- Anushka Rathod was charged $77 for in-room delivery at a New York hotel
- Charges included $20 for food delivery, $26 for cutlery, and $31 for hot water
- She disputed $57 in charges and succeeded after threatening poor reviews
Sometimes, while travelling, hotels tantalise you with their impressive perks, only to leave you shell-shocked with sneaky hidden charges. You check in, thinking you've snagged a fantastic deal, but suddenly, you're hit with extra fees for using the gym or even a water bottle on your bedside table. Content creator Anushka Rathod recently had a similar wake-up call during her stay at a New York City hotel, and she shared her frustrating experience in an Instagram video. In her video, Anushka shares her frustration and advises fellow travellers to be vigilant about unexpected costs.
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Asking her social media followers to be "beware" of the tourist trap, especially when travelling abroad, Anushka revealed that the hotel charged her unfairly three times, and that too for basic facilities. First, she was billed $20 (INR 1,766) for the delivery of her packaged food from the reception to her room. Next, the hotel added $26 (INR 2,296) for cutlery and an extra $31 (INR 2,738) for hot water. The vlogger claimed she had asked for hot water because there was no kettle in her room.
All in all, Anushka Rathod was charged $77 (INR 6,801) for in-room delivery. She pointed out that, unlike abroad, hotels in India either provide such services for free or refuse them upfront. Some even disclose the cost prior to check-in. The influencer decided to dispute the last two charges, which added up to $57 (INR 4,731). Although the New York hotel initially refused, when she warned them about leaving poor reviews, they eventually agreed.
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The post sparked a lively discussion, with users sharing their own experiences and reactions. Some notable comments include:
"America is quite expensive, especially NY," noted one user.
"It's the little things that catch you off guard! Always makes me double-check everything even outside of travel. A good reminder to stay alert with any bill," wrote another.
"Hospitality mein by far India is best," pointed out an individual.
"Happened with me in multiple 5-star hotels in London and Europe," shared one person.
"Hot water for $31?" asked someone else, shocked by the cost.
"They send the bill along with it, and you need to sign that. At the time of checkout, they need to show you your signed bills," noted one user.
"In Italy, we need to pay for dining at a restaurant and using table, chair and cutlery - it's called Coperto (Cover) Charges," shared another.
"Faced similar experiences in NYC too... Had to even fight for a month for just the security deposit of $100 that they take," recounted someone. "NY can be insane," they concluded, exasperated.
What do you think? Share your own experiences with surprise hotel charges!
