When I buy something, I like to know the price of what I am buying. This is mostly because I am trying not to go broke before I finally win the lottery. Unfortunately, when booking a hotel, this is damn near impossible – as the rate that is posted is not the real rate. First there are all the damn taxes local city governments require in order to sneakily gouge tourists. Then there are those ridiculously high “resort fees” – which I think we can all agree are the worst. So why does just about every hotel in the Coachella Valley, a community that depends on tourism, continue to gouge tourists?
The Desert Sun posted a few of the local resort fees today – which range from $12 to $40 for places in the Coachella Valley. What does that extra money get you? Well, the same thing that you used to get for free at hotels like a pool, parking, and maybe a “workout facility” – which is normally an old elliptical and a couple of free weights.
These fees are beyond frustrating. But, The Desert Sun should have gone even further and pointed out all the insane taxes that are added on too.
Say for instance you wanted to stay at the Hard Rock in Palm Springs this weekend. A search on their website shows that their cheapest rate would be $229 – but hey, look at what is written next to the rate:
Ahh yes, “excluding taxes and fees”. So, what is the actual price then:
Yeah, the $36 resort fee is insane. But then look at all those taxes that brings the cost up by 80 bucks for just one night!
Tourism is great, but should we really be screwing over everyone who stays a night in town in order to make weird YouTube videos showcasing the Coachella Valley’s “nightlife”?
Sure. You might say, “well it’s just tourists” and be content with the tax money raised thinking that the city is doing something good with it. But the city of Palm Springs is giving a ton of that occupancy tax money right back to several hotels as part of a “rebate” program – which must be because hotels are clearly not making enough money with their $36 resort fees.
