"Energy Surcharges"

Exploring the Great Outdoors means that you will occasionally need to spend the night in a hotel. So if you are forced to give up your tent for the night, be sure that the hotel you've chosen doesn't try to tack on an "Energy Surcharge".

It all started back in 2001, right around the time of September 11th. Times were tight and travel was something that a great many of us stopped doing. At least for a while. The travel industry was having DESPERATE economic times, and in their own short-sightedness they created a new scam called "Energy Surcharge".

Hotel "Energy Surcharges" are about one thing: lying to you about what the room rate is. They quote you a nice rate to get you to stay there, but then expect you to pay a "surcharge" for a standard amenity (like the lights!) to get a few extra bucks out of you. If a hotel can't afford its power bill it should be honest about it and raise their nightly rate to cover it.

By any other name, the "Energy Surcharge" would be considered "Bait and Switch". The hotels have found a way to make Bait and Switch legal. You can, and should, refuse to play their game. Insist they charge you ONLY the rate they quoted to you.

This post inspired by one of Randy's Rants in This is True.