Hawaii - Additional Daily Taxes?

[CousinWalter]

I recently stayed at the HGV Grand Islander in Oahu using points and there was a daily tax based on the room type I stayed in. I understand that most jurisdictions have taxes on hotel stays and Hawaii especially has no problem soaking visiting tourists, but shouldn't any taxes already be covered when booking with points? I looked at my last few stays in the HGV portfolio since 2024 and never had any out-of-pocket charges aside from incidentals like parking and food. It had been a few years since I've been to Hawaii but why wouldn't these taxes be included, since I already paid for the stay there when I was allocated points?

 

[dioxide45]

This is the Timeshare Occupancy Tax (TSO) that is charged on Hawaii timeshare stays. You pay this tax for timeshare based stays. Be that of an exchange, points or home resort use. It is calculated based on the maintenance fee. I think it is 10.25% of 50% of the annual maintenance fee of the unit you are staying in. I think the tax rate goes up on January 1st. The tax is split as some portion goes to the state and then the county can also assess a percentage.

https://files.hawaii.gov/tax/legal/brochures/TAT_brochure-23.pdf

 

[ljmiii]

But shouldn't any taxes already be covered when booking with points?...

Nope. Unlike old-style hotel taxes, Hawaii's Transient Accommodations Tax (TAT) applies to all short term accommodations - hotels, VRBOs, timeshares, cruise ships, B&Bs, hostels, etc. - and is paid directly by the guest. If you like, you can blame the rise of AirB&B and similar short term non-hotel accommodation services.

That said, Hawaii is far from the only tourist destination implementing such taxes and they are becoming more and more common across the country and the world.

 

[mjm1]

I recently stayed at the HGV Grand Islander in Oahu using points and there was a daily tax based on the room type I stayed in. I understand that most jurisdictions have taxes on hotel stays and Hawaii especially has no problem soaking visiting tourists, but shouldn't any taxes already be covered when booking with points? I looked at my last few stays in the HGV portfolio since 2024 and never had any out-of-pocket charges aside from incidentals like parking and food. It had been a few years since I've been to Hawaii but why wouldn't these taxes be included, since I already paid for the stay there when I was allocated points?

Maintenance fees include property taxes, but not the transient occupancy taxes that guests pay for each night of their stay.

 

[mountainboy]

Hawaii is far from the only tourist destination implementing such taxes and they are becoming more and more common across the country and the world.

Yup; have stays in OR/WA state (in WorldMark) who also charge these TATs/TOTs.
Not nice but it is what it is :-(
(Praying for everyone there with all the rains & flooding they have going on)...