Better Business Bureau of Southern Arizona advises vacation-bound consumers to ask questions about extra fees that could turn a bargain trip into a budget buster.

“Airlines have been adding fees for everything from luggage to early boarding for several years,” said Kim States, BBB President. “But you may not know about ‘resort fees’ for hotel services ranging from Internet access, use of gym facilities, newspapers to a safe in your room. The fees may be charged whether you use the services or not.”

Extra fees ranging from $10 to $30 a day are seldom disclosed and often aren’t included in the checkout price on online travel booking sites. In many cases, consumers don’t learn about the fees until they check into or out of a resort.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) says resort fees are part of a business model known as “drip pricing,” in which firms advertise only part of a product’s price and reveal other charges later as the customer goes through the buying process.  The fees can be mandatory charges, such as hotel resort fees, or fees for optional upgrades and add-ons. Drip pricing is used by many types of firms, including Internet sellers, automobile dealers, financial institutions, and rental car companies.

Consumers have said that extra fees were never mentioned at all or appeared separate from the quoted reservation price on an online booking site. The FTC says other consumers “complained they did not know that they would be required to pay resort fees in addition to the quoted hotel room rate,” and only found out when they checked out of the hotel.

The FTC has sent a warning letter to 22 hotel operators, warning them that they may be engaging in deceptive advertising by not including mandatory resort fees when they quote a price. However, the federal agency has no authority to regulate hotels outside the United States.

BBB offers the following advice to avoid undisclosed hotel resort fees:

• Carefully read terms and conditions – When booking online, look for fine print which may disclose whether additional fees may be added to the nightly cost of a room.
• Contact the hotel in advance – After you have done your comparison shopping online, call the hotel or resort directly to find out what additional fees may apply and whether they can be waived if the amenities are not used.
• Reconfirm upon check-in – Bring a copy of your booking receipt when you check in,  and verify the total cost of your booking.  It is much easier to negotiate in advance rather than at checkout, when you may be in a rush to get to the airport. If you are told that additional charges may be placed on your credit card for resort fees, make sure the hotel customer service representative or manager understands your concerns and makes a note in your file if you wish to opt out.
• File a complaint – If you feel that the hotel or other provider failed to disclose mandatory fees, you may file a complaint at www.bbb.org.

Better Business Bureau of Southern Arizona warns vacationers to ask plenty of questions before booking a hotel vacation stay.

In a variation of fees imposed by airlines for extra baggage and in-flight meals, some vacationers are being charged between $10 and $30 a night for “resort fees” for internet access, use of gym facilities, newspapers, a safe in their rooms and more, regardless of whether they use these amenities or not.  The fees are typically neither disclosed nor included in the checkout price on online travel booking sites.

Resort fees fall under a business model known as “drip pricing,” as described on the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) website:

“Drip pricing is a pricing technique in which firms advertise only part of a product’s price and reveal other charges later as the customer goes through the buying process.  The additional charges can be mandatory charges, such as hotel resort fees, or fees for optional upgrades and add-ons. Drip pricing is used by many types of firms, including internet sellers, automobile dealers, financial institutions, and rental car companies.”

In some cases, the additional per-night fees were never mentioned at all or appeared separate from the quoted reservation price in online booking sites, and, according to the FTC, other consumers “…complained they did not know that they would be required to pay resort fees in addition to the quoted hotel room rate,” and only found out when they checked out of the hotel.

The FTC has sent a warning letter to 22 hotel operators, warning them that they may be engaging in deceptive advertising by not including mandatory resort fees when they quote a price.

BBB offers the following advice to avoid undisclosed hotel resort fees:

Carefully read terms and conditions – When booking online, look for fine print which may disclose whether additional fees may be added to the per-night cost of the hotel room.

Contact the hotel in advance – After you have done your comparison shopping online, call the hotel directly to find out what additional fees may apply, and whether they can be waived if the amenities are not used.

Reconfirm upon check-in – Bring a copy of your booking receipt when you check-in and verify the total cost of your booking.  It is much easier than trying to negotiate when you are in a rush to get to the airport when checking-out.  If you are told that additional charges may be placed on your credit card for resort fees, make sure the hotel customer service representative or manager understands your concerns and makes a note in your file if you wish to opt-out.

File a complaint – If you feel that the hotel failed to disclose mandatory fees, you may file a complaint at www.bbb.org, or with the FTC.

Cruising is big business.. According to Cruise Market Watch’s 2013 Cruise Trends Forecast released in late November, the industry was estimated to crest at $36.2 billion – a 4.8% increase over 2012. One of the top two lines, Carnival Corporation, not only garnished the lion’s share of the market, it has been headlining the news since the Triumph disaster began off the coast of Mexico on February 10.

With images of the crippled Carnival Triumph splashed about, you may be re-thinking a vacation at sea. Yet, while it’s impossible to foresee extreme weather conditions or make allowances for mechanical failures, Better Business Bureau of Southern Arizona advises that there are things travelers can do to improve the odds of a care-free cruise.

Your BBB recommends the following tips:

Research the cruise line. Like most things, there are high-end and budget-friendly lines. Make sure you compare apples-to-apples, including amenities, dining options, ports and not just price.

Inquire about the ship’s history. When was it first entered into service? When was the last dry dock? How long was the last dry dock? A dry dock for a couple of weeks may be long enough to allow for paint and some sprucing up, but a longer period is necessary for major renovations. Considering the cost and time it takes to build a new ship, ships are being kept in service for decades. Some ships are even renamed to make them sound new. Carnival’s “Destiny,” launched in 1996 is going through an overhaul right now and will emerge as “Sunshine.”

Check your itinerary and ports of call for travel/safety alerts. Before you put your money down, be sure to get the latest information on your destinations. The U.S. Department of State has some great information for travelers at travel.state.gov. In addition to travel warnings, the website offers the free Smart Traveler Enrollment Program as a way to keep you advised about specific warnings that may arise after you’ve made your plans.

Consider travel insurance. There are circumstances that could force you to cancel your trip, return home early or require you to seek emergency medical treatment while traveling. Before you purchase coverage, check your homeowner’s or medical insurance policies to avoid any overlapping. Here are a few things you should know before you purchase a plan:

Trip Cancellation/Interruption. If your plans suddenly change and you have to cancel or end your trip early, TCI will reimburse you for reasons on the policy, such as injury, sickness, the death of a family member, business partner or traveling companion. Watch for exclusions about pre-existing medical conditions.

Emergency Medical Evacuation. If you are going on an adventure vacation or to an area that is far from modern medical facilities, you may want to give this some thought.

Baggage Loss. The U.S. Department of Transportation caps airline liability to $3,000 per passenger for domestic and $1,500 for international flights. However, if your luggage is lost, the airline may reimburse you according to their published policy, which could be less than the U.S. DOT cap, as long as the policy is posted at a prominent location. Your homeowner’s insurance may also cover some or all of your loss. Be sure to check your policy or contact your agent before opting for additional coverage.

Know the weather. For domestic ports, check with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, www.weather.gov . While there are no guarantees that you’ll have perfect weather, you can find plenty of information online about seasonal weather patterns, winds, storms and hurricanes.

If you’re new to cruising, give thought to working with a trustworthy travel agent who is knowledgeable about cruise lines, ships and destinations. You can find reliable travel agents and check their Business Review at www.bbb.org