7 tips to beat hotel fees

When I traveled for business, my company would put me up in hotels. When I travel for pleasure, I stay in MOTELS!!!!  Motel 6, Days Inn, Super 8, Red Roof Inn, Ramada Inn, etc. Most of them have free internet, local phones, towels and the like. Sure you don't get 800 thread count sheets or 50" big screen televisions, but all I look for on a vacation is a clean place to sleep because I spend most of my time AWAY from the hotel/motel.

I work in a hotel and this article is the biggest piece of crap I've ever seen. For one, usually the only hotels that charge you fees are full service. This is your choice to stay at a full service hotel, and you are paying the extra money to get pampered and spoiled. Most select service hotels such as Fairfield Inn, Hampton, Holiday Inn etc.. have everything free from internet to breakfast. People have to understand there is a lot more that goes into operating a hotel than just just a couple employees and cleaning a room. The water, amenities, electricity, food, and linens you use all cost money. Everything is built into the price of a room, so your technically paying for it anyway. When you're paying $100 a night but don't use the pool, technically you're still paying for the water, pump, person to clean it etc. Alothough people also take the "I'm paying for anyway" thing to a whole new level. I had a guest come to me and actually ask for 25 bottles of shampoo. When I asked what for, he replied that "It's built into the price of my room and I can have as much as I want." WRONG. We are prepared to handle reasonable requests for guests, but we are not paying for you to take 25 bottles of shampoo and discard them just because you think it's funny. A guest drank a glass of wine, come to the desk the next morning and said he wanted it off his bill because it tasted old. When I asked why he didn't just ask for a new glass, or ask to have it refunded last night, he responded with "Just take it off my bill, I'm not paying for it." Yes you are... People do this crap all the time, they get an attitude and just complain just to see what kind of compensation they can get out of you and this joke of an article just feeds that fire. When I tell a guest something they don't want to hear after they try and pull a fast one on me, they react one of two ways. They keep getting madder, until I ask them to leave, ot they treat me like a human being and I usually am more willing to help them out. If you treat me like dirt, I am not going to give you the time of day. My number one focus is customer satisfaction, but that doesn't give anyone the right to treat me like I'm a slave just becasue they are paying $100.00 a night...

The price of gas nowdays, you can't afford to take your camper. Use to be that's why we all bought them. The average price for a Motel now is $100. Mom & Pop Motels are always cheaper. You usually only sleep in the room,so don't need the ritz. Most you can drive up to the door and unload your stuff. The pricey ones,you have to lug your stuff thru the lobby,up stairs etc. The Best deal I've run into after years of traveling,is if you go to the Black Hills and are anywhere near Pine Ridge Res. (North side'). Go to Praire Wind Casino. It's the Best. At $39.95 a night (last time I was there'). You get a luxirious Room.(leather Furn,Marble counter tops,Beautiful art work,and comfy bed.) Their Buffet at $12 is beyond. I had prime Rib one time. The best buffet anywhere. The casino pays great for an Indian Casino. It's Alcohol free,so if you want a nightcap,take your own. Great people, great place to stay. ( I'm not a travel agent' Just a old Lady that's been around')

This is easily the most ridiculous piece I've ever read on this site.  I rarely, if ever, comment or feel obliged to on anything I've read on MSN, however I can't not comment on something written so poorly researched...Fitness​ room fees?  Ask for a list of fees at checkin (wait. how does that save money?  If it does, how much does a M5 cost cause I've got a fiddy...).  The essence and meat of this article is "get a manager" when upset.  The reality of the hotel is world is that up until recently there have been rates wars amongst all levels of hotels.  Essentially you've got Ritz, St. Regis, etc in urban areas (outside of high demand markets NYC, SF, etc) competing with mid-level brands and it's been driving prices and rates down.  Unfortunately for the consumer, the reality of opaque, third party rates, etc are being phased out as demand is starting to pick up.  This is a fluff piece.  You want to be pampered at the St. Regis, Ritz, Mandarin?  Be prepared for fees.  It's that simple.  You aren't a unique snowflake, the hotel will survive without your $149/night rate, and you need to read your reg card and details of the property when checking in.  If you can't afford it, don't do it.  Also here's a tip that isn't fluff, don't use you're debit card unless you're prepared for that money to be held by your banking institution for a few days.  An even better tip:  BE NICE.  Don't be a whiny baby when you see an internet fee (that you agreed to when you clicked I AGREE on the splash page).  Hotel people are people too and understand how frustrating things fees can get but we're doing a job, but listening to a blogger hack job that's giving you bogus tips will just result in folks digging in their heels.  The only way to "figure it out" or "beat the system" is being genuine and courteous to the folks that you've willingly entrusted to ensure you have a warm and positive night stay.