Booking a Canadian hotel online often starts with a nightly rate, but the final total can include more than the room itself. Some hotels add a resort fee or a destination fee. This guide explains what these charges are, what they may cover, where they appear during booking and how to read a price summary before traveling. Exact fee details for any stay are shown on the booking site or can be confirmed with the hotel.
What a Resort Fee or Destination Fee Is
A resort fee is a mandatory daily charge that some hotels add on top of the nightly room rate. A destination fee works the same way. The name often changes with the setting. Resort fees tend to appear at properties with pools or recreation areas, while destination fees often appear at city hotels.
These fees are separate from the room rate you may see first in search results. They are often charged per room, per night, and they usually apply whether or not you use the services they cover.
Hotels set their own fee names, amounts and rules. Some properties in Canada charge one, and many do not. The exact terms for any stay are shown on the booking site or can be confirmed with the hotel before you pay.
What the Fee May Cover
Hotels often list a bundle of services that the fee is meant to cover. Examples can include in-room Wi-Fi, fitness room access, pool access, bottled water or local phone calls. Some city hotels bundle food and drink credits or equipment loans into the charge.
The list varies from one property to the next, and it can change over time. A service included at one hotel may be charged separately at another, or may not be offered at all.
When you review a listing, look for a line that explains what the fee includes. If the description is unclear, confirm with the hotel. That way you know which services are part of the charge and which ones carry a separate cost during your stay.
Where Fees Appear When Booking Online
When you search for Canadian hotels online, the first rate on screen may not include every charge. Resort fees and destination fees can appear in different places, depending on the site and the hotel.
Some listings fold the fee into the total shown at checkout. Others show it on a separate line labeled as a property fee or mandatory fee. In some cases, the fee is listed as payable at the hotel rather than at the time of booking.
Before you confirm a reservation, scroll to the price summary and read each line. Check whether the total covers the full stay and all rooms. Note whether any amount is marked as due at check-in or check-out. The full breakdown is shown on the booking site.
How Fees Differ From Taxes, Holds and Other Charges
A resort fee or destination fee is a hotel charge, not a government tax. Taxes are set by public authorities, while the hotel decides whether to add its own fee. Both may appear together in a price summary, so it helps to read each label.
Fees are also different from a security deposit or an incidental hold. A hold is usually placed on a card at check-in to cover possible extra charges, and its terms vary by hotel.
Parking, pet charges and early check-in charges are often listed on their own as well. Each one has separate rules. If a line item has an unfamiliar name, confirm with the hotel what it is for and when it is collected.
A Simple Checklist Before You Reserve
A short review before you pay can help you understand the full cost of a stay. Start by reading the room description and the policies section of the listing. Look for terms such as resort fee, destination fee, facility fee, urban fee or amenity fee.
Next, look at the total for the whole stay rather than the nightly rate alone. Check whether the fee is charged per room, per night or per stay. Note whether it is paid online or at the hotel.
Finally, keep a copy of your confirmation and its price breakdown. If anything is unclear, confirm with the hotel before traveling. When you are ready, you can review Canadian hotel listings and their fee details on Trip.com.
Key points
- A resort fee or destination fee is a mandatory charge some hotels add on top of the room rate.
- The fee is set by the hotel and is separate from government taxes.
- What the fee covers varies by property, so read the listing or confirm with the hotel.
- Fees may be included in the online total or listed as payable at the hotel.
- Reading every line of the price summary helps you see the full cost of a stay.
- Security deposits and incidental holds are separate from resort and destination fees.
Frequently asked questions
Is a destination fee the same as a resort fee?
They work the same way. Both are mandatory hotel charges added to the room rate. The name often depends on whether the property is a resort or a city hotel.
Do all Canadian hotels charge these fees?
No. Some properties charge one, and many do not. Whether a fee applies to a specific stay is shown on the booking site or can be confirmed with the hotel.
Can I skip the fee if I do not use the services?
These fees usually apply whether or not you use the included services. The policy for a specific property should be confirmed with the hotel.
Where can I see the fee before I reserve?
Check the price summary and the policies section of the listing. Fee details are shown on the booking site, sometimes as an amount payable at the hotel.
Sponsored content. wiikiro.com earns a commission when you book through links on this page, and that affects which hotels we feature and in what order. We do not take bookings. This article was written November 10, 2026; confirm current rates, fees and cancellation terms on the booking site before you pay.