As Which? Travel reports, in the fight against overtourism, many popular destinations are raising existing fees or introducing new ones. Moreover, the rules vary so significantly that determining the final cost of accommodation based on the price shown when searching for a hotel can be quite challenging. ### Amsterdam: an additional 12.5% on accommodation costs One of the most illustrative examples is Amsterdam. Here, the tourist tax is 12.5% of the cost of the overnight stay. As a result, for a week of vacation, the hotel bill may increase by another one or two hundred euros, depending on the price of the chosen room. In other cities, a fixed rate applies. For example, in Lisbon, according to the provided source, the tourist fee is 4 euros per person per night. ### In Barcelona, the amount depends on the accommodation The system is even more complicated where the fee amount depends on the category of accommodation. According to the source, in a five-star hotel in Barcelona, a tourist will have to pay about 12 euros per person per night, in a four-star hotel — 8.40 euros, in private accommodation — 9.50 euros, and in a hostel — about 7 euros. Outside of Europe, the variation can be even greater. In Kyoto, Japan, as stated in the publication, the fee ranges from **1 to 60 euros per person per day** depending on the cost of accommodation. ### Payment is required not only for overnight stays Some popular destinations are introducing fees for travelers who do not stay overnight at all. For instance, in Venice, on certain peak days, day visitors are charged between 5 to 10 euros. On the Greek islands of Santorini and Mykonos, a separate fee is imposed on cruise ship passengers who disembark for a few hours. In the example provided by the source, this amounts to 20 euros per person. ### What to check before booking The main advice for travelers is to find out before paying for accommodation whether local taxes and tourist fees are included in the stated price or if they will have to be paid separately upon check-in. The difference can be particularly significant where the fee is calculated as a percentage of the room cost: the more expensive the hotel and the longer the vacation, the more noticeable the additional amount. Therefore, an attractive hotel price at booking does not necessarily mean that is the final amount to be paid. A few minutes spent checking local tourist fees can save travelers from an unpleasant surprise costing tens, and sometimes even hundreds, of euros.
