Did you know . . . One in four travelers say they’ve had a dispute over a hotel minibar charge, according to a recent study conducted by TripAdvisor.com.

I was clueless on the fact that many hotels are using automatic motion and weight sensors that register your purchase.  Just simply moving the items in the refrigerator around to make room for your snacks or take out food can register that you have purchased something.  It seems to me that these special refrigerators would cost more than they’re worth, but that just shows how much hotels are making off of this stuff.

You know those little bottles of water in your room that look like they’re set out for your drinking enjoyment?  They may not be free either.  I stayed at a hotel and saw some little bottles of water.  It seemed a little fishy to me, so I checked to see if there was a fee.

Here are some tips from TripAdvisor on how to avoid minibar mistakes:

Know the rules.  As a said before, just because it’s sitting out doesn’t mean it’s free.  When in doubt, call the front desk and ask.

Take an inventory of your hotel refrigerator.  To make it a bit easier, just take some pictures with your cell phone or camera.

Bring along your own snacks.  You know after a long day site seeing or sitting in meetings, those munchies may strike.  Have some snacks on hand to avoid paying for the $5 bag of chips.

Steer clear of the minibar entirely.  Sometimes people like to just peek inside to see what they have.  If your hotel offers you a key, decline it.

Thrifty Mommy tip:  Always check your bill before leaving the hotel.  Check for phone charges, minibar charges, or anything out of the ordinary.  Don’t be afraid to challenge the bill.

Have you had any problems with minibar charges?

Picture from about.com.

Post from: Thrifty Mommy