Reading a hotel rate before you book it

Occupancy or tourist tax is set by the city or state and is unavoidable. In some European cities it is collected per person per night at the property rather than through the booking.

Resort or destination fees are the property's own charge, presented as covering amenities you may not use. They are mandatory where they apply, which is precisely why they belong in the total rather than in a footnote.

Optional extras — parking, breakfast, late checkout — are genuinely optional, but parking in a dense city can quietly exceed the room rate.

A prepaid, non-refundable rate is typically the lowest price a property publishes, and it is a real saving if your dates are certain. If they are not, you have bought a discount by taking on the entire risk of the trip changing.

The useful question is not which rate is cheaper but how much the flexibility costs as a percentage. When a refundable rate is a few percent more, it is usually worth it. When it is forty percent more, it is a different decision.

• The total for the whole stay, taxes and mandatory fees included — not the nightly headline.
• The cancellation deadline in the property's local time zone, not yours.
• Whether the rate is per room or per person, which varies by market.
• What the occupancy limit actually is: a room for two is not a room for two adults and a child in much of Europe.
• Whether a deposit or a card pre-authorisation is taken at check-in, and how long it takes to release.