
There is no dependable nationwide list of hotel chains that never charge resort fees. Many limited-service and business hotels have no such charge, but individual resorts can follow different rules. A named, verified no-fee property is a better starting point than a chain-wide assumption.
Use this short checklist to spot hotels without a resort fee:
- Search the property description for “resort fee,” “destination fee,” and “mandatory charge.”
- Match the same travel dates, occupancy, and room type when comparing booking offers.
- Look for a property-level guarantee. The Drury Plaza Hotel Orlando – Disney Springs Area confirms it has no resort fee. It includes hot breakfast and Wi-Fi, but lists self-parking at $28 per night.
- Ask the front desk about pool and gym access if the written amenity terms are unclear.
A hotel without a resort fee may still charge for parking, pets, or early check-in. Review the complete stay total before reserving. Our hotel booking secrets guide has more ways to limit lodging costs.
Dealing With Unexpected Fees: Your Options
If a resort fee appears that was absent from the upfront displayed total, you may have grounds to challenge the bill. Collect the booking price, confirmation, and itemized folio. A hotel can charge properly disclosed mandatory fees, but it should not bill a fee twice or misstate the total.
- Compare your saved price and confirmation. Check whether the mandatory charge was already included in the quoted total.
- Request an itemized folio. Separate the nightly resort fee from taxes, parking, and any refundable card hold.
- Speak with hotel management. Identify the exact error, duplicate charge, or advertised facility that was closed.
- Contact the booking platform. Send your saved offer if the advertised price and hotel bill differ.
- Dispute a genuine credit-card billing error. Under CFPB guidance, send written notice within 60 days after your card issuer sent the statement on which the error first appeared. Contact the issuer promptly and keep copies.
- Report misleading pricing. You can file a report at ReportFraud.ftc.gov or contact your state consumer protection office.
Warning: Disliking a clearly disclosed fee alone is not evidence of a billing error. Describe only the facts you can document when requesting a refund or card dispute.
What’s Next for Resort Fees?
Mandatory fee disclosure is now a federal requirement for covered U.S. short-term lodging offers. The FTC rule has applied since May 12, 2025. It changes how sellers display prices, not what hotels are allowed to charge.
| Regulatory Rule or Trend | Impact on Travelers |
|---|---|
| Upfront Mandatory Fee Display | If a seller displays a lodging price in an offer or advertisement, it must prominently show a total including mandatory resort fees; the rule does not require a price to appear on every screen. |
| Separate Tax and Add-on Quotes | Government taxes and optional parking may be excluded from the first total, but the final payment amount must be disclosed before payment. |
| State Legislation (e.g., CA SB 478) | California SB 478 has required most covered advertised prices to include mandatory charges since July 1, 2024, with government taxes among the exclusions. |
| Evolving Loyalty Perks | Changes to award types, hotel participation, and member status can affect whether a booking qualifies for a waiver. |
A hotel may still charge a resort fee, but its required charges must appear in the prominently displayed total whenever it shows a lodging price.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are resort fees refundable if I cancel my reservation?
It depends on your booking terms. If the reservation is fully refundable and you cancel on time, fees charged for the unused stay should be refunded under that policy. Nonrefundable bookings and late cancellations can follow different rules, so compare the cancellation terms with your actual refund.
Can I negotiate resort fees with hotel staff at check-in?
You can ask, but staff do not have to waive a mandatory fee because you will not use the pool or gym. You have a stronger case if the original price was misleading, you were billed twice, or a key advertised facility was unavailable.
What amenities are typically excluded from resort fees?
Cabanas, spa treatments, valet parking, room service, personal training, and premium Wi-Fi may cost extra. A hotel may also limit food or activity credits to selected outlets and times. The property’s amenity list explains which standard services and premium extras are covered.
Do all US hotels charge resort fees?
No. Many U.S. hotels do not charge a resort fee. These charges are more common at casino resorts, beachfront hotels, and selected city properties. Even within one chain, the charge and included amenities can change from hotel to hotel.
Are hotel resort fees legal in the United States?
Yes. Federal law does not ban resort fees or set a nationwide maximum. Under the FTC rule effective May 12, 2025, a covered lodging seller that displays a price must include mandatory charges in its prominently displayed total. State laws may add requirements.
Do I still have to pay the resort fee if the pool or gym is closed?
Usually, the hotel will still charge the fee because it may cover several services. However, if the only pool or main gym was advertised but unavailable, you can request a credit or partial waiver. Keep a record of the closure; a refund is not automatic.
Does the upfront total price include lodging taxes and parking?
Not always. The FTC requires mandatory resort fees in the upfront displayed total, but government taxes and truly optional parking may be listed separately. The seller must show the final payment amount, including these charges when applicable, before asking for payment.
Conclusion
Resort fees can make pool and gym access part of a mandatory daily hotel charge, whether you use the facilities or not. Compare the fee-inclusive room total, taxes, and optional expenses before you book.
For possible savings, review qualifying Hyatt or Hilton awards, eligible casino status, and no-fee hotels. If your final bill differs from the quoted amount, show the hotel your saved price and ask for an itemized correction.
Sources
- Federal Trade Commission: Rule on Unfair or Deceptive Fees FAQ — federal lodging price disclosure guidelines.
- Wynn Las Vegas and Encore Resort Information — official fee listings and inclusions.
- ARIA Resort & Casino FAQ — fitness facility and pool entry guidelines.
- World of Hyatt Terms and Conditions — award stay fee waiver regulations.
- Hilton Honors Terms and Conditions — point redemption fee exclusions.
- Marriott Bonvoy Terms and Conditions — resort fee guidelines on award reservations.
- MGM Rewards: Daily Resort Fee Waiver — Gold and higher member terms and direct-booking requirements.
- American Express Fine Hotels + Resorts — eligible hotel credits and Wi-Fi policy.
- Drury Plaza Hotel Orlando — no resort fee and nightly parking price.
- CFPB: How to Fix Credit Card Billing Mistakes — billing error notice procedure.
- California Department of Justice: Hidden Fees — SB 478 pricing rules.
- FTC ReportFraud — reporting suspected misleading billing.
