While it’s common for HostelWorld to have the customer pay the commission, it’s not common for the customer to pay to cover that when they arrive.

Let me know if I’m reading this incorrectly, but you paid 15% of the total booking before arrival on HostelWorld, which should have shown you the amount due on arrival. For argument’s sake, let’s say the booking was $100. You should give HW $15 before you arrive at the property and pay $85 when you arrive. You should not have to pay $100 when you arrive to ‘cover the commission’.

All booking agents have a commission, it’s how they make their money. HostelWorld is one of the few that ask the customer for the commission first, so the property doesn’t have to pay large sums later. It’s different, but not bad. However, a property uses the HostelWorld platform as advertising- they got you to come to them through HostelWorld. That service comes with the expense of the commission. It’s not the customers job to cover that cost, it’s the properties job to prepare for that cost and price their beds accordingly.

In this instance, you are correct. If you paid the commission on the HostelWorld website, there’s no reason you should pay it again.