London hotel tax is 20%
Aug 21st, 2014, 02:43 AM
#23
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The only tax in London is VAT. It isn't always included in the price quoted if you use a non European website. Under EU law it must be included in the price quoted, but often the price quoted elsewhere doesn't include it.
Many European towns and cities also have a tourist tax in addition to the local rate of VAT, and that is quoted separately.
A good many US cities have a hotel tax on top of local and state taxes and they are never quoted in the price.
As others have said you don't have the compulsory tipping at 15 to 20% in London, and you get the museums for free.
20% VAT seems like a bargain to me.
Many European towns and cities also have a tourist tax in addition to the local rate of VAT, and that is quoted separately.
A good many US cities have a hotel tax on top of local and state taxes and they are never quoted in the price.
As others have said you don't have the compulsory tipping at 15 to 20% in London, and you get the museums for free.
20% VAT seems like a bargain to me.
Aug 21st, 2014, 03:18 AM
#25
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Back in the days when I traveled to Columbus, Ohio, for business, they had the same city- state lodging taxes as New York City. I think it was 17 1/2%, not far below UK VAT, and this was a goo dish time ago.
Where would you rather pay taxes, NYC, London, or Columbus?
Where would you rather pay taxes, NYC, London, or Columbus?
Aug 21st, 2014, 03:41 AM
#26
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London hotel tax is ZERO
VAT can be reclaimed for goods taken out of the EU, you can spend days in galleries and museums without spending a penny, you can take advantage of schemes to encourage train travel by locals to visit many major attractions for half price
Of course you have to put up with other tourists many of whom have the gall not to speak English (or are they just Londoners) so it isn't all sweetness and light
VAT can be reclaimed for goods taken out of the EU, you can spend days in galleries and museums without spending a penny, you can take advantage of schemes to encourage train travel by locals to visit many major attractions for half price
Of course you have to put up with other tourists many of whom have the gall not to speak English (or are they just Londoners) so it isn't all sweetness and light
Aug 21st, 2014, 09:04 AM
#28
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I've never known anyone to make travel choices based on hotel tax, but if that is VAT, it isn't the same anyway. Wouldn't that be the tax on anything, if it is VAT (or pretty much)? I know in France, local authorities have their own hotel tax but it isn't that much (maybe 1 euro a night).
Surprise, tipping isn't "mandatory" in the US, either, except in rare cases (some restaurants add it for large parties). It especially isn't mandatory as there isn't that much to tip for at hotels. I never use the concierge or rarely "bellhops", for example.
Surprise, tipping isn't "mandatory" in the US, either, except in rare cases (some restaurants add it for large parties). It especially isn't mandatory as there isn't that much to tip for at hotels. I never use the concierge or rarely "bellhops", for example.
Aug 21st, 2014, 09:07 AM
#30
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Don't agree with that at all, London's tube can easily be unbearable in summer, also.
I've never known anyone to make travel choices based on hotel tax, but if that is VAT, it isn't the same anyway. Wouldn't that be the tax on anything, if it is VAT (or pretty much)? I know in France, local authorities have their own hotel tax but it isn't that much (maybe 1 euro a night).
Surprise, tipping isn't "mandatory" in the US, either, except in rare cases (some restaurants add it for large parties). It especially isn't mandatory as there isn't that much to tip for at hotels. I never use the concierge or rarely "bellhops", for example.
Besides, VAT and service charges aren't the same thing, anyway. Some countries add service charges onto bills automatically, such as in restaurants (like France), but that isn't VAT.
I've never known anyone to make travel choices based on hotel tax, but if that is VAT, it isn't the same anyway. Wouldn't that be the tax on anything, if it is VAT (or pretty much)? I know in France, local authorities have their own hotel tax but it isn't that much (maybe 1 euro a night).
Surprise, tipping isn't "mandatory" in the US, either, except in rare cases (some restaurants add it for large parties). It especially isn't mandatory as there isn't that much to tip for at hotels. I never use the concierge or rarely "bellhops", for example.
Besides, VAT and service charges aren't the same thing, anyway. Some countries add service charges onto bills automatically, such as in restaurants (like France), but that isn't VAT.
Aug 21st, 2014, 09:16 AM
#31
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Surprise, tipping isn't "mandatory" in the US, either, except in rare cases
I wish I had known that when I was (quite literally) chased down the street by a waiter from a Mexican restaurant in NYC when I left only 15%.
I wish I had known that when I was (quite literally) chased down the street by a waiter from a Mexican restaurant in NYC when I left only 15%.
Aug 21st, 2014, 10:02 AM
#36
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The important thing is the final price the customer pays. If a quarter or only a tenth of that is tax, so what? Why should I as a tourist care? I want to know the total cost before I book, so I can compare prices, yes. But I've never bothered to ask how much of it is tax. It's not like I can influence it in any way. Sure, I can chose to go to another country, but that would feel really silly.
Aug 21st, 2014, 10:06 AM
#37
"lol, people are angry."
More likely they just think you're stupid.
At least in Europe the taxes are usually included in the quoted price, so you know up front how much you're paying.
Even where I live, in NC, you pay 12.75% tax on top of the quoted room rate. It would probably be higher, but we're not building any stadiums right now...
More likely they just think you're stupid.
At least in Europe the taxes are usually included in the quoted price, so you know up front how much you're paying.
Even where I live, in NC, you pay 12.75% tax on top of the quoted room rate. It would probably be higher, but we're not building any stadiums right now...
