JW Anaheim added $30/day destination fee to existing res

[gottalovepluto]

Heads up, JW Anaheim appears to be adding a $25/day destination fee even to pre-existing reservations

I have an existing reservation at the JW in April and I looked at my Marriott online today and it now shows a $25 Destination Fee. A notice on top of the page says it includes a "food and beverage credit, yoga and more" but that is it. The fee was not there when I booked. I printed off a confirmation when I booked and in comparing it sure enough the fee was not listed and the total showing online for in my bookings is $29.25 ($25+taxes) higher than when I booked it.

I'm keeping the res for other reasons but I will be bring my original printed reservation with me to gripe with management if they try to charge me the fee.

 

[PirateBrigade]

Yeah that's garbage.

My e-mail summary:


My online account:


I don't want to deal with this at check-in, so my email to them shortly will be: "I noticed an extra fee was added to my reservation in my online account that I did not approve of at booking -- what additional amenities will you be providing for that fee that is above and beyond what I had agreed to initially?"

I mean, I don't mind the extra $50 if I get like a $50 F&B credit... it's just irritating that it gets snuck in there, it's a very low brow/low class move.

 

[PirateBrigade]

OKay this was sent just now, will report back if they reply:

Hello - I have a reservation at the JW Marriott - Anaheim Resort coming up in April, and I noticed an additional $25/day + tax charge was added to my reservation without my initial approval (and is not visible on my email confirmation).

What additional amenities will you be providing for that fee that is above and beyond what I had agreed to initially? The hotel website is very vague. Specifically, what is the included food & beverage credit?

I'm not pleased this was added without notice after my booking, but I would like to know details as to what is provided. Thank you.

 

[gelatoni fan]

My understanding is that adding a fee to a past reservation is illegal but hotels get away with it because guests don't check their folios.

When checking out, you should bring any paperwork you have showing that the fee was wrongly added and get them to print out your folio in paper with the fee not showing. After the stay, check your credit card and call the hotel if the fee still shows. Finally, issue a chargeback on the fee if you can't get it removed.

I'm also curious on what the fee is supposed to give you.

I have an existing reservation with the Four Points where no such thing was added so it seems to just be the JW Marriott so far.

 

[PirateBrigade]

My understanding is that adding a fee to a past reservation is illegal but hotels get away with it because guests don't check their folios.

I'm also curious on what the fee is supposed to give you.

Yeah, $25/night is more annoying and is the hallmark of a paycheck cashing store, not a JW Marriott. This is for an upcoming reservation though -- so I think they might actually legally be in the clear (as if they raised their parking rates, in this case, they raised their resort free from $0 to $25).

I did get dinged for a phantom beer from the minibar at the W Hotel up in LA a while back. Thanks to tripadvisor for the warning, I knew to look for it, and a simple customer service message solved it.

 

[gelatoni fan]

Yeah, $25/night is more annoying and is the hallmark of a paycheck cashing store, not a JW Marriott. This is for an upcoming reservation though -- so I think they might actually legally be in the clear (as if they raised their parking rates, in this case, they raised their resort free from $0 to $25).

I did get dinged for a phantom beer from the minibar at the W Hotel up in LA a while back. Thanks to tripadvisor for the warning, I knew to look for it, and a simple customer service message solved it.

I believe it is illegal to add the resort fee for a reservation booked in the past even if the stay has not happened yet. I should have written "existing" rather than "past" to be more clear. Minibar and parking charges are not quite the same because it's not mandatory for you to pay them if you don't utilize these.

I've been hit with erroneous minibar charges as well. The worst is hotels that have minibar sensors so if you put something on the table and it vibrates too hard, it can accidentally trip the sensor.

 

[PirateBrigade]

I believe it is illegal to add the resort fee for a reservation booked in the past even if the stay has not happened yet. I should have written "existing" rather than "past" to be more clear. Minibar and parking charges are not quite the same because it's not mandatory for you to pay them if you don't utilize these.

I've been hit with erroneous minibar charges as well. The worst is hotels that have minibar sensors so if you put something on the table and it vibrates too hard, it can accidentally trip the sensor.

Ah gotcha... illegal or not, it's 100% slimy and I don't like it. I hope they respond.

Those Indiana Jones sensors bug me as well... I almost want to trigger all of them one day and not drink anything, just to make a point.

 

[PirateBrigade]

lots of little errors in the email, but I’m actually happy a human responded and not someone who wholesale copied a script.



Goo Afternoon !

Thank you for choosing our beautiful hotel for your stay!

I am Reaching out to you in regards to the inquiry about the extras $25 charge per day that has been added to your reservation.

From March first our hotel is implementing the Destination fee which is $25 daily fee which will include the below.
- $25 hotel food and beverage credit per day
- Daily morning Yoga class for two ($40 value) 7am in wellness center
- High-speed Enhanced wifi included daily ($8 value)
- Daily wine tasting ($20 value) in Citriculture
- $15 credit coupon to Roy’s Anaheim

We are the first to offer a such verity of options and we really want our guest to enjoy the stay to the maximum and have different memories in this Kingdome all your own.

Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns, I am more than happy to answer it for you.

Looking forward to welcome you!

Warm regards,

​

DANUSHIKA RATNAYAKE
ASSISTANT FRONT DESK MANAGER | JW MARRIOTT, ANAHEIM RESORT

 

[gelatoni fan]

lots of little errors in the email, but I’m actually happy a human responded and not someone who wholesale copied a script.



Goo Afternoon !

Thank you for choosing our beautiful hotel for your stay!

I am Reaching out to you in regards to the inquiry about the extras $25 charge per day that has been added to your reservation.

From March first our hotel is implementing the Destination fee which is $25 daily fee which will include the below.
- $25 hotel food and beverage credit per day
- Daily morning Yoga class for two ($40 value) 7am in wellness center
- High-speed Enhanced wifi included daily ($8 value)
- Daily wine tasting ($20 value) in Citriculture
- $15 credit coupon to Roy’s Anaheim

We are the first to offer a such verity of options and we really want our guest to enjoy the stay to the maximum and have different memories in this Kingdome all your own.

Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns, I am more than happy to answer it for you.

Looking forward to welcome you!

Warm regards,

DANUSHIKA RATNAYAKE
ASSISTANT FRONT DESK MANAGER | JW MARRIOTT, ANAHEIM RESORT

This is actually rather interesting. As a Marriott Titanium, I should be entitled to a replacement benefit for the enhanced wifi. I wonder what that is.
I would already have breakfast and a light dinner covered by my status as well. So the $25 food and beverage credit would only make sense for lunch. Which means I'd stay at this hotel if the only thing I wanted to do is hang out at the hotel but I'd have a hard time using all the benefits if I were going in to the parks.

 

[Matrixleos]

This is actually rather interesting. As a Marriott Titanium, I should be entitled to a replacement benefit for the enhanced wifi. I wonder what that is.
I would already have breakfast and a light dinner covered by my status as well. So the $25 food and beverage credit would only make sense for lunch. Which means I'd stay at this hotel if the only thing I wanted to do is hang out at the hotel but I'd have a hard time using all the benefits if I were going in to the parks.

You should be able to opt out from those benefits at check-in. Personally, I wouldn't have need for any of those "services". Especially the $25 hotel food voucher, which forces you to each at their location. There are so many local restaurants I'd rather eat at than a hotel restaurant.

 

[gottalovepluto]

lots of little errors in the email, but I’m actually happy a human responded and not someone who wholesale copied a script.



Goo Afternoon !

Thank you for choosing our beautiful hotel for your stay!

I am Reaching out to you in regards to the inquiry about the extras $25 charge per day that has been added to your reservation.

From March first our hotel is implementing the Destination fee which is $25 daily fee which will include the below.
- $25 hotel food and beverage credit per day
- Daily morning Yoga class for two ($40 value) 7am in wellness center
- High-speed Enhanced wifi included daily ($8 value)
- Daily wine tasting ($20 value) in Citriculture
- $15 credit coupon to Roy’s Anaheim

We are the first to offer a such verity of options and we really want our guest to enjoy the stay to the maximum and have different memories in this Kingdome all your own.

Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns, I am more than happy to answer it for you.

Looking forward to welcome you!

Warm regards,
View attachment 649765
DANUSHIKA RATNAYAKE
ASSISTANT FRONT DESK MANAGER | JW MARRIOTT, ANAHEIM RESORT

I’ve got their rooftop bar on my list so if that qualifies for the F&B credit I’ll be whole and maybe get to taste some wine as an extra. Feeling a lot better! Thanks for sharing the email!