The Urban Fee explained (what it covers and why it’s charged)
Arlo Midtown applies a mandatory nightly Urban Fee of $37 plus tax per room; it’s added to every reservation in addition to the room rate. The fee covers in-room high-speed Wi‑Fi, two daily canned waters, daily Citi Bike passes, 24/7 fitness access and other guest perks like Alo Moves and a food & beverage discount.
In this guide
What the Urban Fee is
The Urban Fee is a mandatory nightly charge of $37 plus tax that Arlo Midtown adds to each room in addition to the room rate. It is automatically applied to reservations and disclosed by the hotel.
The hotel describes this as a bundled set of in‑stay services and small perks provided to all guests rather than a taxable room rate.
- Mandatory: charged per room, per night in addition to the nightly room rate
- Automatically applied to every reservation by the hotel
- Shown separately from the base room rate
| Charge | Amount |
|---|---|
| Urban Fee | $37 plus tax per room, per night |
Exactly what the fee covers at Arlo Midtown
Arlo Midtown lists a set of included benefits tied to the Urban Fee. These are described as features available to all rooms while the fee is charged.
If you want to confirm availability for a specific stay (for example, seasonal rooftop access or a temporary program), check with the hotel before arrival.
- In‑room high‑speed Wi‑Fi
- Two canned waters daily
- Daily Citi Bike passes (via the Lyft app)
- 24/7 access to the Fitness Center
- On‑demand Alo Moves fitness content
- 15% off hotel food & beverage (exclusions apply)
- Local/domestic phone calls
| Included Perk | Notes |
|---|---|
| In‑room Wi‑Fi | Listed as included with the Urban Fee |
| Citi Bike passes | Daily passes delivered through the Lyft app |
| Fitness Center & Alo Moves | 24/7 gym access plus on‑demand content |
Why the hotel charges an Urban Fee
Arlo Midtown positions the Urban Fee as a way to bundle everyday services and property amenities into a nightly charge rather than raising the base room rate. It covers recurring in‑stay items and access to features the hotel provides to all guests.
Some hotels use similar fees to fund ongoing guest services (Wi‑Fi, bottled water, fitness operations, digital content licenses) and to keep published room rates competitive while still offering included amenities.
- Bundles multiple small services into a single nightly line item
- Keeps published room rate lower while adding predictable amenity costs
- Supports operational costs for high‑speed Wi‑Fi, fitness access and guest programming
| Hotel rationale | How it shows for guests |
|---|---|
| Covers ongoing amenity costs | Appears as a separate nightly fee on the folio |
| Funds guest programming and digital services | Included perks are available during the stay |
| Keeps room rate competitive | Can appear as an extra on third‑party bookings |
How the fee appears when you book
Arlo Midtown adds the Urban Fee on top of the base room price; when you book through the hotel or many third‑party sites the fee is shown separately. If you prepay through a third party, the Urban Fee may still be added at check‑in, which has caused guest confusion in some reviews.
If you need a full, final price before arrival, confirm with the hotel or your booking agent whether the Urban Fee and taxes are included in the total you paid or remain due at check‑in.
- Shown as a separate nightly line item on hotel folios
- May not be included in prepaid third‑party totals — verify before travel
- Front desk will authorize room/tax/Urban Fee and a security deposit at check‑in
| Booking method | How Urban Fee is handled |
|---|---|
| Booked directly with Arlo | Fee disclosed and billed by the hotel |
| Booked through third party | Fee may be billed separately at the hotel—confirm with provider |
| Prepaid reservation | Urban Fee can still be charged at arrival if not included |
Who benefits and who should watch the fine print
The Urban Fee is designed to benefit guests who plan to use the included services — for example, those who want 24/7 gym access, in‑room Wi‑Fi, daily Citi Bike use, or food & beverage discounts at Altair/Bar Room/ART Midtown (when open).
If you won’t use these items (for example, if you travel without using the gym or Wi‑Fi), you still pay the mandatory fee because it is applied to every room. Guests who have questions about any specific perk should ask the front desk on arrival.
- Good value if you’ll use gym, Wi‑Fi, Citi Bike or F&B discount
- Less useful if you don’t use included services — fee is still mandatory
- Ask the front desk about seasonal items (ART Midtown rooftop may be closed outside season)
| Guest type | How they might view the fee |
|---|---|
| Business traveler using Wi‑Fi & gym | Likely sees value in the fee |
| Traveler who rarely uses hotel services | May consider the fee an extra cost |
| Family with kids | Still pays fee; benefits like Wi‑Fi and F&B discount apply |
How to use the Urban Fee benefits during your stay
Most included benefits are available immediately: connect to the in‑room Wi‑Fi, pick up your two canned waters from the front desk or room, and use the 24/7 Fitness Center. For the Citi Bike daily passes, the hotel directs guests to the Lyft app to access passes.
For food & beverage discounts, present your room charge or ask staff about the 15% discount terms and which outlets are excluded (the hotel notes exclusions like the Bodega). For seasonal offerings (rooftop ART Midtown), verify opening status and hours.
- Connect to the hotel Wi‑Fi using the network name provided in your room
- Ask the front desk about collecting bottled water and how Citi Bike passes are delivered
- Show your room charge for the 15% F&B discount where it applies
- Confirm rooftop hours and whether ART Midtown is operating during your stay
| Perk | How to access it |
|---|---|
| In‑room Wi‑Fi | Use network credentials in the room |
| Citi Bike passes | Delivered via the Lyft app — ask front desk for details |
| Fitness Center & Alo Moves | 24/7 gym access; Alo Moves available through hotel instructions |
