If You're a 'Good Neighbor' You Still Have to Pay a Fee

Where: 164 E 87th St [map], New York, ny, United States, 10128

3/05/2007 at 9:30 AM
Tags: Hotel Fees, Manhattan Hotel Reviews

Last week we let you know about a "Good Neighbor" policy at the Franklin Hotel on the Upper East Side. UES residents are entitled to a 15 percent discount off the hotel's best available rate. We found one for Friday night for $319 but a tipster let us know that the hotel adds on a $12 charge to the room rate.

Here's what he wrote in to us:

if you look closely on their website you will see all their so-called free amenities are not so free after all. They charge a $12 per night service fee on top of your room and tax. That fee is not calculated in your total until check out.

Most likely, that 15 percent off is saving you the hotel fee and some of the crazy New York City taxes. But if you're an out-of-towner, you're forced to pony up the whole shebang.

We're not sure how you feel but we think that hotels who have such added (sometimes called "resort") fees should just lump it into the hotel room rate and spare us all the itemized details.

Let us know how you feel about these types of hotel fees.

Related Stories:
· It Pays to be a 'Good Neighbor' at the Franklin Hotel [HotelChatter]
· Ritz Carlton's Ritzy Cancellation Fee [HotelChatter]