Community Forums

lballing · 11-30-2024, 07:45 PM

Is anyone else frustrated with “resort fees”? The nightly rates are skyrocketing and resorts up charge while amenities degrade. I find this especially at KOA and Sun Outdoors.

**Camp CA** · 11-30-2024, 07:59 PM

Have not yet seen a resort fee upcharge at private campgrounds in 20+ years but will be on the lookout. Maybe we have been fortunate.

Skip426 · 11-30-2024, 08:09 PM

Gave up my Coast to Coast park membership for that very reason .

I would have had to stay; two weeks at my home park ; twice at summer rate to break even on the annual membership cost .

Other C-to-C parks were up charging for 50 amp , and required reservations so far ahead , trip planning was impossible.

Gooma · 11-30-2024, 08:49 PM

It doesn't surprise me. The cost of everything is raising fast, regardless what the government says. This is a terrible time to be running a business.
Costs keep raising and a business can't hardly keep up. They can only raise prices so far, then they lose customers. I don't see things changing anytime soon.
If you don't like resort fees, and I don't, you have wheels, move somewhere else.

ViperJD · 11-30-2024, 08:58 PM

We have seen resort fees at SEVERAL RV parks that do not meet my standards of resort. If they include anything special, they try to add the fee, even if the place looks like a dump. We actually have stopped reserving parks that have "resort" in their name 99% of the time. I find it hard to pay more for an asphalt parking strip with power, water and dump, than for the hotel right across the street. We are going to continue to park in fee places more often and pass by the RV resorts. Great topic.

**NLOVNIT** · 11-30-2024, 09:00 PM

Resort fees have been on hotels, state park lodges, Airbnbs...etc. for a long time. Heck, Ohio SP lodging has an additional "beautification fee" (3%)! It's for accommodation improvements & amenities.

Nothing new that CGs have picked up on charging that.

Solo_RV_Guy · 11-30-2024, 09:50 PM

I have the same aversion to additional fees. If the establishment needs $75/day to remain a going concern, charge $75, don't charge me $50 and add $25 in resort fees or other specious b.s. charges.

And like another reply mentioned, avoiding places with the word "resort" in the name has served me well.

Bigceasar · 11-30-2024, 10:15 PM

A few possible reasons for resort fees.
One, they are not subject to lodging taxes. Say a park had a choice of charging $70.00 a night or $60.00 a night plus a $10.00 resort fee and the local lodging taxes were 15% the resort fee actually saved you $1.50.
Two, same basic calculations but resort fees are not subject to KOA’s 10% franchise fee, saving the park a substantial amount of money per year.
Three, it allows for advertising a lower base rate. I don’t like it, but it’s a game some want to play and if your competitors are doing it, you almost have to to be competitive.
I am sure there are other reasons as well, specific to each individual park’s particular circumstances.

Charming · 12-04-2024, 08:17 AM

I dislike paying a resort fee, especially when the pool is closed and most of the activities are geared towards children.

AZstavman · 12-04-2024, 08:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bigceasar

A few possible reasons for resort fees.
One, they are not subject to lodging taxes. Say a park had a choice of charging $70.00 a night or $60.00 a night plus a $10.00 resort fee and the local lodging taxes were 15% the resort fee actually saved you $1.50.
Two, same basic calculations but resort fees are not subject to KOA’s 10% franchise fee, saving the park a substantial amount of money per year.
Three, it allows for advertising a lower base rate. I don’t like it, but it’s a game some want to play and if your competitors are doing it, you almost have to to be competitive.
I am sure there are other reasons as well, specific to each individual park’s particular circumstances.

Totally makes sense

And the way some City/states count every space the same as hotel beds/room space, parks need to shave a few % of of taxes into their pockets for sure

As long as when I search the site, see the final cost, I'm usually ok. I've never experienced and UPCHARGE once I'm there or when I pay

Old-Biscuit · 12-04-2024, 08:56 AM

When we were FTng back in 2007 we ran into a few 'resorts' that were:
*No where near being a Resort
*Up charged for 50A
*Even ran into one that if your RV was 50A you HAD to use 50A/plus fee (no 30A/50Aadapters permitted)

CGs today have just 'caught up' with upgrade fees

The Decades old joke was KOA....Keep on Adding

**NLOVNIT** · 12-04-2024, 02:16 PM

I've even been to "resorts" who upcharge for A/C use in summer!

Any chance an establishment can get to tack on fees to make more money, well, that's just the "American Way". You can thank free enterprise.

David 70 · 12-04-2024, 05:18 PM

Our governor decided to add a $.50 fee for every delivery made by any company or business using the roads. Those people already pay for the roads through the gas tax. I guess this is just a different way to raise the tax.