The real total of a beach week: resort fees, bags and taxes

Three totals we found on Oct 15, 2026

We start with real numbers, because they make the rest easier to follow. For Nov 14–23, 2026, a trip from Tampa to Honolulu & Oahu came to $3,321 for two for 9 nights. That was $1,655 for the flights for two and $1,439 for the Oasis Hotel Waikiki, with taxes in.

Miami had two shorter trips. From Houston, Nov 27–Dec 1, 2026, the total was $1,004 for two: $236 in flights and $684 for Casablanca Residences Miami Beach. From Cincinnati, Nov 19–23, 2026, the total was $1,200 for two: $394 in flights and $718 for citizenM Miami South Beach.

Each total counts the flights, the hotel and, when the booking site lists one, the resort fee the hotel collects at the desk. That's why the total can come out higher than the flights and the hotel added together. These are prices from the date shown, not a promise. Prices change, and the booking site's checkout is the price that counts.

The fee the desk collects belongs in the total

A resort fee, destination fee or amenity fee is a mandatory charge. You pay it whether or not you use the pool, the gym or the beach chairs. Since May 2025, the FTC's fees rule requires mandatory hotel fees like these to be included in the advertised total. California's law requires the same, which matters if you're comparing hotels in San Diego.

If a hotel price you're looking at leaves out a fee the desk will collect anyway, it isn't the real price. When the booking site lists a resort fee, our trip pages count it inside "The total, before you go". When it lists none, the page says "this hotel lists no resort fee", so you know which case you're in.

If a fee shows up at checkout that you weren't told about, you can dispute it at the front desk and with your card issuer. You can also report it to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov or to your state attorney general.

We stayed at an all inclusive and when registering for the cabana they said the tip is not included. For what.. handing me towels?

The checked bag runs $35 to $60 each way, and it's not in the total

This is the first checked bag, one way, per person. Delta, Southwest and Alaska charge $35. American and United charge $40. JetBlue charges $45. Spirit and Frontier charge $60. Our trip pages list "a checked bag each, round trip" as four times the airline's one-way price, since there are two of you and two flights each.

That's why a lower fare isn't always the lower trip. A low fare on an airline with a $60 bag can end up costing as much as a fare on an airline with a $35 bag, once you add bags for two people both ways. In the research we read, 27% of travelers skipped a trip because of bag and seat fees, and 32% changed destination over the airfare.

Basic economy fares keep getting stricter. On some airlines that means no carry-on, on most it means no seat choice and no changes. If you pick seats on a basic fare, that cost isn't in the total either.

Cancún and Punta Cana: an all-inclusive still has extras

Many people pick an all-inclusive in Cancún or Punta Cana so they'll know the cost ahead of time. That makes sense: one price covers the room, the food and the drinks. The US fee rules above apply to US hotels, though, so for a resort in Mexico or the Dominican Republic, read the hotel's fee line yourself before you book.

Even with everything included, some costs land outside the price: tips, cabanas, specialty dinners and add-ons sold at the resort. In the forum posts we read, travelers complain most about places that were overhyped and about add-ons that weren't worth the money, like a floating breakfast served at the wrong temperature. Hidden fees and tips show up too, less often but with real annoyance.

an all inclusive would be nice so we don’t need to worry about anything and know roughly what we’ll spend before leaving.

Parking, Wi-Fi and the card hold are extras, not fees

Some charges look like fees but aren't. Parking, faster Wi-Fi and the minibar are extras you choose, so they don't count as mandatory fees and aren't in the total. A deposit or hold on your card at check-in is normal, and it's released after checkout.

Transfers and rental cars aren't in the total either, and they can surprise you. Take photos of the car at pickup and at drop-off, and keep the rental agreement. If a charge looks wrong, the same steps work: dispute it at the counter, then with your card issuer.

Just got back from Miami and NextCar/Stride Rent A Car at MIA hit me with a $450 smoking fee. No we did not smoke in the car.

A price that jumps at the last step is a reason to stop

In the research we read, 31% of travelers abandon a booking when the price jumps at the last step. That's a reasonable response. A jump at checkout usually means a fee, a tax or an add-on wasn't in the price you were shown first.

Before you pay, compare the checkout total with the total you planned for. If the difference is a resort fee, check whether it was disclosed. If it's a seat, a bag or a pre-selected add-on, decide whether you actually want it. Booking sites are good at selling upgrades once you're committed.

Royal's whole model is to get you booked and then sell you a ton of upcharges