Hotels in the Alps: Single Supplement, Taxe de Séjour, and more
Lead photo: Sam Hill
At Run the Alps, every season we work with over 100 hotels, from Bolzano, Italy and the Dolomites, to Chamonix, France and the Mont Blanc region, and many places in between. Over more than a decade, we’ve learned the ins and outs.
Whether you’re coming on a Run the Alps guided or self-guided trip or not, we wanted to share a few insights and explain some unique twists to accommodations in the Alps. We want you to have a great time here in the Alps!!
Here’s a quick Q&A of some common hotel facts in the Alps. As always, we’re here with answers if you have any questions. Drop us a note. We love to hear from anyone going trail running in the Alps!
What is a single supplement?
It’s an extra fee to have a room to yourself. Tour operators use the phrase single supplement to designate a solo traveler occupying a private, usually double occupancy, room.
Hotels in Europe typically price their rooms based on per person occupancy and not a singular price per room. As a result, hotels tend to charge more per person for single occupancy rooms than shared rooms.
Here’s an example. It might cost a couple 300 CHF for a room, and a solo traveler 200 CHF for the same exact room. In other words, the couple is spending 150 CHF per person, while the solo traveler is paying 200 CHF.
When Run the Alps prices our tours, we base costs on a double occupancy rate. So, if you want a room to yourself, you’ll need to pay a bit more. That’s the single supplement.
Is it true that some hotels won’t offer single supplements?
Sometimes! It can be a point of pride, and a belief that it’s good to maximize what you have available. Money aside, hotel managers in the Alps want to make the best use of their hotel–so, they try to avoid having one person in a room designed for two.
With that in mind, we encourage our guests to be open to the possibility of bringing a friend along, or meeting a friend– that is, sharing a room with a fellow Run the Alps guest. Either way, you can save a lot of money!
I’d like to share a room with a fellow Run the Alps guest. How does that work?
At Run the Alps, we do our best to place you with another solo traveler if that’s your preference. However, we still invoice solo travelers for the single supplement fee up front. We’ve found there can be last minute changes before a tour starts, whether that’s someone changing or canceling their trip. (Don’t forget about trip insurance!) When your tour starts, if we’re able to find someone to share a room with you, we’ll refund the single supplement fee.
I want to share a room but it’s not possible for one reason or another. Do I still have to pay the single supplement fee?
Yes, you will have to pay the single supplement fee, but we’ll work with you to reduce the cost wherever possible.
Does paying the single supplement fee guarantee a private room every night of the tour?
The short answer is… it depends on the tour. We are able to book single or private rooms every night on some of our trips. On the Tour du Mont-Blanc for example, we can only guarantee single rooms in Chamonix, France and Courmayeur, Italy – 5 of the 9 nights. If you’re staying in a hut, we try to book small private dorm spaces where available, but many mountain huts only have shared dormitories.
I am a solo traveler on a self-guided tour. Is there a way to avoid the single supplement fee?
No. You have to pay the single supplement fee if you are a solo traveler on a self-guided tour, just because there is no one with whom we can pair you. Run the Alps will never ask you to share accommodations with people outside your group. The only exception to this is, of course, at a mountain hut, where the hut only offers shared dormitories that are communal sleeping spaces.
Is it true that some hotels don’t have private rooms?
Yes! Some locations only offer shared, larger rooms, or in some remote mountain huts you might only have the choice of a dorm space. At Run the Alps, where possible we only book private rooms. You’ll sleep better, and it’s a more comfortable experience. If you’re looking at another tour provider, be sure to ask if you’re getting a shared dormitory space or a private room.
What’s the Taxe de Séjour?
Hotels in Europe have to pay the local government a tourist tax, which is called a taxe de séjour in French, Gästetaxe in German, and tassa di soggiorno in Italian. This tax is minimal, typically ranging from 1 to 5 euros per person per night. Usually, this tax is paid in cash at the hotel or hut. On a Run the Alps trip, however, we pay this separately for our guests.
This small tax is designed to cover the financial impact of tourists. It’s collected by the hotel and transferred to the city or town government on a monthly basis. In exchange, guests will usually receive a guest card.
What is the guest card for?
Many hotels in the Alps will issue you a guest card when you arrive, called a carte d’hôte in French, Gastkarte in German, or carta ospiti in Italian. In some towns, the guest card is now digital, and will be sent to you by email.
The guest card often is valid not just in the town in which you are staying, but the region. For example, in Grindelwald, Switzerland, the digital Jungfrau Region guest card covers transportation in the entire valley, and many neighboring towns, including Lauterbrunnen, Mürren and Wengen. Popular bus routes are free, and you’ll get discounts from 10% to 50% on many cable cars, the local gym, and other tourist attractions.
In Chamonix, France, the carte d’hôte allows free access to the SNCF trains in the valley, special deals on the sports center, parking garages, and up to 50% off on buses. If you need an extra card, they can be purchased at the tourist offices in the valley for a cost of €9 per person, and are valid for up to a week.
Specific offers depend on the region and can change year to year. You can read more details about what guest cards in these popular areas offer:
How do hotel star ratings in the Alps work?
Hotels receive star ratings based on the amenities they offer. While those ratings often correspond to more comforts and features such as spas, it doesn’t necessarily mean better quality! To further complicate matters, the star rating system varies by country and by the authority that allocates stars to lodging.
Run the Alps primarily works with 3- and 4-star hotels, but some favorites that our guests adore don’t even have ratings! If you are traveling with us, rest assured knowing we hand-pick our hotel partners to ensure the best stays possible each night of your tour.
Got more questions? You ask and we’ll answer.
Happy trails!
