INDIANAPOLIS (WTHR) - We're right in the middle of summer and many of you might be stressing about planning your family's getaway.
This week, investigative reporter Jeff Rossen is launching a vacation series that you'll be able to see on TODAY.
We spoke with Jeff about what he's digging into to help make your next trip hassle-free.
That includes those rising resort fees that can add hundreds of extra dollars to your bill.
A growing number of hotels around the U.S. are tacking them on, leading to a huge spike since last year.
- RELATED: See more Rossen Reports
We're talking anywhere from $30 to $60 dollars per night, sometimes even more.
And you might not even realize you have to pay it until you check out.
"It includes amenities you think are free. It's you know the coffee maker in your room, the fitness center, the swimming pool, the business center so you can print boarding passes - things like that. And whether you use these services or not, you've got to pay this mandatory resort fee, and it's often buried pretty deep inside," Jeff said.
Jeff hit the road to find out how to avoid paying those crazy fees and how they're allowed in the first place.
He'll have that report for us on Thursday.
But before he tells us how to protect our wallets, he's focusing first on how to protect our homes.
Police say the summer months are the peak time for burglaries whether we're away on vacation or just outside enjoying the weather.
So Jeff tracked down three low-cost products to keep criminals out. And he put those do-it-yourself security measures to the ultimate test.
"We actually got a career criminal - a real-life burglar who spent seven years in prison - to break into a house, with the homeowner's permission. Broke into a house without the security measures and then with, and it's insane how well this stuff works."
You can see that report Wednesday morning on Channel 13 during The TODAY Show.