Taxes on hotel prices
 

Hi again,<BR><BR>I hust got the offer for 1 room, 2 nights at the Yosemite Lodge from my travel agent : 204.65 EURO (+/- 196.46 USD).<BR><BR>When I look on this page<BR> http://www.yosemitepark.com/html/accom_rate.html#2 <BR><BR>I see that the highest price is 143 USD, during season (we're going early October!).<BR><BR>Can the taxes explain the difference?

Absolutely NOT! It sounds like a healthy commission is in store for your travel agent. Why not deal directly with the site?

Your Euro conversion is backwards, Euros are more valuable than USD. Real price should be 219.64USD<BR><BR>http://www.bloomberg.com/markets/currency/currcalc.html<BR><BR>Taxes don't explain it...

Is your agent giving you the total cost for both days, whereas $143 on the website is the cost for only one day? Just a thought.

Thanks Loki, you were right of course! But that makes the question even worst!<BR><BR>I think it must be the price for the Lodge Rooms (143 USD) at the full-season rate (October??) + taxes + a possible commission (which I can accept to a certain level since the lady is taking quite some time to help me).<BR><BR>I will ask her to check on the standard rooms (109 USD)<BR><BR>Thank you again for all the comments!

Taxes vary widely throughout the US. There are state, county and sometimes even city taxes and a number of locales add on extra hotel or occupancy taxes although we have no VAT. Despite this, I don't recall ever coming across a hotel room total tax levy that exceeded 18%.

I'm with Olive Oyl on this one. Are you sure the agent hasn't given you the price for two nights??? The amount sounds about right for two nights in October.

Rates usually do not include Mariposa County Room Tax of 10%. <BR><BR>Using the online reservation sustem you can get a Yosemite Lodge room for as low as $109 per WEEKDAY night (Sun -Thurs)in October. Here's the site: https://world.dncinc.com/smsworld/yo...world_page.htm

Suzie,<BR><BR>you migth well have a point there!<BR><BR>We'll be arriving on a saturday night and will leave on Tuesday morning!<BR><BR>But then, I should have two rates, shouldn't I? One for the w-e night, and one for the week nights?

I'm puzzled. Why haven't you asked your travel agent yet? He/she should be able to explain what the 204.65 euro cover!

Howard, I did!<BR><BR>She tells me that there're taxes, and that the US agent with whom she works offers flat rates throughout the year, while hotels offer varying rates. Which of course seems pretty much normal to me ;-)<BR><BR>Anyway, if she doesn't come up with more satisfying answers, I'll book these rooms myself!

This is one confusing post. Your stay is for two nights you say. But you arrive on a Saturday night and leave on a Tuesday. Normally I'd count that as three nights. Are you sleeping in the parking lot one night and only in a room two nights?<BR>If your travel agent can't tell you what the price covers and can't even explain whether that total is per night or for two nights and perhaps has only booked you for two when you need three --I'd say you definitely need a new travel agent.

Barthox, do I understand you correctly that the agent is saying it'll cost you 204.65 euro per night? If that is so, I'd drop that agent immediately and book the room yourself!<BR>It looks like everyone's trying to make money off you! <BR>That price could be almost double what you might get the room for off-season.

Patrick, you're correct, I mixed the number of full days spent in the park (2) and the number of nights (3)! Sorry for the confusion.<BR><BR>Now for the agent, this room price thing only 'problem' I have encountered. On the contrary, she's very very helpful and nice, and she knows the area well for having done about the same trip herself.<BR><BR>Anyway, I should get an answer today, so we'll see!

Don't know what you've decided just thought I'd check out the online res for an oct stay. Looks like total stay with a sat night is $327 USD add $32.70 room tax and you have $359.70 or a nightly stay of $119.9 including tax. Hope you book(ed) it yourself.<BR><BR>The more expensive Yosemite Lodge room was $143 plus the 10% room tax still won't bring you up to $196.<BR><BR>

$304.65 usd (2 nights at the Yosemite Lodge at 143.00 per night plus tax) is approx 285.00 euros.

Actually Barthox corrected himself later and admitted that he was staying Sat and leaving on Tues. So that makes 3 nights. I believed, but I could be wrong, that he was quoting a per night rate.<BR><BR>Maybe he'll clarify that for us.

I was indeed quoting a per night rate.<BR><BR>I find it great that you guys take this issue so seriously ;-)<BR><BR>As far as I'm concerned, I will book online myself if my agent does not come with a proper rate!

Glad to be of help. While your agent certainly deserves to be rewarded for his/her assistance, the rate quote for Yosemite lodging does seem a bit excessive!