#83274 - 11/16/09 02:50 PM
Four Seasons Tax?
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Gary & Cath
Expert Advisor
Registered: 04/01/06
Posts: 1284
Loc: Wollongong, Australia
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OK. So maybe we have a new tax in the making. Just checked the Four Seasons web page for a booking and a new tax has appeared. Hope this is not a sign of things to come? The taxes are as follows:
VAT 5%
Resort Fee 7.7%
Regional Polynesian Tax 5%
Service Charge 3%
City Tax 150 CPF
Anyone know what the "Resort Fee" is?
_________________________
Is there anything better than a sipping a Tahitian Mai Tai on an Overwater Bungalow in FP?
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#83276 - 11/16/09 04:06 PM
Re: Four Seasons Tax?
[Re: Gary & Cath]
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Patti.
Expert Advisor
Registered: 03/28/04
Posts: 2460
Loc: Las Vegas, NV
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Wow! It wouldn't be quite so bad if the rooms weren't already $1000-1500 a night. %5, 3%, and 7% of $1000 a night can add up to a pretty hefty chunk of change after a week.
So are those taxes incorporated into the room price or are they in addition to? And this is all in addition to the transport boat fee?
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#83290 - 11/16/09 06:07 PM
Re: Four Seasons Tax?
[Re: Patti.]
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Gary & Cath
Expert Advisor
Registered: 04/01/06
Posts: 1284
Loc: Wollongong, Australia
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Yeah Patti. Cath found this by going through the booking part of the site, then this popped up? The resort fee is a new one for us???? Try going through a booking and it adds up. The quote I put in was for rack rate only, 5 nights in a Lagoon View OWB from November 25 (off season) and the rate for the room came up as 450,000 CPF, but after the "taxes", it came up as 544,350. That's an increase of nearly 21%. WOW!!!
In my opinion they are not doing themselves any favours especially when they are also charging additional fees for shuttle to the mainland, room service etc etc.
_________________________
Is there anything better than a sipping a Tahitian Mai Tai on an Overwater Bungalow in FP?
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#83318 - 11/17/09 08:24 PM
Re: Four Seasons Tax?
[Re: Gary & Cath]
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Justine2
Expert Advisor
Registered: 02/12/07
Posts: 1911
Loc: Minneapolis, MN
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Resort fees aren't a tax to a government, but a "fee" for the operator of the hotel. It's pure profit to the owner.
The resort fee is usually for crap like a newspaper, "use of the amenities" which I've never understood that one (I'm paying for the joint to begin with), turndown or coffee service. If you complain enough, the US resorts will usually remove it.
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#83320 - 11/17/09 08:38 PM
Re: Four Seasons Tax?
[Re: Justine2]
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Gary & Cath
Expert Advisor
Registered: 04/01/06
Posts: 1284
Loc: Wollongong, Australia
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Not a bad idea, Justine. On our next trip, we got the booking company to waiver the credit card fee (5% here in Australia). I guess if you don't ask - you don't get?
_________________________
Is there anything better than a sipping a Tahitian Mai Tai on an Overwater Bungalow in FP?
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#83350 - 11/20/09 05:27 PM
Re: Four Seasons Tax?
[Re: Gary & Cath]
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Justine2
Expert Advisor
Registered: 02/12/07
Posts: 1911
Loc: Minneapolis, MN
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Exactly, ask and you shall receive. I've also seen this as an excuse for towels at the pools/beach, snorkel gear, etc.
You may want to ask when you check in what the resort fee includes. If you don't use it or don't want to pay for what should be included in the cost of the room rental, make them take it off.
I can't imagine a hotel of Four Seasons/Ritz Carlton caliber arguing with a guest over removing a BS charge. Thing is that mos people pay it, so they continue to charge it.
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#83366 - 11/22/09 12:17 AM
Re: Four Seasons Tax?
[Re: Justine2]
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rodjune
Expert Advisor
Registered: 07/08/03
Posts: 1726
Loc: Kalama Valley, HI
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I stay at resorts several times a year and they all have resort fees. It is highway robbery. As mentioned, it pays for your pool towels, coffee, newspaper, gym, internet service, etc. Since my employer usually covers these stays, I never have complained. But I have heard from numerous fellow travelers who have asked to have the resort fee waived since they were there to only
"sleep" at the resort and not use all those resort services; the resorts waived the fees. I'd be curious if the FS BB would be willing to waive that fee if requested. I'll be at the Four Seasons Manele Bay, Lana'i in two months. Maybe I'll ask about a waiver there for the resort fee. It is a bunch of BS like one of the previous posters stated. Not sure but maybe these resorts break out these fees apart from the room charages to save on paying the hotel/bed taxes to the local government juridiction.
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