Beach chairs at Viceroy Los Cabos. Credit: Taylor McIntyre/Travel + Leisure Key Points Resort fees are common charges for hotel amenities that may not be immediately obvious to travelers.These fees boost hotel revenue by separating charges from the advertised room rate and avoiding commission payments.Travelers can potentially avoid resort fees by using points, joining loyalty programs, or negotiating at hotels. In 2025, the average cost of taking a domestic vacation hit $1,991 per person, according to Chime. Vacationing is expensive, and you should make every penny count. And that's why understanding resort fees is critical when booking your next getaway. "Resort fees are often additional fees added to the nightly hotel room rate and are advertised to cover a variety of services at the hotel," Andrea Stokes, the lead researcher on hotels at J.D. Power, shared with Travel + Leisure.…