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hhendrix · 06-18-2021, 02:30 PM

First of all this is a beautiful huge park in a great location with lots of amenities. Hundreds of sites from tents to the ultra expensive patio sites. It is also very expensive, but we thought we knew that. We prepaid for two nights and when we arrived the snuck in a $21 "mandatory resort fee." I asked about where this info was mentioned on the website and they replied it is in a (sneaky my words) line under the advisory "other applicable fees may apply." I feel this is disingenuous at best. First of all, they were not up front about it even on our estimated receipt for the deposit. Second, the "other applicable fees may apply" is also misleading because the "may" doesn't make sense because it is mandatory.

Unfortunately this is becoming very common at resort hotels and most of them too don't provide the info up front.

Lily&Me · 06-18-2021, 02:59 PM

I have come across this before, and these are places where I don’t go back.

Maggie

Mollysdad · 06-18-2021, 03:44 PM

Another reason to avoid KOA's but they seem to control the market, so you can't.
As long as RV traffic is high, supply and demand will rule.
Try to remember that when everyone was hunkered down at home, the KOA still had to pay their bills.
BTW, when I visited Glacier, we stayed in Kalispel. Not a resort, but affordable and a short drive to the park.

21Airstream · 06-18-2021, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lily&Me

I have come across this before, and these are places where I don’t go back.

Maggie

Same here.

civeng99 · 06-18-2021, 06:00 PM

Or use the pool, the basketball courts and what not, have fun and happily pay an extra 20 bucks.

mikeinca · 06-18-2021, 06:20 PM

Following

RivetED · 06-18-2021, 06:50 PM

Limited supply and high demand will rule this year. I imagine many of the not so mechanically inclined 'new' RVers will be moving on to other options within a year or so. At least that is my hope. What a ride this has all been!

Bcc75 · 06-18-2021, 07:59 PM

They should disclose all of their fees up front. That much I think we can all agree with. But.... this is arguably one of the nicest KOA’s in the county. If I could even get in the park, and am already paying a premium for what this park has to offer, then the extra $20 is really a non issue.

Gibson3798 · 06-18-2021, 08:26 PM

This isn't worthy of a "warning". From your comments it's a great park and you didn't read the fine print. They did nothing wrong.

dznf0g · 06-18-2021, 08:42 PM

Many of these resort fees are the local government getting into their...and your nickers and has nothing to do with the entity you are staying at.
Look closely at your next hotel bill.

smithcreek · 06-19-2021, 04:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dznf0g

Many of these resort fees are the local government getting into their...and your nickers and has nothing to do with the entity you are staying at.
Look closely at your next hotel bill.

I was wondering if it's the same as the "room tax" in many states at hotels. They don't tell you about that when you ask about room rates either, kind of like a store not telling you the price of an item with sales tax added in when you ask how much something is.

Lily&Me · 06-19-2021, 04:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gibson3798

This isn't worthy of a "warning". From your comments it's a great park and you didn't read the fine print. They did nothing wrong.

This may or may not be true.

I have called ahead about a site, been given the daily rate, then when I check in had a “resort fee” added to the total.

I have asked what this fee is for and been told “it’s just something we charge”, which is a non-answer, in my opinion.

I believe campgrounds, like other entities, should be upfront about extra fees, also consider waiving them for people who are not going to use resort-style amenities.

And if it were a perfect world, this would be so.

Some places will give a wrist band or electronic code that allows access to the pool, rec room, etc., allowing non-users to opt out.

“Reservation fees” charged even for walk-ups are a similar annoyance, but it’s all part of the price we pay for the privilege of travel.

Sometimes you want a reservation, sometimes that comes with extra fees.

Maggie

Bill M. · 06-19-2021, 05:30 AM

I think it is just something we have to deal with more and more. I have sure seen a lot of that on hotel bills. I live in a metropolitan area that has added huge local entertainment taxes to concert tickets and hotels. So much so that some artists refuse to perform here. Having been to that KOA several times over the years and having noticed how much the use of Glacier Park has increased I do not expect any breaks in that area now for sure. I bet Columbia Falls has its hook into that KOA. It is pretty usual in the hotel business to advertise the prices before taxes and then add some whoppers. Sorta seems to fall into acceptable business tactics now.

Acheron2010 · 06-19-2021, 05:48 AM

When I first started full-timing, I used KOAs because of their consistency and ease of getting reservations, and they seem to be located in all my major travel routes. As a newbie, I could focus on learning the trailer, and not worry about where I was camping. For families and new campers, they offer a good value.
Now that I am older and wiser...

BTW, is the East side of Glacier open? Was closed all last year due to the virus.

Lily&Me · 06-19-2021, 06:02 AM

East Glacier is open, and a good part of the GTSR…

https://www.nps.gov/glac/index.htm

Maggie

Bcc75 · 06-19-2021, 06:04 AM

If a particular area is considered a ‘Resort’ then all of the venues in that area can charge a ‘resort fee’. I’m sure part of that goes to the local government but I was told that part goes to the resort as well.
We have stayed near Big Sky, Montana several times. It is designated as a resort area. If you look at your receipts after paying for anything there, including renting a home/condo, skiing, eating at a restaurant, buying merchandise, booking a guide for fishing, horseback riding, etc, etc.... then you will see a ‘resort fee’ added. I’m sure this is the case with other areas in other parts of the country as well. However, Montana is a state that does not have a state sales tax.
So this is how their govt. collects revenue from these areas.

andyherman · 06-19-2021, 09:22 AM

They charge them because people pay them -

http://killresortfees.com/in-the-news

gypsydad · 06-19-2021, 10:05 AM

I for one, do not like "surprises" especially at the prices some of these places are charging. Like a "resort" in HI; extra "resort fee" /per day in this case, is taking advantage of the customer, but they do it. In KOA Glacier, they have a nice place, but should be clear in their advertising the $20. that being said, I would pay, and let it go...it is a nice park and you are lucky to get in this time of year, IMHO...there are other parks, by the way, back up the road...that do not charge this fee....yet.