-- R. STARK, TORONTO
A: The oft-quoted Benjamin Franklin once said nothing is certain but death and taxes. That includes travel taxes, which are wide, varied and difficult to understand. Taxes in the travel industry are not uniform and are levied by an array of governing bodies, which may account for the confusion that most people feel.
For instance, in some cities, hotels administer what's known as a destination marketing fee.
In Toronto, hotel guests pay the usual GST/PST and a 3% DMF, which the Greater Toronto Hotel Association says is used to promote the Greater Toronto Area. The hotel association collects the DMF and forwards it to Tourism Toronto, the organization responsible for promoting our city to potential visitors around the world.
Depending on who you ask, air carriers say taxes and fees on airfares pay for security charges, airport improvement and the like. These, too, vary from place to place. Adding to the confusion is the fact most airlines advertise the pre-tax price of airfares, a practice that has come under a lot of criticism lately.
Currently Winnipeg MP Jim Maloway is pushing a private members bill -- the Airline Passenger Bill of Rights -- that would force airlines to advertise the full price of a fare including taxes, and also compensate travellers for flight delays, bumpings, cancellations, etc. (See jimmaloway.ca/airline).
South of the border, the U.S. lodging industry collects a variety of taxes that can include things like mini-bar restocking fees, fees for short term baggage storage, reservation cancellation fees and more.
It you're not sure what the total expenses of your trip will be, ask in advance for a breakdown of taxes, surcharges, fees and any other hidden charges.
Q: My mother, who is in her mid-60s, wants to book a trip to Provence. Spring is a nice time to visit and I'm looking into various packages. Do you know of any?
-- G. WOLOWICH, RICHMOND HILL
A: Spring is a glorious time to visit Provence. Located in the south of France, this is where you'll find quaint villages, fields of lavender and sunflowers, and plenty of cultural diversions.
Veteran travel writers Judi Janofsky and Rich Steck are organizing two Provence Escapes (May 23-30 and May 30-June 6). For a week, mom can retrace the footsteps of artists, explore hilltop villages, browse through colourful markets and enjoy the tastes of Provencal food and wines.
"We'll visit some of Provence's most endearing sites and villages," Janofsky says. "Including Arles, where Van Gogh lived and painted, St. Remy and its Roman ruins, the famous market town of L'Isle sur-la-Sorgue, the perched villages of Gordes and Bonnieux, and the ochre quarry and village of Roussillon. Along with wineries and wine tastings, a cooking class and shopping, it's a full schedule."
The package includes seven nights' accommodations; transfers from and to the Avignon TGV train station, local ground transportation, meals, local wines, escorted tours and all admission tickets, and a cooking class. The price is $3,175 US based on double occupancy. See provenceescapes.com.
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