Prices and sensors scare off potential users, survey finds

Does your jaw drop when you peruse the prices in a hotel mini-bar? You are not alone. A survey by TripAdvisor.com found that 94 percent of all travelers would use the mini-bar more often if prices were more reasonable. One-third of travelers said they never use the mini-bar.

“Travelers are scared of hotel mini-bars because of sky-high prices,” said a TripAdvisor spokesman. “By lowering prices and double-checking bill charges, hotels could provide a mini-bar service that travelers would embrace.”

Other findings:

• 25% of survey respondents have had a dispute with a hotel over a mini-bar charge. Men are more likely to get into a dispute over a mini-bar bill (32%) than women (22%).

• 34% of travelers claim they have been inaccurately charged for something in the mini-bar or fridge.

• 16% of travelers have been billed for simply adding items to a hotel room mini-bar/fridge or moving contents around.

• 7% have been charged for storing their own items in a mini-bar/fridge.