The room rate is only one part of a hotel commitment. Three terms answer different questions:
- A resort, destination or amenity fee is a mandatory charge attached to the stay, often presented as covering a group of services. A guest may owe it even when they do not use those services.
- A deposit is money collected or authorized before the final bill. It may be an advance payment, refundable booking deposit or temporary authorization for incidentals.
- A dress code is a conduct or attire rule for a restaurant, club, golf course, spa, stable or other space. It may affect access without changing the room price.
Hidden mandatory lodging charges made apparently inexpensive rooms difficult to compare. The Federal Trade Commission’s Rule on Unfair or Deceptive Fees took effect May 12, 2025. For short-term lodging offered to U.S. consumers, it requires businesses displaying a price to show the total price inclusive of mandatory fees clearly and prominently. The rule does not prohibit resort fees or set their amount. Government charges such as taxes may be excluded from the first displayed total when properly disclosed before payment.
That distinction matters: an upfront total improves comparison shopping, but it does not establish that the rate is refundable, that every optional activity is included, or that the final card authorization will equal the advertised stay total. Travelers still need an itemized confirmation.
Start with the mandatory stay total: room, required fees and other unavoidable charges. Add taxes, then likely spending such as parking, meals, activities and transport. Finally, ask what will be authorized for incidentals.
For every deposit or authorization, record:
1. the amount and whether it is a charge or hold;
2. the cancellation deadline and time zone;
3. what happens after a shortened stay or no-show; and
4. who releases any unused authorization.
Release timing varies, and debit-card holds can affect cash needed during the trip. Ask both the hotel and card issuer; there is no universal number of days.
Dress rules may be safety requirements, venue conventions or vague social filters. A stable may require long pants and secure footwear; a dining room may prohibit athletic wear; a golf facility may distinguish the course from its clubhouse.
Ask for the current written code and examples. Confirm how it applies to children, religious or cultural dress, disability-related needs and the entire party—and whether denied entry forfeits a prepaid reservation.
Rules should be published, relevant and applied consistently. Title II of the Civil Rights Act establishes a U.S. legal floor against discrimination in covered hotels and restaurants. Disability-related policies and reservations have separate ADA requirements. This page is planning guidance, not legal advice.