Hotel Booking With All Fees Shown Up Front
When you book a hotel, the price you see first is not always the price you pay. Taxes, property fees and charges collected at the front desk can change the total after you've already made plans. The simplest fix is to book where the full total, including every tax and fee, is shown line by line before you pay. On Kashlei's KashStays, the room price, each hotel tax and fee, and the Kashlei fee are itemized before checkout, paid in full at booking, and nothing is collected at the property. You can search hotels on KashStays without an account.
Why the first price you see can change
Many travel searches start with a nightly rate. That number is useful for comparing rooms, but it is often only part of the cost. Depending on where and how you book, the total can also include:
Local taxes. Cities, counties and countries charge occupancy or tourist taxes, and the rate depends on the destination.
Property fees. Some hotels add a nightly charge for amenities, parking, or services. You may see these called a resort fee, destination fee, facility fee or something similar.
Booking or service fees. A booking site may add its own fee.
Charges at check-in. Some fees are not taken when you book. They are collected when you arrive, which is where many travelers feel surprised.
None of these are wrong on their own. The problem is when they show up late, after you've compared options on a number that wasn't the real total.
What changed with the FTC fee rule in the United States
In the United States, the Federal Trade Commission's Rule on Unfair or Deceptive Fees took effect on May 12, 2025. It covers short-term lodging, including hotels and vacation rentals, and requires businesses that show a price to show the total price, including mandatory fees, more prominently than other pricing information. Taxes and government charges can still be shown separately, and the rule does not ban fees. It is about showing the total honestly up front. If you travel outside the U.S., local rules differ, so it still pays to check the total before you book.
How to see the full price before you book: a checklist
Use these steps on any booking site, not just Kashlei.
1. Enter your real dates and number of guests
Prices often depend on the exact nights and how many people are staying. A "from" price on a search page may be for a different date or a smaller room. Enter your actual stay before you compare.
2. Look for an itemized total, not just a nightly rate
A good checkout page breaks the price into lines: the room, each tax, each fee, and the grand total. If you can only see a nightly rate and a vague "taxes and fees" line, open the details before you continue.
3. Ask what is collected at the property
Read the booking page for phrases like "payable at the hotel" or "collected at check-in." If anything is due on arrival, add it to your total so you're comparing like with like.
4. Read the cancellation policy before you pay
Check whether the rate is refundable, when the free-cancellation window ends, and what is refunded if you cancel inside it. Write the deadline down in your own time zone.
5. Check what happens if the property can't honor your booking
Some bookings can be changed by the property after you've paid. Look for a clear statement about what you're guaranteed once your booking is confirmed.
6. Keep your confirmation
Save the confirmation number and the itemized receipt. If anything at check-in doesn't match, the receipt shows what you agreed to.
How KashStays shows the total
KashStays is the hotel and home stay section of Kashlei. It was built around the idea that the price you see before paying should be the price you pay.
One clear total, line by line
When you pick dates and guests, the price is read from the hotel's calendar right then, night by night. Before you pay, KashStays shows the room price, every tax and fee the hotel lists, and a small Kashlei fee, each on its own line. The Kashlei fee is shown before you pay and is never taxed.
Paid at booking, nothing collected at the property
You pay the full amount when you book, through Stripe Checkout. Because the hotel's taxes and fees are included in that total, nothing is collected at the property when you arrive.
A booking the hotel can't cancel
Once you've paid and have a confirmation number, the hotel can't cancel your booking. It must honor the room type and price you booked. If it can't, it must give you an equal or better room.
Cancel online, inside the free window
You can cancel from your booking page. If you cancel before the hotel's free-cancellation deadline, you get a full refund, including the Kashlei fee. After the deadline, or for a non-refundable rate, the hotel's policy on that booking applies, and it's shown before you pay.
Browse first, sign in only to book
Searching, city pages, hotel pages and live prices are open to everyone. You sign in to Kashlei only when you book, so your booking and any cancellation are tied to your account.
Booking a home instead of a hotel
Some trips suit a whole home, a private room or a shared space better than a hotel room. KashStays has a Homes tab for that. Each home shows the full price before you book, along with its cancellation policy. Hosts set their nightly price, cleaning fee, minimum stay and house rules, and every booking is paid up front, so the same habits from the checklist above apply: check the itemized total, the cancellation window and the house rules before you pay.
Tips for comparing stays fairly
Compare totals, not nightly rates. Two rooms with the same nightly price can end up at different totals once taxes and fees are added.
Compare the same dates and guests. Changing either can change the price.
Count what's due on arrival. A lower online price with a fee at check-in may cost more in the end.
Weigh flexibility. A refundable rate can be worth a slightly higher total if your plans might change.
Read the location details. A cheaper stay far from where you need to be can cost more in time and transport.
Frequently asked questions
Does KashStays charge resort fees at check-in?
No. On KashStays, every tax and fee the hotel lists is itemized before you pay and paid in full at booking. Nothing is collected at the property.
Do I need an account to search hotels on KashStays?
No. Searching, city pages, hotel pages and live prices are open to everyone. You sign in only when you book.
Can a hotel cancel my KashStays booking?
Once you've paid and have a confirmation number, the hotel can't cancel. It must honor the room type and price you booked, or give you an equal or better room.
What if I need to cancel?
Open your booking page and choose to cancel. Inside the hotel's free-cancellation window, you get a full refund, including the Kashlei fee.
Can I book a home or apartment instead of a hotel?
Yes. The KashStays Homes tab lists entire homes, private rooms and shared spaces, each with the full price and cancellation policy shown before you book.
Plan your next stay
Ready to see the whole price before you pay? Search hotels on KashStays, or browse homes. Creating a Kashlei account is free at kashlei.com/signup.