Peru - How can I claim back the hotel tax?
 

Since I am not Peruvian, I do not need to pay 19% hotel tax in Peru. How do I claim the tax back?
Some of the hotels I will be booking online already have the tax included in the rate. I went online and booked a room at the Machu Pichu Santuary Lodge, the rate includes tax.

In some cases, the tax is added to the room rate, like when I booked the Sonesta hotel. However, the website will not let me book the room at the tax free price.

What am I doing wrong?

Thanks in advance.

Lewis_Johnson, thank you for the reply. It is my understanding that the 19% hotel tax is to be paid by Peruvians only, and non Peruvian are expemt.

When I booked the Santuary Lodge, I was the rate displayed was $700, there was no tax added, so I am assuming it is inclueded in the rate.

When I booked the Sonesta, the website added tax to the room rate.

Maybe it's different in Peru, but in Mexico you definitely do not get a refund of the 17% hotel tax.

I would contact the hotel(s) directly and ask how they handle this. As a foreigner, you are exempt from the hotel tax if you are in Peru less than 60 days. You have to show your passport when you check into any hotel there, and that way they know not to charge you the tax. But contact them directly and ask.

Those prices on the web page for the Sanctuary Lodge are the prices without tax, if I'm not mistaken. But contact them to be sure, because 19 percent on top of an already high $700 is a lot more money to pay.

Some high-end hotels in Peru impose a 10-percent service charge too. No law exempts you from that, or stops them from doing that.

Well, I guess Fodors removed Lewis_Johnson's post.

suze and Jeff_Coasta_Rica thank you for your comments.

When I posted this thread I also sent emails to the hotels I booked.

The Sonesta hasn't replied.

Jeff_Coasta_Rica, you are right the rate at the Santuary Lodge does not include tax and they told me they don't charge tax, if you do not live in Peru.

Jeff_Costa_Rica, I'm sorry I spelt your screen name wrong in my previous post.

Oh, that's fine, SWilliams. :) Enjoy Peru.

If it is like Uruguay foreigners are not taxed. Period.
That is a friendly country. In Argentina they charge a lot over 20%...

Chile doesn't charge foreigners the hotel tax either.