Circle members only · Real cost

The Account

The platforms quote you a price. Here is what you will actually settle: city taxes, resort fees, expected gratuities, the transfer from the airport. Every line documented, every counter-move named.

ACT I · THE BOOKING830 destinations
830

Quoted price

250CAD / night

Length

5nights

Travellers

2people
ACT II · THE STATEMENTToronto · Canada

What you are quoted

850 €

The gap+54 %+455,19 €

What you pay

1 305,19 €

  • Quoted accommodation850 €
  • City tax40,80 €
  • Undisclosed hotel fees314,50 €
  • Expected gratuities66,30 €
  • Airport transfer, return33,59 €
  • Real total cost1 305,19 €

What the listing shows

In Canada prices are quoted before tax: Ontario's 13% HST and the 6% municipal accommodation tax are added when you pay.

Hidden fees: 20,40 € to 61,20 € per night

On a hotel quoted at CAD 220/night, expect CAD 270–310 in reality.

ACT III · THE EXHIBITS3 exhibits on file

The city tax

Toronto Municipal Accommodation Tax: 6% of the room rate since 2023, on top of the 13% HST.

Official source — City of Toronto — Revenue Services

THE TRANSFER8,40 € – 51 €

« YYZ → Union Station: “25 min” »

The UP Express takes 25 min and costs CAD 12.35. The TTC (bus 900 plus subway): CAD 3.35 for 60–75 min. A taxi or Uber: CAD 60–75 depending on traffic.

GRATUITIESExpected

As in the United States, 15 to 20% is expected in a restaurant, and card terminals suggest 18, 20 or 25% by default. Servers live on it.

Exhibit I+19 %

HST 13% + accommodation tax 6%

Canadian prices are always quoted before tax: 19% is added to the final bill.

High impactUnavoidable
Exhibit II30 €

Downtown hotel parking

CAD 35–60 a night in the Financial and Entertainment Districts.

Moderate impactAvoidable
Exhibit III21 €

The CN Tower and the museums

CN Tower: CAD 43. Royal Ontario Museum: CAD 26. Art Gallery of Ontario: CAD 30, free for under-25s.

Moderate impactAvoidableDocumented, not charged

Indicative amounts, taken from platform terms, official portals and our own checks on the ground. They vary by property and season — we would rather give you the right order of magnitude than a falsely precise figure.

The transfer, priced in advance

Of the four charges this page picks apart, the airport transfer is the only one whose fix can be bought: a fare agreed before you leave, driver briefed, instead of a meter or a late-night price haggled on arrival.

See airport transfers

The record: 43 cities, charge by charge

What follows is not an estimate: it is the record, city by city, of what gets added to the advertised price. 33 of these 43 cities levy a tourist tax, and 32 of them are tied here to their official source — the authority that sets the amount, not a traveller forum.

The ten cities that levy nothing say so too. An empty cell would be information lost: knowing there is no tax is worth as much as knowing the amount.

Europe · 17

Paris — France

In Paris the city tax is often left out of the price shown on Booking.com. It is collected at the hotel itself.

Tourist tax
8.28 EUR / person / night. Paris city tax 2024: from €0.75 (campsite) to €8.28 per person per night (5★ palace). 4★ hotels: about €5.50. Airbnb has collected it since 2023. (source: Direction des Finances Publiques, Paris)
Hotel charges
  • City tax (up to €8.28) — 5.50 EUR / person / night. A Paris municipal tax per person per night, raised by 200% in 2024 — the city applied the legal maximum. Unavoidable: Build €5–8 per person per night into your budget. It is not refunded even if you cancel.
  • Breakfast not included — 22 EUR / person / night. Parisian breakfast (€18–35 per person) is almost always optional. Comparison sites quote the price without it. Avoidable: Have breakfast in a neighbourhood café: €5–8 instead of €22–35 at the hotel.
  • Concealed cancellation charges — 100 %. Non-refundable rates save 10–15%, but cancellation charges can exceed 100% of the stay. Avoidable: Book a refundable rate if your plans are uncertain. The difference is rarely that large.
Airport transfer
Advertised: CDG → central Paris: "45 min". Actual: 11.4–75 EUR. The RER B costs €11.40 and takes 35–50 min. An official taxi is a fixed €56 (Left Bank) or €66 (Right Bank), but traffic can stretch it to 90 min. Uber is similarly priced. RER B: €11.40, fast and predictable. Orlyval from Orly: €12.10 to Antony.
Tipping
Service is included by law in France (15% in the price). A tip is not required but welcome: leave €1–2 on the counter or round the bill up. Uber offers an optional tip.
Real extra, per night
20–45 EUR. On a hotel quoted at €120/night for two, expect €145–165 all in, taxes and tips included.

Rome — Italy

Rome's tassa di soggiorno is rarely included in Booking prices. It is paid in cash at the hotel.

Tourist tax
7 EUR / person / night. Rome's tassa di soggiorno: €4 (2★) to €7 (5★) per person per night, up to 10 nights. A couple in a 4★ hotel: €12 a night in invisible tax. (source: Comune di Roma)
Hotel charges
  • Tassa di soggiorno (€3–7 per person per night) — 5 EUR / person / night. Rome's municipal tax: payable IN CASH at the hotel only, never collected by Booking.com. Unavoidable: Have euros in cash on arrival. The tax applies for up to ten consecutive nights.
  • Breakfast often excluded — 15 EUR / person / night. Contrary to belief, the colazione italiana is often not included in pensions and B&Bs. Avoidable: Take your coffee and cornetto at the corner bar: €1.50–2.50. Incomparably cheaper, and truer.
Airport transfer
Advertised: FCO → central Rome: "30 min". Actual: 8–55 EUR. The Leonardo Express costs €14 and takes 32 min. Official taxis are a fixed €50 within the walls. Shared private shuttles: €5–8 per person. Uber is banned in Rome. Leonardo Express (€14, 32 min) if you have luggage. FL1 train plus a change (about €2) on a tight budget.
Tipping
In Italy the cover charge (coperto: €2–4 per person) is often added automatically. Anything beyond is optional but appreciated (about 5–10%). Rounding a taxi fare up is the norm.
Real extra, per night
15–35 EUR. On a hotel quoted at €100/night for two, expect €120–135 all in.

Barcelone — Spain

Barcelona stacks two tourist taxes, Catalan and municipal — among the highest in Europe.

Tourist tax
5.25 EUR / person / night. Catalan tax (€3.50 for a 5★ hotel) plus Barcelona's municipal surcharge (€1.75) = €5.25 per person per night at the top end. Airbnb: €2.75 per person per night. Rising steadily. (source: Agència Tributària de Catalunya)
Hotel charges
  • Double tourist tax (€2.75–5.25) — 3.50 EUR / person / night. The Generalitat de Catalunya tax plus the Ajuntament de Barcelona surcharge. Among the highest in Europe. Unavoidable: For two people over seven nights: about €49 in tourist taxes. Build it in from the start.
  • IVA (10%) not included — 10 %. Some properties quote before tax. Spanish hotel VAT is 10%. Unavoidable: Check whether the price says "IVA incluido". If not, add 10%.
Airport transfer
Advertised: BCN → Las Ramblas: "30 min". Actual: 5.15–40 EUR. Aerobús: €6.75. Metro L9 Sud plus a change: €5.15 (T-Casual, zone 2). Taxi: an official flat €35–40 since 2024. Uber/Cabify: €25–35. Metro L9 plus a change: €5.15. Or the Aerobús if you are near the Ramblas: €6.75, direct.
Tipping
In Spain a tip is not required but common in tourist restaurants (5–10%). Barcelonans themselves rarely leave a formal tip — rounding the bill up is enough.
Real extra, per night
18–40 EUR. On a hotel quoted at €110/night for two, expect €130–150 all in.

Londres — United Kingdom

London has no city tax, but VAT (20%) is sometimes excluded and the airport link (Heathrow Express) is among the most expensive anywhere.

Tourist tax
No city tax in London. VAT (20%) is usually included in quoted hotel prices, but check corporate rates.
Hotel charges
  • VAT 20% (sometimes excluded) — 20 %. UK VAT of 20% is normally included, but some corporate or net rates exclude it. Unavoidable: Look for "inc. VAT". A "+VAT" rate adds 20%.
  • Breakfast optional — 20 GBP / person / night. A full English breakfast at the hotel costs £15–28 per person, almost always as an extra. Avoidable: Coffee and a pastry at a bakery: £4–6. The markets, Borough among them, do far better.
Airport transfer
Advertised: Heathrow → central London: "15–60 min". Actual: 5.6–100 GBP. The Piccadilly line costs £5.60 and takes about 50 min. The Elizabeth Line is £12–13 in 30 min. The Heathrow Express is £25 — £37 bought on the day — in 15 min. A black cab: £70–100. Elizabeth Line: £12–13, fast (30 min) and comfortable. The Piccadilly line on a tight budget (£5.60).
Tipping
In the UK many restaurants add a 12.5% service charge — check before adding a tip. In pubs you do not tip at the bar. Taxis: round up.
Real extra, per night
20–55 GBP. On a hotel quoted at £150/night, expect £175–210 depending on activities and transport.

Amsterdam — Netherlands

Amsterdam levies one of Europe's steepest tourist taxes: 12.5% of the room rate, rarely included in the quoted price.

Tourist tax
15 EUR / person / night. Amsterdam toeristenbelasting 2024: 12.5% of the room rate, the highest in Europe. On a €120 room: €15 a night in invisible tax. (source: Gemeente Amsterdam)
Hotel charges
  • Tourist tax 12.5% — 12.5 %. A municipal tax charged as a percentage of the room rate and collected at the hotel. Rarely shown on Booking. Unavoidable: On a four-night stay at €120, expect about €60 in extra tax. Budget for it.
  • Breakfast optional — 18 EUR / person / night. Dutch hotel breakfast costs €15–25 per person and is generally not included. Avoidable: The brown cafés and bakeries do better breakfasts for €6–10.
Airport transfer
Advertised: Schiphol → city centre: "15–20 min". Actual: 5.9–45 EUR. The Schiphol → Centraal train costs €5.90 and takes 15–17 min, direct and very frequent. A taxi: €40–45. Uber: €30–40. NS train: €5.90, direct and fast. No reason to take a taxi.
Tipping
In the Netherlands service is included. A tip is optional: round the bill up, or 5–10% for good service. Nothing is required.
Real extra, per night
25–50 EUR. On a hotel quoted at €130/night, expect €160–185 all in, with the 12.5% tax and activities.

Lisbonne — Portugal

Lisbon levies a municipal tax of €4 per person per night, paid at the hotel and rarely included in the quoted price.

Tourist tax
4 EUR / person / night. Lisbon taxa municipal turística: €4 per person per night (raised from €2 in 2024), capped at 7 nights. Under-13s exempt. (source: Câmara Municipal de Lisboa)
Hotel charges
  • Municipal tax (€4 per person per night) — 4 EUR / person / night. A tourist tax paid at the hotel, often in cash, and not collected by Booking. Unavoidable: Two people over five nights: €40. Capped at seven nights.
  • Breakfast sometimes excluded — 10 EUR / person / night. Many hotels and guesthouses do not include breakfast (€8–15 per person). Avoidable: Coffee and a pastel de nata in a pastelaria: €2–3. Far truer to the place.
Airport transfer
Advertised: LIS → city centre: "15–25 min". Actual: 1.8–20 EUR. The red metro line costs €1.80 plus €0.50 for the card. A taxi: €12–18. Uber/Bolt: €8–15. Beware taxis that refuse the meter. Metro: €1.80, direct from the airport. Bolt or Uber with heavy luggage (€8–12).
Tipping
In Portugal a tip is not required. Rounding the bill up, or 5–10% for good service, is appreciated. The couvert (bread, olives) is charged if you eat it.
Real extra, per night
12–30 EUR. On a hotel quoted at €100/night for two, expect €115–135 all in.

Istanbul — Türkiye

In Türkiye, inflation keeps prices moving. VAT (KDV) is sometimes excluded, and airport taxis overcharge tourists heavily.

Tourist tax
0 TRY / person / night. Since 2023 a 2% accommodation tax (konaklama vergisi) applies to the room rate, usually included in the quoted price but sometimes added on.
Hotel charges
  • VAT (KDV 10%) + 2% accommodation tax — 12 %. Hotel VAT (10%) and the accommodation tax (2%) are sometimes excluded from quoted net rates. Unavoidable: Ask for the "KDV dahil" price — VAT included — before you confirm.
  • Turkish breakfast optional — 250 TRY / person / night. The sumptuous Turkish breakfast (kahvaltı) is often extra — 200–400 TRY per person — in international hotels. Avoidable: The neighbourhood kahvaltı salonu lays on a feast for 150–250 TRY. Not to be missed.
Airport transfer
Advertised: IST → Sultanahmet: "45–90 min". Actual: 30–1200 TRY. Metro M11 plus a change: about 50 TRY. HAVAIST bus: 150–250 TRY. An official taxi: 700–900 TRY — IST is far from the centre. Fixed-fare taxis ask 1,000–1,500 TRY. Refuse. HAVAIST, the official bus: about 150–250 TRY, comfortable. Metro M11 if you want the cheapest. In a taxi, insist on the meter.
Tipping
In Türkiye a tip (bahşiş) of 5–10% is expected in restaurants. For guides and porters, 20–50 TRY. Agree and confirm taxi fares in advance.
Real extra, per night
400–1200 TRY. On a hotel quoted at 2,000 TRY/night, expect 2,400–3,200 TRY all in, with taxes and admissions.

Berlin — Germany

In Germany, VAT (7% on accommodation) is included, but Berlin's 7.5% City Tax is almost always added on arrival.

Tourist tax
4.50 EUR / person / night. Berlin City Tax: 7.5% of the room rate before VAT, capped at 21 consecutive nights. Business travel is exempt on production of evidence. (source: Senatsverwaltung für Finanzen Berlin)
Hotel charges
  • City Tax 7.5% — 7.5 %. An accommodation tax charged on the net room rate, collected at the hotel and never included in comparison-site prices. Unavoidable: Expect €4 to €8 per room per night depending on the class. Not charged on documented business stays.
  • Breakfast charged separately — 18 EUR / person / night. The German buffet is generous but rarely included in base rates: €15–25 per person. Avoidable: Neighbourhood Bäckereien serve a full breakfast for €5–8.
Airport transfer
Advertised: BER → Mitte: “40 min”. Actual: 4.4–55 EUR. The FEX or the RE7 cost €4.40 (an ABC ticket) and take 30–40 min. A taxi to Mitte: €45–60. The new airport is markedly further out than old Tegel. Airport Express (FEX): €4.40, two departures an hour to Hauptbahnhof.
Tipping
In Germany you announce the total you wish to pay, tip included (around 10%), as you hand over the money. You do not leave coins on the table.
Real extra, per night
8–20 EUR. On a hotel quoted at €110/night for two, expect €125–140 in reality.

Vienne — Austria

Austrian rates show VAT but rarely Vienna's 3.2% Ortstaxe, which is added at the hotel.

Tourist tax
3.20 EUR / person / night. Vienna Ortstaxe: 3.2% of the room rate excluding breakfast and VAT. Under-15s are exempt. (source: Stadt Wien — Magistratsabteilung 6)
Hotel charges
  • Ortstaxe 3.2% — 3.2 %. A municipal accommodation tax charged on the net rate and collected by the hotel on departure. Unavoidable: Modest next to other capitals: about €3–5 a night in a four-star.
  • Viennese breakfast — 22 EUR / person / night. Often included in traditional hotels, extra in international chains: €20–28 per person. Avoidable: A historic Kaffeehaus — Central, Sperl, Hawelka — serves a mélange and a pastry for €8–12, and the experience is worth the detour.
Airport transfer
Advertised: VIE → Stephansplatz: “25 min”. Actual: 4.4–45 EUR. The S7 suburban train costs €4.40 and takes 25 min. The City Airport Train asks €14.90 to save nine minutes. A taxi: €36–45. S-Bahn S7: €4.40, direct to Wien Mitte. The CAT only makes sense if you are in a real hurry.
Tipping
In Vienna you round up generously: 10% in cafés as in restaurants, announced as you pay. Kaffeehaus staff care about it.
Real extra, per night
6–16 EUR. On a hotel quoted at €130/night for two, expect €145–155 in reality.

Prague — Czech Republic

Prague quotes attractive prices, but the city tax, the exchange rates of tourist bureaux and inflated Old Town bills open the gap.

Tourist tax
50 CZK / person / night. Poplatek z pobytu: 50 CZK per person per night since 2022, capped at 60 nights. Under-18s are exempt. (source: Magistrát hlavního města Prahy)
Hotel charges
  • City tax (50 CZK per person per night) — 50 CZK / person / night. Collected at the hotel and almost never included in platform rates. Unavoidable: About €2 per person per night. Carry koruna in cash: some small hotels will not take it by card.
  • Predatory exchange bureaux — varies. Old Town exchange bureaux run margins of 10 to 30%, sometimes with concealed commissions on top. Avoidable: Withdraw from a real bank's ATM (ČSOB, KB, Česká spořitelna) and always decline the conversion the terminal offers.
Airport transfer
Advertised: PRG → city centre: “30 min”. Actual: 40–800 CZK. Bus 119 plus metro A costs 40 CZK and takes 35 min. The Airport Express bus to the main station: 100 CZK. An official taxi: 600–800 CZK; the touts ask double. Bus 119 plus metro: 40 CZK on a 90-minute ticket. Otherwise order a Bolt or an Uber from the app.
Tipping
You leave about 10%, announcing the total to the server. Check the bill in tourist streets: cover and service are sometimes added twice.
Real extra, per night
100–400 CZK. On a hotel quoted at 2,500 CZK/night, expect 2,700–3,100 CZK in reality.

Venise — Italy

Venice stacks the tassa di soggiorno, the new day-visitor access ticket, and lagoon transport among the dearest in Europe.

Tourist tax
5 EUR / person / night. Tassa di soggiorno: €1 to €5 per person per night by class and season, up to five nights. Since 2024 a €5 access contributo also applies to day visitors on certain days. (source: Comune di Venezia)
Hotel charges
  • Tassa di soggiorno (€1–5 per person per night) — 4 EUR / person / night. Paid at the hotel, often in cash, and never collected by the platforms. Unavoidable: A couple over four nights: about €32. Have it in cash.
  • Luggage portage — 30 EUR / stay. No vehicle moves in Venice. Licensed porters ask €25–40 to carry cases to your hotel. Avoidable: Choose a hotel near a vaporetto stop and travel light: the bridges are climbed by hand.
Airport transfer
Advertised: VCE → San Marco: “1 h”. Actual: 10–140 EUR. The ATVO bus to Piazzale Roma costs €10 and takes 20 min. The Alilaguna across the lagoon: €15 and 1 h 15. A private motor taxi: €120–140 the trip. ATVO or ACTV bus to Piazzale Roma (€10), then the vaporetto. The lagoon taxi is a pleasure, not a necessity.
Tipping
The coperto (€2–6 per person in Venice) is already on the bill. Anything beyond is optional.
Real extra, per night
15–45 EUR. On a hotel quoted at €160/night for two, expect €190–215 in reality.

Madrid — Spain

Madrid levies no city tax — an exception in Europe — but the 10% IVA is sometimes excluded from net rates.

Tourist tax
The Community of Madrid levies no city tax, unlike Catalonia or the Balearics. A municipal proposal returns to debate periodically without ever passing.
Hotel charges
  • IVA 10% sometimes excluded — 10 %. Some properties and negotiated rates quote before tax. Unavoidable: Look for “IVA incluido”. Without it, add 10%.
  • Hotel breakfast — 20 EUR / person / night. €18–26 per person in central hotels, rarely included. Avoidable: A café con leche and a tostada con tomate in a neighbourhood bar: €3–5. The Madrid ritual.
Airport transfer
Advertised: MAD → Sol: “30 min”. Actual: 5–33 EUR. Metro line 8 costs €5 with the airport supplement and takes 30 min with one change. The Exprés 203 bus: €5, and direct through the night. Taxis run a flat €33 into the centre. Metro line 8 (€5) or the Exprés 203 bus. The flat €33 taxi is fair enough with several of you.
Tipping
A tip is neither expected nor required in Madrid. Rounding the bill up, or leaving the change, is ample.
Real extra, per night
5–18 EUR. On a hotel quoted at €120/night for two, expect €130–145 in reality.

Athènes — Greece

Greece's climate resilience levy replaced the old accommodation tax in 2024, and is never included in quoted rates.

Tourist tax
2 EUR / person / night. Climate resilience levy: €1.50 per room per night in low season, €10 in high season for five-star properties. Three-star hotels pay €1.50 to €3 depending on the period. (source: Greek Ministry of Finance (AADE))
Hotel charges
  • Climate resilience levy — 3 EUR / night. Charged per room per night, scaled by class and season, settled at the hotel. Unavoidable: From €1.50 off-season to €10 in summer at five-star level. Check the classification before booking.
  • Breakfast often excluded — 15 EUR / person / night. €12–20 per person in central hotels. Avoidable: A freddo espresso and a koulouri to take away: €3. That is how Athens breakfasts.
Airport transfer
Advertised: ATH → Syntagma: “40 min”. Actual: 5.5–45 EUR. Metro line 3 costs €9 one way, or €5.50 at the reduced fare, and takes 40 min. The X95 bus: €5.50 for 60–90 min depending on traffic. Taxis are fixed at €40 by day, €55 at night. Metro line 3, direct to Syntagma and Monastiraki. The €16 return ticket is worth it if you leave the same way.
Tipping
You leave 5 to 10% in a taverna, more if you were well looked after. Rounding a taxi fare up is the custom.
Real extra, per night
5–16 EUR. On a hotel quoted at €100/night for two, expect €112–125 in reality.

Dublin — Ireland

Ireland levies no city tax, but Dublin has become one of Europe's dearest cities for accommodation, and hotel VAT has risen to 13.5%.

Tourist tax
No city tax in Ireland to date. Dublin City has been asking for one for years without government approval.
Hotel charges
  • Hotel VAT 13.5% — 13.5 %. The reduced hospitality rate went back from 9% to 13.5% in 2023; some corporate rates still exclude it. Unavoidable: Check for “VAT included” on negotiated rates.
  • Irish breakfast — 20 EUR / person / night. €18–25 per person at the hotel, almost always extra. Avoidable: The cafés on Georges Street or Camden Street do better for €10–14.
Airport transfer
Advertised: DUB → city centre: “30 min”. Actual: 6–40 EUR. The Airlink 700 and Aircoach buses cost €6–9 and take 30–45 min. Dublin Bus 16: €2.60 with a Leap card, but slow. A taxi: €30–40. Airlink 700 (€7) to O'Connell Street. With a Leap Visitor card, bus 16 comes to €2.60.
Tipping
You leave 10% in a restaurant if service is not already counted. At a pub you leave nothing at the bar: that is the custom, and it is not departed from.
Real extra, per night
8–25 EUR. On a hotel quoted at €180/night for two, expect €200–225 in reality.

Copenhague — Denmark

Denmark includes 25% VAT in quoted prices and levies no city tax: the gap comes from the cost of living, not from hidden fees.

Tourist tax
No city tax in Denmark. VAT of 25%, among the highest in the world, is built into quoted prices.
Hotel charges
  • Nordic breakfast — 190 DKK / person / night. 150–250 DKK per person, rarely included in base rates. Avoidable: A Danish bakery — Hart, Juno, Andersen — serves remarkable coffee and pastry for 60–80 DKK.
Airport transfer
Advertised: CPH → city centre: “15 min”. Actual: 36–350 DKK. The M2 metro costs 36 DKK and takes 14 min, with no change. The regional train: the same price, 13 min to København H. A taxi: 250–350 DKK. Metro M2, every four to six minutes, around the clock. There is no better airport link in Europe.
Tipping
Service is included by Danish law and wages are high. No tip is expected; rounding up is enough if you want to mark your satisfaction.
Real extra, per night
150–400 DKK. On a hotel quoted at 1,400 DKK/night for two, expect 1,600–1,800 DKK in reality.

Reykjavík — Iceland

Iceland reinstated an accommodation tax in 2024, and car hire — all but obligatory — conceals insurances that sometimes double the quoted rate.

Tourist tax
600 ISK / person / night. Accommodation tax reinstated in January 2024: 600 ISK per night per unit (about €4), 300 ISK for a campsite pitch. (source: Skatturinn — Iceland Revenue and Customs)
Hotel charges
  • Accommodation tax (600 ISK a night) — 600 ISK / night. Charged per room per night since 2024, rarely included in platform rates. Unavoidable: About €4 a night. Modest next to the rest of an Icelandic budget.
Airport transfer
Advertised: KEF → Reykjavík: “45 min”. Actual: 3500–20000 ISK. The airport is 50 km from the city. The Flybus shuttle costs 3,500 ISK per person, 4,500 ISK with hotel drop-off. A taxi: 18,000–20,000 ISK, one of the dearest transfers in Europe. Flybus or Airport Direct: 3,500–4,500 ISK, timed to the flights. The taxi is never justified.
Tipping
Tipping does not exist in Icelandic culture: service is included and wages are high. Leaving one can even cause surprise.
Real extra, per night
1000–8000 ISK. On a hotel quoted at 28,000 ISK/night, expect 30,000–36,000 ISK in reality, before the car.

Zurich — Switzerland

Switzerland includes 3.8% VAT on accommodation, but adds a city tax per person per night — and everything else costs more than elsewhere.

Tourist tax
2.50 CHF / person / night. Zurich Kurtaxe: CHF 2.50 per person per night for over-18s. It entitles you to the Zürich Card Journey, valid on transport from the airport. (source: Stadt Zürich — Tourismusverein)
Hotel charges
  • Kurtaxe (CHF 2.50 per person per night) — 2.50 CHF / person / night. A municipal accommodation tax, settled at the hotel, which entitles you to a transport pass. Unavoidable: Ask for the Zürich Card Journey that comes with it: it covers the trip from the airport, which many travellers never realise.
  • Swiss breakfast — 32 CHF / person / night. CHF 25–40 per person in central hotels. Avoidable: The bakeries and the Coop and Migros supermarkets are in a different price bracket entirely.
Airport transfer
Advertised: ZRH → Hauptbahnhof: “15 min”. Actual: 0–70 CHF. The train takes 10–13 min and costs CHF 7.20 — but it is free if your hotel has given you the Zürich Card Journey that comes with the city tax. A taxi: CHF 60–70. The train, on the card your hotel hands you. It is the only airport transfer in Europe that can be free.
Tipping
Service is included by Swiss law. You round up to the next franc, nothing more; no one expects otherwise.
Real extra, per night
5–70 CHF. On a hotel quoted at CHF 220/night for two, expect CHF 230–250 in reality, before meals.

Asia · 11

Bangkok — Thailand

Quoted prices generally exclude VAT (7%) and the 10% service charge. A hotel at 1,500 THB/night costs about 1,785 THB once taxed.

Tourist tax
No official tourist tax in Bangkok for now. An entry fee (about 300 THB) has been debated nationally since 2023 but is not in force.
Hotel charges
  • VAT + service charge (17%) — 17 %. Thai VAT of 7% plus a 10% hotel service charge: 17% that net prices do not show. Unavoidable: Reputable hotels mark rates "nett" (all in) or "++" (before tax). A "++" means 17% more.
  • Compulsory minibar charge — 200 THB / stay. Some luxury hotels restock the minibar automatically and bill for it whether or not you drink. Avoidable: Ask for the minibar to be emptied on arrival. They are legally obliged to comply.
Airport transfer
Advertised: Suvarnabhumi → city centre: "30–45 min". Actual: 40–1200 THB. The Airport Rail Link costs 15–45 THB. An official metered taxi is 200–400 THB plus 75 THB of expressway. Fixed-fare taxis at the airport ask 600–1,200 THB — avoid them entirely. Airport Rail Link: 15–45 THB, 26 min to Phaya Thai. Change to the BTS Skytrain from there.
Tipping
Tipping is not culturally required but is much appreciated. 20–50 THB for small services, 10% in a restaurant if no service charge is included. Rounding a taxi fare up to the next 10 THB is the norm.
Real extra, per night
300–800 THB. On a hotel quoted at 1,200 THB/night, expect 1,500–2,000 THB all in.

Dubaï — United Arab Emirates

Dubai stacks VAT, a municipality fee and the tourism dirham on every night. A hotel quoted at 400 AED/night can cost 520+ AED.

Tourist tax
20 AED / person / night. Tourism Dirham Fee: 7–20 AED per room per night by hotel class. 5★ hotels: 20 AED/night. On top of the Municipality Fee (0–10%). (source: Dubai Tourism & Commerce Marketing (DTCM))
Hotel charges
  • VAT (5%) + municipality fee (10%) — 15 %. 5% federal VAT plus Dubai's 10% municipal tax: 15% on the base price, excluded from quoted rates. Unavoidable: Every hotel applies it. Multiply the quoted price by 1.15, at least.
  • Tourism Dirham (7–20 AED/night) — 15 AED / night. A government tourism charge, on top of VAT and the municipality fee. It varies by star rating. Unavoidable: A fixed statutory charge you cannot avoid. About €4 a night for a standard hotel.
  • Resort fee (some hotels) — 80 AED / night. Beach hotels and resorts levy "beach access" or "resort amenities" fees of 50–150 AED a night. Avoidable: Check that what you are charged for is something you will actually use.
Airport transfer
Advertised: DXB → Downtown: "20–30 min". Actual: 3–80 AED. The Dubai Metro Red Line costs 3–6 AED and takes 35 min. A taxi is 50–80 AED. Hotels offer shuttles at 80–150 AED. Uber/Careem: 35–70 AED. Dubai Metro Red Line: 3–6 AED, direct to the centre. The most efficient and predictable option.
Tipping
No compulsory tipping culture in the UAE. That said, 10% in a restaurant is common in international venues. Taxis are metered — no tip expected.
Real extra, per night
70–180 AED. On a hotel quoted at 400 AED/night, expect 500–580 AED all in.

Tokyo — Japan

In Japan the quoted price generally includes VAT (10%). Tokyo's accommodation tax (100–200 JPY/night) is minor. The real hidden cost is getting around.

Tourist tax
200 JPY / person / night. Tokyo accommodation tax: 100 JPY/night for rooms under 10,000 JPY, 200 JPY for 10,000–15,000 JPY. Negligible (about €1.50) but real. (source: Tokyo Metropolitan Government)
Hotel charges
  • VAT 10% (sometimes excluded) — 10 %. Japanese VAT is generally included — prices marked "tax included" — but some international hotels leave it out. Unavoidable: Look for 税込 (zeikomi) — tax included. Otherwise add 10%.
  • Breakfast optional — 1500 JPY / person / night. Most business hotels offer breakfast as an option at 1,000–2,500 JPY per person. Avoidable: Convenience stores (7-Eleven, FamilyMart) do a full, genuinely good breakfast for 500–800 JPY. Far better value.
Airport transfer
Advertised: Narita → Tokyo: "60 min". Actual: 1280–20000 JPY. Narita Express (N'EX): 3,070 JPY direct to Shinjuku. Limousine Bus: 2,800–3,500 JPY. Taxi: 18,000–22,000 JPY. Haneda, which is closer: 1,280–1,640 JPY by train. Many travellers confuse the two airports. Haneda if you have the choice: monorail or Keikyu line for 1,280–1,640 JPY, 30 min. From Narita: the N'EX or the Limousine Bus.
Tipping
Tipping is an INSULT in Japan. Never leave one — staff may chase after you to return it. Exceptional service is simply the cultural norm.
Real extra, per night
1500–4000 JPY. On a hotel quoted at 10,000 JPY/night, expect 11,500–14,000 JPY all in, with VAT, city tax and breakfast.

Maldives (île-resort) — Maldives

The Maldives is the world champion of hidden fees. A resort quoted at $400/night can cost $600+ once taxes and compulsory charges land.

Tourist tax
6 USD / person / night. Green Tax: $6 per person per night (resorts) or $3 (guesthouses). Plus 10% Tourism Tax on every service. Plus 16% GST. (source: Maldives Inland Revenue Authority)
Hotel charges
  • Tourism tax 10% + GST 16% — 26 %. On every service — room, food, excursions — 10% plus 16%: 26% stacked on top of the quoted price. Unavoidable: That is the statutory Maldivian rate. Multiply every price by at least 1.26.
  • Green Tax ($6 per person per night) — 6 USD / person / night. An unavoidable government environmental tax. Unavoidable: Minor next to the other charges.
  • Compulsory speedboat or seaplane transfer — 200 USD / stay. Almost every resort sits on its own island. The transfer is not included: speedboat $50–150, seaplane $400–600 return per person. Unavoidable: The transfer often costs as much as a night's room. Check BEFORE you book.
  • All-inclusive: alcohol excluded — 80 USD / night. The standard all-inclusive package excludes alcohol. A bar tab for two can reach $100–200 a day. Avoidable: Choose the premium all-inclusive package with alcohol at the point of booking. Always cheaper than paying on site.
Airport transfer
Advertised: MLE → resort: "varies". Actual: 50–600 USD. Speedboat: $50–150 per person. Seaplane: $300–600 per person return. The transfer is almost NEVER included in the quoted price. It is the first shock for Maldives travellers. Guesthouses on Maafushi or another inhabited local island: the ferry costs $1–5. No seaplane needed.
Tipping
Resort staff largely come from India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh and depend heavily on tips. $1–2 a day for housekeeping, 10% in restaurants, $3–5 for dive instructors.
Real extra, per night
120–400 USD. On a resort quoted at $400/night, expect $550–800 all in, with 26% taxes, the transfer and extras.

Singapour — Singapore

Singapore hotel prices often carry "++": 9% GST plus a 10% service charge — 19% on top, not included.

Tourist tax
No separate city tax in Singapore, but GST (9% since 2024) and a 10% service charge apply, often shown as "++".
Hotel charges
  • GST 9% + service charge 10% ("++") — 19.9 %. "Nett" rates are all in; "++" rates add 9% GST and a 10% service charge — about 19.9% stacked. Unavoidable: Look for "nett", meaning all in. A "++" price climbs by about 20%.
  • Breakfast optional — 30 SGD / person / night. Hotel breakfast costs SGD 25–40 per person and is generally not in the base rate. Avoidable: The hawker centres — Maxwell, Lau Pa Sat — do a delicious breakfast for SGD 4–8.
Airport transfer
Advertised: Changi → city centre: "20–30 min". Actual: 2.5–40 SGD. The MRT costs SGD 2–2.50 and takes about 30 min. A taxi: SGD 25–40, plus an airport surcharge of SGD 3–8 and a night surcharge. Grab: SGD 20–35. MRT: SGD 2.50, clean and quick. A taxi or Grab stays reasonable with luggage (SGD 25–30).
Tipping
Tipping is not part of Singaporean culture and is actively discouraged at the airport. The 10% service charge already covers service. No tip is expected.
Real extra, per night
40–100 SGD. On a hotel quoted at SGD 250/night "++", expect SGD 300–350 all in.

Séoul — South Korea

Korean rates include 10% VAT, but international hotels add a 10% service charge that rarely shows before you pay.

Tourist tax
No accommodation tax in South Korea. Foreigners can, on the other hand, reclaim VAT on purchases above 30,000 KRW under the Tax Refund scheme.
Hotel charges
  • Service charge 10% — 10 %. International-class hotels add 10% service, then 10% VAT on the total. Unavoidable: A rate quoted “+10 +10” comes to 21% more. Look for “VAT and service charge included”.
  • Hotel breakfast — 32000 KRW / person / night. 25,000–45,000 KRW per person, very rarely included. Avoidable: Gimbap and coffee at a neighbourhood stall: 5,000–8,000 KRW. Korean convenience stores are of a remarkable standard.
Airport transfer
Advertised: ICN → Seoul: “60 min”. Actual: 4750–90000 KRW. The all-stop AREX costs 4,750 KRW and takes 60 min; the direct express is 11,000 KRW in 43 min. The limousine bus: 17,000–18,000 KRW with hotel drop-off. A taxi: 70,000–90,000 KRW. The AREX express if you are staying near Seoul Station; otherwise the limousine bus, which serves the major hotels directly.
Tipping
Tipping does not exist in Korea and can cause discomfort. The hotel service charge already covers service; elsewhere you pay the price shown.
Real extra, per night
20000–80000 KRW. On a hotel quoted at 150,000 KRW/night, expect 180,000–210,000 KRW in reality.

Kyoto — Japan

Kyoto levies Japan's highest accommodation tax, and it will rise sharply in 2026 for the upper brackets.

Tourist tax
400 JPY / person / night. Kyoto accommodation tax: 200 JPY per person per night below 20,000 JPY, 500 JPY between 20,000 and 50,000 JPY, 1,000 JPY above. The city has voted an increase to as much as 10,000 JPY for the dearest nights from 2026. (source: City of Kyoto — local tax office)
Hotel charges
  • Kyoto accommodation tax — 400 JPY / person / night. Charged per person per night in price bands, settled at the hotel. Unavoidable: Check the band before booking: above 50,000 JPY a night the tax becomes significant.
  • Ryokan breakfast — 3500 JPY / person / night. Ryokan often bill a half-board package: 3,000–8,000 JPY per person for the Japanese breakfast. Avoidable: A ryokan breakfast is an experience in itself — but check whether it is counted on top of the room rate.
Airport transfer
Advertised: KIX → Kyoto: “75 min”. Actual: 1910–35000 JPY. The Haruka Express links Kansai to Kyoto in 75 min for 3,110 JPY, or 1,910 JPY on the ICOCA & Haruka ticket reserved for foreigners. The limousine bus: 2,800 JPY. A taxi: 30,000–35,000 JPY. ICOCA & Haruka: 1,910 JPY one way, travel card included. Book online before you leave.
Tipping
As everywhere in Japan, a tip is a misstep. In a traditional ryokan, a gift slipped into an envelope on arrival (kokorozuke) is the only accepted form, and it remains rare.
Real extra, per night
800–12000 JPY. On a ryokan quoted at 25,000 JPY/night for two, expect 27,000–33,000 JPY in reality.

Hong Kong — Hong Kong

Hong Kong reinstated its 3% accommodation tax in 2025, to which hotels add a 10% service charge.

Tourist tax
3 HKD / person / night. Hotel Accommodation Tax: reinstated at 3% of the room rate on 1 January 2025, after sixteen years of suspension. (source: Inland Revenue Department, HKSAR)
Hotel charges
  • Hotel Accommodation Tax 3% — 3 %. Reinstated in 2025, charged on the room rate and rarely included in platform prices. Unavoidable: Added to the service charge, it brings the supplement to 13%.
  • Service charge 10% — 10 %. Added by almost every hotel and hotel restaurant, on the net rate. Unavoidable: Rates quoted “nett” already include it. The others do not.
Airport transfer
Advertised: HKG → Central: “24 min”. Actual: 33–350 HKD. The Airport Express takes 24 min and costs 115 HKD, or 205 HKD return. The A11 or A21 bus: 33–40 HKD for 45–60 min. A taxi: 280–350 HKD depending on where you are going. The Airport Express, with the free hotel shuttles at the far end. The A21 bus is unbeatable if you are not in a hurry.
Tipping
The 10% service charge covers service. You round up the taxi fare and leave a few dollars for the porter; nothing more is expected.
Real extra, per night
100–400 HKD. On a hotel quoted at 1,200 HKD/night, expect 1,400–1,600 HKD in reality.

Bali — Indonesia

Since 2024 Bali has stacked an entry tourist levy, a 10% service charge and 11% VAT that “++” rates do not include.

Tourist tax
150000 IDR / person / night. Bali tourist levy: 150,000 IDR (about €9) per person, once on entering the island, in force since February 2024. Payable online before arrival through the Love Bali portal. (source: Bali Provincial Government — Love Bali portal)
Hotel charges
  • Service charge 10% + VAT 11% — 21 %. Rates quoted “++” exclude these 21% combined. The notation is discreet but everywhere. Unavoidable: Look for “nett”: the rate is then all in. A “++” adds more than a fifth.
  • Entry tourist levy — 150000 IDR / stay. 150,000 IDR per person, payable online before arrival. Enforcement tightened in 2025. Unavoidable: Pay it on the official Love Bali portal before you leave and keep the QR code: paying at the airport costs time.
Airport transfer
Advertised: DPS → Seminyak: “30 min”. Actual: 150000–500000 IDR. Taxis from the official desk charge a flat fare: 250,000–350,000 IDR to Seminyak, more to Ubud or Canggu. Grab and Gojek are half the price but barred from picking up at the terminal. Book a private driver in advance (250,000–350,000 IDR by area): he waits with a sign, and there is nothing to negotiate.
Tipping
A tip is not required but counts for a great deal in the local economy. 10% in a restaurant if the service charge is not included, 20,000–50,000 IDR for a driver for the day.
Real extra, per night
100000–400000 IDR. On a villa quoted at 1,500,000 IDR/night, expect 1,800,000–1,950,000 IDR in reality.

Delhi — India

In India, GST on accommodation depends on the room rate: 12% below 7,500 INR, 18% above, and net rates often exclude it.

Tourist tax
No city tax in India. GST serves as hotel taxation: 12% up to 7,500 INR a night, 18% above.
Hotel charges
  • GST 12–18% — 15 %. The rate jumps to 18% as soon as the room passes 7,500 INR a night. Negotiated rates frequently exclude it. Unavoidable: Ask for the rate “inclusive of taxes”. A night at 7,400 INR costs less, all in, than a night at 7,600 INR.
  • Hotel service charge — 7 %. Many hotels add 5 to 10% service. It has been legally optional since 2022 but is still applied as a matter of course. Avoidable: It is optional under Indian law: you may ask for it to be removed, and that is your right.
Airport transfer
Advertised: DEL → Connaught Place: “40 min”. Actual: 60–900 INR. The Airport Express Metro costs 60 INR and takes 20 min to New Delhi Station. An official prepaid taxi: 500–700 INR. Uber: 400–600 INR. The touts in the arrivals hall ask three times as much. Airport Express Metro: 60 INR, quick and with nothing to negotiate. Otherwise the police prepaid taxi desk — never a driver who approaches you.
Tipping
A tip is expected almost everywhere: 10% in a restaurant, 50–100 INR for a porter, 200–500 INR for a driver for the day. Carry plenty of small notes.
Real extra, per night
500–2500 INR. On a hotel quoted at 6,000 INR/night, expect 7,000–7,800 INR in reality.

Doha — Qatar

Qatari hotels add a 10% service charge and a 7% municipal tax, rarely included in quoted rates.

Tourist tax
7 QAR / person / night. A 7% municipal tax on the room rate, plus a 10% service charge. Qatar does not yet apply a general VAT. (source: Qatar Ministry of Finance)
Hotel charges
  • Municipal tax 7% + service 10% — 17 %. The two stack on the net rate: 17% more than the price quoted. Unavoidable: Always ask for the “all inclusive” rate before confirming.
  • Alcohol confined to licensed venues — 75 QAR. Alcohol is sold only in licensed hotels and is heavily taxed there: 60–90 QAR a glass. Avoidable: Set aside a separate budget if it matters to you: there is no alternative outside the hotels.
Airport transfer
Advertised: DOH → West Bay: “20 min”. Actual: 2–60 QAR. The Doha Metro red line costs 2 QAR into the centre and takes 25 min. A Karwa taxi: 45–60 QAR. Uber: 40–55 QAR. The red metro line: clean, air-conditioned and 2 QAR. It serves the Corniche, Msheireb and West Bay.
Tipping
Tipping is not in the Qatari tradition, but hotel staff, largely expatriate, feel it keenly. 10% in a restaurant if service is not counted.
Real extra, per night
60–200 QAR. On a hotel quoted at 600 QAR/night, expect 700–780 QAR in reality.

North America · 6

New York — United States

The quoted price systematically excludes taxes and resort fees. A hotel at $120/night often costs $180+ once taxed.

Tourist tax
3.50 USD / person / night. NYC Hotel Room Occupancy Tax: 5.875% + $1.50/night. On a $150/night hotel: about $10.31 in extra tax. (source: NYC Department of Finance)
Hotel charges
  • NYC hotel tax (14.75%) — 14.75 %. New York's stacked hotel tax: 4% state, 6% city, 1.5% hotel unit fee, 3.25% convention centre. Unavoidable: There is no avoiding it. Add 15% to your New York hotel budget.
  • Destination / resort fee — 35 USD / night. A "services" charge for wifi, pool and gym, billed separately. Never shown in the headline price. Unavoidable: Read the fine print before booking. These charges rarely surface on comparison sites.
  • Parking — 90 USD / night. If you arrive by car, hotel parking in Manhattan runs $80–120 a night. Avoidable: Take public transport. There is no reason to hire a car in Manhattan.
Airport transfer
Advertised: JFK → Manhattan: "about 1 h". Actual: 52–95 USD. The official JFK taxi is a $52 flat fare plus tip (15–20%), tolls ($8–15) and a peak-hour surcharge. Uber and Lyft run $45–90 depending on traffic. AirTrain ($8.50) plus the subway ($2.90) = $11.40 all in. 60–80 min, but far cheaper.
Tipping
In the US, 18–20% in a restaurant is a moral obligation — servers live on it. Some restaurants automatically add an 18–22% service charge for parties of six or more.
Real extra, per night
45–85 USD. On a hotel quoted at $150/night, you actually pay $195–235 all in.

Los Angeles — United States

In Los Angeles the quoted price excludes hotel tax (~14%), resort fees and parking (essential with a car). The transport budget escalates fast.

Tourist tax
4 USD / person / night. LA Transient Occupancy Tax: 14% of the room rate plus a Tourism Marketing District fee (about 2%). On a $200 hotel: about $32 in tax. (source: City of Los Angeles)
Hotel charges
  • Hotel tax, about 14% — 14 %. A 14% transient occupancy tax, plus a tourism marketing fee — never included in the quoted price. Unavoidable: Always add 14–16% to the quoted price of a Californian hotel.
  • Resort / facility fee — 35 USD / night. A "resort" or "urban destination" fee of $25–45 a night for wifi, gym and the like. Often compulsory. Unavoidable: These charges rarely appear in the search price. Look for the resort fee line.
  • Parking (a car is essential) — 40 USD / night. LA is a car city. Hotel parking: $25–55 a night. Hiring a car is all but obligatory to get around. Avoidable: Some motels and beach hotels park you for free. Compare the total cost of car plus parking.
Airport transfer
Advertised: LAX → Downtown/Hollywood: "30–60 min". Actual: 9.75–90 USD. The Metro, via the LAX shuttle and train: about $1.75–9.75, but slow. A flat-fare taxi to Downtown: about $55 plus tip and surcharge. Uber/Lyft from LAX-it: $35–75 depending on traffic, which is often heavy. The new LAX/Metro Transit Center and K Line finally open up public transport. Otherwise Uber or Lyft from LAX-it (about $40–55).
Tipping
As everywhere in the US, 18–20% in a restaurant is a moral obligation. Valets ($2–5), housekeepers ($3–5 a night) and Uber drivers (15–20%) expect one too.
Real extra, per night
70–160 USD. On a hotel quoted at $180/night, expect $250–320 all in, with taxes, resort fee and parking.

Cancún — Mexico

In Cancún, all-inclusive resorts bury taxes, resort fees and gratuities. A new state tourist tax has applied since 2021.

Tourist tax
271 MXN / person / night. Visitax (State of Quintana Roo): about 271 MXN (roughly $16) per visitor for the whole stay, paid online. Plus the local accommodation tax. (source: Gobierno de Quintana Roo)
Hotel charges
  • IVA 16% + ISH 3% — 19 %. Mexican VAT (16%) plus the accommodation tax (3%): 19% sometimes excluded from quoted rates outside all-inclusive packages. Unavoidable: Check whether the rate includes "impuestos". If not, add 19%.
  • Resort fee / "amenities" — 500 MXN / night. Some non-all-inclusive resorts charge a $25–50 nightly resort fee. All-inclusives sometimes inflate the extras instead. Avoidable: Compare the full all-inclusive price against half-board plus restaurants outside.
Airport transfer
Advertised: CUN → Zona Hotelera: "20–30 min". Actual: 100–1500 MXN. The ADO bus into town: about 100 MXN. A pre-booked private shuttle: $20–35. Airport taxis: $50–80, expensive. Avoid the timeshare touts offering "free" transfers. A private shuttle booked online in advance ($20–35 shared). The ADO bus if you are heading into town.
Tipping
In Mexico a tip (propina) of 10–15% is expected in restaurants. In all-inclusive resorts you leave $1–2 per service (barman, housekeeper, waiter). It adds up over a stay.
Real extra, per night
400–1200 MXN. On a hotel quoted at 2,500 MXN/night, expect 3,000–3,700 MXN all in, with taxes, tips and Visitax.

Toronto — Canada

In Canada prices are quoted before tax: Ontario's 13% HST and the 6% municipal accommodation tax are added when you pay.

Tourist tax
6 CAD / person / night. Toronto Municipal Accommodation Tax: 6% of the room rate since 2023, on top of the 13% HST. (source: City of Toronto — Revenue Services)
Hotel charges
  • HST 13% + accommodation tax 6% — 19 %. Canadian prices are always quoted before tax: 19% is added to the final bill. Unavoidable: A general rule in Canada: add 20% in your head to every displayed price, hotel and restaurant alike.
  • Downtown hotel parking — 45 CAD / night. CAD 35–60 a night in the Financial and Entertainment Districts. Avoidable: The subway and the streetcar serve the whole centre: a car is a handicap there.
Airport transfer
Advertised: YYZ → Union Station: “25 min”. Actual: 12.35–75 CAD. The UP Express takes 25 min and costs CAD 12.35. The TTC (bus 900 plus subway): CAD 3.35 for 60–75 min. A taxi or Uber: CAD 60–75 depending on traffic. UP Express: CAD 12.35, every 15 minutes, direct to Union Station.
Tipping
As in the United States, 15 to 20% is expected in a restaurant, and card terminals suggest 18, 20 or 25% by default. Servers live on it.
Real extra, per night
30–90 CAD. On a hotel quoted at CAD 220/night, expect CAD 270–310 in reality.

San Francisco — United States

San Francisco levies one of the heaviest hotel taxes in the United States — 14% plus district assessments — with resort fees and parking on top.

Tourist tax
14 USD / person / night. Transient Occupancy Tax of 14%, plus Tourism Improvement District assessments of 1 to 2.25%. On a $250 room: about $40 in tax. (source: San Francisco Office of the Treasurer & Tax Collector)
Hotel charges
  • Transient Occupancy Tax 14% + districts — 16 %. Never included in the search price, it appears at the last step of booking. Unavoidable: Add 16% to the displayed price before comparing any two properties.
  • Urban / amenity fee — 32 USD / night. $25–40 a night for wifi, the gym and “access to facilities”. Often compulsory. Unavoidable: Look for the “resort fee” or “urban fee” line before confirming: it does not appear in the compared price.
  • Hotel parking — 60 USD / night. $50–75 a night downtown, on top. Avoidable: BART and the cable cars are enough in town. Take a car only to head for Napa or the coast.
Airport transfer
Advertised: SFO → Union Square: “30 min”. Actual: 10.55–80 USD. BART takes 30 min and costs $10.55 to Powell Street. A taxi: $60–70 plus the tip. Uber or Lyft: $45–80 depending on the hour. BART, direct from the international terminal, every 15 minutes.
Tipping
18 to 22% is the norm in San Francisco, more than elsewhere in the United States. Some restaurants also add an “SF mandate” of 4 to 6% for staff healthcare.
Real extra, per night
60–140 USD. On a hotel quoted at $250/night, expect $330–390 in reality.

Mexico — Mexico

Mexico City levies a 3.5% accommodation tax and 16% VAT that net rates often exclude.

Tourist tax
3.50 MXN / person / night. Mexico City's Impuesto sobre Hospedaje: 3.5% of the room rate, on top of the 16% IVA. (source: Secretaría de Administración y Finanzas, CDMX)
Hotel charges
  • IVA 16% + accommodation 3.5% — 19.5 %. 19.5% combined, sometimes excluded from rates quoted outside the international platforms. Unavoidable: Check for “impuestos incluidos” before confirming.
Airport transfer
Advertised: MEX → Condesa: “30 min”. Actual: 5–400 MXN. Metro line 5 costs 5 MXN but bars large cases. Authorised taxis from the terminal: 250–350 MXN to the Condesa. Uber: 150–250 MXN, ordered from the departures level. An authorised taxi bought at the terminal desk, or Uber from the departures floor. Never follow a tout.
Tipping
A propina of 10 to 15% is expected in a restaurant. Petrol attendants, informal parking guards and supermarket packers also live on small change.
Real extra, per night
200–700 MXN. On a hotel quoted at 2,200 MXN/night, expect 2,600–2,900 MXN in reality.

South America · 2

Rio de Janeiro — Brazil

Rio levies a municipal accommodation tax and a near-universal 10% restaurant service charge, presented as optional but rarely removed.

Tourist tax
15 BRL / person / night. ISS and municipal accommodation tax: about 5% of the rate, varying by class. Rio has reintroduced a per-night tourist contribution for classified hotels. (source: Prefeitura da Cidade do Rio de Janeiro)
Hotel charges
  • Accommodation tax and ISS — 5 %. About 5% of the room rate, settled at the hotel and rarely included in platform prices. Unavoidable: Ask for the “com taxas” rate when booking.
  • 10% restaurant service charge — varies. The taxa de serviço is added automatically. It is optional under Brazilian law, but removing it goes down badly. Avoidable: It is legally optional. In practice you pay it — and it makes up most of the server's income.
Airport transfer
Advertised: GIG → Copacabana: “45 min”. Actual: 21–180 BRL. The air-conditioned Real Auto Ônibus costs 21 BRL and serves the Zona Sul in 60–90 min. An official taxi: 130–180 BRL. Uber: 90–140 BRL. Uber from the app, or an official taxi from the desk. Arriving at night, never take a vehicle offered in the hall.
Tipping
The 10% service appears on almost every bill. Beyond that, nothing is expected. Informal beach and parking attendants live on small change.
Real extra, per night
40–150 BRL. On a hotel quoted at 600 BRL/night, expect 680–780 BRL in reality.

Buenos Aires — Argentina

Argentina exempts foreigners from the 21% VAT on accommodation if they pay from abroad — an advantage many travellers never discover.

Tourist tax
No national accommodation tax. Better still: non-residents are exempt from the 21% IVA on accommodation, provided they pay by foreign card or transfer from abroad and show their passport.
Hotel charges
  • IVA 21% — waived for foreigners — varies. Non-residents are exempt if they pay by a foreign means. Settled in pesos at the desk, the benefit is lost. Avoidable: Pay by foreign card and show your passport at check-in: an immediate 21% saving on accommodation.
  • Breakfast rarely included — 6000 ARS / person / night. Often included in traditional hotels, extra in aparthotels and apartments. Avoidable: A café con medialunas in a confitería in Palermo or San Telmo: an institution, at a fraction of the price.
Airport transfer
Advertised: EZE → city centre: “45 min”. Actual: 8000–45000 ARS. The Tienda León bus costs about 12,000 ARS and takes 45–60 min. A taxi or remise booked at the desk: 35,000–45,000 ARS. The airport is 35 km from the centre. A remise booked at the official terminal desk, or Tienda León if you travel light. Avoid drivers who approach you in the hall.
Tipping
You leave 10% in a restaurant, in cash by preference: a tip rarely goes through the card. The cubierto is itemised separately on the bill.
Real extra, per night
3000–25000 ARS. The exchange rate moves fast: check the figures at the moment you book.

Africa · 4

Marrakech — Morocco

In Morocco, riads often quote prices before tax. Hotel VAT (10%) and the tourism promotion levy are added on.

Tourist tax
15 MAD / person / night. Tourism promotion levy: 10–40 MAD per room per night by class. Hotel VAT 10%. Sometimes collected in cash on arrival. (source: Moroccan Ministry of Tourism)
Hotel charges
  • VAT 10% + tourism levy — 10 %. Hotel VAT of 10% plus a promotion levy of 10–40 MAD a night, often excluded from quoted rates. Unavoidable: Ask for the all-taxes-included price before booking a riad.
  • Tips for the riad's guard and porter — 50 MAD / stay. Tipping culture (baksheesh) runs deep. Guards, porters, guides: 10–20 MAD each. Unavoidable: Always carry small notes. 10–20 MAD per service rendered is the norm.
Airport transfer
Advertised: RAK → the medina: "15–20 min". Actual: 3–200 MAD. Bus 19: 30 MAD, 30–40 min. Petit taxi: a negotiated 70–100 MAD (refuse the 150–200 MAD first asked). Grand taxi: 200–300 MAD. Drivers target tourists at the airport. Bus 19 from the airport for 30 MAD. Slow but reliable. Or a taxi, negotiated to 70–80 MAD at most.
Tipping
Baksheesh is a cultural reality in Morocco. Guides: 50–100 MAD per half-day. Restaurants: 10%. Taxis: agree the fare BEFORE getting in (no meter in the medina) and confirm it.
Real extra, per night
80–200 MAD. On a riad quoted at 600 MAD/night, expect 700–800 MAD all in, taxes and baksheesh included.

Le Cap — South Africa

In Cape Town, VAT (15%) is usually included, but a 1% tourism levy and transport costs (there is no metro) weigh on the real budget.

Tourist tax
0 ZAR / person / night. Tourism Levy (TOMSA): 1% added to accommodation, usually included. No significant separate city tax.
Hotel charges
  • VAT 15% + tourism levy 1% — 1 %. VAT (15%) is usually included, but check safari lodge rates, which sometimes exclude it. Unavoidable: Confirm "VAT included". The 1% tourism levy is minor.
  • Breakfast depends on the rate — 180 ZAR / person / night. Many guesthouses include breakfast; city hotels charge for it (R120–250 per person). Avoidable: The cafés at the V&A Waterfront and on Kloof Street do excellent brunches.
Airport transfer
Advertised: CPT → city centre/Waterfront: "20–30 min". Actual: 100–450 ZAR. There is no reliable direct train. The MyCiTi bus: about R100 into town. Uber: R150–250, recommended and safe. Metered taxis: R350–450. Uber or Bolt: R150–250, safe and convenient — the one we recommend. The MyCiTi bus on a tight budget.
Tipping
In South Africa a tip of 10–15% is expected in restaurants. Car guards — informal parking attendants — expect R5–10. Safari guides: R100–200 a day. It is part of the local economy.
Real extra, per night
300–900 ZAR. On a hotel quoted at R1,500/night, expect R1,800–2,400 depending on activities and transport.

Le Caire — Egypt

Egyptian hotels add 14% VAT and a 12% service charge: more than a quarter of the quoted rate, rarely visible before payment.

Tourist tax
14 EGP / person / night. VAT of 14% and a service tax of 12% on accommodation, stacked on the net rate. Some governorates add a 2% municipal tax. (source: Egyptian Tax Authority)
Hotel charges
  • VAT 14% + service 12% — 26 %. 26% stacked on the room rate, often excluded from rates quoted outside the major platforms. Unavoidable: Ask for the price “all inclusive of taxes and service”: the difference is considerable.
Airport transfer
Advertised: CAI → city centre: “45 min”. Actual: 100–900 EGP. Uber and Careem work well: 250–400 EGP into the centre. Metered white taxis: 300–500 EGP. Drivers in the arrivals hall ask 700–900 EGP. Uber or Careem ordered from the app, at the designated meeting point. The price is fixed in advance, which settles the matter.
Tipping
Baksheesh structures everyday Egyptian life: site guards, drivers, porters, housekeeping. Carry plenty of 10 and 20 EGP notes, and give without embarrassment.
Real extra, per night
300–1500 EGP. On a hotel quoted at 3,000 EGP/night, expect 3,800–4,200 EGP in reality.

Nairobi — Kenya

In Kenya, 16% VAT, a 2% catering levy and a 2% tourism levy are added to the rate; the national parks are paid for in dollars.

Tourist tax
2 KES / person / night. A 2% Tourism Levy and a 2% Catering Levy on accommodation, on top of 16% VAT. (source: Kenya Revenue Authority)
Hotel charges
  • VAT 16% + levies 4% — 20 %. 20% stacked, generally excluded from lodge rates quoted in dollars. Unavoidable: Safari lodges often quote before tax and before park entry fees. Ask for the total.
Airport transfer
Advertised: NBO → city centre: “30 min”. Actual: 800–3500 KES. Uber and Bolt work from the airport: 1,200–2,000 KES into the centre. Terminal taxis: 2,500–3,500 KES. Nairobi traffic can double the journey. Uber or Bolt from the app. Allow plenty of time at rush hour: the trip can take 90 minutes.
Tipping
Tipping is part of the Kenyan tourism economy. Safari guide: 1,000–2,000 KES a day per group. Lodge staff: a common box is usually provided.
Real extra, per night
1500–12000 KES. On a lodge quoted at 15,000 KES/night, expect 18,000–20,000 KES in reality, before park fees.

Oceania · 3

Sydney — Australia

Australian prices include GST. But platform booking fees and inner-city parking are among the highest in the world.

Tourist tax
No official accommodation tax in Australia, unlike many countries. GST (10%) is included in quoted hotel prices, and partly refundable at customs on purchases above AUD 300 (Tourist Refund Scheme).
Hotel charges
  • Hotel parking in the Sydney CBD — 70 AUD / night. With a vehicle, parking in the Sydney CBD costs AUD 60–100 a night. Some hotels charge up to AUD 120. Avoidable: Use public transport, or a suburban park-and-ride at AUD 20–35 a night.
  • Platform cancellation fees — 5 %. Booking.com and Airbnb sometimes charge non-refundable service fees even on a flexible cancellation. Avoidable: Read the full cancellation policy. "Flexible" does not always mean fully refundable.
Airport transfer
Advertised: SYD → CBD: "30 min". Actual: 19.19–55 AUD. Airport Link train: AUD 19.19 plus the regular fare, about AUD 21 in total. Taxi: AUD 45–55. Uber: AUD 35–50. The Airport Link carries a station access fee of AUD 15.38 that does not appear in the standard fare. Airport Link train: about AUD 21 all in, 13 min to the CBD. Far faster than Uber at rush hour.
Tipping
Australia has a traditional no-tipping culture (the minimum wage is high). That said, tourist restaurants and cafés have adopted suggested tips on card terminals: 10–15%. Always optional.
Real extra, per night
25–80 AUD. On a hotel quoted at AUD 180/night, expect AUD 200–260 depending on activities and transport.

Melbourne — Australia

Australia includes 10% GST, but Victoria introduced a 7.5% levy on short-stay rentals in 2025.

Tourist tax
7.50 AUD / person / night. Victoria's Short Stay Levy: 7.5% on short-stay rentals (Airbnb, Stayz) since 1 January 2025. Hotels and serviced apartments are exempt. (source: State Revenue Office Victoria)
Hotel charges
  • Short Stay Levy 7.5% — varies. It applies to short-stay rentals, not to hotels: the type of accommodation you choose changes the final price. Avoidable: At the same quoted price, a hotel has come out cheaper than an Airbnb in Victoria since 2025.
  • CBD parking — 55 AUD / night. AUD 45–70 a night in central Melbourne. Avoidable: The tram is free within the CBD's Free Tram Zone: a car serves no purpose there.
Airport transfer
Advertised: MEL → CBD: “30 min”. Actual: 22–90 AUD. The SkyBus costs AUD 22 and takes 30–45 min to Southern Cross. A taxi: AUD 65–80 plus the toll. Uber: AUD 55–75. Melbourne still has no airport rail link. SkyBus: AUD 22, every 10 minutes, with free shuttles to CBD hotels.
Tipping
Australia has no tipping culture: the minimum wage is high. Terminals now suggest 5 to 15%, always optional.
Real extra, per night
10–70 AUD. On a hotel quoted at AUD 200/night, expect AUD 215–260 in reality.

Auckland — New Zealand

New Zealand includes 15% GST in its prices, but since 2024 requires a NZD 100 conservation levy to enter the country.

Tourist tax
100 NZD / person / night. International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy: raised from NZD 35 to 100 on 1 October 2024, paid once with the NZeTA before departure. (source: Immigration New Zealand)
Hotel charges
  • Conservation levy (NZD 100) — 100 NZD / stay. Charged once per stay, with the NZeTA travel authorisation, before boarding. Unavoidable: Pay it together with the NZeTA (NZD 23) on the official immigration site. Allow weeks for it.
  • Hotel breakfast — 30 NZD / person / night. NZD 25–38 per person, rarely included. Avoidable: New Zealand's coffee culture is remarkable: a flat white and a neighbourhood brunch are better, for less.
Airport transfer
Advertised: AKL → CBD: “45 min”. Actual: 18–95 NZD. SkyDrive costs NZD 18 and takes 45–60 min. Public bus 38: NZD 5–8 with an AT HOP card, but with a change. A taxi: NZD 75–95. SkyDrive: NZD 18, direct to the CBD, with no change.
Tipping
Tipping is not part of New Zealand culture. The price displayed is the price paid, GST included.
Real extra, per night
15–60 NZD. On a hotel quoted at NZD 220/night, expect NZD 240–280 in reality, plus the NZD 100 entry levy for the stay.

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