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    pay to stay

    Houston Airbnb visitors pay the highest surcharges in Texas, Forbes finds

    Amber Heckler
    Apr 13, 2023 | 11:45 am
    Houston Wish-listed Airbnb

    Houston travelers pay an average surcharge of 45 percent for an Airbnb in the city, earning a top 10 spot in Forbes' report at No. 8.

    Airbnb

    Travelers to Houston are discovering that event when they find the perfect Airbnb with the right price for their travel dates, they watch their trip total skyrocket to an incomprehensible amount after the cleaning and “service” fees. Add to that the laminated list of chores to complete before leaving, which can lead to charges after the stay if not completed.

    In its latest findings, financial publication Forbes Advisor calculated that Houston travelers pay an average surcharge of 45 percent for an Airbnb in the city, earning a top 10 spot in the report at No. 8.

    That also makes H-Town the Texas city with the most expensive Airbnb fees. Forbes’ expert analysts looked at 32,000 listings across 100 of the most popular markets on Airbnb to find common trends.

    Houston's percentage of high fees is much higher than the nationwide average, which is 36 percent. Though the city's average nightly Airbnb rate is $193, guests pay 15 percent in both cleaning and service fees, on top of another 15 percent in taxes. That’s a good dent in your wallet.

    Nearby visitors to Galveston pay just six percent less than their Houston-destined counterparts, at 39 percent, earning them No. 33 in Forbes' report. Guests do pay a higher nightly rate in the coastal town — around $245 — but only pay 12 percent in cleaning fees and taxes. It's the 15 percent service fees that really solidify the anti-financially friendly label.

    The Texas city with the lowest fees is Fort Worth, appearing much, much lower than Houston at No. 77 on the list. The average Airbnb costs $225 a night, with 12 percent in cleaning fees, 15 percent in service fees, and 5 percent in taxes.

    Here’s a look at every Texas city that appeared in the top 100:

    • No. 8 – Houston: 45 percent total fees
    • No. 33 – Galveston: 39 percent total fees
    • No. 47 – San Antonio: 37 percent total fees
    • No. 67 – Dallas: 34 percent total fees
    • No. 69 – South Padre Island: 34 percent total fees
    • No. 71 – Austin: 33 percent total fees
    • No. 77 – Fort Worth: 33 percent total fees

    Atlanta is the U.S. city with the highest percentage in fees for the average Airbnb stay, totaling an unfathomable 48 percent. Surprisingly, an Airbnb stay in New York City will only come with 23 percent in total fees, making it the lowest percentage out of all the top 100 cities.

    In the report, publicist Tracy Lamourie criticized Airbnb hosts and property managers for charging excessive fees, calling it "disingenuous."

    “I’m old enough to remember when Airbnb was a more wallet-friendly alternative to hotels. That’s only rarely true these days,” she said.

    Meanwhile, Dustin Abney, the CEO of vacation-rental management company Portoro, defended Airbnb and praised the company's transparency around its listings with the fee breakdown. He explained "most guests" are charged fees without knowing where that money truly goes.

    “Most guests also assume that property managers or hosts are trying to price-gouge them, when this usually is not the case,” Abney said. “In reality, there are many hidden costs that go into running a short-term rental, and these costs fall on property managers to pay.”

    The full report and its methodology can be found on forbes.com.

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    prepare for nostalgia

    Texas museum rewinds Blockbuster and Walkmans in new '90s exhibit

    Amber Heckler
    Nov 13, 2026 | 9:00 am
    Bullock Museum special exhibit The 90s: Last Decade Before the Future; fashion and style
    Photo courtesy of the Bullock Museum
    The Y2K era inspired many fashion trends.

    A new nostalgia-inducing special exhibition debuting at the Bullock Texas State History Museum in Austin is giving viewers a way to look back at the magic of the final decade before the turn of the millennia.

    The 90s: Last Decade Before the Future will showcase "the watershed events and innovations" that changed the world and ushered in the technological revolution of the early aughts. These landmark moments include political events like the fall of the Berlin Wall and President Bill Clinton's impeachment, as well as cultural shifts through the lens of fashion, sports, and movie icons.

    "In between the opening and closing of the 1990s, genres of music rose and fell, Blockbuster made everyone a critic, TV became must see, Beanie Babies replaced some of our retirement plans, and at some point we all did the Macarena," the exhibit description says. "There was a cloned sheep, an impeached president, and a booming economy bolstered by the internet."

    The exhibit also asks viewers to imagine or remember a time when "technology didn’t control us" — when the internet could only be accessed via a desktop computer confined to a dedicated room and tucked away in a desk or solid wood cabinet. That time was before social media and instant communication, when we didn't have all the knowledge of the world at our fingertips.

    Bullock Museum special exhibit The 90s: Last Decade Before the Future; cassette tape players and CD players Personal CD mixes had something that playlists today just don't. Photo courtesy of the Bullock Museum

    Visitors will spot these vintage artifacts in the exhibit:

    • A piece of the Berlin Wall
    • A recreation of the iconic home video rental store Blockbuster Video
    • A timeline of portable media players like Sony Walkmans, CD players, and MP3 players
    • Famous movie character costumes, including Whoopi Goldberg’s pink suit from romance thriller Ghost and Tom Hanks’ combat uniform from Saving Private Ryan
    • Outfits from "era-defining music superstars," including Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Jay-Z, and more
    • Memorabilia from Olympic champion athletes like figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi, gymnast Kerri Strug, and swimmer Amy Van Dyken
    • Technological innovations like Apple iMac computers, landline phones, video games, and others
    • More recognizable fashion trends and popular toys

    The exhibit is on loan from the Colorado History Museum, an educational institution dedicated to representing the Centennial State's culture and history.

    The 90s: Last Decade Before the Future will debut on November 14 and will be on display at the Bullock Museum through March 21, 2027. A member reception will precede the opening on November 12 from 6-8 pm. The exhibit is included with regular museum admission ($22 for adults; $18 for seniors, students, and military; $16 for youth ages 6-17; and free for members).

    Bullock Museum special exhibit The 90s: Last Decade Before the Future; fashion and style

    Photo courtesy of the Bullock Museum

    The Y2K era inspired many fashion trends.

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