You have shopped around online for the best hotel rate. And you thought that you did choose the best price available, considering your needs and requirements. What you don't know is that the + or the ++ written after that great price is lurking, waiting to have its presence felt as soon as you check out of the hotel.
Welcome to the world of + and ++ where hidden charges exist. These are the expenses that some travellers fail to consider. Extra fees that is/are added to your daily room rate. These are the published prices ++ which can make a big difference (or dent!) to your travel bill. It can even leave you feeling cheated, if you assume that everything is covered by the published room rate.
These "hidden" charges could include what is, imho, acceptable like phone call charges, internet access and parking fees. What I deem unacceptable are charges for bellhop services, housekeeping fees, sauna/fitness/gym use fees and/or, believe it or not, energy surcharge fees.
As an example, let's take a look at the hidden charges that hotels in Hong Kong do not publish. The difference is bewildering.
- The charge for a Club Sandwich from Room Service varies from HK$46 to HK$145!
- Local calls can be free or you can be charged up to HK$5 per call.
Check out the complete comparison of Hong Kong Hotel charges here.
Note that when booking online (think Expedia, Travelocity or Orbitz), there are also fees which aren't disclosed immediately. You may want to check on that, too.
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