Quick US Hotels question

annayeti

Hi,

Hoping you seasoned travellers may be able to give me a heads up on something.

Myself and the OH have been looking at heading over to the US, probably New York, Chicago, maybe even Washington.

Anyway, my question is re hotel taxes. I've seen a few things about check-out tax charges, but there isn't really much mention of this when booking a flight+hotel through ebookers, expedia, opodo, netflights etc.

Is this something that we would have to pay on check-out regardless? And how do you find out exactly how much it is before booking?

Thanks in advance!

VestanPance

Booking through most of the sites you mention more often than not taxes are included in the price. Not always though, so just check any quotes to see if they include tax or not.

Any that don't include tax in the price should tell you what the tax rate is. For example New York has something like a 14% hotel tax rate, plus a $3 dollar a day occupancy charge. These taxes are normally calculated into any quotes you get, so even though you don't see them you're still being charged them.

The tax percentage will vary from state to state. The tax is just calculated into your bill when you come to pay it.

claire16c

Ive booked lots of hotels on expedia in the US, most of the time on it seems to come up just before you pay so its included anyway. If not it often shows how much it would be.

So the only time ive ever had to pay a tax when I got there, was when I booked a hostel and we only paid a deposit online beforehand.

Regardless, its never been that much, so Ive never worried about it. Its normally a few percent of the cost of the room, but depends on the state as to the percentage.

claire16c

Infact what you should watch out for (although not necessarily for this trip as its unlikely youll be renting a car in NYC) is the parking charges hotels charge. They can be much worse.

annayeti

Thanks for the quick replies guys. I've not spotted them anywhere in the booking process, so I assume they are included.

I didn't want a nasty surprise at check-out!

VestanPance

If its your first trip to the States just be aware of sales tax when you buy anything in a shop. In UK the VAT is calculated into the price in the USA its $ + tax. The ticket price shows the cost pre tax.

annayeti

Is it literally a case of finding out the state tax level when you're there and then mentally adding it to everything?

VestanPance

Each State sets it's own sales tax, so yes just find out what the sales tax for that state is and remember that percentage will be added to the cost. Most States it sits around the 7% mark.

neilbond007

As well as State sales tax there are often a number of local taxes. Fro example here is a bill for a night in Kansas City -

12/05/11 1221109 GUEST ROOM $84.00
12/05/11 1221109 STATE TAX $6.28
12/05/11 1221109 CITY TAX $6.30
12/05/11 1221109 CITY FEE TAX $1.50

littlereddevil

Have a look on priceline or hotwire. Some good deals can be had in USA

neilbond007

annayeti wrote: »

Is it literally a case of finding out the state tax level when you're there and then mentally adding it to everything?

Yes.
Caught me out the first time I was here. Picked up something for $19.99. Got to the register and was charged $21.29. I said "Isn't it $19.99?". I was then told about the tax.... Highly annoying. Still annoys me to this day!