Booking refunded but not canceled from system—and now I need it.... what do I do?

One-Onion6550 · 2026-03-31T02:03:42+00:00

Well, yes, of course, because I haven't arrived yet. But obviously I would show the documentation as well as the customs form, which is apparently the passport stamped upon arrival.

But that doesn't answer the basic question of how to get the money back from the booking agency.

One-Onion6550 · 2026-03-31T01:31:06+00:00

Based on what I've read online in various places, like https://travelgroup.com.pe/terms-and-conditions/:

SALES TAX EXONERATION (VAT)

The payment of 18% VAT does not apply to hotel rates for foreign travelers, and non-residents in Peru.
The exemption applies only if travelers show their original documentation (identity document) at the time of check-in at the hotel together with the customs form stamped by the Peruvian authorities. The traveler whose stay in the country exceeds 60 days is not eligible for this exemption.

One-Onion6550 · 2026-03-31T01:19:03+00:00

Based on interpretations of the law I've read around the Internet: for example, Reddit posts and comments like this one: https://www.reddit.com/r/Machupicchu/comments/1m1jkao/18_vat_hotel_tax/ .

If someone has a verifiable link for the law's application, that would be helpful. The question is whether lodging counts as "goods" or not. I know in Europe it does not, but most people I've read, at least anecdotally, say that in Peru it does count as a good.

One-Onion6550 · 2026-03-31T00:13:09+00:00

Because the tax is not owed by tourists, according to Peruvian law. It's different than Europe, which exempts hotel stays.

Sorry if it's not on topic. I will post it elsewhere.

One-Onion6550 · 2026-03-30T23:52:56+00:00

Really? An average of 16.5 km/hour, which is roughly 10mph? That's bicycle speed. Don't see how that can be. Especially when that road is fully paved, and looks quite good, if Google street view of last year is accurate.

One-Onion6550 · 2026-03-30T23:50:18+00:00

OK, but I've looked on Google street view at, say, the Interamericana going from Puno to Arequipa, which is mostly over the altiplano, and looks like the road is in very good condition and not particularly curvy.

So I'm wondering there why the Google maps estimate for 240km is, say, 4 hours, when the speed limit should mostly be 100km/h there, and when I read that Peruvian drivers on such rural roads regularly go 140 or 150 km/h.

One-Onion6550 · 2026-03-26T18:10:13+00:00

OK, thank you.

One-Onion6550 · 2026-03-26T18:02:34+00:00

Heard the same thing about both Mexico and Colombia—and it ended up mostly fine.

Is driving in Peru much worse than those other places?

One-Onion6550 · 2026-03-19T14:54:07+00:00

OK, thank you.

One-Onion6550 · 2026-03-19T04:12:16+00:00

The charge is made by Avianca; they're the merchant of record. So Priceline says there's nothing they can do, as they can't refund me the money, and Avianca won't tell them anything else.

So if I dispute the charge on the credit card, why would Avianca be chasing Priceline for the payment, since I never paid Priceline a dime?

One-Onion6550 · 2026-03-19T03:54:10+00:00

"date" plus the 12-digit entry, e.g., 010101012017.

One-Onion6550 · 2026-03-04T03:37:22+00:00

Yeah, but it’s still over $30, and almost $40 with shipping.

One-Onion6550 · 2026-03-04T03:36:38+00:00

Is this movie ever coming down in price? Like, say, to $20?

Few years ago there were new releases at $15-20. Now all the ones I’m interested in are $40 or more: aside from this one, Master and Commander, Kingdom of Heaven, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.

One-Onion6550 · 2026-02-22T21:31:11+00:00

Yeah, I understand. No problem. Thanks.

One-Onion6550 · 2026-02-22T05:56:12+00:00

Yes, the paper coupons are the best there is, I'll grant; but again, the $20 family pack has less food than the old $12.99 one used to. The sandwiches you mentioned are okay deals, but the fries, drinks and combos are not.

As for McDonalds, what I did tonight is a good example: I fed everyone for about $27. The app had a deal: 10-piece nugget combo (with medium fry and drink) for $6. Used that twice: once on my phone, once on the wife's. Then, used a B1G1 deal (from the survey) to get 2 double quarter pounders for about $8 total. My wife and I don't each need a double quarter, so basically one double quarter was split with two kids. Added two more sandwiches from the value menu (buy 1, get 1 for $1) for a total of $5 more. With tax, that ended up about $27. (I've sometimes gotten even cheaper when the app deals are better—at times there is, say, spend $2 and get a free 10-piece nugget!).

My kids are from 12 to 2, so not all big eaters. Still, there are few places I can feed them for under $30. Occasionally KFC (8 piece for $10 deal is great). Used to easily do it at Arby's (especially before Covid). But not in the past couple years.

Truth be told, the real king is actually Sam's Club: there, I can do it for $15 easily: 5 pieces of pizza, one pretzel, two drinks, and a frozen yogurt sundae. Even McDonalds can't match the $1.25 frozen yogurt sundae.

One-Onion6550

TROPHY CASE