Hotel bills in Bahrain include a few charges on top of the room rate. They are set by the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BTEA), and the hotel collects them from you and passes them to the BTEA.
What you can expect
- Accommodation fee: a fixed BD 3 per night for each occupied room or unit, in hotels and hotel apartments.
- Tourism service levy: 5% of the hotel services you are charged.
- VAT, as a separate line.
- At tourist-licensed restaurants, a service charge.
Your invoice: the bill must be produced electronically and must list each of these charges separately. A handwritten or manual bill breaks tourism rules.
Complaints: you can complain about a hotel or tourist restaurant through Tawasul, by email to inspection@btea.bh, or by phone or WhatsApp on 17558873. Inspectors work around the clock.
The catch: check whether a quoted room rate already includes the BD 3 nightly fee and the 5% levy. Look at the total before you pay, especially for a long stay or several rooms.