Comments on: Booking IHG reward nights? Beware the hidden junk fees!

By: DaveN

DaveN — Fri, 17 Mar 2023 11:10:23 +0000

Another adder is parking. We had a free points night two weeks ago but got hit for $10 to park.

By: Ziggy

Ziggy — Thu, 16 Mar 2023 18:53:44 +0000

In reply to Honolulu Lulu. Hi, there's no way of getting around them online (with IHG or Marriott) but some people have reported having success with getting junk fees removed at check-out. For most, however, these junk fees are just an extra charge that they have to pay as hotels are not likely to waive the fees for everyone who complains. I should add, however, that in the case of IHG award bookings, showing the front desk screenshots of the deceptive way the IHG website hides these fees may give you more leverage.

By: Ziggy

Ziggy — Thu, 16 Mar 2023 18:49:12 +0000

In reply to Xavier. Hi Xavier, I have yet to pay a junk fee on an award booking because to date, I have always chosen to ignore properties that charge these fees. Hypothetically, however, if my other options were considerably more expensive I would book the property with the junk fee and then challenge it at check-out.

By: Honolulu Lulu

Honolulu Lulu — Thu, 16 Mar 2023 18:15:00 +0000

In reply to Ziggy.

Aloha Ziggy – How do you “control the cost (i.e. no junk fees)”? Do you make the individual hotel delete them for you? It doesn’t look like there is a choice online.

By: Xavier

Xavier — Thu, 16 Mar 2023 17:48:25 +0000

Hi Ziggy, nice and informative article, thank you. Question: if you are trying to book an award and find out there are extra fees, do you abandon the reservation and stay somewhere else or do you somehow try to get the fee voided? Thanks.

By: Derek Fray

Derek Fray — Thu, 16 Mar 2023 17:29:58 +0000

Wow! Thanks for the heads up! As the not so proud owner of over 1,000,000 IHG rewards points and climbing, I think I just switched loyalty to Hilton or Hyatt. I have only use points for IHG rooms a couple times while taking car trips and usually at one of the lower end Holiday Inn versions for a quick shower and bed then on the road again type accommodation. Was going to plan a nice vacation one day with the points. Well, Hyatt and Hilton here I come. I spend 8-12 nights a month in high end hotels traveling for business, thanks for the great article!

By: George

George — Thu, 09 Mar 2023 23:29:26 +0000

And don’t use points + cash for IHG reservations unless you are absolutely sure you are going to use the reservation. If you must cancel, you just bought a lot of points any cash part of the reservation will be refunded in points and you will get a big bill (cash portion) to pay.

By: Ziggy

Ziggy — Thu, 09 Mar 2023 21:13:24 +0000

In reply to dave. I'm lost for words.....

By: dave

dave — Thu, 09 Mar 2023 21:13:09 +0000

In reply to dave. 30 mins of ping pong - Honestly, you couldn't make this up if you tried

By: dave

dave — Thu, 09 Mar 2023 21:10:05 +0000

In reply to Ziggy.

No it really wasn’t. The full list of items included for their resort fee is:

Complimentary coffee in guest room * 11.43% discount on all Mercy Me orders by showing a guest room key in the outlets, including online orders – http://www.mercymedc.com * Welcome treat upon arrival * A curated Vinyl Record Library with players, upon request * Complimentary access to the Ping Pong Room for the first 30 minutes * 2 Mountain Valley water bottles * Complimentary high-speed WiFi access throughout the facility * Interactive Peloton Fitness Center including WOD by our in-house trainer * Local partnership discount at Artechouse, Doggy Style Baker, She Loves Me flower shop and more

Basically, water, coffee, wifi (which should be complimentary at any hotel with status) and a load of garbage that nobody wants