Hotel room tax

[Doc]

Not sure if the right section please move if not.
My mate is asking about hotel room tax and what is it for and how do they calculate the cost. I said we would probably have some to pay when we go to Cologne but could not say how much on top of our bill we would have to pay.
Must admit i have no idea.

Cheers Doc

 

[DJ123]

Looking on booking.com for a Hotel in Cologne it says;

7% VAT
5% city tax

I assume the 'city tax' is a tourist tax. Edit - it is

Tourist tax link;

Frequently Asked Questions (and Answers) about Tax for the Promotion and Advancement of Culture – for accomodations until 30 June 2024 and transition period

Häufig gestellte Fragen und Antworten zur Kulturförderabgabe

www.stadt-koeln.de

 

[stever1]

It’s a local tax addedto each nights stay in a hotel . It’s usually a small charge, about a couple of euros per night.

 

[Doc]

Cheers. Never really looked into it before.

 

[leadfarmer]

As stever1 says, it’s usually just a euro or two per night

 

[Wapping]

Cheers. Never really looked into it before.

It’ll only ever be a couple of pounds or less per day.

Booking companies, like Booking.com often do not quote it as a part of their overall cost, not least as the tax rates can and do change and / or can vary region by region within a country.

It is the hotel owner’s reponsibility to collect the tax and to pay it on to the local tax authority. Similarly, it’s room’s occupier’s duty to pay it, usually as a part of the overall charge.

I am always rather surprised the UK government hasn’t slapped the tax on here and / or allowed local authorities to levy the charge. It would be easy to collect, no harder than VAT or fuel duty.

 

[wessie]

I am always rather surprised the UK government hasn’t slapped the tax on here and / or allowed local authorities to levy the charge. It would be easy to collect, no harder than VAT or fuel duty.

it's coming in Scotland

in some places, especially Austria, in exchange for paying the local tourist tax you get a card that gives you discounts. In Carinthia, this got you over the Nockalmstrasse for free and gave you free bus travel

 

[OnHellas]

In my experience on platforms like Booking.com the price quoted is inclusive of all local taxes.
As stated, the hotelier collects it and is responsible for paying it to the relevant authority.

 

[leadfarmer]

it's coming in Scotland

in some places, especially Austria, in exchange for paying the local tourist tax you get a card that gives you discounts. In Carinthia, this got you over the Nockalmstrasse for free and gave you free bus travel

Maybe that’s why our hotel in Hamburg in a couple of weeks gives us a free 3 day pass for the metro

 

[Wapping]

it's coming in Scotland

Crothall hopes any surplus tax collection goes back to improving the visitor experience and not to fill city council budget shortfalls.

Whether it goes into pot A or pot B in the council’s books, makes not one fig of difference.

One thing’s for sure though, it’ll not put the tourists off. I can see a lot of sense in the charge, especially in places overrun by tourists. Stratford upon Avon, the Cotswolds, the NC500 (apparently), Cornwall and London spring to mind. That said, it won’t affect the average bikermate, as they don’t do tourist shite, mate.

 

[er-minio]

In my experience, Booking calculates it in the total you pay.
Agree with Wapping. It's alway been there, people aren't really bothered as it just one or two euros and it is an extra help for the local areas one visits.

 

[stever1]

Maybe that’s why our hotel in Hamburg in a couple of weeks gives us a free 3 day pass for the metro

If you’re off to Hamburg, the miniature wonderland is worth a visit.

 

[leadfarmer]

If you’re off to Hamburg, the miniature wonderland is worth a visit.

Cheers, I think you’ve mentioned that in the past, we were planning on visiting it, along with the U-Boat museum and apparently the Speicherstadt warehouse quarter is interesting too

We’re staying right in the center opposite the Hauptbahnhof

 

[stever1]

Cheers, I think you’ve mentioned that in the past, we were planning on visiting it, along with the U-Boat museum and apparently the Speicherstadt warehouse quarter is interesting too

We’re staying right in the center opposite the Hauptbahnhof

The M W is right in the warehouse area. It’s a nice stroll around if it’s a nice day. Oh, watch out for the Hafencity river bus. It’s quite unusual. A coach that floats and drives. I’d have gone on it if there was space but it was full.

 

[JonnyBravo]

On my recent trip to Slovenia I booked all the rooms as I went through booking.com and every hotel then added about 2 or 3 euros on top at check in for local ‘city’ tax.
No big deal.
What did become apparent is how much cheaper hotels are if you can book direct rather than through the 3rd party, booking.com or hotels.com etc.
Of course, thats an utter pain in the arse to do on your awesome travels booking as you go, daily !

 

[wessie]

On my recent trip to Slovenia I booked all the rooms as I went through booking.com and every hotel then added about 2 or 3 euros on top at check in for local ‘city’ tax.
No big deal.
What did become apparent is how much cheaper hotels are if you can book direct rather than through the 3rd party, booking.com or hotels.com etc.
Of course, thats an utter pain in the arse to do on your awesome travels booking as you go, daily !

use google maps to search for the hotels - it compares rates on the main booking sites and often the hotel's own rate, which might be cheaper or include breakfast. You will get more choice, as hotels only allocate a proportion of rooms to the .coms due to the high commissions they charge. The other benefit is a direct link to Streetview to check parking and local facilities like bars. Once you have selected your hotel, just click through from Google maps to the booking site with the best rate.

 

[johnnyboy]

use google maps to search for the hotels - it compares rates on the main booking sites and often the hotel's own rate, which might be cheaper or include breakfast. You will get more choice, as hotels only allocate a proportion of rooms to the .coms due to the high commissions they charge. The other benefit is a direct link to Streetview to check parking and local facilities like bars. Once you have selected your hotel, just click through from Google maps to the booking site with the best rate.

Yes, I use a combination of Google maps and Booking.com.

 

[JonnyBravo]

use google maps to search for the hotels - it compares rates on the main booking sites and often the hotel's own rate, which might be cheaper or include breakfast. You will get more choice, as hotels only allocate a proportion of rooms to the .coms due to the high commissions they charge. The other benefit is a direct link to Streetview to check parking and local facilities like bars. Once you have selected your hotel, just click through from Google maps to the booking site with the best rate.

Thanks for this - I reckon by the end of my 10 day trip, on reflection, I could have saved something like 150 to 200 euros easily.
Which is not to be sniffed at



Then again, I would probably just have drunk it !

 

[Wapping]

Paying less, reduces (if it’s a percentage of the room cost) the tax revenues. This equates to sticking it up The Man…. Whoever he might be.

 

[Neil W]

Usually a couple of euros but it is higher in Germany if it is a spa town