The summer is almost here and even more UK travellers will be thinking of jetting off to sunnier climates, however with the recent announcement that Greece plans to almost triple their tax rates on hotel rooms from 6.5% to 18%, holiday bills could significantly increase. Airport Parking and Hotels (APH) has therefore created a guide highlighting the different hotel tax rates throughout selected European cities, which can be found in the Know Before You Go section of the APH website at www.aph.com/hoteltax.

The research compares the varying hotel tax rates in 24 major destinations such as Paris, Berlin, Athens and Rome, and differentiates between those that charge a flat rate and those that have tax brackets depending on the hotel's star rating. Furthermore, the research also highlights the different stipulations relating to tax regulations including age of the traveller, length of stay in the city and reason for visiting.

Of the 24 cities researched, only four cities were found to charge tax on the star rating of the hotel. Three of these cities, Florence, Milan and Rome in Italy, charge rates from £0.70 per night for a 1 star hotel to £6 per night for 5 star accommodation. For those holidaymakers looking for more affordable tax rates, Paris is the cheapest option charging from £0.60 for a 1 star hotel to £1.00 for 4 and 5 star properties. Other cities, however, do not make such a distinction, instead opting to charge a percentage on the net price ranging from 3%-7%. The exception to this rule is Athens in Greece, which currently stands at 6.5% but, as previously mentioned, could increase tax to 18%, raising fears that tourists may go elsewhere.  

Of course there are some exemptions to these regulations. Seven cities included in the research, such as Brussels, Nice and Milan, charge no tax to children, however what counts as a child does vary. In Nice, children aged 4 to 10 will still be charged half the daily hotel tax rate, whereas in Milan children up to the age of 18 can enjoy a tax-free stay. Within the same borders, Florence also offers a 50% tax reduction for children on school trips and in Venice and Rome visitors are not required to pay tax if they stay at a youth hostel.

Some cities were also found to tailor the hotel tax to the visitors' length of stay and reason for visiting, with travellers staying in Berlin for over 22 days free from paying tax and business travellers to Hamburg completely exempt from hotel tax. Travellers visiting Milan to assist a hospitalised family member or companion will not have to pay hotel tax upon presentation of a self-certified declaration that the stay is motivated by the need to assist said person.

For further information on Airport Parking and Hotels (APH),

Visit www.aph.com or call 01342 859515.

ENDS

Notes to Editors

* Statistic from the Times article entitled 'Greece slaps 18% VAT on tourists' on 8 May 2015 available at http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/world/europe/article4433786.ece

About Airport Parking and Hotels (APH)

Airport Parking and Hotels (APH) is the UK's award winning long stay airport parking operator and booking agency, after winning the Best Airport Parking Company for a fifth year running at British Travel Awards 2014. This year APH also celebrates its 35th year as a retailer and operator of pre-booked airport parking and travel extras. APH offers parking at all major UK airports as well as airport hotels packaged with parking and airport lounges. APH is also a carbon balanced company and has, through support of the World Land Trust, helped purchase more than 1,000 acres of endangered rainforest.

Media Enquiries

Sarah Salord / Lauren Hill / McCluskey International / 020 8747 2170 / aph@mccluskey.co.uk