Think Twice Before Coming to Edinburgh.

[Laurie]

Anyone coming to Europe this summer should double check before staying in Edinburgh.

The local council, what you call City Hall, is thinking about introducing a £2, $2.58, a night bed tax for tourists. For Mom, Pop and two kids that's $10 a night!

Won't affect the rest of Scotland, so stay outside and commute in.

Better still, come and see us in Fife and just get a bus over the bridge!

 

[Capt Lightning]

Laurie, I believe the proposal was for £2 per room, not per person. Other suggestions were 2% of total bill. Although this seems to be well supported by accommodation providers, the charge is only up for consultation at this stage.

 

[Buckeye]

I don't think that $10 a night is going to be a deal breaker for most tourists. Most towns/cities here in the States impose a room tax that almost always exceeds that.

 

[RadishRose]

Anyone coming to Europe this summer should double check before staying in Edinburgh.

The local council, what you call City Hall, is thinking about introducing a £2, $2.58, a night bed tax for tourists. For Mom, Pop and two kids that's $10 a night!

Won't affect the rest of Scotland, so stay outside and commute in.

Better still, come and see us in Fife and just get a bus over the bridge!

Even better, we'll come to Fife and stay with you! layful:

 

[Laurie]

Laurie, I believe the proposal was for £2 per room, not per person. Other suggestions were 2% of total bill. Although this seems to be well supported by accommodation providers, the charge is only up for consultation at this stage.

You may be right, but it is generally called a bed tax in the press.

I did say it was only being considered, which is why I advised people to double check.

 

[jujube]

There are places in the US that charge extra taxes in certain historical areas. I don't know if they still do, but New Orleans used to charge an extra tax on anything occupied, eaten or bought in the Old Quarter.

 

[fuzzybuddy]

Sorry, Laura. Even a $10 tax on a family of four is not a deal breaker. The best part of a new tax is to get somebody else to pay for it. Increasing hotel taxes insulates the locals from paying increased taxes.