Brits heading on Greece holidays could face extra costs of up to €20 a night
Brits who snap up bargain Greece holidays this summer may want to double check their destination's tourist taxes to avoid any nasty surprises when they arrive.
Like most holiday destinations, a number of Greek islands have upped their tourist fees which need to be paid on arrival. In Santorini and Mykonos, where you'll find plenty of the more luxurious resorts, those who arrive on cruises between June to September face costs of €20 per night, which will need to be paid at the port.
Meanwhile on the mainland, tourists can expect to pay €8.00 per night between April and October, or €2.00 per night outside of this peak season. This is compared to the previous charge of €0.50, making for a huge jump. The new charges have been brought in to reportedly help fund efforts against climate change, as well as improving infrastructure and disaster prevention.
It's worth noting that in Greece, tourist tax rates can vary depending on the type of accommodation you're staying in, and whether you're visiting during the peak summer months, or if you're travelling outside of the busiest dates. If you're unsure, get in touch with your hotel or accommodation provider directly, and they can advise you of what fees you'll need to pay when you arrive.
Tourist taxes aren't anything new; they're often a few extra Euros a night, and the idea is that the money is poured back into the destinations to combat overtourism by boosting local infrastructure and protecting local environments or heritage sites.
Travel experts have warned Brits of a number of price hikes when it comes to tourist taxes, including popular European city break destinations such as Venice, Lisbon, Porto and Amsterdam. As a result, travellers are being urged to check the fees at various holiday destinations so that these are factored into their budgets, even if they have snapped up seemingly cheap holiday deals.
Helen Rolph, travel insurance expert at Quotezone.co.uk said: 'The concept of a tourist tax isn't a new one, but it is certainly something many more countries have introduced over the last few years. Many of these countries seem to be charging tourists in response to overtourism concerns. This year, Scotland's capital will charge visitors a 5% levy on hotel costs, while Thailand looks set to bring in a charge of around £6.86.
"The new and increasing tourist fees across Europe allow cities to fund measures to attract more holidaymakers, support the local infrastructure and businesses, and to prevent damages from overtourism. As holidays surge in price this year by over 10%, we encourage all travellers to look into the tourist taxes in place before booking a holiday destination, to help avoid any unexpected extra costs they haven't budgeted for."
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