like to know by paying your hotel bill in cash US dollars
no taxes have to be paid
thanks for reply

Correct although there are hotels that will give you such a bed exchange rate that it works out the same!

BAD!

It depends on the hotel. As there is extra paperwork involved most small places don't offer it, but it is worth asking. Many hotels will have the prices on the website with an * noting that the price is without the IVA (sales tax)for foreigners. This is 19%, so the exchange rate would have to be very bad to make it not worthwhile. You can pay in cash dollars or with a foreign based credit card. You need to show your passport and the copy of the tourist card you filled in when you arrived.

Unless you are a foreigner or a Chilean resident abroad you have the 19% applied to your bill. Cash or not won't affect the 19% charge.
You have to prove you don't live nor pay taxes in Chile, only with a Passport or Resident card.

I'm Chilean and I live in Denver since 1994, when I go to Chile (once a year) I have to show my USA Resident Card or my Husband shows his Passport at arrival.

pookymimi - wow! I've been reading the Italy boards for weeks now (going there in October), and have come across your very helpful comments more than once. You are chilean??? yo tambien!
I live in NY and travel with my gringo husband about once a year to stgo.

prennerlasvegas - whether we pay in US dollars or chilean pesos, because my husband is a foreigner, we never pay hotel taxes, as long as the reservation is made in his name and he shows the receptionist his american passport. I don't remember if the same is true for car rentals ... it could be ..

Yup, and back when the USD was over 600 Chilean the hotels around Torres Del Paine were converting at 500...so it was even more than 19%!

screen_name_taken

Wow de donde eres?
Mi email is [email protected]

Will be visiting Chile this winter. Is this tax deal something we have to bring up or will it automatically be applied? I have seen it mentioned on some hotel websties. thanks

yestravel

When you register at the Hotel you need to show your passport and they will make a note you are a foreigner. When you go to pay just make sure the 19% is not applied to the bill.

Yestravel, as I said, not all hotels apply it as it is not an obligation to do so. If you see it on their website then they offer it. Just mention it in any reservation and/or on checking in.

Will do -- thanks!

thank you all for your advise

pookymimi, i will email you as soon as i can - too much going on right now, but I was born in santiago, lived there for 20 years and moved to NY a very loooong time ago (1975).

I travel to Chile (to see family) at least once a year, sometimes twice, if we have accumulated enough miles for free trips

We recently stayed at the Sheraton Vina del Mar. We were told at checkout that if we paid using Chilean pesos, we would be charged the IVA tax, whereas, if we used a credit card (Starwood), we would not. We paid with our Starwood card. We presented our US passports at checkin.

prennerlasvegas - we always pay with an american credit card, never cash or traveler checks (do people still use those?).

ntandrews points out a very important detail ....

Screen_name_ taken, please do!
We go to Chile also once a year if I can afford it.
We leave December 17 to January 9th