Priceline Hotel: Priceline Taxes & Service Fees

[EH!]

I am currently trying to Name Your Own Price on a Birch Run, MI hotel and the Taxes & Service Fees are totalling 31% as opposed to the usual 18%. What's going on? Anyone else experience this?

[thereuare]

What dates, star level and bid amount are you inputting?

Is 18% the tax rate for this area OR is that the percentage you have typically paid on previous PRICELINE purchases in this zone?

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.

[EH!]

Thanks for the reply. Date is Friday March 2, 2 star hotel in Birch Run, MI. Tax rate in MI is 6%. We have used Name Your Own Price in Michigan, Illinois, Ontario (13% tax rate) a lot, and the Taxes & Service Fees always hovered around 18%, that was pretty consistent with all my past bookings. When inquiring with Priceline, they simply referred me to their standard jargon. When I "recruit" friends to Name Your Own Price, I would advise that they should count on adding an extra 18% or so...perhaps that's not accurate and it varies up to 31% or even higher! Other than State or Provincial Sales Tax, I don't know what the other factors are...

[thereuare]

The 6% is Michigan State tax but there is almost always a 'hotel tax' too. What bid amount are you entering? If it's very low, and your stay is just for one nite, PRICELINE's booking fee (~$7) can make up a larger percentage of your bid amount.

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases... and your searches too!

Thanks.