The room rate you see first is rarely what you pay. Mandatory fees, city taxes and a hold on your card can add a lot to the bill, and a cheap non-refundable rate can cost you the whole stay if your plans change. Here's what to check before you pay.
1. Mandatory fees: resort, cleaning and "facility" fees
Some hotels, especially in the US, add a compulsory nightly fee for things like Wi-Fi, the pool or the gym. The rules on showing it have tightened:
- United States. Since 12 May 2025, the FTC's rule on unfair or deceptive fees requires mandatory fees to be included in the total price shown to you. The FTC's own examples: "The required resort fee must be included in the total price" and "The cleaning fee must be included." Taxes and optional extras can be added later, but before you're asked to pay. The rule doesn't ban or cap fees. It only stops hotels hiding them.
- United Kingdom. The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 bans "drip pricing". The CMA confirmed the rules were in force in April 2025. Its guidance says the upfront price must include "any mandatory fees, taxes, charges."
2. Card holds and deposits
At check-in, many hotels block an amount on your card to cover your stay and extras. This is a hold, not a charge, but you can't spend the money while it's there.
- How long it lasts. The US Federal Trade Commission says that if you pay the final bill with the same card, the charge "will most likely replace the block in a day or two". If you pay another way, such as cash or a different card, the hold may last up to 15 days.
- Debit cards hurt more. A hold on a debit card takes real money out of your available balance. The FTC warns this can cause other payments to bounce or be declined.
What to do:
- Use a credit card at check-in wherever you can, and pay the final bill with the same card.
- Ask at check-in how much will be held and for how long. Budget for it if you're travelling on a tight daily allowance.
- Check your statement after check-out. If a hold hasn't dropped off after a few days, ask the hotel to release it.
If you're paying in another currency, read our guide to paying in local currency or your home currency before you sign.
3. City and tourist taxes
Many cities charge a tax per night or per person that you pay at the hotel, often on top of a price you already paid online. Some current examples:
| Place | Tax | Since |
|---|---|---|
| Amsterdam | 12.5% of the overnight price | 1 January 2024 |
| Paris | From €2.60 (1-star) to €15.93 (palace) per adult per night | 1 January 2026 |
| Edinburgh | 5% of the accommodation cost, for up to 5 consecutive nights | 24 July 2026 |
| Bali | IDR 150,000 per foreign tourist, once per trip (not per night) | 14 February 2024 |
Paris rates by category for 2026: €2.60 (1-star), €3.25 (2-star), €5.53 (3-star), €8.45 (4-star), €11.70 (5-star) and €15.93 (palace), per adult per night. Unclassified accommodation pays 5% of the nightly cost per person, capped at €15.93. Bali's levy isn't a hotel tax: you pay it once, online before you travel or at airport counters, and some hotels collect it too.
4. Free cancellation vs non-refundable
Non-refundable rates are cheaper because you carry the risk.
- There's no cooling-off period. The European Consumer Centres Network says there is no right of withdrawal for accommodation booked for set dates. The booking terms decide whether you can cancel, and late-cancellation fees "can go up to 100%".
- If the hotel cancels, you get your money back. European Consumer Centre France says the hotel "must refund any sums paid" and can't raise the price without your agreement.
- Booking platforms are middlemen. They follow the hotel's terms and are under no obligation to refund you beyond them.
Rule of thumb: book non-refundable only when your dates are fixed, for example after your visa is approved. Before a visa decision, pay a bit more for free cancellation.
Checklist before you pay
- The total price matches the nightly rate times your nights, or every extra fee is explained
- You know whether city tax is included or paid at the hotel
- You know the cancellation deadline, in the hotel's time zone
- You'll use a credit card at check-in, and know how much will be held
- You've saved the booking confirmation with the price and terms
Ready to compare? Search stays in our hotel search.
