room taxes and milk

[bambigirl88]

Q#1
In reading reviews of hotels around DL, I have read that some hotels charge an "extra" room tax - one said $16 per night extra! (at the BWPPI) I find that confusing - an extra charge on top of the usual state tax or lodging tax.
Can anyone clear this up for me? I don't want to book a hotel that I think will save me money, only to find out they charge extra fees that the others don't. Specifically we are looking at hotels within walking distance, the BWPPI, Carrousel, CCI, Park Vue.

Q#2
Of those that offer free breakfasts, can anyone tell me who does or does not serve milk at breakfast? I would like the kids to have cereal for breakfast, not just donuts and junk.....a little milk for my coffee wouldn't hurt either

Many Thanks!

 

[minnietoo]

A#1 - I think the tax is the usual lodging/state tax - but you should call the hotel in question and ask.

A#2 - most places that advertise free breakfast - and don't use the words "continental" mean breakfast - and that often includes milk, cereal, eggs, etc. But as in #1 - perhaps you should call the hotel and ask before you book.

 

[disney-super-mom]

It's not an additional "tax". It's a resort fee. The fee usually covers things like parking, daily newspaper, use of the resort facilities like the gym/pool, local phone calls, and of course that "free" breakfast.

Also, I've never been to a hotel/motel that offers a continental breakfast that didn't have milk, but you may want to contact the specific hotel/motel just to be sure.

 

[minnietoo]

It's not an additional "tax". It's a resort fee. The fee usually covers things like parking, daily newspaper, use of the resort facilities like the gym/pool, local phone calls, and of course that "free" breakfast.

Also, I've never been to a hotel/motel that offers a continental breakfast that didn't have milk, but you may want to contact the specific hotel/motel just to be sure.

Thanks for the update - I was unaware as I always thought it was a real tax. Now that I know - I don't care for this approach - I would consider these things to be part of the room rate - I wonder if there are some pricing regulations that require things to be priced like this that most of us are unaware of.

 

[rosiep]

Resort fees drive me nuts! Go to any hotel web site and they list their "amenities", to then charge an addition fee for these services is highway robbery. Just my 2 cents.

Main Entry: ame·ni·ty
1 a : the quality of being pleasant or agreeable b (1) : the attractiveness and value of real estate or of a residential structure (2) : a feature conducive to such attractiveness and value
2 usually plural : something (as a conventional social gesture) that conduces to smoothness or pleasantness of social relationships <maintaining social amenities>
3 : something that conduces to comfort, convenience, or enjoyment <hotels with modern amenities>

 

[bambigirl88]

Hmmm......wonder how many hotels have "resort fees"?

Is there anyone who has recently stayed at a good neighbor hotel and not been charged this or who has stayed and did get charged this. I tried to find this out on the company websites if this is added to the room rate, but nothing is listed.
Don't want to be in for a rude surprise when I get my bill.

I agree with the above posters. The amenities should be included, not extras.

Anybody noticed this charge on their bill?

 

[hlbtimes2]

Disney hotels charge if the room is booked on its one (either thru the hotel or thru a booking agent like expedia). If you book a package, the charge is not extra, its included in the rate. The Candy cane does not charge a resort fee, just the standard 15% tax.

I cant say about the other hotels, but the CCI does have milk with their breakfast. They have milk, juice, hot chocolate, coffee, tea, muffins, bagels (3 kids of cream cheese- and toasters), pastries, raisin bran, fruit loops, rice crispies, instant oatmeal, bananas, oranges and apples.

 

[disneegrl4eva]

Sheraton Anaheim doesnt charge a resort fee but they do charge $10 a night for parking and this 0.25 cent charge for something or other...I always read everything and ask for all taxes and additional charges when calculating how much Im gonna have to pay per night

 

[Jake's Mom]

We just stayed at BWPPI and there were no hidden charges, just the standard room tax.
Also, their continental breakfast did include milk. They usually offered toast, pastries, eggs, fruit, cereals, milk, juice and coffee.

 

[disney-super-mom]

Sheraton Anaheim doesnt charge a resort fee but they do charge $10 a night for parking and this 0.25 cent charge for something or other.

That $10 a night parking charge IS a resort fee.

The Sheraton may not call it a "resort fee" as other hotel/motels do, but in reality, that's really what it is.

A resort fee - or parking fee - or facilities charge - or whatever a particular hotel/motel calls it, is very common,especially in popular vacation destinations.

Over the years, I've gotten to the point where I assume that there's going to be a resort fee, which come to think of it, is kinda sad. I guess they've trained me well.

 

[minnietoo]

Disney hotels charge if the room is booked on its one (either thru the hotel or thru a booking agent like expedia). If you book a package, the charge is not extra, its included in the rate. The Candy cane does not charge a resort fee, just the standard 15% tax.

I cant say about the other hotels, but the CCI does have milk with their breakfast. They have milk, juice, hot chocolate, coffee, tea, muffins, bagels (3 kids of cream cheese- and toasters), pastries, raisin bran, fruit loops, rice crispies, instant oatmeal, bananas, oranges and apples.

From what I think I am reading here - that 15% tax is the resort fee. And I am guessing that the package costs include the resort fee in the overall hotel fees. (BTW OC sales tax is 7.75% - so any tax above that is not the "standard" tax)

 

[disney-super-mom]

From what I think I am reading here - that 15% tax is the resort fee. And I am guessing that the package costs include the resort fee in the overall hotel fees. (BTW OC sales tax is 7.75% - so any tax above that is not the "standard" tax)

There's also a lodging tax, which I believe when added to the sales tax, does come to 15%, or maybe it's 13% or 14%, I can't really remember exactly, but I do know that there's a lodging tax in addition to the regular sales tax.

 

[samkj]

Like others have mentioned, the majority of motels in the area do NOT charge a resort fee. Yes there is a 15% room tax added, but room tax is added everywhere, not just Anaheim. Linda, hlbtimes talked about the resort fees at the Disney hotels. Those are the only hotels with the added resort fees that I know of in the Disneyland area.

 

[hlbtimes2]

From what I think I am reading here - that 15% tax is the resort fee. And I am guessing that the package costs include the resort fee in the overall hotel fees. (BTW OC sales tax is 7.75% - so any tax above that is not the "standard" tax)

Resort fees and taxes are two different things. The resort fee charged by some hotels is for parking, newspaper, pool upkeep, etc. It is also taxed at the 15% hotel tax that the city/ state collects. Hotel taxes are typically higher then sales tax. The extra money goes to fund staduims, transportation and other things that tourists typically use.

 

[minnietoo]

Resort fees and taxes are two different things. The resort fee charged by some hotels is for parking, newspaper, pool upkeep, etc. It is also taxed at the 15% hotel tax that the city/ state collects. Hotel taxes are typically higher then sales tax. The extra money goes to fund staduims, transportation and other things that tourists typically use.

THanks for clearing this up. So then . . . resort fees are for the use of "common areas" and resort or lodging tax is a tax for the city (or local government) - do I finally have it right?

 

[hlbtimes2]

THanks for clearing this up. So then . . . resort fees are for the use of "common areas" and resort or lodging tax is a tax for the city (or local government) - do I finally have it right?

Yep, thats it! I hate the whole resort fee thing- just add it to the room rate and be done with it.

 

[mommy2allyandaveri]

Any of the Embassy Suites offer a full cooked to order breakfast, milk included. We just returned from the Hilton Suites, booked through getawaytoday and it included a full breakfast buffet. Really nice and saved us about $20 per day. Oh and the hotel was REALLY nice.

 

[acpalmer]

We stayed at the Carousel Inn this summer and it did not charge any sort of resort fee, just the standard lodging tax.

On the other hand, they did not have milk with breakfast. They did have cream for coffee, hard boiled eggs, pastries, oatmeal, fruit, and toast.

 

[slp87]

When we went for DD's dance competition/workshop at the DLH, we were charged that stinkin resort fee when we obviously weren't going to be using the exercise equipment, didn't have any cars to park, and could care less if we got a newspaper. Just include it in the rate, so I don't have to realize that I'm paying for stuff I'm not going to use!!

 

[acpalmer]

When we went for DD's dance competition/workshop at the DLH, we were charged that stinkin resort fee when we obviously weren't going to be using the exercise equipment, didn't have any cars to park, and could care less if we got a newspaper. Just include it in the rate, so I don't have to realize that I'm paying for stuff I'm not going to use!!

I've heard (never tried it myself but know of those who have) that if you make a point of asking that you not pay it because you will not use any of the services (it also includes the internet access at the DL hotels), that you can have it waived or reduced if you don't want the newspaper or parking, for instance. Like I said, haven't tried it myself, but I know of those who have and say that it can be taken off.

I'm in agreement, though, just charge me in the room rate so I know up front what I'm paying!!