Young Americans are having the summer of their dreams — just don't ask to see their bank balances.
19.06.2024 - 10:29 / nytimes.com / Gavin Newsom
Last May, Samir Bhavnani, a 47-year-old tech executive from San Diego, was planning a trip to Palm Springs, Calif., where he planned to propose to his girlfriend. He found the perfect spot on Vrbo: It offered a “spa in a grotto,” a slide and a swim-up bar and had plenty of five-star reviews.
He decided to book two nights, at $595 a night. But somehow, the total came to about $2,300.
“And $595 plus $595 doesn’t equal $2,300,” Mr. Bhavnani said. “Taxes, host fees and service fees basically doubled the price. I asked the owner what the fee breakout was, and they said it was $300 for cleaning and $300 for ‘air-conditioning.’ This is Palm Springs. I expect every place to have air-conditioning like they have running water.”
Soon, if you’re booking a place to stay in California — whether you live in the state or not — this kind of sticker shock from hidden, or “junk,” fees will be far less likely to spoil your trip.
On July 1, a sweeping new state law will ban hidden fees on purchases — including event tickets, hotel rooms and food delivery services — by requiring businesses to include all mandatory fees or last-minute charges in their advertised and displayed price.
In short, “the price Californians see will be the price they pay,” Rob Bonta, the state’s attorney general, said in a statement in October, when Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the bill.
A second law, also taking effect July 1, specifically targets the sometimes hefty hidden resort and cleaning fees at hotels.
Young Americans are having the summer of their dreams — just don't ask to see their bank balances.
Hyatt has bought the “me and all hotels” brand from Germany’s Lindner Hotels, a minor expansion of its European portfolio. The deal for the lifestyle hotel brand, which closed Friday, adds a 29th brand to Hyatt’s collection of hotel, resort, and timeshare brands.
There's nothing quite like a summer spent hopping around Europe. With millennia of history, some of the best restaurants in the world and top-notch museums, there are plenty of places to explore, whether it's your first visit or your hundredth. Unfortunately, those same wonderful qualities attract masses of tourists, especially during the summer high season.
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) saw a new airport record over the weekend, showing more Americans are traveling this summer than ever before.
Oyo has announced the launch of its first luxury hotel, the Palette Royal Reflections Hotel and Spa, in Dubai. The opening marks a significant step in Oyo’s strategy to expand its premium offerings, driven by the increasing demand from Indian tourists for high-end accommodations in the region.
All California hotels must disclose surprise junk fees starting July 1 thanks to two new state laws, including one specifically targeting hotel resorts and cleaning fees.
Greece just keeps getting better and better — especially for Hilton Honors loyalists looking to visit Athens.
The summer travel season is here, and most of us are trying to just make it through the chaos of airports and long hotel check-in lines without completely losing our patience.
Ultra-low-cost carriers, or ULCCs, were a saving grace in college when I had limited fun money. I didn't care about the barebones planes or stuffing everything into a personal item so long as I could travel cheaply.
Thailand is inviting remote workers and digital nomads to not only visit, but to stay a while with its new extended visa program.
Ennismore, the fast-growing lifestyle hospitality company that’s an Accor joint venture, said Thursday it had entered into a strategic partnership to run and market as part of its family of brands the experiential luxury hotel brand Our Habitas.
As one of the most famous tourist destinations in the world, the question invariably arises: Do you tip in Paris? For many of us, tipping at restaurants and for various services is an ingrained habit, depending on our local customs. But as always, when traveling to different countries, we inevitably should learn and respect another set of rules—and that includes how much to tip. Fortunately, especially for travelers from the United States, tipping in Paris—and in Europe generally—is really quite simple: Tipping is not expected in French culture, at least not as much as it is in American culture.