Buying guide

Booking a five-star hotel, resort, or villa: the all-in price rule and the fees that still slip through

Updated October 23, 2026 · Written by the Only for the Wealthy editors · General information, not legal or financial advice

The oceanfront suite, the private villa with its own pool, the penthouse for a long weekend: at this level, the rate is rarely the point. Being blindsided is. Since May 12, 2025, a Federal Trade Commission rule has required hotels, vacation rentals, and the sites that sell them to show the real total price up front [1][3]. Knowing exactly what that rule covers, and what it still lets through, is how a discerning traveler books with confidence and checks out without a quarrel at the front desk.

We don’t sell, book, or arrange travel or lodging, and this isn’t legal advice. The FTC’s compliance FAQ is staff guidance and isn’t binding on the Commission [2].

What the rule requires

The FTC’s Rule on Unfair or Deceptive Fees, 16 CFR Part 464, covers short-term lodging, defined as temporary sleeping accommodations at a hotel, motel, inn, short-term rental, vacation rental, or other place of lodging [1]. FTC staff say that includes home shares and vacation rentals on platforms such as Airbnb or VRBO, and that third-party platforms, resellers, and travel agents are covered too [2]. Business bookings are protected as well [2].

The total price comes first. Any advertised or displayed price must come with the total price, shown more prominently than any other pricing information [1].
Only three things may be left out of that total: government charges such as taxes, shipping charges, and charges for optional add-ons you choose [1][2].
Before you pay, the business must clearly disclose the nature, purpose, and amount of anything it left out, and show the final amount of payment at least as prominently as the total price [1].
No misleading fees. A business may not misrepresent a fee’s nature, purpose, amount, or refundability [1]. FTC staff say vague labels such as “convenience fee,” “service fee,” or “processing fee” should be replaced with what the fee is actually for [2].

Fees that must be inside the total price

FTC staff give concrete examples of charges that count as mandatory and belong in the advertised total [2]:

Resort fees. The FTC’s own example is a resort advertising a nightly rate of $199 plus a mandatory $39 daily resort fee. The resort fee has to be in the total price [2].
A fee waived only if you object. A resort fee added automatically at check-in, and removed only when a guest notices and challenges it, is still mandatory and belongs in the total [2].
Cleaning fees that a vacation rental adds on top of the nightly rate [2].
Things a reasonable guest expects to be included. If a hotel charged for towels, the towel fee would have to be in the total [2].
Card surcharges you can’t avoid. If paying by credit card is the only viable option, the card fee is mandatory and belongs in the total. If a fee-free payment method is offered at the same place, the surcharge counts as optional but must still be disclosed before you pay [2].
Pre-checked boxes and opt-outs. A charge you can’t effectively agree to, because of default billing, pre-checked boxes, or opt-out provisions, is treated as mandatory [2].

What can still be added, legitimately

Taxes and other government charges, as long as they are disclosed before you pay [1][2]. A “taxes and fees” line that pads real government charges with money the seller keeps is a misrepresentation [2].
Optional extras you choose. FTC staff’s example is a trip protection plan you add by checking a box that wasn’t pre-selected [2].
Upgrades you select while booking. A hotel may advertise its lowest available total price if you can really book it, but once you pick a better room or feature, the total must update [2].
Charges after the stay begins that couldn’t be known at purchase or aren’t part of the same transaction, such as late payment or damage to the room [2].
Member rates. A rate open only to loyalty members can be shown, but the price offered to everyone has to be the most prominent one [2].

Book the suite the smart way

Before you pay, screenshot the page that shows the total price and the final amount of payment, along with the room, dates, and rate name.
Look for anything already ticked: trip protection, “amenity packages,” donations, or upgrades. Untick what you didn’t ask for [2].
Read the deposit, cancellation, and no-show terms on the same booking and save them. They decide what you can get back, and they vary by property and rate.
Pay with a credit card rather than a wire, so the federal billing-dispute process covers the charge [4].
At check-out, compare the folio line by line with your screenshot. Ask the front desk about any fee that wasn’t in the total, and point to the price you were shown.

If a fee shows up that you weren’t shown

Ask the property, in writing, to remove it, and keep the reply.
If it stays on your credit card, the Fair Credit Billing Act lets you dispute charges for things you didn’t accept. The FTC says to write to the issuer’s billing-inquiries address so the letter arrives within 60 days after the first bill showing the charge was sent; the issuer must acknowledge it within 30 days and resolve it within 90 [4].
Report the business to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov [5]. FTC staff say businesses that violate an FTC trade regulation rule can be ordered to refund consumers and pay civil penalties [2].
State law can protect you further. The rule doesn’t override state laws that give consumers greater protection [1].

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