Hotels add surcharges for early and late checkout, for extra guests or for resort amenities. These fees are tacked on to your base room rate, giving you the impression that your room is cheaper than it actually is. I wouldn't be surprised if they began charging you extra for the bed at some point.

A mysterious $50 charge from a hotel is most commonly an "incidental hold" rather than an actual expense. When you check in, most hotels place a temporary hold on your credit or debit card to cover potential costs like room service, minibar items, or damage; this is usually released within 3-7 business days after checkout. Another possibility is a "Resort Fee" or "Destination Fee," which covers amenities like Wi-Fi, pool access, or gym use; these are often mandatory and not included in the initial room rate. In urban areas, it could be a daily parking fee or a state/local occupancy tax that was added at the end of your stay. If you used a third-party booking site, sometimes the hotel charges a direct facility fee that the website didn't collect. If the charge appears after you have already left and isn't a hold, you should call the front desk and ask for a folio—an itemized receipt—to ensure you weren't mistakenly billed for a movie or a snack you didn't consume.