Author Topic: $100 off $100 hotels via orbitz on dec 1st (Read 27762 times)

ranhan429 · « **Reply #140 on:** January 10, 2015, 03:18:28 PM »

Just got back from Bay club hotel in Haifa. They asked us to pay 18% MAM (tax) on the room - heard me speaking Hebrew - anyway they wanted to charge us 18% of the full room price (not what we paid) TIMES TWO. For 2 people! Isn't that insane?! I told them SO was American and then they said "OK then well only charge u MAM once" ended up being 20$ for MAM, practically the price we paid for the room. stupid.

A3 · « **Reply #141 on:** January 10, 2015, 05:55:30 PM »

Quote from: ranhan429 on January 10, 2015, 03:18:28 PM

Just got back from Bay club hotel in Haifa. They asked us to pay 18% MAM (tax) on the room - heard me speaking Hebrew - anyway they wanted to charge us 18% of the full room price (not what we paid) TIMES TWO. For 2 people! Isn't that insane?! I told them SO was American and then they said "OK then well only charge u MAM once" ended up being 20$ for MAM, practically the price we paid for the room. stupid.

Makes sense that they wanted to charge you on the full room price. That is what they see you paid..

ranhan429 · « **Reply #142 on:** January 10, 2015, 05:59:29 PM »

Quote from: A3 on January 10, 2015, 05:55:30 PM

Makes sense that they wanted to charge you on the full room price. That is what they see you paid..

If I buy an item at a store and get a discount of 100$ off such that my total is 30$, I am taxed on the total I pay at checkout, which is 30$. This is logical to me (but not to them!)

A3 · « **Reply #143 on:** January 10, 2015, 06:01:43 PM »

Quote from: ranhan429 on January 10, 2015, 05:59:29 PM

If I buy an item at a store and get a discount of 100$ off such that my total is 30$, I am taxed on the total I pay at checkout, which is 30$. This is logical to me (but not to them!)

If you buy and item in a store. And use a free store gift card. You are charged on the whole purchase.
They don't see that you used whatt is like a free $100 or its gift card.
If you notice on Orbitz you were charged taxes on fees on the whole purchase. IME

Yehuda25 · « **Reply #144 on:** January 22, 2015, 11:39:27 AM »

Quote from: ranhan429 on January 10, 2015, 05:59:29 PM

If I buy an item at a store and get a discount of 100$ off such that my total is 30$, I am taxed on the total I pay at checkout, which is 30$. This is logical to me (but not to them!)

Not always, rentals are like that usually, but not everything else.

Yehuda25 · « **Reply #145 on:** January 22, 2015, 11:42:01 AM »

Anybody have any success getting orbitz or the hotel to change the dates on one of these booking? Orbitz says they can't do it they say call the hotel, and the hotel says they can't change it because it was booked using orbitz.

shmebeble · « **Reply #146 on:** January 22, 2015, 11:46:45 AM »

Quote from: Yehuda25 on January 22, 2015, 11:42:01 AM

Anybody have any success getting orbitz or the hotel to change the dates on one of these booking? Orbitz says they can't do it they say call the hotel, and the hotel says they can't change it because it was booked using orbitz.

yes you can. I did it for 6 reservations.
Call Orbitz customer service not the booking department. Ask them to call the hotel itself and then it can be done

Yehuda25 · « **Reply #147 on:** January 22, 2015, 12:00:17 PM »

Quote from: shmebeble on January 22, 2015, 11:46:45 AM

yes you can. I did it for 6 reservations.
Call Orbitz customer service not the booking department. Ask them to call the hotel itself and then it can be done

Thank you!

ranhan429 · « **Reply #148 on:** January 29, 2015, 09:38:51 AM »

I have an ethical question.

At the last hotel we stayed at in Haifa, when they asked for my ID I gave them my T.Z. and spoke my non-accent Hebrew to them. They had no idea I was American. When it came time to check out , they charged me 18% MAM. My issue is that, they charged me and my SO 2x the MAM and they charged the MAM on the full amount that the hotel should have been, so it turned out to be a lot of money.

We've got two more trips coming up, to Tiberius and Yershaliyim. My question is, if my name is on the reservation (booked via Orbitz), can we just speak our American english to them (since we are both American we do not have accents), when they ask for I.D. hand them my US drivers license (or passport?) , and then they would never charge us MAM. Is this unethical? Is it against the law? What is the risk associated with doing such a thing?

TIA for your help!

Emkay · « **Reply #149 on:** January 29, 2015, 10:03:27 AM »

Quote from: ranhan429 on January 29, 2015, 09:38:51 AM

I have an ethical question.

At the last hotel we stayed at in Haifa, when they asked for my ID I gave them my T.Z. and spoke my non-accent Hebrew to them. They had no idea I was American. When it came time to check out , they charged me 18% MAM. My issue is that, they charged me and my SO 2x the MAM and they charged the MAM on the full amount that the hotel should have been, so it turned out to be a lot of money.

We've got two more trips coming up, to Tiberius and Yershaliyim. My question is, if my name is on the reservation (booked via Orbitz), can we just speak our American english to them (since we are both American we do not have accents), when they ask for I.D. hand them my US drivers license (or passport?) , and then they would never charge us MAM. Is this unethical? Is it against the law? What is the risk associated with doing such a thing?

TIA for your help!

It's not an ethics question. It depends on what visa you have

ranhan429 · « **Reply #150 on:** January 29, 2015, 10:04:21 AM »

Quote from: Emkay on January 29, 2015, 10:03:27 AM

It's not an ethics question. It depends on what visa you have

I am an American citizen and an Israeli Citizen. I don't have any visas.

Emkay · « **Reply #151 on:** January 29, 2015, 10:06:34 AM »

Quote from: ranhan429 on January 29, 2015, 10:04:21 AM

I am an American citizen and an Israeli Citizen. I don't have any visas.

From my experience they will charge you unless you can produce a tourist visa

ranhan429 · « **Reply #152 on:** January 29, 2015, 10:07:59 AM »

Quote from: Emkay on January 29, 2015, 10:06:34 AM

From my experience they will charge you unless you can produce a tourist visa

Umm.. american's dont need tourist visas to come to Israel..................

besides. my dad who is Israeli and has been living in the US for a while is no longer a toshav and therefore doesn't pay MAM. not paying MAM as a toshevet is (I believe) evasion of tax. But that\s what im here to find out.

Emkay · « **Reply #153 on:** January 29, 2015, 10:09:15 AM »

Quote from: ranhan429 on January 29, 2015, 10:07:59 AM

Umm.. american's dont need tourist visas to come to Israel..................

So what is that which they give you in the airport? A lucky charm?

ranhan429 · « **Reply #154 on:** January 29, 2015, 10:10:20 AM »

Quote from: Emkay on January 29, 2015, 10:09:15 AM

So what is that which they give you in the airport? A lucky charm?

the same entry stamp they give to Israelis........................ a stamp with entry date, etc.

Emkay · « **Reply #155 on:** January 29, 2015, 10:11:11 AM »

Quote from: ranhan429 on January 29, 2015, 10:10:20 AM

the same entry stamp they give to Israelis........................ a stamp with entry date, etc.

When was the last time you flew?

HolyNyc · « **Reply #156 on:** January 29, 2015, 10:11:42 AM »

Quote from: ranhan429 on January 29, 2015, 10:10:20 AM

the same entry stamp they give to Israelis........................ a stamp with entry date, etc.

it says clearly tourist visa

coralsnake · « **Reply #157 on:** January 29, 2015, 10:13:04 AM »

Quote from: ranhan429 on January 29, 2015, 10:10:20 AM

the same entry stamp they give to Israelis........................ a stamp with entry date, etc.

They now give a tourist visa on a little piece of paper when you land. When I was there last week, the hotel told me they'd have to charge me VAT unless I go find it.

HolyNyc · « **Reply #158 on:** January 29, 2015, 10:15:07 AM »

Quote from: coralsnake on January 29, 2015, 10:13:04 AM

They now give a tourist visa and when I was there last week, the hotel told me they'd have to charge me VAT unless I go find it.

i gave them an expired one they didn't realize

ranhan429 · « **Reply #159 on:** January 29, 2015, 10:19:36 AM »

Quote from: coralsnake on January 29, 2015, 10:13:04 AM

They now give a tourist visa on a little piece of paper when you land. When I was there last week, the hotel told me they'd have to charge me VAT unless I go find it.

Interesting....

So failure to charge me MAM could be an oversight on their part.

Though this still doesn't explain why israelis living abroad don't pay MAM. (I.e., my dad when he comes to visit).

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Author Topic: $100 off $100 hotels via orbitz on dec 1st (Read 27762 times)