5 Ways Hotels Rip You Off to Help Their Bottom Line

Traveling and Staying in hotels can be great, but sometimes there are a few things that can annoy travelers. This video goes over five ways you may be annoyed by your hotel that helps the hotels bottom line.
Filmed in Krakow, Poland
Copyright Mark Wolters 2017
1. Hotel Keycards that turn on and off your electricity.
2. Lack of Plugs for you to charge your devices.
3. Resort Fees: Extra fees for things you thought were included in the room price.
4. Room Service: the mark ups and fees they charge for room service.
5. Mark ups on tours you might be able to get cheaper out and about town.
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Пікірлер: 385

  • @jerryarnold936
    @jerryarnold9367 жыл бұрын

    Another thing is pick up the business card on the desk when you check into hotel, It helps the taxi know where your hotel is if they don't speak language and a lot of times the business card will work in the electricity slot....so grab a couple business cards at front desk.

  • @nunyabiznez6381
    @nunyabiznez63817 жыл бұрын

    Here is one to look out for. I stopped in South Carolina at a cheap motel. I paid cash for my one night. Then the following month I found they billed me for a missing light bulb in the bathroom, a missing iron, a broken ironing board, a broken remote control and the contents of a non existent mini fridge totaling $300+ and the original night's stay was only $50. There hadn't been an iron or ironing board in the first place. The remote worked fine for me. The light bulb was working fine in the bathroom. And there was no mini fridge and even if there had been I don't drink. I complained to management and I complained to the head office for that chain and I was told to go back to South Carolina and file my complaint in person. Who does that? I was only passing through. Finally I told my bank (they required a credit card or debit card to reserve the room so they had my card number) about it and they ended up charging it back for me after I signed a statement. The motel then complained about that and sent me an invoice and I told them in not nice language what they could do with their fraudulent invoice. Bottom line is just because the place is cheap does not mean it will cost you less in the end and now I ALWAYS photograph the entire room and if there is ANYTHING missing or not in perfect working order I will refuse the room until they make it right or put it in writing the condition I took the room in. I have heard this is a common scam among the cheaper motels to bill travelers for broken or missing things they didn't break or take.

  • @MrGreg830

    @MrGreg830

    7 жыл бұрын

    i live in SC - did they charge for someone's crack rock that burned a hole in their blanket?

  • @stanmcserr8576
    @stanmcserr85767 жыл бұрын

    Las Vegas Hotels started charging for parking, both self and valet. That is truly a rip-off.

  • @pandaDotDragon
    @pandaDotDragon7 жыл бұрын

    If you really want to lose a lot of money just try the laundry service. In some places/destinations it can be more expensive than your clothes....

  • @user-xu9fv8ic1f

    @user-xu9fv8ic1f

    7 жыл бұрын

    Lol

  • @chriszavos
    @chriszavos7 жыл бұрын

    Did you notice that the less expensive a hotel is, the more likely it is to get free wifi? I have stayed at very expensive 5-star hotels and they still don't provide you with free access to the internet.

  • @woltersworld

    @woltersworld

    7 жыл бұрын

    I 100% agree with you! its like the nicer it is the more they nickel and dime you. I had a really nice place in Chicago and their internet was $20 a day... I was like, am I supposed to pay for your entire monthly internet bill with my weekend stay?

  • @chriszavos

    @chriszavos

    7 жыл бұрын

    Some of them have free internet areas at the main hotel lobby at the reception, but when you get into your luxurious room, you need to pay 20 euros a day, as you said. When it should have been the other way around.

  • @criskity

    @criskity

    7 жыл бұрын

    Wifi is almost always free at hostels!

  • @happyhandylife4101

    @happyhandylife4101

    7 жыл бұрын

    Totally! The nicest places have the most fees in my experience. I refuse to stay at Gaylord Palms anymore because between the "resort fee" and the "parking fee" it's nearly $50 more a day. Nice hotels charge those fees because they feel like they can in my opinion. On the flipside, I've never stayed at a Residence Inn that charged me a resort fee and they are always bending over backwards to be accomodating there. I'll choose that any day over "luxury" that I get nickled and dimed for!

  • @mckenna8663

    @mckenna8663

    7 жыл бұрын

    True - and the fancier the hotel/resort the MUCH less chance for complimentary breakfasts. Sure you get tired of the same old instant eggs, bagels, and waffles in the lobby - but HEY, it's SOMETHING.

  • @steviegibson5847
    @steviegibson58477 жыл бұрын

    you can ask for two key cards.....one for each person. Keep one in the slot and take one with you.

  • @woltersworld

    @woltersworld

    7 жыл бұрын

    we do do that, but some hotels will only give us one. or we have had hotels where the cleaning staff come in and pull out the key card. It happened in Lisbon to a friend of mine who had serious food poisoning. They thought we were all gone for he day and they kept taking out his key card, they would reach in and pull it out and he would have to yell at them to stop it. It happened three times in one day to him.

  • @mckenna8663

    @mckenna8663

    7 жыл бұрын

    Wolters World... see THAT is what would worry me. You bring a "doggy bag" back and put it in your fridge not knowing that it in fact has been stored in a hot box for hours. (I never put two and two together regarding the card in the "lights switch".)

  • @TheWanderingWife

    @TheWanderingWife

    7 жыл бұрын

    Any card will work to keep the electricity on. It doesn't have to be the room key card. We carry expired gift cards and leave them in there. Once in a while the maid will remove it, but that is rare.

  • @shadowfan982

    @shadowfan982

    7 жыл бұрын

    or you can get a piece of paper just small enough to not be taken out by hand, but by tweezers! EDIT: and thick enough.

  • @memoryigo

    @memoryigo

    4 жыл бұрын

    Just tell them that you lost the key and you need a new one And put the do not disturb sign on the door works for me so far

  • @mariohendriks1
    @mariohendriks17 жыл бұрын

    When you're visiting the Wieliczka Salt Mine and want to buy a piece of salt as a souvenir, don't buy the reddish pink ones. They're from the Khewra Salt Mine in Pakistan.

  • @ketarita1911
    @ketarita19117 жыл бұрын

    I cant stand resort fees...you should have the option to not use the "amenities" and waive the fee. This is why Airbnb and VRBO is the way to go for me.

  • @wairimugichuri5400
    @wairimugichuri54002 жыл бұрын

    This is so enlightening. Especially the first one. It’s refreshing that I’m not the only one who gets peeved off by walking into a fricken hot room when I’m paying for that AC too. Mark thanks so much for your realistic view and sharing honest experiences. Plus your passion is infectious. I can’t believe I only just discovered this channel a few weeks ago. Safe to say, tonight I’m on a Wolter’s World binge! I STAN!

  • @savedbygrace2397
    @savedbygrace23977 жыл бұрын

    I have been amazed at the price of room service. In big cities, the food is expensive to start with, then there are high taxes, a service fee, a delivery fee, and finally the tip. A simple $10 burger meal could easily cost $55.

  • @woltersworld

    @woltersworld

    7 жыл бұрын

    +Saved by Grace I know. It's insane!

  • @mckenna8663

    @mckenna8663

    7 жыл бұрын

    Between high fees, long waits, and usually cold food (not to mention the dirty dishes sitting around your room) - I have never understood people ordering room service. (The worst are the people who throw their room service dishes and uneaten food out into the hallway. HEY, DUMMY!! No-one wants to see it, nor do any of us want anything that would draw pests into our common area. YOU ordered it - YOU keep it!!)

  • @savedbygrace2397

    @savedbygrace2397

    7 жыл бұрын

    jovicrazed, that's what I thought. In fact, I think that was the instructions.

  • @TripHacksDC
    @TripHacksDC7 жыл бұрын

    Resort fees seem to be an unfortunate unintended consequence of the proliferation of "hotel comparison" websites that search 200 different websites (or whatever the number is) to find the best rate. Hotels have a huge incentive to lower the advertised rates to rank better on those sites. Think of it another way, if you paid $150 for a room you wouldn't think twice about it. If you paid $120 for a room with a $30 "resort fee" you'd be upset about it. It doesn't necessarily mean you're getting ripped off but is admittedly pretty annoying because it makes shopping for a hotel more difficult.

  • @besteconomicsfaculty

    @besteconomicsfaculty

    7 жыл бұрын

    Trip Hacks DC well said

  • @janburn007

    @janburn007

    7 жыл бұрын

    It probably just goes to show that if you know you will be wanting to use the hotel's other facilities such as pool or gymnasium etc - you should probably enquire of the hotel directly (by phone or email) as to whether they charge extra for using these facilities, or whether you will need to pay a standard additional charge (such as a resort fee) on top of the room fee, whether you use those facilities or not. This should help sort out the wheat from the chaff & will give you an opportunity to provide the hotel with feedback about this type of fee, particularly for those who are unlikely to use the extra facilities, but still have to pay the extra fee. I never miss an opportunity to provide hotels with feedback on anything at all that I am unhappy with during my stay. If enough people do that, it might just help them to lift their game - especially the more expensive hotels.

  • @lesliefranklin1870

    @lesliefranklin1870

    4 жыл бұрын

    It's pure and simple false advertising and should be illegal. I would not mind if I was able to check in without paying the resort fees and not use the services they are supposedly for.

  • @OpalRavenna
    @OpalRavenna7 жыл бұрын

    I travel to Europe with a lightweight, thin power strip that has three outlets and four USB ports. It comes in very handy when there are two people trying to charge gadgets.

  • @woltersworld

    @woltersworld

    7 жыл бұрын

    +OpalRavenna perfect!

  • @jerryarnold936
    @jerryarnold9367 жыл бұрын

    When they do the card for elec thing, I plug everything I want to charge up, then leave the room and lock myself out...when I return after dinner I stop by desk and request another key.

  • @OCDTraci
    @OCDTraci7 жыл бұрын

    Your videos are absolutely great and that's why I just subscribed! :D Keep that energy and positivity coming; you and your family are awesome!!!

  • @cmeflywva
    @cmeflywva7 жыл бұрын

    Great advice as always. I didn't know about four of them. Thanks!

  • @ece421
    @ece4217 жыл бұрын

    Thank you for the information your channel is so helpful for travel! When I was in Germany I personally really loved the keycard idea, because I never forgot my key. The front of the hotel are often nice enough to charge an item or two while away if you ask nicely.

  • @truneilson
    @truneilson7 жыл бұрын

    TV'S often have usb ports in the back now that you can use to charge.

  • @lesliefranklin1870

    @lesliefranklin1870

    4 жыл бұрын

    True, but without the room key in the slot there is no power for the TV either.

  • @isaacvarsanov1122
    @isaacvarsanov11227 жыл бұрын

    Thanks for the travel tips . Love your channel . Good health to you and your family .😃😃

  • @felipe31soares
    @felipe31soares7 жыл бұрын

    Hey, I left Kraków 1 hour ago. That's a incredible place to know! I wish I can go back there sometime. Thank you for the advice, Mark!

  • @jevitigre
    @jevitigre6 жыл бұрын

    Mark, i really love your channel, it´s very helpful for those who like to travel.

  • @Sonny0276
    @Sonny02766 жыл бұрын

    Great Video. Thank you for posting.

  • @ursulandourusso3236
    @ursulandourusso32365 жыл бұрын

    This is so true.. thank you for sharing

  • @ntandosekay
    @ntandosekay6 жыл бұрын

    Thank you Mark,as always,very helpful video x

  • @katdrozdzik
    @katdrozdzik7 жыл бұрын

    Thanks for all the videos!!

  • @user-bw6eg6vl9r
    @user-bw6eg6vl9r7 жыл бұрын

    All good tips. I'm seen more hotels requiring you to insert your keycard in order to get the power to work. I simply ask for an extra keycard because who wants to come back to a hot room. I've asked sometimes what the 'resort fee' entails. If they say it's for use of the pool and fitness room, then I might ask I don't plan to use those facilities and won't charge me. It's worth it to ask. Perfect tip on the power strip. They have super compact ones now.

  • @MyCatFooed
    @MyCatFooed7 жыл бұрын

    Great tips Mark!!

  • @LarryFournillier
    @LarryFournillier7 жыл бұрын

    Thanks for the awesome travel tips! :)

  • @sisteriniron
    @sisteriniron7 жыл бұрын

    Yes, I hate resort fees so much! I'd much rather they increase the price to include everything so I know what I'm paying ahead of time instead of trying to factor in the resort fee afterwards.

  • @stares1080
    @stares10807 жыл бұрын

    Great insights. We take the multi-adaptors (ready packed). We too have also requested a second key card for a room (with occasional success) stating we are doing different things on certain days which was very useful for keeping electric going for essentials only. Thanks again, look forward to more vids :)

  • @kevinhendryx665
    @kevinhendryx6656 жыл бұрын

    Sensible travel tips presented with insight and humor! Plus Jocelyn is cute as a button.

  • @nomap2161
    @nomap21617 жыл бұрын

    With the electricity in Europe, I always request 2 room keys and leave one in all the time while the other one comes with me when we go out. My wife and I have never needed to have our own room key so this has worked out so far. Regarding the plugs, I just thought they were few and far between in the rooms because we've always been staying at old hotels in Europe that probably never used many plugs to begin with. I've experience the same thing living in old homes on the east coast. I have notices more outlets in modern hotels throughout Europe. We've been taking an Anker USB charging strip that has one cord with a long 6ft plug and a small box with 6 USB ports. We plug in our phones, camera, tablets, etc into this and it's been great for every trip we take whether in the US or overseas.

  • @TheWanderingWife

    @TheWanderingWife

    7 жыл бұрын

    Any card will work to keep the electricity on. It doesn't have to be the room key card. We carry expired gift cards and leave them in there. Once in a while the maid will remove it, but that is rare.

  • @rtsharlotte

    @rtsharlotte

    7 жыл бұрын

    NOMAP great tip another is carry USB cables and use the TV

  • @ihnwtpu

    @ihnwtpu

    7 жыл бұрын

    In some hotels they are actually a bit more sophisticated and you do need the room key card.

  • @456elsa
    @456elsa6 жыл бұрын

    Very informative!!! Im saving this one!

  • @01cthompson
    @01cthompson7 жыл бұрын

    My gripe is about the cost some resorts (cough cough, Disney) charge for bottled water. They know the tap water is over chlorinated and just about undrinkable in its unfiltered state so they gouge you $5.00 a bottle. It's the same bottle you could get anywhere else for a buck. Our trick is to buy a $10.00 filtered Brita pitcher at Walmart and take it with us. They way we can fill our own bottles with filtered water each day on the cheap.

  • @FloridaDave_

    @FloridaDave_

    7 жыл бұрын

    We were just at Disney, we went to Walmart and bought a ton of water and kept it in the fridge. We then packed a bunch in our backpacks to bring them into the park

  • @claudiaceleste777

    @claudiaceleste777

    6 жыл бұрын

    Dave's Travel Channel I've seen people do that on cruise ships. They bring a big slab of water bottles and check it in as luggage.

  • @jimpikul8551

    @jimpikul8551

    5 жыл бұрын

    Smart thinking about the pitcher!

  • @PokePresto
    @PokePresto6 жыл бұрын

    Man i miss Krakow. It was deffinetly one of the most fun trips i have had. Poland in general is great. Creds from Norway.

  • @GravityFromAbove
    @GravityFromAbove7 жыл бұрын

    Mark here in Alaska my town has a tourist economy. I work with raft and wildlife tours. It's the cruise ships that tack on a hefty extra fee for any tour. The smart folks will go through an independent company like ours and save $80 for the exact same tour minus 40 other shipmates. Thanks for the tips!

  • @woltersworld

    @woltersworld

    7 жыл бұрын

    +The Anadromous Life great to hear. We are tdying to figure out a way to get up to alaska o hopefully will see you up that way one dat

  • @GravityFromAbove

    @GravityFromAbove

    7 жыл бұрын

    Mark here's my tip. Don't take a cruise here unless there are other pressing reasons that you should. If you want to do it right. Get on the AMH ferry in Bellingham Washington and take the long ride up. It's the most amazing form of transportation imaginable. The cabins are nice, if not cruise ship plush. The scenery mind blowing. And to have an outstanding conversation with anyone just ask 'Why are you going to Alaska?' Or fly to Juneau if you don't have the time and just come straight to Haines. (Between Juneau and Haines everything is here! Mountains, whales, bears, glaciers, moose, rivers, eagles, lakes, etc etc.) Book a hotel (Halsingland for atmosphere) take tours, there are about thirty between Haines and Skagway (but don't stay in Skagway (11,000 tourists a day in summer). Let me know when you come and I'll connect you with tours, animals, and most important local folks! (And food!)

  • @lesliefranklin1870

    @lesliefranklin1870

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@GravityFromAbove : Thanks for the ferry tip. One advantage about booking through the cruise ship is if the excursion returns late, the ship will wait for you. If you book independently, it won't wait. Stuff like vehicle breakdowns happen. However, as you say, there is a huge difference in price.

  • @GravityFromAbove

    @GravityFromAbove

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@lesliefranklin1870 In 15 years of working with the cruise ships I have never seen them leave without a passenger from a local tour. They always know if there is a delay and will wait. But the truth is the tours are always scheduled to get people back to their respective ships with time to spare. It's all quite professional. But my advice, go ferry go independent if possible. Get to know the Alaskans instead of simply skimming through as the big ships do. (But now I live in Tbilisi Georgia. But that's another story for another day...)

  • @dwnk4691
    @dwnk46917 жыл бұрын

    Great post. The key cards were a pain. Not having the A/C running while we were out and about meant that none of our clothes dried in the meantime. The in-room coffee service in France and Portugal was great though.... Regarding tours, we had a great experience with a Niagara Falls tour we booked through our hotel.

  • @sandrabond1
    @sandrabond17 жыл бұрын

    This is so true. Recently we went to Maui and stayed at the Grand Wailea. There was a resort fee of $30 and taxes on the fee for each day you stayed. Also, they would not let you self park. You had to use their valet with was $35 per day which, of course, was taxed as well. Oh...and don't forget about tipping the valet staff. Lol! It's those fees in the fine print that get me:(.

  • @thelinthicums3295

    @thelinthicums3295

    7 жыл бұрын

    I would park off site before I would be compelled to valet park.

  • @MarkBH70

    @MarkBH70

    7 жыл бұрын

    It seems they don't know what their customers want or don't care.

  • @robertjensen1048

    @robertjensen1048

    7 жыл бұрын

    Yeah, you THINK you could park off-site. Most of these resort hotels have a mile-long driveway from the main road, and you can't even park on that main road. I've seen hotels that are as far as 3 miles from the first legal free public parking spot.

  • @hawkszone3310

    @hawkszone3310

    6 жыл бұрын

    They have even closed the old “Shops at Wailea” loophole. You can’t park for free during the day there. You basically have to add $50-$75 a day to your budget for most nice hotels these days. I just budget that into my decision.

  • @RedroomStudios

    @RedroomStudios

    5 жыл бұрын

    the lesson should be - dont stay at resorts. that is not real travelling.

  • @xr_nrtmstomp5139
    @xr_nrtmstomp51397 жыл бұрын

    Good vid as always 😊😊

  • @Places2GoTravel
    @Places2GoTravel7 жыл бұрын

    Mark, another great video - the electricity thing drives me crazy, suggest you ask for two key cards, most reception staff will oblige without question even if it's a single occupancy booking. We're off back to the Canaries in September, can't wait!

  • @2012edunne
    @2012edunne7 жыл бұрын

    Hi Mark, love the tips ..I have used an old SIM Card holder also in the hotel room, I remember staying at a hostel in Stockholm, having a UK Power strip with EU plug, all the others in the room wanted to use mine ....

  • @wasilaify
    @wasilaify4 жыл бұрын

    You guys are such a happy family.

  • @douglassnyder9612
    @douglassnyder96126 жыл бұрын

    Purchased a power strip with a European plug for recent Paris trip. Kept multiple phones, tablets, laptop, camera batteries nicely charged during the trip. Nice thing with newer electronics chargers is they adapt between voltages automatically so no kind of converters required.

  • @melindafairchild5550
    @melindafairchild55507 жыл бұрын

    Thank you so much for a travel USB suggestion!!

  • @woltersworld

    @woltersworld

    7 жыл бұрын

    +Melinda Fairchild no problem :)

  • @thetravelinsagittarian1316
    @thetravelinsagittarian13166 жыл бұрын

    Great info! 👍

  • @bettyjoy6361
    @bettyjoy63617 жыл бұрын

    Hey! Here is another PRO TIP: When traveling in Aust and NZ: Don't stay at caravan parks! They appear cheaper options, but by the time you add on all the extras it can be more pricey than staying at an AirBnB or hotel. Some caravan parks will set a price then ad on: Towel hire Linen use Wifi Washer Drier Use of the bathroom facilities!!! Power/electricity Etc To me, if you book a place to stay it should definitely include the use of toilet and shower! And you would think they'd let you use the sheets or blankets as built into the price of the room! Wifi can be up to $20-30 for 2gig of very slow connection. I don't know! Do I sound like a tight ass? By the time you pay for all these things you could have stayed almost anywhere else cheaper! Thanks for your awesome content Mark and team!

  • @dazzahoward7104
    @dazzahoward71047 жыл бұрын

    Great advice!

  • @kanehi
    @kanehi6 жыл бұрын

    Great tips. When I go to Las Vegas I usually go for decent hotels with the lowest resort fees. Luxor has one of the lowest resort fees on the strip. Those hotels with free breakfast are usually has a bit higher room rates which compensates for the "free" breakfast plus they're only open for breakfast at a set time and some are far away from the places you want to see.

  • @casse1458

    @casse1458

    6 жыл бұрын

    kanehi yes no such thing as free breakfast s🙂

  • @kanehi

    @kanehi

    6 жыл бұрын

    We rented a hotel on the outskirt of the Las Vegas for one night for $100 per night with free breakfast. The room rate at Luxor was $40 per night with $25 resort fee back then which totaled $65. For the difference the breakfast costed $35... not a free breakfast! I could've bought an all day buffet at the Luxor back then.

  • @mickeltee2079
    @mickeltee20797 жыл бұрын

    Thanks for the tips. I don't order room service, don't use the mini bar items or purchase tours direct from the hotelier. Most of the time I book everything even before I arrive at the destination. I always look out for free wifi and swimming pool. And sometimes if necessary, free parking. I also look out for sofa bed and king sized beds if I'm travelling with family. Most times I purchase through travel sites.

  • @GingerGingie
    @GingerGingie7 жыл бұрын

    I couldn't find it on your channel, so maybe you haven't done this yet... but I would love to see a history post about how you and your wife & family became travelers. Were you military kids or did you start traveling as students? What a great channel and such fun videos! Love it!

  • @PatrykJarmakowicz
    @PatrykJarmakowicz7 жыл бұрын

    If you’re in the south of Poland, try the north once. Gdańsk, Toruń, Olsztyn and the whole Lake District. It’s gorgeous :)

  • @woltersworld

    @woltersworld

    7 жыл бұрын

    Gdansk was my favorite for so long. I used to take friends that would visit me in Lithuania to Gdansk because it is so awesome.

  • @davegreenlaw5654
    @davegreenlaw56547 жыл бұрын

    The hotel we stayed at in Brazil - Ilhabela - for my cousin's wedding, had something similar to the first item. You had a physical key on a key fob, and the fob is what you slid into the slot right by the door that turned everything on. (And you couldn't get multiple keys for the room, which meant that my cousin's friend and I, who were rooming together, had to check with each other to make sure one or the other wasn't locked out of the room when they needed to be in it.)

  • @andariegos9466
    @andariegos94662 жыл бұрын

    We bring a wall charger that has usb slots on it too. But we also each bring a 10 ft. long charging cable in case the outlet is a little far or inconveniently behind furniture or something.

  • @lilliejen
    @lilliejen7 жыл бұрын

    Your videos are the best!!!!

  • @woltersworld

    @woltersworld

    7 жыл бұрын

    +Jennifer Lillie thank you

  • @jimtrue1465
    @jimtrue14657 жыл бұрын

    Sometimes a plug near the bed that is easy to get to is vital. I have sleep apnea and need to sleep with a CPAP machine. When electric plugs are scarce or hard to find, it literally can affect a person's health.

  • @zbeebs
    @zbeebs7 жыл бұрын

    I have sleep apnea so I travel with a CPAP machine, and I always have to worry if they'll be a reachable power outlet near the bed. I always travel with a power strip with a fairly long cord just in case I have to plug in from the opposite side of the room.

  • @LiveInSydney
    @LiveInSydney7 жыл бұрын

    Hi again mark! What I do is lose my plastic security card and they give you another one. The only place I really got screwed was in Prague. They wanted €15 to park my motorcycle in the hotel parking because they told me I couldn't park on the street in the blue zones. The next day I found out it was free for motorcycles to park in the street! Pissed! Bernie in sydney

  • @woltersworld

    @woltersworld

    7 жыл бұрын

    that sucks

  • @corbingarrett1206
    @corbingarrett12066 жыл бұрын

    I managed a mid quality hotel here in the states for a couple years, while it's not necessarily a rip off or anything, when hotels only change your sheets when you ask (with the little sign you leave on the bed) it is just as much about saving the housekeepers time as it is about saving water.

  • @PauloGaetathe_original
    @PauloGaetathe_original7 жыл бұрын

    Krakow is indeed a fantastic historical city in Poland. What I just could not believe there, is the way they market the tours to Auschwitz, it´s almost as it´s a tour to Disneyland! One of the most horrible things that has ever happened, I was really sad after visiting Auschwitz.

  • @RedroomStudios

    @RedroomStudios

    5 жыл бұрын

    I have never been there but just seeing it on videos it seemed that way to me. very unfortunate.

  • @perthfanny3017

    @perthfanny3017

    4 жыл бұрын

    That's crazy. I've been willing to go for years but I keep postponing because I am scared some people might act in an inappropriate and disrespectful way... 🙁

  • @TheWanderingWife
    @TheWanderingWife7 жыл бұрын

    Any credit-card-sized card will work to keep the electricity on. It doesn't have to be the room key card. We carry expired gift cards and leave them in there. Once in a while the maid will remove it, but that is rare. We leave it in because in a few places we have found that it turns off the AC, too (if you're lucky to have it) and then you come back to a room that feels like a sauna.

  • @jocelynwolters293

    @jocelynwolters293

    7 жыл бұрын

    The Wandering Wife, we've done that also but, recently we have found that the cards are chipped or have some kind of reader in them. I think they're beginning to catch on to our little hack. ☹

  • @TheWanderingWife

    @TheWanderingWife

    7 жыл бұрын

    Hmm, we haven't found that happening yet. We were just in Ireland, Switzerland, Sweden and Austria and we're still able to do it. I guess I'll run across it eventually. 😡

  • @fineassamyfresh2387
    @fineassamyfresh23876 жыл бұрын

    Thank you for mentioning the key card for the electricity! I wish I had known this years ago in Ireland. They had a plate on the wall to tap your card and I didn't know and was only there overnight so I could go to the airport and didn't bother to ask. I just dealt with the 1 light that worked. I found out after I left. D'oh!

  • @melonsoda123
    @melonsoda1237 жыл бұрын

    Thanks for the tip, Mark :-)

  • @woltersworld

    @woltersworld

    7 жыл бұрын

    +BrightBlue1111 thanks

  • @IraQNid
    @IraQNid6 жыл бұрын

    There are light socket power plug adaptors for plugging in your batteries and other electronics. If the room key is a HID card then get a HID duplicator to perfectly copy the features and security levels onto a blank HID card. That way you can leave things switched on. Cloning key cards could be a sideline business to make some cash after getting junk fees while on your travels.

  • @JazzRocks57
    @JazzRocks576 жыл бұрын

    The lack of plugs in hotel rooms is so true! I always take a power strip with me.

  • @earljack1978
    @earljack19787 жыл бұрын

    Granted not hotels, but power strip best €4 I spent on my trip. Got the power closer to my hostel bunk (if not power at bunk) and helped me and my dorm mates share the 1 or 2 outlets with out having to take turns.

  • @arielparada9624
    @arielparada96247 жыл бұрын

    thanks man

  • @woltersworld

    @woltersworld

    7 жыл бұрын

    you are very welcome!

  • @happyhandylife4101
    @happyhandylife41017 жыл бұрын

    Resort fees, UGH! One way out of them (sometimes) is to leverage status if you have it. We have Marriott Rewards Platinum. Things like high speed internet are included with Platinum, so if internet is on the resort fee I argue that they should waive it for platinum. Sometimes it works, sometimes they reduce the fee by half...same with parking fees, I do the same thing, ask for it waived with status. It works maybe half the time. Once you have high status with one chain, you can use the status matcher website and try to get it matched with other chains.

  • @jocelynwolters293

    @jocelynwolters293

    7 жыл бұрын

    HappyHandyLife great tips! i didnt know about status matcher!

  • @woltersworld

    @woltersworld

    7 жыл бұрын

    yeah, I have signed up for a number of perks progams just to avoid paying for wifi and parking and what I love is their sales pitch is sign up for free and we won't chargeyou for stuff you thought came with the room :) hehehehe thanks for the helpful comment, I will look into that more and try to put together a video on it. Thanks

  • @happyhandylife4101

    @happyhandylife4101

    7 жыл бұрын

    Here is the link as I forgot to include it above. Awesome site...has saved me a ton by getting me some decent matches! statusmatcher.com/

  • @mckenna8663

    @mckenna8663

    7 жыл бұрын

    Resort fees take any DEAL on Vegas room rates and - - forget those extra dinners you THOUGHT you could afford. It's ONE of the reasons that Las Vegas is not anywhere NEAR the draw to me that it used to be.

  • @happyhandylife4101

    @happyhandylife4101

    7 жыл бұрын

    One way around this is to use Redweek to rent someone's timeshare week on the strip. There are actually quite a few of them there with great locations. No extra fees at all, no parking costs (at least in my experience) and you have a kitchen and washer dryer if you want them. I've been having insane luck lately, making really lowball offers (like, $400 for a 2 bedroom for a week low). I just do it on every available unit at a place I like for the dates I want and invariably someone is desperate enough to bite. I guess they figure some money is better than no money for the unit they are stuck paying fees on lol. I think I paid $10 or $15 a year fee to belong to the site, and it's paid off in spades lately at least.

  • @donaldlewis567
    @donaldlewis5677 жыл бұрын

    I did complain to Delano in Las Vegas and they returned my resort fees / I told them I did not use the internet or gym which was true and they refunded it instantly - they were very nice.

  • @woltersworld

    @woltersworld

    7 жыл бұрын

    Awesome! I have had a few shoulder shrugs of "sorry dude". good to know!

  • @mckenna8663

    @mckenna8663

    7 жыл бұрын

    Donald... wow. I've fought against the fees and never had them reversed.

  • @donaldlewis567

    @donaldlewis567

    7 жыл бұрын

    I could not believe how nice they were. I have complained before, but mostly to myself and vowed to not stay at a place with resort fees again. Now I will complain and see what they can do - I avoid the gym and pools like the plague and don't use wifi, so I hate paying these fees!!

  • @gdparry2727
    @gdparry27273 жыл бұрын

    Stayed in Roosevelt in NYC for honeymoon in 2010... Only time had food in hotel was a local pizza place who delivered... guy took off before I could give him a tip though - part of me felt bad but also surprised he was out of there so quick. Great pizza though.

  • @Al3xTrucho20
    @Al3xTrucho207 жыл бұрын

    When I went to Barcelona I did notice the card thing. As an American I found it odd. There was one day that it was hot out and came back to our room and it was warm and took awhile for the room to cool down. On the upside the room had plenty of power outlets.

  • @alexanderbryant7666
    @alexanderbryant76663 жыл бұрын

    I also started paying for, or always getting the wifi hotspot option on my data plan, which now just comes with most plans. Then, I can skip the wifi charge if I'm going to a string of hotels where the reviews say they have a wifi fee, and since the hotspot is now just included with my phone plan, it's no extra cost! I try to always have that as a backup on my international sims too

  • @WXUZT
    @WXUZT6 жыл бұрын

    Nice

  • @preahko
    @preahko7 жыл бұрын

    Every hotel I stay in gives (or at least offers) two room cards when I check in. When you go out, leave one of the room cards in the slot to keep the electricity on.

  • @Herbie11
    @Herbie115 жыл бұрын

    3:59 Those are some bright shoes!

  • @brielambley3466
    @brielambley34667 жыл бұрын

    Im going on an overseas trip soon and i was able to find a converter plug with 4 usb ports on ebay for $4 with free postage. Also purchased a power bank for the international flight.

  • @MariaPerez-ph7sh
    @MariaPerez-ph7sh7 жыл бұрын

    some time the plug is at the lamp's base on the side. or like a usb port thing

  • @brettparnell8254
    @brettparnell82547 жыл бұрын

    Or your best deal on tours - GO ALONE and avoid the high pressure sales. Chichen Itza - ADO Bus from Downtown Cancun to Valladolid, grab a ride there to the site, and no one will be giving you more time at their friend's store than at the wonder. ADO options also work for Tulum, Playa Del Carmen (and Cozumel), Merida, and many other places in the Yucatan. (Of course water sports are an exception for the Caribbean because you need a guide for safety) Auschwitz - Take a bus or train from Krakow. The busses go right to the camp, but are often more crowded and can leave people behind at busy parts of the day. The trains go into the town, which is about a 30 minute walk. Just make sure you book the guide of the camp early. With a bit of research, 95% of tours can be made into independent day trips for a fraction of the price all over the world.

  • @halvarf
    @halvarf7 жыл бұрын

    Fortunately, hotel reviews on the internet have often helped me avoiding these problems lately. Most of these little "scams" rely on surprising the guests at a time when they can't do anything about it any more or when they don't want to spoil their holiday by fighting. On sites like tripadvisor or booking or HRS, reviewers often candidly report on these things, like hidden extra charges or permanently out-of-service facilities etc. I try to do that myself, too, if they annoy me.

  • @technojunkie123
    @technojunkie1237 жыл бұрын

    one thing that i'm a little surprised you didn't touch on is hotel check in times that are late in the afternoon! a lot of hotels i've noticed have check in times ar 3, 4, or 5pm so if you have a flight that land in the morning you're basically forced to wait, or pay for the night before to be able to crash in your hotel at the time you arrive. If you're lucky the hotel might hold your luggage until check in time but even so it still sucks to not be able to recharge and refresh after a long time travelling. IMO i'd like to be able to travel to a new and arrive at my destination in the morning, but if my hotel has a late check in time in the afternoon it can be as if half my day is already gone!

  • @mandydouglass7124
    @mandydouglass71246 жыл бұрын

    For plugs, most TVs have the USB where you can charge a phone or a laptop on the back of the tv but the tv has to be on for it to work. Might save you an extra outlet problem!

  • @FooseontheMove
    @FooseontheMove6 жыл бұрын

    What if you leave the key of the other person that is staying with you and use your key to get into the room?

  • @Dpierre0916
    @Dpierre09167 жыл бұрын

    Great video as usual Mark. My two cents, the resort fee. My first encounter with that was in Vegas when it first started. Stayed at a five star resort. Found out about the fee at check out. My query is why is it not added in to the price when you booked your room/package. If I stay longer then charge me but I didn't get hitting me with a $200 bill on the way out. Just saying.........

  • @adetayomartins7017
    @adetayomartins70177 жыл бұрын

    Hello Wolter, can you please recommend Tour operators in Cancun

  • @gergelylazar6647
    @gergelylazar66477 жыл бұрын

    I also have that slot in my hotel room in Shenzhen. I think it's a good way they spend less on utilities. Yes, one hundred degrees outside, but still. Money.

  • @caroline_catbridges_kitty5384
    @caroline_catbridges_kitty53846 жыл бұрын

    In Rome I had one outlet where you plug something in and it falls out😂. It was just me and my mom. Luckily the rest of the outlets were fine. There were also too many beds.

  • @jareds1227
    @jareds12276 жыл бұрын

    I can't speak for other countries but here in the US there is lots of food and even alcohol delivery services ie : uber eats, amazon, grub hub, doordash, etc

  • @39Thorns
    @39Thorns7 жыл бұрын

    Airbnb. Rent a bike, shop at the grocery store. In Krakow, stay in Krowodrza and ride a bike into the old town, or take the tram. The electric train will take you right to Weilicka to see the mine. Stay for 4 days. My favorite city in Europe.

  • @brentsummers7377
    @brentsummers73774 жыл бұрын

    Good tips! And check your credit card statements. I got charged by an airport hotel for a breakfast I didn't have. After a couple of emails they reversed the charge so I won't name them but really how apart from being a try on could that happen.

  • @travelvideos
    @travelvideos5 жыл бұрын

    I take extension cord with several plugs then I can plug everything, plus I can use laptop on bed as plugs in hotels are pretty far from bed. Plus it has a light so I can check if socket is live before sitting down and also it has power surge switch. Also, I don't need to buy many socket convertors.

  • @John_Fx
    @John_Fx5 жыл бұрын

    With services like grubhub and YelpEats I haven't paid for room service in years. I often look at the prices briefly, curse, then order online.

  • @heyannalisee
    @heyannalisee7 жыл бұрын

    In defense of hotels (: many hospitality companies have 'green' initiatives and have the key card electricity slots installed as part of that. Obviously if you use less electricity that's great for the hotels bottom line, but I that isn't always why they were installed in the first place. Also, I think resort fees and charging extra for wifi etc is mostly about branding and status. The same way the actual cost of a designer purse is only 15 dollars, but people are willing to pay thousands of dollars. Really fancy hotels and resorts want a certain type of traveler so they make extras chargeable. I've been working in hotels for a few years now and it was really interesting to see another perspective on my job lol. Great video as usual Mark!

  • @robertjensen1048

    @robertjensen1048

    7 жыл бұрын

    Guess what? FUCK those "Green" initiatives. That's what. Me, I am on vacation to have FUN, and feel GOOD, and be COMFORTABLE. I am not on vacation to save some billion-dollar hotel a few buck on THEIR power bill. If I am giving a hotel $500/a day for a room that is smaller than my living room back home, then I expect AC that is 68F/19C 24 hours a day.

  • @Ichinin
    @Ichinin6 жыл бұрын

    At hotels in the UK, you even have to pay the TV license. First thing i did was to turn the thing off and never touch it. If there is a restaurant in the hotel, they can offer to "put it on your tab", it may see like a good idea, but you lose track over how much you spend on food, and it can be expensive - i think i spent £25 on a burger(!) in London. I tend to eat out most of the time when i travel so i know how much i have spent on food, also restaurants are cheaper and offers a wider variety. One warm night i was thirsty and went down to the bar and got 4 x 25cl bottled Cocacolas (1 L in total=1 quart), and that was €8, would have cost me maybe €2 in a store. Some even charge for the daily tidying up the hotel room, but you can put up a sign on the door that says that you do not want it.

  • @kawannahardy2924
    @kawannahardy29247 жыл бұрын

    Oh the resort fees!! 😡. My friends and I went to Vegas in February for my birthday and a wedding, and it just happened to be a Freezing cold 36 degrees the entire time. That didn't stop the hotel from charging us resort fees for pools and outdoor decks that we couldn't use and they didn't even open!! Smh

  • @maartenvos379
    @maartenvos3797 жыл бұрын

    Good tips again Wolter...the last ten years my only destination has been vegas.....never had resortfees( because of my diamondcard) and since last year also free wifi......those resortfees are silly though and if you dont have that card/ and/or good host it will cost ya even if you get free rooms by a certain game the resortfeesmakes it expensive

  • @thelinthicums3295

    @thelinthicums3295

    7 жыл бұрын

    His name is Mark . . .

  • @evangeliamintzai6302
    @evangeliamintzai63024 жыл бұрын

    You can plug a USBcable in the TV if it is a smart TV .

  • @DerClouder
    @DerClouder6 жыл бұрын

    3:21 Hey i know that place! It's the Old Library in my home city Turku! I would love to hear your opinion on the city :) On an unrelated note: I love your videos! They are very helpful! :)

  • @doylethomas9856
    @doylethomas98563 жыл бұрын

    We stayed at a place in B.C, that charged a "refundable" 5$ parking permit fee. When we went to the desk in the morning for a refund we were told the register did not open till 11AM. Who wants to hang around for another 4 hours when you are traveling?

  • @piper998877
    @piper9988777 жыл бұрын

    Two other ways are toiletries. While some hotels will provide tooth paste and shaving kits, others will tell you that they sell the items in their pantry. The other is parking. I typically travel to places where hotel parking is free, and where I live is devoid of public transportation and ride-sharing options. I went to Chicago and stayed at downtown hotel where I had to pay $48 per night for parking. My rental car was only $90.

  • @lavayuki
    @lavayuki5 жыл бұрын

    I found that many hotels give two cards if you just ask. But I've travelled a lot and stayed in hundereds of hotels and never came a hotel that lacks sockets.. I have a 4 port USB plug just in case, and also to charge all my stuff from one socket like at the airport etc. I always book tours online, and for food delivery Deliveroo, Just Eat, Uber eats etc are the way to go in Europe

  • @jordankelly9329
    @jordankelly93297 жыл бұрын

    I take an extension lead with me and plug that into the adapter the into the wall socket only need one adapter.

  • @mickeltee2079
    @mickeltee20797 жыл бұрын

    If anyone can answer this I'd appreciate it thanks - wouldn't the additional 'fees' be included or informed on the travel site, Agoda etc?