An American woman on her whirlwind honeymoon recently went viral, receiving more than 6,800 comments, for criticizing Marriott hotels in Waikiki for charging $200 for a poolside chair along with other “resort fees” that left her with a hefty bill. @funkshe, who is well known on TikTok, said she was enjoying her trip until she got the bill at the end of her stay and saw over $500 in charges for services she neither requested nor used.
Her TikTok post read:
“Done 👎 Hawaii is great. The hotels in Waikiki are not. Fiji was amazing. There are amazing places in the world to visit and stay in. Greedy companies in the US are ruining it for everyone #honolulu #travel #traveltips #hawaii #honeymoon”
Here’s her full transcript:
“Travel in the US is dead and it’s all because of corporate greed. On my honeymoon, my last stop is Honolulu. I stayed at a resort and saw a $500 charge added to my bill at checkout. It says there is a daily resort fee of $52 plus tax per room per day.
The amenities included a fresh flower or coconut nut greeting for two guests per stay, which we didn’t ask for because the flower was itching my neck but that was the only thing we received. There was daily morning yoga for two guests, a bag of freshly baked banana bread muffins from meditation class for two guests, refillable logo water bottles, daily cultural activities, and daily high-speed internet access, which you already get as a Marriott Bonvoy member. That is the only benefit from being a Marriott Bonvoy member.
What’s not included? The beach chairs. At a resort, I expect a place to sit under an umbrella. On this beach, we were stuck in the sand. At the pool, we saw chairs up front that we assumed were taken, but there is actually a $200 fee to reserve one in the sun.
Why pay $200 as a guest, on top of what I’m already paying, and on top of a resort fee for things I don’t want, just for a chair? I could go farther back and sit in a less desirable chair. But is this how guests are treated? They make you use a shittier chair because the front chairs cost $200 and Dollar Beach is reserved in advance for $70 per chair. Otherwise, there is no space on the beach.
Go anywhere else for your honeymoon or vacation and save your money, because in the US, you won’t feel welcome as a guest. Everything you don’t want to pay for, you have to pay for. Everything you actually want, you pay extra for. The fee you already paid does not include it. The hotel itself is also disappointing.
When a hotel could give something out for free, like these chairs, they instead charge $70 for something guests already pay for. It costs them nothing to allow us to use it for free but they charge because they can. If you pay for a fancy five-star resort, let us sit in the chairs.”
Comments on social media were mixed but most were supportive of @funkshe.
Amy E. wrote that in Sri Lanka, $500 would cover at least two nights in a luxurious five-star hotel in a villa probably larger than what you rent at home, including breakfast, a tasting menu dinner, and a personal butler. Beaches are just as beautiful and surfable.
M.J. K. noted that there is currently an open class action lawsuit regarding these fees.
Ecko878 added that corporate greed is America’s downfall.
Fred C. commented that many videos show people rushing to the pool early to reserve chairs, comparing it to Black Friday at Walmart.
One follower asked, “$70 per chair PER DAY???!!! 😳” and @funkshe responded, “Per DAY per PERSON if you reserved 24 hours in advance 😭”
I personally dislike hotels that do this, and sadly more have started since they can increase revenue without raising room rates. I’ve stayed at the Royal Hawaiian in Waikiki multiple times, the hotel in question. It’s been a while so I wasn’t aware of the fees, but when I went to reserve two beach chairs and an umbrella, staff said nothing was available for three days and there was a fee.
Royal Hawaiian Hotel Waikiki Beach
When I asked about a pool chair, since they all had towels on them, they explained that chairs are first-come, first-serve. At 7:30 a.m., every chair was reserved, yet no one was sitting and the pool was empty. Guests run down early, grab a chair, then go back to bed or breakfast. It’s frustrating. It reminds me of videos of guests lining up early for the pool gate to open so they can run to reserve chairs. See video below.
Meanwhile, guests like us who only wanted to relax for an hour or two had nowhere to sit, leaving chairs and the pool unused. It’s a ridiculous policy. I wrote in 2014 hoping it would change because it does not feel like a luxury experience. Instead, it is the opposite, and hotels of this caliber should not treat guests this way. Clearly, nothing has changed and prices for beach chairs have only increased. This could hurt them long term.
If you want to avoid these high prices and don’t mind not using a lounger, go to Target less than 2 miles away or Costco under 4 miles away and buy beach chairs and an umbrella, which costs less than a day’s rental. You can either take them home or give them to another guest. Or choose a hotel that doesn’t charge these fees and always check prices before booking.