Destination Fee at The Royal Sonesta Hotel, Dupont Circle

Question

Hi guys, if I have booked a trip from the UK to Washington DC for 6 days with Virgin Holidays. Can I ask has anyone else been asked for a Destination Fee. I ask because the website states complimentary Wi FI and anything else on this list we will not be using as we are booked room only.

Your opinions would be greatly received.

and I quote from the Hotel website

Destination Fee at Our Hotel in Dupont Circle

Room rates are subject to a daily Destination Fee of $30.00 (plus applicable taxes), which includes:

$10 daily food and beverage credit at Certo! restaurant

Complimentary glass of wine (white, red, or prosecco) or glass of draft beer with purchase of any entrée at Certo!, the onsite hotel restaurant

2 bottled waters replenished daily

Basic WiFi for unlimited devices

In-room coffee offering

Electra cruiser bikes to explore the city

Local and long-distance calls

House car drop off service within 1.5 mile radius. Available daily on a first come, first served basis from 7am to 9am

Answer

Destination Fees (often called “resort fees” in other cities) are extremely common in Washington DC, even at hotels that are not resorts. The Royal Sonesta Dupont Circle is one of many hotels that charges this additional daily fee, and unfortunately, it typically applies regardless of whether you use the listed amenities.

Because you booked through Virgin Holidays, whether you will be charged the Destination Fee depends on how Virgin structured your package. Sometimes UK tour operators include these fees in the total package price, but other times they do not, and the hotel will charge you directly at check-in or checkout.

Here is how it usually works for UK travellers staying at DC hotels:

Some packages include all mandatory fees (less common in the U.S., but it does happen with certain tour operators).
Many packages list the destination fee separately in the fine print and state it is payable locally to the hotel.
Hotels nearly always charge the fee even if you don’t use the amenities—it’s considered mandatory.

Since your question is specifically about The Royal Sonesta Dupont Circle, here is what you can expect:

The $30 + tax per night Destination Fee is a standard mandatory charge.
All guests pay it unless their booking agency explicitly covers it.
Using or not using the benefits doesn’t change the fee.
Wi-Fi being complimentary on the website typically means “included in the destination fee,” not actually free.

What you should do now is very simple:

Check your Virgin Holidays invoice or itinerary to see if it mentions “Destination Fee,” “Resort Fee,” or “Facility Fee.”
If unclear, contact Virgin Holidays and ask directly whether the fee is included or payable locally.
You may also email the hotel with your booking reference—they can look up your reservation and tell you whether the fee is expected.

In most cases, guests report being charged the fee at checkout because U.S. hotels do not waive these fees for room-only stays. Expect around $30 + 15.95% DC hotel tax per night, unless Virgin Holidays confirms it’s included.

Bottom line: yes, most visitors are asked to pay the Destination Fee, and it is standard practice for this hotel. Just double-check with Virgin Holidays so you’re not surprised at checkout.

Destination Fee at The Royal Sonesta Hotel, Dupont Circle

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