Resort Tax, pax ???

[68C]

  I am English  just booked two week holiday for the family in The United States.  Fly London to Las Vegas, Las Vegas to Washington DC and then back to London.  See Grand Canyon, Shenandoah National Park, Washington DC and Air Space Museum at Dulles. Family really exited, me still feeling queasy at the bill.  Then I find out about Resort Charge.  It is adding around 10% to an already dear trip.  Travel agent had small print saying some hotels may charge pax.  Had to google pax, took a while to sift out 'peace', 'passenger' but finally got there.  We had already got our head around shops showing price without state tax and that we should tip for just about everything but that Resort Charge really got me.

I have offloaded my annoyance onto the forum now, feel much better for that. Thank-you.

Now my question, what other secret fees await me in the US?

 

 

 

 

[Pressureangle]

Remember the Window Tax? 
We've brought it back. 

Here's how I do it as an American; 
If they have given me individual service, I tip. 20% is standard anymore, 10% and a confused look with an accent gets you a pass on that.
If it's breakfast, say $30, I often overtip. If it's an expensive meal, I tip 20%- but beware, some restaurants add an automatic tip, especially for large groups. If they add an automatic tip, I never pay more than that which seems normally about 15%. If the service is bad (because they know it's automatic) I have the tip removed at the register. 

I quit playing the 'sympathy for tip wage workers' a long time ago. Too many of them make it a game of guilt rather than service. 

Anything you buy to take home, get it at the duty-free airport stores if you can.

[68C]

Many thanks, of course we have a minimum wage, about £11 an hour going up to £12 in April.  So of course as it is illegal to pay less the tipping thing is less important here.  As an engineer I have never been tipped  the same for my son who works for Hollywood Bowl.

I assume our travel agent has paid all taxes on the flight and hotel, must check this.

Life was so much easier when I was alive.

[68C]

Ah  just found out there is 13.8% tax on rooms in Las Vega as well.  Is that normally in the quote from my travel agent or do I pay that at the hotel?  Seems I may also have to pay tax on the resort fee.  Bit like buying a motorcycle then paying extra for engine and wheels.  I must have lived a sheltered life.

[Pressureangle]

1 hour ago, 68C said:

Ah  just found out there is 13.8% tax on rooms in Las Vega as well.  Is that normally in the quote from my travel agent or do I pay that at the hotel?  Seems I may also have to pay tax on the resort fee.  Bit like buying a motorcycle then paying extra for engine and wheels.  I must have lived a sheltered life.

Well, you did pick Vegas and DC, two of the most notoriously expensive cities in the US.

[68C]

Just now, Pressureangle said:

Well, you did pick Vegas and DC, two of the most notoriously expensive cities in the US.

Ah  just found out there is 13.8% tax on rooms in Las Vega as well.  Is that normally in the quote from my travel agent or do I pay that at the hotel?  Seems I may also have to pay tax on the resort fee.  Bit like buying a motorcycle then paying extra for engine and wheels.  I must have lived a sheltered life.

[68C]

How true, I just wanted to see the desert sands and the bears in the woods,  then my wife decided to add the boring bits.

[gstallons]

I'm sure you kept this opinion to yourself !

 Calculate the most you think it's gonna cost and double it .

[gstallons]

maybe you should watch National Lampoon's Vacation before coming over here !

[Lucky Phil]

2 hours ago, 68C said:

Ah  just found out there is 13.8% tax on rooms in Las Vega as well.  Is that normally in the quote from my travel agent or do I pay that at the hotel?  Seems I may also have to pay tax on the resort fee.  Bit like buying a motorcycle then paying extra for engine and wheels.  I must have lived a sheltered life.

SFS has a "city tax" and maybe from memory a separate tax on "environmental" as well. Even Americans when you speak to them about all this rubbish just put their heads down and start mumbling incoherently into their laps when you ask about it all. Looking around restaurant you see people with calculators working out the bill.

While you are in DC visit the Smithsonian air and space museum, It's FREE and very very very good. I've also been to the Dulles museum as well and it's well worth the visit. Washington DC and Alexandria and Arlington are all must see places when in the USA. Richmond VA is also worth seeing if you're into Civil War history which I am.

Phil

[audiomick]

5 hours ago, 68C said:

... some hotels may charge pax.  Had to google pax, took a while to sift out 'peace', 'passenger' but finally got there....

So what is this "pax"?

[Lucky Phil]

56 minutes ago, audiomick said:

So what is this "pax"?

Abbreviation for Passenger. We used it in the airline industry and pilots refer to "pax on board" etc.

[MartyNZ]

6 hours ago, 68C said:

  I am English  just booked two week holiday for the family in The United States.  Fly London to Las Vegas, Las Vegas to Washington DC and then back to London.  See Grand Canyon, Shenandoah National Park, Washington DC and Air Space Museum at Dulles. Family really exited, me still feeling queasy at the bill.  Then I find out about Resort Charge.  It is adding around 10% to an already dear trip.  Travel agent had small print saying some hotels may charge pax.  Had to google pax, took a while to sift out 'peace', 'passenger' but finally got there.  We had already got our head around shops showing price without state tax and that we should tip for just about everything but that Resort Charge really 

I noticed that Hungarian hotels charge city taxes, tourist taxes, and GST, so the USA taxes are not that unusual.

What bothered me in US (other than tipping) was the tax added at the till for small retail purchases. The tax varied by county, so it was hard to have exact change ready to pay. If I handed over a larger note, then by the end of the day I had a pocket full of useless little coins, and $1 notes.

[Lucky Phil]

11 minutes ago, MartyNZ said:

I noticed that Hungarian hotels charge city taxes, tourist taxes, and GST, so the USA taxes are not that unusual.

What bothered me in US (other than tipping) was the tax added at the till for small retail purchases. The tax varied by county, so it was hard to have exact change ready to pay. If I handed over a larger note, then by the end of the day I had a pocket full of useless little coins, and $1 notes.

Here GST is included in the prices on the menu and displayed prices. I really don't need to be reminded of how much tax I'm being charged and it's just far simpler transaction wise. Tourist taxes are relatively new I think but on the rise because the world is now overrun by tourists and the locals are a bit fed up.

Last time I was in the states we took some 100 dollar notes with us, as you do. Only 500 dollars worth just for the start of the trip, just in case. Traders just looked at me like I was a drug dealer when I tried to pay with them and most just couldn't take them. Gave up and just used the cards everywhere. Here at least when you walk into a shop or restaurant and look at the prices then that's what you pay at the till or checkout. No complications or maths required. Clean and simple.

Phil

[LowRyter]

7 hours ago, 68C said:

  I am English  just booked two week holiday for the family in The United States.  Fly London to Las Vegas, Las Vegas to Washington DC and then back to London.  See Grand Canyon, Shenandoah National Park, Washington DC and Air Space Museum at Dulles. Family really exited, me still feeling queasy at the bill.  Then I find out about Resort Charge.  It is adding around 10% to an already dear trip.  Travel agent had small print saying some hotels may charge pax.  Had to google pax, took a while to sift out 'peace', 'passenger' but finally got there.  We had already got our head around shops showing price without state tax and that we should tip for just about everything but that Resort Charge really got me.

I have offloaded my annoyance onto the forum now, feel much better for that. Thank-you.

Now my question, what other secret fees await me in the US?

 

 

 

 

Plenty + tips, 15% minimum, 18% standard.

We tried to get some visibility about these hidden fees but we had an election in Nov and that's just one on things we forgot about.

I hope you get to see the Dead & Co in Vegas.   I'm hopeful to take the 'vette on a road trip and do the same if my health allows it.