Add-ons for Ireland Hotels & B & B's
 

More Ireland questions. We are wondering about the tax add-ons. We tend to choose hotels or B& B's at the top of our price range so if the room tax is high (as in many places) we may have to look a little bit lower.

You know, I don't think I had a tax add-on. When I stayed in Dingle, the room was x-amount, and that's what we handed over in cash when we checked out. Same in Scotland too.

generally - the VAT is included in the rates quoted. If not, they will clearly state "Plus VAT" or "ex VAT" or some such.

There isn't a room tax. There is VAT, which is added to pretty much everything, but the price you are quoted should include this as it's a retail transaction.

The only time it's excluded from quoted prices is in business to business type goods and services, as businesses reclaim VAT so it sort of gets ignored when they shop around.

A small number of hotels add a service charge of about 10%. Most Irish people consider it to be sharp practice, a device to allow them advertise a rate lower than you will actually be charged.

One example is the Abbeyglen Hotel in Clifden, which advertises heavily on radio here, and makes mention of "the usual service charge", which turns out to mean that they will bump up your bill by 12.5%. I prefer to give my business to places that are more upfront about the price, which is the large majority of Irish hotels and probably every B&B.

Any B&B will tell you the price of the room up front and that is what you pay, no hidden fees!