Hidden Fees

@moffittjc (122829)
Gainesville, Florida
March 1, 2025 6:41pm CST
I often do a lot of traveling around the country, and as a result I am a member of a certain hotel loyalty/rewards program. So I tend to stay at that brand's hotels when I can due to the rewards program and other perks. In a recent travel situation, the location was close enough where I could drive instead of fly. And being a frequent traveler, I thought I had seen it all when it comes to hidden fees. But this most recent hidden fee I found myself paying was a new one to me, probably because I don't tend to drive places when I travel and stay in hotels. When I pulled in and parked at this particular hotel property, I was a bit dismayed to find that there was a parking charge of $10 per day, payable through an app I had to download. To say I was a little perturbed is an understatement, but the only other option was to park off property in a location not convenient for walking to and from the hotel. So I begrudgingly paid the parking fee. And what was even worse was that there were signs all over the parking lot stating that the hotel did not provide security and was not responsible for anything that happened in the parking lot. So let me get this straight: I have to pay a parking fee, but it does not guarantee the safety of my vehicle. Right. "They" stick it to us any way they can, don't they? lol I don't take hidden or extra fees lightly, so I put on my best @porwest thinking cap, I started thinking of ways to recoup my $10 cost. The hotel brand I often stay at has a free breakfast. And not just a light continental breakfast, but a full-on hearty breakfast offering. Ah-ha! That's how I'll make up that $10! I will eat my money's worth!!! So the breakfast service was offered from 6:30am-9:30am. I got up at 6:30, went down to the breakfast area, and feasted on eggs, waffles, bacon, sausage, muffins, fruit and orange juice. Probably got more than a $10 value right there (especially with the eggs). I then went back up to my room, showered, brushed my teeth, shaved and got ready for the day. I then went back downstairs and ate again. Another full breakfast meal, this time with a steaming hot cup of coffee. Went back up to my room a second time to pack up my things and check out. Went down, loaded everything in my truck, and then went back inside for a third breakfast helping. I especially loaded up on more bacon and eggs and coffee. I drove out of that hotel parking lot with a full belly and a smirk on my face knowing I just ate more than $10 worth of food to make up for the parking fees I had to pay. Have you ever come across hidden fees like that, or come up with innovative ways to make up for the hidden fees you had to pay?
9 people like this
9 responses
@DaddyEvil (142405)
• United States
2 Mar
5 people like this
@moffittjc (122829)
• Gainesville, Florida
2 Mar
You wouldn't believe how many times I had to poop that day after eating so much! LOL
5 people like this
@kareng (69120)
• United States
2 Mar
5 people like this
@DaddyEvil (142405)
• United States
2 Mar
@moffittjc Poor guy! Years and years ago I was dating a woman who still lived with her mom and sisters. At Thanksgiving, one of the sister's husband dared me to keep up with him eating... OMG did we eat! Mom (my girlfriend's mom) kept bringing out more and more stuff even after everyone else had stopped eating and gone to the living room to talk and watch television... But Jerry and I kept eating... I thought I was going to pop! Finally, Jerry admitted I could eat as much as he could and gave up. I bet I waddled for a week after that! But her mom could really cook!
5 people like this
@AmbiePam (96279)
• United States
2 Mar
I like the way you think!
5 people like this
@moffittjc (122829)
• Gainesville, Florida
2 Mar
I thought about taking something from the hotel (robe, shampoo, towel?), but I'm not a thief so morally that would have been wrong. But a free breakfast buffet? No restrictions there! lol
5 people like this
@kareng (69120)
• United States
2 Mar
That sucks that they do not even provide security!! Most of the hotels in New Orleans charge a fee for parking and of course down there no security. Lots of cars get stolen or broken in to. I think you found an excellent way to get your money's worth! I would never have been able to eat that much in that amount of time! I hope you got some exercise to work it off soon!
3 people like this
@kareng (69120)
• United States
2 Mar
@moffittjc Yeah, I saw that comment! You got a good clean out!!
2 people like this
@moffittjc (122829)
• Gainesville, Florida
2 Mar
I did do quite a bit of walking that day, but probably not enough to burn off all those extra calories I consumed. But it did feel good to stand up and walk around a bit. Gave myself some more room for all that food to start working its way through my digestive tract. lol
3 people like this
@sjvg1976 (41985)
• Delhi, India
2 Mar
That's very bad. How can we expect a hotel to have parking charges and provide no security even if the fees are paid? . Then what for did they take the parking fees? No, I have never come across such a hotel where I had to pay extra money for the parking.
3 people like this
@moffittjc (122829)
• Gainesville, Florida
2 Mar
Just another way for the greedy hotel owners to make money. Or, it's possible that the land the hotel sits on is not actually owned by the hotel itself, so then it would make sense that the land owner is charging the fees (and not the hotel), and the reason the hotel doesn't provide security is because they do not own the parking lot around their building.
3 people like this
@sjvg1976 (41985)
• Delhi, India
2 Mar
@moffittjc I stayed in a hotel few years ago where they didn't have a parking place but they clearly mentioned it and we had to park our car in a nearby building and has to pay money for it.
3 people like this
@moffittjc (122829)
• Gainesville, Florida
2 Mar
@sjvg1976 I can understand that parking may be limited or non-existent in large cities or urbanized areas, but where this hotel was located there was plenty of room to develop parking areas. Unless maybe that's why they felt they could charge a parking fee, because most of the land around the hotel was undeveloped, and therefore no other parking lots were available to park in.
3 people like this
@JudyEv (347315)
• Rockingham, Australia
2 Mar
Good for you. And not only did you fill your tummy but what a sense of satisfaction you would have had.
4 people like this
@moffittjc (122829)
• Gainesville, Florida
20h
I felt very satisfied afterward. And very bloated! lol
2 people like this
@lilacskies (7274)
• United States
2 Mar
No, I haven't come across any hidden fees. There are some for credit cards I'm sure, but I don't use them.
4 people like this
@moffittjc (122829)
• Gainesville, Florida
20h
@lilacskies Oh yes, it's very important to pay all bills on time. I am very meticulous about doing that.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (122829)
• Gainesville, Florida
20h
I always hear people complaining about hidden fees in the cable bills, internet bills, cell phone bills, etc. But I've never had that problem. I always find out up front what my total costs will be before I even sign up for a service.
2 people like this
• United States
20h
@moffittjc I am the same way. I also like to stay on top of my bills so I can avoid late fees.
2 people like this
@snowy22315 (185850)
• United States
2 Mar
Can't say that I have I am not sure my stomach would hold 3 breakfasts though
3 people like this
@moffittjc (122829)
• Gainesville, Florida
2 Mar
When it comes to food, I can pack in quite a bit. People are amazed at how much food I can hold given that I'm not overweight. It's a hidden talent of mine. LOL
3 people like this
@wolfgirl569 (112229)
• Marion, Ohio
23h
That's the way to do it.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (122829)
• Gainesville, Florida
20h
Stick it to the man, as I like to say.
2 people like this
@Fleura (31110)
• United Kingdom
2 Mar
Gosh three breakfasts! I don't know how you could fit behind the steering wheel!! I have experienced those parking fees and they are annoying - even more so when they only cover you until the next morning so then you have to get up and go and find a parking place somewhere else! Can't really call them 'hidden' though as all the details were provided with the booking.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (122829)
• Gainesville, Florida
20h
I booked my hotel through a third party site, so there were no disclaimers anywhere that warned me of the parking fees. But it is what it is; I think I made out pretty well in the end.
2 people like this