Amenity Fee

 Hawaii is a very expensive place to visit and also to live. The locals do get a break from some costs through Kama'aina (it means locals) which means a different cost for locals and others, but many things are simply more expensive. A barber did cut my hair today including neck shave with a straight edge for $20. I haven't had a barber do that since the barber in the UND union retired. I thought a shave may have been outlawed as a health hazard. Anyway, such benefits are rare. Taxes are high and there are strange taxes I don't understand.

I guess taxes are what it takes to keep things running in a location that requires nearly everything to be shipped in and so much of the economy depends on the money spent in one way or another by tourists.

Biden recently made this kind of side comment during the state of the union speech about what he described as "junk fees". These fees are different taxes and additional charges added to the advertised rate by airline companies. hotels, etc. Biden provided some stats about what these fees add to costs in his speech (billions), but mainly focused on the deceptive nature of these fees. You may technically be able to understand that you will be charged junk fees if you read the fine print, but these extra charges are not mentioned if you go through a booking service. In some cases, you can avoid such fees because they are optional (you don't have to bring a suitcase on a plane), but in some cases, the charges cannot be avoided.

We have had to piece together three different providers during this state in Kauai. The condo we typically stay in had already been rented for part of the time we intended to visit and Cindy had to find two other locations to cover this lack of availability. We are now in the second of these accommodations and more of a motel than an actual condo. No dishwasher. I understand this may sound like a first-world problem and I have washed dishes by hand, but not in a "home" for several decades.

I can handle the dishes, but the $25 amenity fee (before taxes) has me a bit annoyed. This is simply a charge for amenities which is required. Examples of such amenities appear to include anything that is consumed - coffee, soap, toilet paper, etc.  I have plenty of coffee because we have a kitchen and I buy coffee from the coffee plantation. That leaves soap and toilet paper. Nice to have I admit, but $25 a day seems a bit much. 

Travel Hawaii does not endorse resort fees, but the fees are still legal and at the Plantation Hale Suites are still required. I agree with Biden. Just stop with the deceptive practices and clearly state your prices. It seems slimy when some providers do not engage in such practices and some do.  

More heavy rain coming and the emergency alerts keep activating our phones. I think the danger is from travel over roads with a tendency to being covered with running water and mud/rock slides. Not something you want to encounter at night. Of course, friends at home are dealing with ice storms and blizzards. Stay safe whatever your weather challenges.