Redeem Or Cash/Points For Free Night + Taxes/Fees
Jan 7, 2008, 5:19 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2008
Programs: Starwood Preferred Guest
Posts: 1
Redeem Or Cash/Points For Free Night + Taxes/Fees
Hello, I'm considering redeeming starpoints for a free night, or doing the cash/points option. The SPG site says the hotel may charge taxes or fees on top of this. Does anyone have experience where they have had to pay taxes or fees to the hotel after redeeming starpoints for a free room?
I'm specifically looking at the Hotel Feurstenhof or Westin in Leipzig.
Thanks!
I'm specifically looking at the Hotel Feurstenhof or Westin in Leipzig.
Thanks!
Jan 8, 2008, 12:37 pm
#2
Company Representative - Starwood
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Austin, Texas
Programs: Marriott Employee Level
Posts: 31,593
Hello, I'm considering redeeming starpoints for a free night, or doing the cash/points option. The SPG site says the hotel may charge taxes or fees on top of this. Does anyone have experience where they have had to pay taxes or fees to the hotel after redeeming starpoints for a free room?
I'm specifically looking at the Hotel Feurstenhof or Westin in Leipzig.
Thanks!
I'm specifically looking at the Hotel Feurstenhof or Westin in Leipzig.
Thanks!
Now, that being said, they might get you for 19% VAT on the cash portion of a Cash & Points booking as that is taxable.
Best regards,
William R. Sanders
Online Guest Feedback Coordinator
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide
[email protected]
Jan 8, 2008, 3:34 pm
#3
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: bay area, ca
Programs: UA plat, , aa plat, marriott LT titanium
Posts: 4,833
cash and points
Very confusing - recently had 2 stays - hotel in Thailand said taxes, service, etc were in addition to cash and points.
Hotel in Singapore said it was NET (when I asked 3 different front desk people)- but charged tax and service on 1 of 3 nights
In order to have it corrected I had to give the manager a copy of confirmation saying tax and service was "in the rate" (manager didn't address the issue of how tax could be charged one night but not the next for the same "rate").
Hotel in Singapore said it was NET (when I asked 3 different front desk people)- but charged tax and service on 1 of 3 nights
In order to have it corrected I had to give the manager a copy of confirmation saying tax and service was "in the rate" (manager didn't address the issue of how tax could be charged one night but not the next for the same "rate").
Jan 8, 2008, 4:06 pm
#4
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: New York, NY
Programs: Delta - Gold; Starwood - Platinum; HHonors - Diamond & Avis Preferred
Posts: 10,869
On my cash and points stays, I've paid the taxes.
Jan 8, 2008, 4:56 pm
#5
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Programs: HH Gold, PC Platinum, SPG Platinum, AM Gold, Avis First
Posts: 135
On several c&p stays in European SPG properties I had to pay the taxes, but as Willian says only on the cash portion (thank goodness given some of the rack rates!)
Jan 8, 2008, 6:26 pm
#6
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,990
I just paid $300 in fees for my last "free" stay in the Caribbean.
Apr 10, 2014, 8:21 pm
#7
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: SPG,HH,IHG
Posts: 786
Sorry for dig old thread
In free night we must pay tax/service ?
Base on T&C
https://www.starwoodhotels.com/prefe...ee_nights.html
Free Night Awards are each valid for one free night, single and/or double standard room occupancy at participating properties, and include the cost of your hotel room and room tax/service charge. All other hotel charges are the responsibility of the Member.
and i see this on my booking
Room rate: 5,600 Starpoints 28,000 Starpoints
Room rate excludes the following:
Service Charge: USD 4.25 USD 21.24
10.00 % Per Room / Per Night
In free night we must pay tax/service ?
Base on T&C
https://www.starwoodhotels.com/prefe...ee_nights.html
Free Night Awards are each valid for one free night, single and/or double standard room occupancy at participating properties, and include the cost of your hotel room and room tax/service charge. All other hotel charges are the responsibility of the Member.
and i see this on my booking
Room rate: 5,600 Starpoints 28,000 Starpoints
Room rate excludes the following:
Service Charge: USD 4.25 USD 21.24
10.00 % Per Room / Per Night
Apr 10, 2014, 8:32 pm
#8
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Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: GVA (Greater Vancouver Area)
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Posts: 52,140
Apr 10, 2014, 8:41 pm
#9
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: SPG,HH,IHG
Posts: 786
and as mention above it show in "10% Service Charge"
Apr 11, 2014, 9:48 am
#10
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: ECP
Programs: DL Diamond
Posts: 1,658
When you're "checking out" of purchasing your reservation you should see a breakdown of charges. You can also see it if you see details on a current reservation, and it varies by hotel.
Here's a C&P reservation for Blue Palace in Crete which *does* charge taxes on the cash portion (though not enough to alter a purchasing decision IMO):
https://www.dropbox.com/s/i6zjvp4gif...2011.44.10.png
So I expect to pay $1080 + ~$75 [+ whatever I spend there, obviously]
Here's another reservation I have for C&P -- this one at St. Regis Mauritius. It specifically says the rate *includes* the 15% VAT (which is nice since that's a much higher tax rate than Greece).
https://www.dropbox.com/s/lv1hjzv2iq...2011.47.51.png
So I'll not be happy if they try to charge me VAT as SPG says it's included in the C&P rate.
Here's a C&P reservation for Blue Palace in Crete which *does* charge taxes on the cash portion (though not enough to alter a purchasing decision IMO):
https://www.dropbox.com/s/i6zjvp4gif...2011.44.10.png
So I expect to pay $1080 + ~$75 [+ whatever I spend there, obviously]
Here's another reservation I have for C&P -- this one at St. Regis Mauritius. It specifically says the rate *includes* the 15% VAT (which is nice since that's a much higher tax rate than Greece).
https://www.dropbox.com/s/lv1hjzv2iq...2011.47.51.png
So I'll not be happy if they try to charge me VAT as SPG says it's included in the C&P rate.
Apr 12, 2014, 6:55 am
#11
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Posts: 100,409
I've never paid any taxes on rooms paid with points, including several award stays in Singapore; in fact, saving large tax and service charges can be a nice benefit that makes me more likely to use points in certain locations.
It's never happened to me, but I could imagine paying a per room per night or per person per night local "tax" in certain locations. For example, a few USA localities impose a dollar or two to support the city's tourist bureau and tourism/conventions advertising. In Tokyo there's also a similar charge of a couple hundred yen per night except for cheap hotels, but I haven't been charged this at the Tokyo Westin when using points.
It's never happened to me, but I could imagine paying a per room per night or per person per night local "tax" in certain locations. For example, a few USA localities impose a dollar or two to support the city's tourist bureau and tourism/conventions advertising. In Tokyo there's also a similar charge of a couple hundred yen per night except for cheap hotels, but I haven't been charged this at the Tokyo Westin when using points.
Apr 19, 2014, 5:13 am
#12
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: SPG,HH,IHG
Posts: 786
update:
after check-out no additional payment
it's maybe system glitch
after check-out no additional payment
it's maybe system glitch
Apr 19, 2014, 2:13 pm
#13
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Programs: UA-1k, 1mm, Marriott-LT Platinum, Hertz-Presidents Circle
Posts: 6,355
Indeed a good idea to consider tax payments as that is significant in some locations. In Dubai for example there is basically a 20% tax and now a 30 AED a night (8 USD) charge per night. At the Grosvenor House where I was going to stay this added up to roughly $65 a night! I don't know if the 30 AED a night is added to points stays... I think it will be as it is a government fee per room for some reason, not sure why.