Lodger's Tax in NYC
 

We're starting to plan an East coast trip for September and I have a rather crazy question about the hotel tax in NYC. I know it's high (12-13%?), but does it drop if you stay 7 nights or more? I've also seen some apartment rentals that tack on an extra nightly charge of $5 plus lodger's tax. Does anybody have any explanation of these charges?

I ask because we are trying to decide whether to stay for 6 or 7 nights. If the tax is lower and the additional charges are lower for a week, it may pay for us to stay the extra day.

Also, has anyone had any luck bidding on Priceline for that long of a stay? We've used Priceline many times, but only for 2 or 3 nights at a time.

TIA!
Deb

There's tax and then there's a nightly occupancy charge (this is in hotels) so the total taxes/charges seem to add on an additional ~15% to the base price. To my knowledge it does not go down for a week's stay. The only benefit to staying a week in a hotel is you might get a better per night price from a suite hotel (like the Affinias) for a week's stay.

As for apts., on the website for 1871 House, a nice b & b that rents apt type rooms, they have an explanation of something called the Bungalow tax that allows them to waive part of the taxes for a week's stay or more. Read it here on the bottom of the page.
http://1871house.com/rates.html

Whether this also affects a regular apt. rental would seem to depend on who owns the apt. and how many other apts. in the same building they own.

The longest Priceline stay that I have bid for in NYC was 4 nights, and I needed two rooms. I was successful but success depends on your dates and occupancy levels in the city. If it's a popular week/weekend there will not be a lot of rooms availabe on Priceline. If you are bidding and getting no where you could try to split your bid (if you don't mind moving mid week) or sometimes you can add additional nights after your bid is accepted - BUT; just because you win does not mean that their are extra nights available so if it's works you are very lucky, but don't count on it! Does that make sense?

I think my last hotel bill had a tax rate of 13.65%? And there was an additional charge of $2 per person, or something like that . . .

I tried and tried one time with Priceline for a 5 night stay in NYC. I finally ended up breaking it into 2 nights and 3 nights. Then I didn't get the same hotel so we had to move.

I was being cheap and instead of taking a taxi we took the subway. It wasn't much fun dragging our bags through the subway.

But considering that all five nights were less than 100$ apiece, it was well worth it.

Regarding renting apartments for a week, I'd guess that about 90% of all independent weekly rentals in New York are actually illegal (not those serviced apartment buildings). Either they are illegal subleasing, or in condominium buildings that don't allow weekly rentals. So rarely do those charge tax. If they do, it's probably only an additional way for them to make money, as it's very doubtful most of them report their "illegal" rentals.

Thanks to all! As I've been searching apts and B&B's, I've seen many different tax rates noted.
Mclaurie-- that explanation on 1871 house was interesting. Have you stayed there? Any idea what the range in price is?

We are planning for the last week of September and I know that's an expensive season. I'm really hoping to find something for $200 a night, but that may be impossible. Any suggestions are most welcome. We are both from the area originally, but have never had to stay in a hotel before. I was thinking we might be able to save some money by staying for a week.

No, I've not stayed at 1871 House but there are plenty of mostly good reviews on tripadvisor. I love the location though in a townhouse in the low east 60's near Park Ave. Their prices are listed on the website 1871house.com

Under $200 will be tough although greenwichvillagehome.com if they're available should fit the bill at about $185/night. West-eleventh.com might also work. Jacksbandb.com on the UWS. The Excelsior is $225 plus tax on quikbook.com. It's on the UWS across from the Mus. of Nat. Hist.