Now I know why so many travel from the USA to do the camino

[rector]

I have just booked three nights in New York and I have met City Tax ARG!

 

[C clearly]

I guess I still don't know.

 

[trecile]

I guess I still don't know.

I think that we travel to avoid NY city taxes??? Because there are no taxes anywhere else???

 

[WGroleau]

I have just booked three nights in New York and I have met City Tax ARG!

Look closely at the receipt when you buy something in Spain. If it is a restaurant meal, it will show that the IVA is 10%. If it is something electronic, IVA = 23%. IVA is "VAT" in some countries, and sort of like sales tax in USA.

 

[jpflavin1]

I have just booked three nights in New York and I have met City Tax ARG!

You are lucky you are not driving, parking is very expensive.

That said, I do not find New York any more expensive than London, Paris, Hong Kong etc. Taxes are a way of life in Major cities. How do you think they pay for infrastructure, maintenance, etc. etc.?

Ultreya,
Joe

 

[kelleymac]

I live in NY State (5 hour drive north west of NYC). It seems like even breathing in NY City is expensive! But then, I don't know that city well. I grew up in DC, and go there when I want to be in a city. I did pick up my son from the JFK a few years ago and spent over $100 on toll bridges!

 

[nycwalking]

I live in NYC, and yes it is expensive, but pizza can be bought for a dollar, seats at a world class ballet company, opera, philharmonic, are inexpensive to sky high prices, and world renown museums are pay-as-you-wish either daily or on specific days. Pay as you wish can be a penny if that is all you have. May have to relocate back to Los Angeles, will miss NYC.

 

[rector]

I live in NYC, and yes it is expensive, but pizza can be bought for a dollar, seats at a world class ballet company, opera, philharmonic, are inexpensive to sky high prices, and world renown museums are pay-as-you-wish either daily or on specific days. Pay as you wish can be a penny if that is all you have. May have to relocate back to Los Angeles, will miss NYC.

There was no offence intended I was merely smarting from the cost of the Hotel and you are right when we are Sorrento in Italy this year the hotel will cost just as much with tourist tax included I have never been in New York and I am going to a conference in up State NY as well as seizing the opportunity to visit somewhere I have always wanted to visit. Six days later I will be starting to walk from Ponferrada and as I compared the 49 euros return fare to Santiago against $530 return fare to NY and almost $900 for the hotel for 3 days against the cost of an hotel in Spain I was shocked, but that does not mean that we will not enjoy both, so long as they let me in to the USA.

 

[Anemone del Camino]

There is a reason North Americans envy European so much when it comes to cheap flight. Cost of gas? It's the US' time to laugh again.

 

[nycwalking]

Please, let us not discuss airports in my country: USA.

Ponferrada, is my true place of pilgrimage enjoy.

Camino, Via de la Plata, here I come: ASAP!

Buen camino.