trekker954

My email confiramtion when I booked my award stay in Boscolo Exedra for two rooms in January 2014, it came back :160,000 points per room +
Estimated government taxes and fees 6.00
Total for stay (per room) 30.00
Total for stay (for all rooms) 60.00

When I looked into my Marriott account my reservations yesterday it shows
Estimated government taxes and fees 14.00
Total for stay (per room) 70.00
Total for stay for (all rooms) 140.00

So I called Marriott US phone number and the customer service rep I spoke with said awards are not suppose to incur any extra charges or taxes. So he would have the Boscolo send me an email stating so. Well this morning I got this email from them. WOW!!! Not only have to pay tax now, but its more than double what the original booking confirmation stated.

Your reservation is on points the only additional charge is the city tax with is Euro 7,00 per guest per night and we have to pay to the local authorities.
As honorable Platinum member you may enjoy your complimentary continental breakfast in our breakfast room on the first floor.

What should/can I do? Don't they at least have to honor the tax they quoted me in my confirmation email in January when they deleted my points?

SkiAdcock

I would get Marriott CS on the phone again. You shouldn't have to pay taxes. Also, if by chance you do, it should be at the original rate. I would also point out to Marriott that the hotel has now doubled the taxes. Get them to call the property directly.

We've had some very recent updates from FTers on the Boscolo Exedra, but I can't remember if they were paid or award stays. Check that thread. I don't recall them mentioning anything about undue taxes.

Cheers.

trekker954

I have a supervisor working on it. She agreed this isn't right. But added that she's heard some countries do have some extra charges. I said this isn't an extra, its a city tax and IMHO, Marriott needs to list which countries these are in there terms and agreement for award redemption.

You know, I didn't realize about the taxes being included and was already to pay the 60Euro, until I saw it changed to 140Euro.

I also noticed this general manager Mr. Hutton, had some complaint filed against him by another guest for charging him 250 euro for an upgrade he didn't request. So maybe something shady going on here.

Either way, I did say if they can't include the charges I want to just pay what the January confirmation stated. I just hope I don't end up with two crappy rooms in the basement.

trekker954

Do you recall if they made you pay the city tax? I'm having an issue with an upcoming reservation right now.

We aren't supposed to be charged city tax on award redemption, but the GM say 7E per person per night.

Exdon

3 night stay at Exedra end of August on a nice LNF rate; €6 city tax (2 persons) was charged as it appears on the invoice.

SkiAdcock

Yours was a paid stay, where taxes would be expected. trekker954 is asking about an award stay.

Cheers.

SanDiego1K

I've had to pay city taxes on award stays before, albeit not at this level. I think it is more of a fee, independent of the room rate.

Here's some discussion of city taxes on award stays from another hotel forum.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/inter...ak-thread.html

MSPeconomist

It sounds like this is some sort of a local tourist fee rather than a tax based on the price paid for the room. You wouldn't pay the latter on an award stay, but the status of the former type of charge is ambiguous. Unfortunately the fee/tax has gone up since you made the reservation and nothing can be done about this as it is charged at the time of your stay.

trekker954

I guess the supervisor reached the manager, I just received another email from Boscolo. But if I have to pay, I believe I should be only charged what my original confirmation quoted 60 euro total. the 6 euro per night per room. Most rooms allow 2 persons, why all of a sudden they change it to 7 euro per person per night is B.S.

"thank you very much for your request. The city tax is a tax like VAT. The city tax was established by the local authorities, we have no possibility to reduce, change or modify
the city tax. We have to transmit the charge to the city of Rome by the end of each month."

SanDiego1K

I think you are stuck. Rome just doubled their city taxes. They are charged per person per day and are a function of what level they consider the hotel to be.

From a Sept 1 2014 article in the UK Telegraph:

The increase – approved by Italian authorities just five weeks ago – means those staying in a five-star hotel must pay €7 per person per night (£5.53) on top of their room rate, up from €3 (£2.37).

For those staying in a four-star hotel the figure is now €6 (up from €3); those in three-star accommodation will now be charged €4 (up from €2); travellers in one- and two-star hotels must now pay €3 (up from €2).

The tax, or "tassa di soggiorno" – collected at the end of a hotel stay - was introduced in 2011 to help pay for repairs and maintenance to the city. Visitors to youth hostels are exempt from the charge; those camping within the city’s boundaries are charged the lowest rate, while those in b&b accommodation pay €3.50.

jtp1947

In April of 2011 my wife and I were charged 6 Euro a day @ the Grand Flora for a 3 night award stay.

jtp1947

Deleted. Duplicate Post.

MSPeconomist

If you have a regular hotel reservation and the city/state sales tax increases before you arrive, wouldn't you expect to pay the higher tax rate?

SkiAdcock

Yup - does sound like it.

beckoa

In most cases- doesn't the hotel just pay this out of pocket?

Didn't realize Rome had such a tax structure for visitors