These aren’t universal fees—the study itself found plenty of properties reporting no fee, while many others reported fees that varied substantially.
Resort fees have become a fact of life for many travelers visiting popular U.S. destinations.
But how much are these fees actually costing travelers?
A 2026 review of hotel resort fees gives us a useful snapshot.
The review looked at hundreds of hotels in major tourist destinations and found that, among the properties reporting a resort fee, the median nightly fee in some popular destinations was around $30–$50.
Here are some examples:
| Destination | Median stated fee per night |
|---|---|
| Las Vegas | ~$50 |
| Honolulu | ~$45 |
| Key West | ~$45 |
| Palm Springs | ~$44 |
| Fort Lauderdale | ~$40 |
| Miami | ~$38 |
| San Diego | ~$37.50 |
| New York City | ~$37 |
| Orlando | ~$30 |
The figures are from a review of hotel fees conducted in September 2026. The review examined 1,774 hotels across 36 cities, although the number of hotels reviewed varied by destination.
But these are NOT universal fees
This is important.
Not every hotel charges a resort fee.
Even within the destinations listed above, some hotels reported no resort fee. Others charged substantially more or less than the median.
For example, the 2026 review found that 28 of 40 Las Vegas properties examined stated a fee, while one stated that it did not. In Honolulu, 31 of 40 stated a fee and three stated that they did not. The rest could not be confirmed in the review.
So don’t look at a $45 median for Honolulu and assume that your hotel will charge exactly $45.
It might charge $30.
It might charge $60.
It might charge nothing.
Fees can change
Resort fees are also not necessarily fixed forever.
Hotels can change their fees, and the amount charged can sometimes depend on the property, the rate you book, special promotions, or other circumstances.
Travel demand can also change dramatically between peak and off-peak seasons, so the overall cost of a hotel room can vary considerably depending on when you travel.
That means these numbers should be viewed as a 2026 snapshot—not a price list.
What should travelers do?
The lesson isn’t to avoid every hotel that charges a resort fee.
Instead, look at the total price before you book.
A hotel advertising a $99 room with a $50 mandatory resort fee may cost considerably more than a hotel advertising a $120 room with no resort fee.
Compare the actual cost of the stay rather than comparing only the advertised room rates.
And remember that hotel taxes can be added on top of the room rate and resort fee as well.
The bottom line
Resort fees are common in many major U.S. tourist destinations, but they are not universal.
The 2026 figures above are median fees found in a specific review of hotels—not guarantees of what any particular hotel will charge.
Fees can vary by property, and prices and policies can change over time.
So before you click “Book Now,” check the details.
The advertised room rate is not necessarily the price of the room.
Know before you go.
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