Britons in France warned of 'unexpected' tourist tax hikes which could add £350 to the cost of a family holiday

Paris has long been a popular holiday destination, and it is set to get even more visitors this year as it hosts the 2024 Olympic Games.

This year, the city has increased tourist tax by around 200 per cent and a travel expert has warned many people do not know about the highest fee, meaning they could soon be caught out.

The cost of the tourist tax to be paid in Paris depends on the type of accommodation that guests book.

Those staying at a campsite classes as one or two stars are charged €0.65 (55p) per person per night. This rises to €5.20 (£4.40) for those in a three star hotel.

The highest fee is charged for visitors staying in a palace who pay €14.95 (£12.75) per person per night, which could add a whopping £357 to the cost of a week-long holiday for a family of four.

The increased charges were announced earlier this year but with summer holidays and the Olympic Games just around the corner, a travel expert warned many people do not know about this and could face the charge unexpectedly.

Managing Director at hoppa Matthew Hall said: “Tourist tax is often an unexpected cost for many, and with the Olympic games set to take place in Paris this year, travellers need to be aware of the recent increases, so they aren’t left short when arriving at their accommodation."

The expert shared a further warning for scams targeting tourists as holidaymakers could be asked to pay the tax by fraudsters.

The expert said the fee is usually collected from hotels so holidaymakers should be very wary of paying this at other times.

He added: “Holidaymakers are also warned not to fall for potential scams where tourist tax payment is demanded upfront. The tax is usually collected by the hotel staff upon check-in at the venue itself.

“However, you should not be contacted to pay this charge upfront, so make sure you verify any emails or texts you receive are legitimate and if in doubt, check with your hotel or travel provider directly.”

Tourist tax is payable in many holiday destinations and is used for things like upkeeping the city.

This comes as British holidaymakers were warned about new tourism taxes that will be introduced in Tenerife.

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​As of January 1, 2025, tourists will pay an unconfirmed fee when visiting parts of Tenerife.

The tax has been described as an eco-tax and will apply on the island's most protected sites and will be charged when visiting natural beauty spots.

President of Tenerife Rosa Davila said: “We must analyse the exceptionalities that can be applied in a territory as fragile and limited as ours. What is clear is that Tenerife cannot be a theme park.

“Those who visit us have to value and respect our natural and cultural wealth, our resources, and they have to be clear about the rules for their preservation. In addition, there have to be limits to prevent tourism from overflowing.”