Brits are being warned to check one detail when they make their holiday booking for summer 2026, or face potentially paying tourist tax twice.
Tourist taxes are becoming more common, with many holiday hotspots introducing or increasing their charges for 2026, and the amounts can range from just a few Euros for the week to a large percentage of the cost of the accommodation. For example, Amsterdam charges 12.5% of the total accommodation booking cost, making it the highest in Europe. Tourist taxes are generally paid on a per person, per night basis, and usually collected by the accommodation provider.
But a new survey from travel insurance comparison site Quotezone.co.uk has found that a large number of Brits have fallen prey to misunderstandings and outright scams when it comes to tourist taxes, and around 10% have ended up paying twice.
Speaking to 1,000 adults from the UK, the survey revealed that only 32% check whether tourist tax is included when they make a holiday accommodation booking, while 35% never check and 20% didn’t realise the fee could be charged separately.
And worryingly, nearly 10% of respondents had been asked to pay tourist tax in cash, despite it already being included in their booking price, and in some hotspots could end up being a very costly mistake.
Quotezone named some red flags to look out for when you’re being asked to pay tourist taxes upon check-in. Firstly, look out for amounts that are unusually high. If it’s more than a few euros or pounds per person per night, double-check the official rate before you hand over money.
Secondly, being pressured to pay in cash or via a personal bank account or messaging app could be a sign of a scam. Legitimate tourist taxes should be paid via an official payment system at the reception desk. While there’s nothing wrong with paying cash, if you’re being pressured to pay cash or told it’s the only way to pay, this could be a red flag. Make sure any payments are going through the hotel’s official payment process.
CEO of Quotezone, Greg Wilson, explained: “Tourist taxes are completely legitimate and a way to help popular holiday destinations maintain infrastructure and manage the impact of tourism, however, there is some uncertainty around them from British travellers.
“This confusion can unfortunately leave holidaymakers vulnerable to scams or accidental overpayments. Our survey results show a number of Brits have been asked to pay tourist tax in cash despite it already being included at the time of their booking.
“It’s important for tourists to familiarise themselves with these charges and the red flags to look out for before travelling, as falling victim to a scam is unlikely to be covered by travel insurance and could see holidaymakers left out of pocket.”