Beginner's Guides
Amenity Fee in Short-Term Rentals
Amenity fee: find out how it works in vacation rentals and how you can implement it to increase your rental income without sacrificing efficiency.
STR hosts and property managers are constantly looking for ways to meet guests’ expectations, increase revenue, and stand out in a competitive market. One effective tactic to help you achieve these goals is to offer your guests premium services and amenities for an additional fee.
In this blog, we’ll talk about what amenity fees are, how they work in apartments and vacation rentals, and how you can implement them strategically to enhance guest stays and increase revenue per booking without sacrificing efficiency.
What Is an Amenity Fee?
An amenity fee is an extra charge added to the base rental rate to cover the cost of providing extra features or services. For example, hotels often charge amenity fees, sometimes called “resort fees,” in addition to the room rate to cover access to amenities such as WiFi, fitness centers, pools, spa relaxation areas, and parking.
Vacation rentals also often charge separate fees for amenities such as pool access, bike rentals, firewood, outdoor equipment, and other extras. In vacation rentals, amenity fees allow hosts to offer a wider range of features without increasing the nightly rates and meet the demand for personalized guest experiences. This helps make vacation rental properties more attractive to potential guests and increase occupancy rate.
By charging amenity fees for premium add-ons, you can keep your nightly rates competitive while still offering excellent service, since guests who expect extra perks like hot tub access or beach equipment can pay for them separately. Amenities that enhance guests’ stays can significantly improve their experience, leading to 5-star reviews and repeat bookings that help increase your revenue and build a sustainable STR business.
You’ll be able to grow your business faster if you streamline your routine operations using short-term rental property management software like Hospitable. Our STR super app automates 90% of daily tasks, putting your entire business on autopilot.
Make Amenity Fees Work for You
Now you know what an amenity fee is, so let’s discuss how to set and manage fees for your STR property to boost your rental income. First, you need to choose which amenities to charge for.
The key to success is offering amenities that guests value, so when determining which amenities to offer, you should consider the following:
Keep your target audience in mind. For example, families may appreciate kid-friendly items, and business travelers might prioritize ergonomic workspaces with high-speed internet.
Take into account your property location. If you own a beach house, consider offering beach gear, and if you have a mountain cabin, you may provide ski equipment.
Research your local market. Analyze the amenities your competitors offer and the prices they charge, and identify any market gaps.
Common amenities offered in short-term rentals include:
High-speed WIFi
Pool/hot-tub access
Bicycles
Beach equipment (chairs, umbrellas, towels)
Fire pit
BBQ grill
Parking
Pet-friendly amenities
You can also wow your guests by offering them welcome packs filled with local treats and wine, a fully stocked fridge, or special packages for celebrating birthdays, anniversaries, and other special occasions. It’s important to choose the right amenities to meet your guests’ needs so they're happy to pay for them.
Implementing Amenity Fees
Transparency is crucial, so you need to clearly communicate that you charge additional fees for premium amenities to potential guests upfront. Include a description of all amenities and associated fees in your property listing and outline amenity charges in your short-term rental agreement.
Stay flexible. Consider offering optional amenities to cater to different guest preferences, and let guests purchase them as needed. The best thing is that you can automate this process using software tools. And if you opt for Hospitable to streamline vacation rental management, you’ll be able to upsell additional amenities to your guests without requiring any external software.
Hospitable includes the Upsells feature, so you can offer paid upsells to your guests directly through the Guest Portal. This feature is available for Hospitable users on Host, Professional, and Mogul plans.
Just go to the Guest Experience section of your Hospitable account, choose Upsells, and create a catalog of your offerings. Choose a clear, simple name for each offering, upload a picture of the upsell, and set your price. Your guests can see your offerings in their guest portals under the Upgrade your stay and can purchase extra amenities with just a tap.
You can let your guests know about available upsells in two ways:
Send your guest a link to their guest portal manually in messages. Our system creates the guest portal link automatically for each new reservation, and you can find it in every conversation in your Hospitable inbox.
Automate your upsells by adding the Smart Upsell smart code to your messaging rules. Then, Hospitable AI will automatically offer paid upsells to your guests where appropriate.
When your guests purchase any of your offerings, Hospitable handles all payments, payouts, and taxes.
You can also offer your guests a late checkout or early check-in. Once they purchase an extended stay, Hospitable will automatically update all scheduled messages, smart lock, and thermostat settings to align with the updated schedule.
Bottom Line
Charging an amenity fee is an effective way to turn small extras into extra income, enhance guest experience, and gain a competitive edge in the market if you use it smartly. So, you should keep fees clear and transparent and offer amenities that enhance guest stays and provide value for money.
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Common questions
What is an amenity fee in short-term rentals?
An amenity fee in short-term rentals is an additional charge guests pay for access to specific features or services beyond the base nightly rate. This can include amenities like Wi-Fi, parking, pool access, gym facilities, or resort-style services. Instead of bundling these costs into the nightly price, hosts separate them into a distinct fee to reflect the value of certain amenities more clearly.
Should you charge an amenity fee or include it in the price?
Whether to charge an amenity fee or include it in the nightly rate depends on your pricing strategy and target guests. Including amenities in the price keeps your listing simple and transparent, which can improve booking conversions. Charging a separate amenity fee can make your base price appear lower in search results, but it may create friction if guests feel surprised by additional costs. For most beginner hosts, bundling amenities into the nightly rate is often the safer and more guest-friendly approach.
What are the pros and cons of charging an amenity fee?
Charging an amenity fee has both advantages and drawbacks. Pros: Lower base price can improve visibility in search results; Flexibility to charge only for specific amenities; Clear separation of costs Cons: Can reduce booking conversions if guests see extra fees; May create confusion or frustration; Requires clear communication to avoid negative reviews Overall, amenity fees work best when they are transparent and clearly justified.
Are amenity fees allowed on Airbnb?
Airbnb generally expects hosts to include most mandatory fees in the total price shown to guests. While certain fees (like cleaning fees) are supported, additional charges such as amenity fees must be clearly disclosed and comply with Airbnb’s pricing policies. If an amenity is essential to the stay, it’s usually best to include it in the listing price. Hidden or unexpected fees can lead to guest complaints and may violate platform guidelines.
How to communicate and charge an amenity fee?
With Hospitable, you can present amenity fees as upsells inside the guest portal rather than as unexpected charges. Guests see available extras—such as parking, early check-in, or premium amenities—at the right time during their journey, in a structured and non-intrusive way. Hospitable also automates the communication, so every guest is informed consistently without manual follow-ups. Instead of sending separate messages, the offer is built directly into the guest experience, which helps it feel natural rather than salesy. On the payment side, guests can purchase these add-ons directly in the portal, similar to a standard eCommerce checkout. Hospitable handles the transaction, including payments and applicable taxes, making the process seamless for both hosts and guests.