February 18, 2026 | 08:20 am
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - New York City is banning hidden fees charged to guests during hotel stays starting February 21, 2026. The new rule aims to curb obscure service charges that often surprise guests, especially as the city prepares for the 2026 World Cup. Booking platforms must now include all costs detailed in advertised hotel rates.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said these hidden fees are a deceptive and burdensome practice for consumers. He said these fees go by many different names: destination fees, resort fees, and hospitality service charges. "Whatever you call them, they are slippery, they are elusive, and ultimately—quite simply—these junk fees that hotels and booking sites sneakily impose on the people of this city without them knowing, this is something that we are bringing to an end," Mamdani said when announcing the ban on January 21, 2026, as reported by Newsweek. So, under this rule, if a guest checks out and suddenly encounters a fee they didn't see before, it's illegal.
Whether in New York or not, here are the hidden fees that often surprise guests at check-out:
1. Early Check-in and Late Check-out
Early check-in and late check-out fees are becoming increasingly common. They're no longer considered a premium service. "They're more often used as penalties," Tracy Lamourie, founder and managing director at Lamourie Media, told Newsweek.
Early check-ins and late check-outs typically occur when flight times don't align with regular hotel check-in and check-out times. "So, they monetize that by charging for early check-in and late checkout instead of using those as points for frequent travelers," Lamourie added.
2. Resort Fees
Resort fees, or destination fees, are one of the most common hidden hotel fees guests encounter. According to NerdWallet, these fees typically cover amenities like Wi-Fi, pool access, fitness center use, and so on.
These daily fees are added on top of the base room rate and taxes. At some properties, resort fees can even cost more than the hotel room itself. "You’re paying for pool towels; you’re paying for things like local calls on a hotel phone that literally nobody ever picks up anymore," Lamourie says.
3. Parking
Parking fees can also be a burden on guests. Lamourie says that dynamic parking fees are becoming more common, just like hotel nightly rates that fluctuate depending on whether it's the weekend or whether there's an event going on. "That’s something travelers often haven’t accounted for, and it can make a big difference," he says.
4. Wi-Fi
Many hotels already offer free Wi-Fi, but in some countries, it's still not standard. According to Lamourie, many internet charges are increasing and being packaged in new ways. “Sometimes, instead of one Wi-Fi fee for the whole room, you’ll see the fee charged per device,” he said.
5. Credit Card Holds
Hotels typically require a credit card to be on file at check-in and place a temporary charge to cover potential additional charges. Sam Levine, commissioner of the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP), said New York is not only banning hidden fees but is also cracking down on surprise credit card holds and deposits, a requirement that guests must meet at many locations across the United States.
Read: How Indonesian Tourist Hotel Stay Patterns Are Changing
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