When is a hotel deal not a deal?

Kudos to Jane Engle for her More for Your Money column [“Hotel Deals? Do the Math,” Aug. 30]. My e-mail has been flooded with hotel offers promising me unbeatable deals. After being enticed by the Casino Morongo offer, I learned, after reading the fine print, that a hefty daily tax would be tacked on, along with something called a “hotel resort fee” of $16 per day. What, for the privilege of using the pool? For getting a free newspaper? When taxes and other fees are tallied, these hotel deals become a lot less special.

David Tulanian

Los Angeles