May 15, 2025 – If you’ve ever checked into a hotel, only to find yourself paying an extra $20, $50 — even $65 — per night in “resort” or “amenity” fees for services you never used or couldn’t access, you’re not alone. Now, legal action may be on the horizon.
Attorneys working with ClassAction.org have launched an investigation into whether hotel resort fees — also known as destination, facility, or amenity fees — are illegal when the advertised perks are unavailable or unusable. If the investigation gains traction, class action lawsuits could follow, offering frustrated hotel guests a potential path to recover their money.
What’s the Issue With Resort Fees?
Resort fees have long been a point of contention for travelers. Charged in addition to a room’s base rate, these fees supposedly cover extra amenities like gym access, pool use, Wi-Fi, or beach equipment. But many guests are reporting that these services were either not offered, inaccessible, or restricted in ways that made them virtually useless.
Examples cited in the investigation include:
Resort fees covering bike rentals, when there aren’t enough bikes for all guests.
Fees promising tennis court time, but only one court is available for thousands of guests.
Charges for Wi-Fi, even when it’s already free via loyalty programs.
Restaurant vouchers that couldn’t be used due to lack of reservations.
Gym access included in the fee — but the gym was closed.
If hotels are charging for services they don’t reasonably provide, attorneys argue this could violate consumer protection laws and constitute fraud.
Voices From the Road
Complaints have surfaced from travelers across the country — from New York to Las Vegas — who say they paid for perks they didn’t receive:
“They charged me $65 in ‘resort fees’ for a gym that was closed and Wi-Fi I didn’t even use.”
— Reddit user, NYC“We stayed at a beach hotel that advertised toys and boards, but when we got there — nothing. It was the off-season. We had to go buy our own.”
— vsingh93, Reddit.com“Resort fees for a pool that was shut down by the health department? That’s not just disappointing — it’s outrageous.”
— passengerv, Reddit.com
Should the investigation result in a successful class action lawsuit, guests may be entitled to compensation for resort fees associated with amenities that were not available. This outcome could also compel hotels to alter their practices, either by clarifying the fees or by guaranteeing that guests receive the benefits they are paying for.
Background: Legal Heat Around Resort Fees
Resort fees have faced scrutiny before. Previously, lawsuits and regulatory measures have challenged the transparency of these fees, especially when hotels promote lower rates only to add fees later in the booking process, a practice known as ‘drip pricing.’ In December 2024, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) introduced a ‘Junk Fees’ Rule that prohibits bait-and-switch pricing. Although some reports suggested that the rule rendered resort fees illegal, the FTC clarified that it does not eliminate the fees but mandates clear price disclosure from the outset. The latest class action investigation is examining a different concern: whether charging for services that are not available constitutes fraud.
What You Can Do
If you paid a resort, destination, facility, or amenity fee and weren’t able to use what it was supposed to cover, you can share your experience through a form on ClassAction.org. Filling it out is free and doesn’t obligate you to join a lawsuit, but it could help get one started.
A legal representative may reach out to ask more about your stay and help determine whether you — and others — are owed compensation.
Bottom line: If you’ve ever felt duped by hotel resort fees, the legal tide may be turning in your favor.
