Gone are the days when paying the hotel tariff entitled us to enjoy all the perks our accommodation offered. Today our rooms are full of traps which can drain the pockets of the uninitiated. Here’s our guide to avoiding those pesky accommodation fees.
Look out for parking. The days of complementary hotel parking are all but over. These days you’ll likely spend a significant amount on daily parking, and even more if you hand your keys to a valet. These charges can add up, particularly if you are enjoying an extended getaway. Consider parking off site, such as in the local council’s parking lot or in a well-lit back street. Or perhaps leave your car at home altogether. Using public transport rather than your own vehicle is often a more economical choice.
Beware the mini bar. Those in-room candy bars and alcoholic beverages may look tempting, but they come with inflated prices. The treats may be convenient, but you’ll find similar items at a local store. Don’t think you can outwit the hotel either by enjoying the snacks, then replacing them later. Many high tech mini bars have sensors which signal to the front desk the moment an item is removed!
Hang up the phone. Most accommodation comes with in-room phones, but resist picking them up. Many hotels even charge for local calls, and the price for dialing long-distance can be astronomical. Using your own cell phone is generally a much smarter option, although remember to consider international roaming charges if you’re holidaying abroad.
Re-use your towels. This tip isn’t simply about saving the planet; it could also save you serious coin. Most hotels have a warm, fuzzy sign encouraging guests to re-use their towels as an environmental measure. It seems like a gentle note, but most guests don’t know they could face charges if they don’t oblige. New towel fees are common in Costa Rica’s eco-friendly accommodation options, but they’re becoming more prevalent in other parts of the world.
Consider breakfast. The promise of breakfast the next day is a real selling point for bed and breakfast accommodation and many larger hotels. But it’s smart to know exactly what your accommodation entitles you to. Sometimes the hot portion of a buffet will cost extra, sometimes your entire morning meal will incur a charge. Consider this, as often bacon and eggs at a local café will be much cheaper.
Room service could cost more than you think. Most of us know the prices on the room service menu are greatly inflated. We’ll happily pay the surcharge to indulge our midnight cravings for mac and cheese. However the money we’ll spend doesn’t always end at the cost of the meal. Many hotels add a gratuity of between 15 and 20 per cent to the base room service charge. Unknowingly, many guests also leave the staff an additional tip. And on top of that, you could even face a clean-up charge if you leave those dishes in the room, rather than at the door. Your craving may be satisfied, but your wallet may smart.
Watch the work out. The use of the gym is often included in a hotel package, but this isn’t always the case. Don’t assume a gym key and access code entitles you to sweat it out at your leisure. Some establishments will slap you with a charge the moment you access the workout room. Reject those fees and burn those calories with a run around the local area. The view’s sure to be an improvement over the hotel gym’s four walls!
There’s less responsibility but also less privacy in couchsurfing. As its name suggests, this kind of arrangement will see you sleeping on the couch, or bed if you’re lucky, of a generous stranger. It’s completely free to join the 
Some travelers may be reluctant to stay a mile from Melbourne's central business district, but there's also something refreshing about removing yourself from the thick of the urban hub-bub. Trams, trains, and buses regularly make the pilgrimage from Richmond into the city center, and there are many restaurants within walking distance from the hotel.
Double rooms start from $235 a night, including breakfast and the very Australian touch of complementary beer. That tariff is nothing to sneeze at, but far less than you'd expect to pay for such an exclusive boutique 
The friendly staff will serve you up a six-course Japanese banquet, or for something lighter you could participate in an authentic tea ceremony. The banquets are served in your room, so they make for a great romantic night in. Miso soup, sushi, and sashimi are dished up alongside Asian potato croquettes, gyoza dumplings and chicken kara age, a succulently tender chicken dish marinated in ginger and sake. Make sure you save room for dessert though, as the red bean and green tea ice-creams are a delicious taste of the east.
And of course there is the spa, which specializes in the rejuvenating treatments of the Orient including hot stone therapy and lomi lomi massage.
Rooms at the Japanese Mountain Retreat start from $395, although if you plan to indulge in spa treatments and the banquet it may be worthwhile buying one of the many accommodation packages. While these are pricy, they're more affordable than using the services separately.
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The art deco 
It's easy to hole yourself up in the luxurious rooms, but then you'd miss all of the Westin's other attractions. For total bliss, there's the spa, with single and couples treatment rooms, steam and sauna rooms, and an Ayurveda wellness center. There are also six restaurants and bars ready to cater to your every whim. It's easier to enjoy this pampering knowing your tiny tots are having fun in the Kids Club. The local arts and craft activities, open air movies, and stargazing will keep children so busy they'll never miss you.
To celebrate the opening of Westin Siray Bay Resort & Spa, the resort is offering selected rooms for 2010 baht, or $59 US.
But if you want to enjoy real luxury, consider a stay at