I have a quick question. I paid for our Arbnb. The host is asking provide our ID information which is fine but we are being charged a tourist tax of 6. 88 per person per night. Is this normal?
Posted by
Citizen of the World
2014 posts
Yes, it’s normal. Both the city of Barcelona and the autonomous community of Catalonia levy a tax on accommodations at varying rates depending on the type of accommodation. The tax increased this year.
The rate is in line with Transient Occupancy Taxes (TOT) charged here in California: hotels in Los Angeles levy a 12% TOT and in San Francisco a 14% TOT is added to the price of accommodations.
For AirB&B’s in California the tax is 12%.
Posted by
Seattle, WA
17430 posts
Many cities in Europe charge a tourist tax that must be paid separately (often in cash) from the cost of the accommodation, whether it is a hotel or an apartment. Last week in Bern, Switzerland, we were asked to pay it to the hotel in cash, not added to the hotel bill. IN Venice, whenever we react an apartment, we pay it in cash, per person per day, upon arrival.
Posted by
Eastern Iowa, USA
8058 posts
As others have said, not uncommon at all, for any accommodation type, ran into it 3-4 times in Germany last month.
Just one more reason to always have a bit of cash on you, I have stayed a few places that would add it to the total bill, but the ask for cash, separate from the bill, seems to be standard.