Hotel/Hostel pricing question

Hi, Jamie. Smart Question.

Short Answer: Hostels - mostly per person. Hotels - major sites, US/CAN site, large chain sites = per room. Smaller European sites/hotel sites - mostly leans per person.

Long Answer
It really depends on the site. As a very general rule US/Canadian sites will list price per room, as well as most of chains, and the larger world-wide sites. Smaller European sites will often do the per person price - which usually assumes 2 persons sharing the room.

If you see pp(per person) after the price, "single supplement", "single for double", etc. it's a good indicator they charge per person. It really depends on the site though - the same hotel may be listed on two different sites, two different ways. (IE - Expedia prices it per room, but the hotel's site is per person. If you're unsure, just call them and ask. :)

Hostels - unless full room rental is specifically mentioned, assume per person.

Hostels are per person.

Hotels are generally per room. For Example: Single 50 Euros, Double 80 Euros, Triple 100 Euros means two people stay for 80 and three for 100.

Sometimes package deals are advertised per-person double occupancy, meaning two people will pay double the price offered (one person would pay a single supplement). If that's the case, it will specify in the offer.

Hi, Jaimie, I agree with the above posters -- hostels generally list prices as per person, while hotels most often list per night. However, if it's not clearly indicated on their Web site, just shoot them a quick e-mail asking for clarification, that way there's no misunderstandings when it comes time to settle the bill.

Hostels are always per person.
When you book, you will be asked for how many people.
By default is 1. If you change to 2, the charge will be double.
For hotels, majority of the European hotels dispplay prices per person, even for a double room. Once you tell them that there will be 2 people , the price might double.

Jamie,

To add to what the others have posted, Hostels list prices per person (which means "per bed"). This charge usually includes bedding and often a small breakfast. The pricing for Dorm rooms usually depends on the number of beds in a room. Some Hostels have double rooms (usually two single beds rather than a double bed) but these usually book up quickly, will be the most expensive and are in short supply. On the other hand, a bed in a 10-16 bed Dorm room will be the least expensive.

Most of the budget Hotels in Europe charge on a "per room" basis. However, many will charge a different rate for one person staying in a double room (as they may not have "single rooms"), and the room charges are usually listed that way in their price list. For an example of this, see the first line in this chart - www.hotelparismuguet.com/hotel-muguet-rooms_1.html

I can't recall whether the rates for European lodgings include applicable VAT or other taxes, or whether these are added to the total?

Cheers!

Ken,

All the prices in Europe include VAT