Merlin

Being from outside the USA I don't know the room tax applicable. I am trying to work out what the final total will be on some of the discount hotel sites but they don't provide this information.
Your advice will be appreciated.

Merlin

Tom

Room tax rate will vary by location. It has become a popular way for local governments to raise revenue without offending the voters. I would expect a range of 10-25%, the highs in the big cities, but you would have to ask the specific hotel.

Christina

Hotel room tax is often a local issue, not a state-wide rate. To be sure, you'll have to find out for specific cities. It's a major source of revenue for a lot of cities, in a way that may be more palatable to local residents than raising their taxes. I think it's rather high in some cities with a lot of conventions. In some smaller towns, I suppose it may be nothing, but in a lot of larger cities, I think it is often around 10 percent, but I know it is as high as 13-15 pct in some California cities (like Anaheim and maybe San Francisco). If you don't want to find out for every city you are visiting, I'd assume 10-12 pct, on average, for California.

Merlin

Thanks Tom and Christina. That gives me something to work from.

Regards

Merlin

state tax

Actually there is a statewide sales tax that is supplemented by a small local tax, PLUS in many locales a transient occupancy tax. So the tax can range anywhere from 7.5% up to 20% or more. It will average around 12-15% except in the SF bay area.

xx

In San Diego it is 10.5%. Watch for parking fees also if you are staying downtown. Some downtown San Diego hotels charge between $8.00 & $12.00 nightly to park, so a $100.00 room could end up costing you $125.00.