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7 Hotel Chains That Just Aren't Worth the Money Anymore

Rising fees and shrinking perks are making these hotel chains a bad deal.

By Amanda Teague , Edited by Sara Albertelli

Updated Aug. 17, 2026

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Hotel prices keep climbing, but the experience inside the room hasn't kept up. Rates have jumped over the past few years, yet the small things that used to come standard, like real toiletries, decent linens, and someone around the pool to take your order, have quietly disappeared. That's a frustrating combination for anyone trying to save money on travel.

Two problems are driving the "not worth it" feeling. Mandatory resort or destination fees now tack a daily charge onto basics like Wi-Fi and pool access, and service has thinned out across the board, from downgraded amenities to vanished poolside help. Here are the chains generating the most complaints, and what to watch for before you book.

MGM Resorts

Booking a deal at Bellagio, Aria, or Vdara feels great until the resort fee shows up at checkout. These days that add-on runs $45 to $55 a night before tax at most major Strip properties, covering things like Wi-Fi and pool access that most travelers assume come with the room already. It's also getting worse fast.

Vegas resort fees jumped about 11% from 2024 to 2025, so a four-night stay can quietly add over $200 to your total. MGM doesn't stand out from the rest of the Strip here, but that's the point. Even a "budget" MGM trip needs the fee baked into your math from the start.

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World of Hyatt

Hyatt has long had a reputation as the loyalty program that actually rewarded its members, but that's shifting. In May 2026, Hyatt shifted 112 properties up an award category, meaning the same free night now costs noticeably more points than it used to.

Some coverage puts the hit at up to 67% more points for top-tier redemptions. If you've been saving Hyatt points for a splurge trip, that balance buys less than it did a year ago. Elite members can get resort fees waived, which matters because Hyatt's resort fees run near the top of the major chains, averaging about $33.80 a night, according to NerdWallet. But the days of it being the obvious "best value" program are fading fast.

Caesars Entertainment

If Caesars Palace, Paris Las Vegas, or Planet Hollywood are on your list, budget for the resort fee before you fall for the advertised rate. Like most Strip casino resorts, Caesars properties charge $50 to $55 a night before taxes get added on top.

It adds up fast on longer stays, and the fee can significantly increase the total cost once you've picked the property. The fee often covers amenities some travelers may not use, such as fitness center access and other property-specific benefits. For a retiree on a fixed budget, that hidden $200 or so over a few nights is worth planning around ahead of time.

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Hilton Honors

Hilton has quietly reworked its Honors program three times since 2025, and each round has made award nights pricier. The ceiling for a standard room redemption is now up to 250,000 points a night, a level once reserved for the most exclusive properties in the portfolio.

Hilton isn't cheap on the cash side either. Its resort fees average about $33 a night, according to NerdWallet's 2026 analysis. Rising fees plus points that buy less add up to a rough combination for anyone who built up a Hilton balance expecting a certain kind of trip. Top-tier Diamond members still get some fees waived, but casual Hilton stayers feel the squeeze most.

Marriott

Marriott earns its spot because of how it treats points bookings. Hilton and Hyatt both waive resort fees when you redeem points for a free night, but Marriott still charges them — and its resort fees are the steepest of any major chain, averaging about $36 a night, according to NerdWallet. That means a "free" award stay can still come with a real bill at checkout.

On top of that, Bonvoy award pricing rose 5 to 10% on average across the portfolio in 2026, with some individual properties climbing as much as 16%. Luxury sub-brands like Ritz-Carlton and St. Regis keep drifting higher under Marriott's dynamic pricing too. For a program built on the promise that points mean free travel, the fine print at checkout is doing a lot of the talking lately.

IHG

IHG doesn't get the same headlines as Marriott or Hilton, but it shouldn't get a pass either. Its resort fees average about $32.57 a night, according to NerdWallet, and — like Marriott — it still charges those fees even on award stays booked with points, including at InterContinental and Kimpton properties.

The bigger issue is IHG has followed the same playbook as its rivals, adjusting award pricing and property categories in ways that quietly reduce what a points balance is worth. It's easy to assume a lower-profile chain is also lower risk here, but IHG shows that isn't automatically true. Check the full price, points included, before you lock anything in.

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Wyndham

Wyndham built its name on budget travel, brands like Days Inn, Super 8, and La Quinta that were never about resort fees or fancy perks. That's changing. Wyndham's CEO recently confirmed the company is deliberately replacing lower-fee economy rooms with higher-fee midscale ones, and the numbers back it up.

U.S. economy room count dropped 3% while midscale and upscale rooms grew 2%, a real shift for a chain built on being the affordable option. It's a smaller move than what's happening at the big luxury chains, but it matters because Wyndham was the chain travelers picked to avoid this stuff. If even Wyndham is chasing higher fees, it says something about where the whole industry is headed.

Bottom line

None of this means you should stop traveling, just book a little smarter. Check the all-in price with mandatory fees included before you confirm anything, not just the advertised nightly rate. Many booking sites now let you sort by total stay cost, which makes it easy to spot a $159 room that actually runs $220 after fees.

It also pays to pick chains that reward loyalty instead of charging around it. Hilton and Hyatt waive resort fees on points bookings, and elite status can wipe them out entirely. A dependable mid-tier brand often beats a premium name that's cut back on service while raising its rates. Get the fees and the brand right, and there's nothing stopping you from being able to start traveling more without watching your budget disappear into hidden charges.

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