Hotel Stay Cost Calculator

Hotel tax rates vary significantly by city and state. High-tax cities include: New York City (total ~14.75% + $1.50/night fee), Chicago (~17.4%), San Francisco (~14% + $1–3/night), Houston (~17%), Seattle (~15.6%), Washington D.C. (~14.5%). Lower-tax states include: Texas varies by city but averages 13–17%, Florida averages 10–13%, and some rural areas have rates as low as 8–9%. Always verify the current rate for your specific destination on the hotel's website or a local tax authority.

Resort fees are technically mandatory but some guests successfully negotiate waiving them under certain circumstances: high-status loyalty members, extended stays, complaints about specific amenities being unavailable, or booking through certain corporate rate codes that exclude fees. Booking directly with the hotel (rather than through OTAs like Expedia) gives you more leverage for fee negotiations. Some credit cards with travel benefits, like the American Express Platinum, provide resort fee credits at select properties.

In most cases, hotel taxes are only charged when you actually stay — they appear on your bill at checkout, not at booking. If you cancel within the free cancellation window, you owe nothing. If you cancel with penalty (e.g., after a non-refundable advance purchase), the cancellation fee typically applies only to the room rate, not to projected taxes. However, policies vary — read your specific booking's cancellation terms carefully, especially for non-refundable rate types.

Resort fee included amenities vary by property but commonly include: in-room WiFi (most commonly cited), pool and fitness center access, daily newspaper, local phone calls, business center access, parking at limited resorts, beach chair rentals at beach properties, and various food/beverage credits. Critics argue that many of these were previously included in the room rate or should be standard amenities. The actual value provided rarely equals the fee charged, which ranges from $20 to over $90 per night.

To find the true total price: on Expedia and Booking.com, look for 'total price including taxes and fees' breakdown before confirming. Hotels.com and Kayak typically show total prices more prominently. Calling the hotel directly and asking for an itemized quote including all mandatory fees is always reliable. The hotel's own website must now (per FTC rules) include mandatory fees in the displayed price. For Las Vegas specifically, the website lasvegasresortfees.com tracks current resort fees by property.