Ask HN: Website/idea listing inclusive hotel prices

#1

Post by baltcode » Tue, Dec 11, 2018, 6:19 PM UTC

All the regular travel websites I've seen for searching hotel rooms list prices without including taxes, and more importantly, resort fees.

How about if someone makes a website which displays, and can search/filter by the room+resort fee? It doesn't seem that hard. Even if the hotels don't like it, a website like this can still be monetized by ads and other affiliate programs. There's a hole in the market, and the implementation isn't even that hard. Why doesn't it exist? If nothing else, I think one could even make a browser plugin that at least changes the source page for listing.

Re: Ask HN: Website/idea listing inclusive hotel prices

#2

Post by baltcode » Tue, Dec 11, 2018, 6:26 PM UTC

There are even websites that list the resort fees, such as https://www.lasvegasjaunt.com/las-vegas-resort-fees-2018-gui...

It's also possible to scrape them from other travel search sites.

Re: Ask HN: Website/idea listing inclusive hotel prices

#3

Post by mtmail » Tue, Dec 11, 2018, 6:27 PM UTC

In Europe travel websites are no allowed to do that. They have to list final prices including any taxes, credit card fees and such. http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-17-844_en.htm A recent trick was to default to a co-branded credit card where any other payment method costs extra. Of course the co-branded credit card has a high annual fee so it was unlikely a user would choose that.

Re: Ask HN: Website/idea listing inclusive hotel prices

#4

Post by iamben » Tue, Dec 11, 2018, 6:36 PM UTC

Yeah, same with airlines and (hand)luggage. It's all very well seeing that the bargain flight will cost you £30, but when the new cabin baggage rules mean it's going to cost you another £12 on top, it's a little frustrating.

Re: Ask HN: Website/idea listing inclusive hotel prices

#5

Post by baltcode » Tue, Dec 11, 2018, 8:45 PM UTC

mtmail wrote: post #3

In Europe travel websites are no allowed to do that. They have to list final prices including any taxes, credit card fees and such. http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-17-844_en.htm A recent trick was to default to a co-branded credit card where any other payment method costs extra. Of course the co-branded credit card has a high annual fee so it was unlikely a user would choose that.

Does that mean that european travel websites will list the full prices even for American hotels?

Re: Ask HN: Website/idea listing inclusive hotel prices

#6

Post by psyklic » Tue, Dec 11, 2018, 9:20 PM UTC

mtmail wrote: post #3

In Europe travel websites are no allowed to do that. They have to list final prices including any taxes, credit card fees and such. http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-17-844_en.htm A recent trick was to default to a co-branded credit card where any other payment method costs extra. Of course the co-branded credit card has a high annual fee so it was unlikely a user would choose that.

I recently booked on Hotwire in Europe and was charged an undisclosed "city tax" at the hotel. In the Hotwire fine print, it states: "Hotwire rates do not include special fees charged by hotels upon check-out. ... Customers will be required to pay these fees directly to the hotels at check-out time." (https://www.hotwire.com/mobile/legal/restrictions)

Re: Ask HN: Website/idea listing inclusive hotel prices

#7

Post by baltcode » Tue, Dec 11, 2018, 11:08 PM UTC

psyklic wrote: post #6

mtmail wrote: post #3

In Europe travel websites are no allowed to do that. They have to list final prices including any taxes, credit card fees and such. http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-17-844_en.htm A recent trick was to default to a co-branded credit card where any other payment method costs extra. Of course the co-branded credit card has a high annual fee so it was unlikely a user would choose that.

I recently booked on Hotwire in Europe and was charged an undisclosed "city tax" at the hotel. In the Hotwire fine print, it states: "Hotwire rates do not include special fees charged by hotels upon check-out. ... Customers will be required to pay these fees directly to the hotels at check-out time." ( https://www.hotwire.com/mobile/legal/restrictions )

That's really misleading wording if they're using it to charge "city tax". Fees upon checkout are usually based on any charged consumables, damage, room service etc. and it makes sense that those won't be included.

Re: Ask HN: Website/idea listing inclusive hotel prices

#8

Post by psyklic » Wed, Dec 12, 2018, 2:55 AM UTC

baltcode wrote: post #7

psyklic wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I recently booked on Hotwire in Europe and was charged an undisclosed "city tax" at the hotel. In the Hotwire fine print, it states: "Hotwire rates do not include special fees charged by hotels upon check-out. ... Customers will be required to pay these fees directly to the hotels at check-out time." ( https://www.hotwire.com/mobile/legal/restrictions )

That's really misleading wording if they're using it to charge "city tax". Fees upon checkout are usually based on any charged consumables, damage, room service etc. and it makes sense that those won't be included.

The portion I excluded clarifies that "special fees" include: energy charges, convention fees, resort fees, and parking fees.