Watch out for these secret hotel charges

Sure, you could rent rooms through Airbnb or really trim travel costs by crashing on friends' couches during your next trip. But there's something special about staying in a hotel where someone makes your bed for you every day.

Unfortunately, those hotel bills can balloon fast, especially when inflated by unexpected expenses or steep fees. In fact, hotels collected $2.45 billion in fees in 2015, according to a study by Bjorn Hanson, a New York University professor and expert on the hospitality and tourism industry.

Even so, there are ways for cost-conscious travelers to protect their pocketbooks from surprise hotel charges. Here are some that could show up on your next bill, as well as some expert advice on how to avoid, reduce or dispute these hidden hotel fees.

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