AC

If you've ever booked a hotel room only to be slammed with severe sticker shock upon check-in, you know that sometimes surprise fees can undermine the value of a great room rate. Read our list of the worst such fees so you can arrive prepared the next time you book a hotel room. Many fees can be eliminated simply by complaining about them, so check your bill closely and always speak up when a hotel hits you with an unwelcome surprise. Resort fees. Even if you're staying at a hotel and not a traditional resort, the much-maligned resort fee still applies. Booking with an Online Travel Agent (OTA) like Hotwire? They may not disclose how much the resort fee is until after you've booked your nonrefundable reservation. The fee covers a wide range of excuses to charge you—from phone calls to amenities—and it's difficult to get waived. Be sure to find out exactly what the daily fee will be, and factor that in when you're comparing prices. You may be better off choosing another hotel...