Joe Biden Hotel Tab: Vice President Spends Over $1 Million for Two Nights in Five Star Paris and London Hotels, Taxpayers Pick Up Bill

Vice President Joe Biden racked up a couple of hefty hotel bills last month while on his 5-day tour of Europe according to government documents. One contract with the Hyatt Regency London came to a total of $459,338.65 while another bill from Hotel International Paris Le Grand came to $585,000.50.

Though these costs may seem extravagant, a State Department official says that, for such international affairs, this is normal. One has to take into account the staff and security that is also travelling with the Vice President of the United States.

The official said, "These costs are nothing out of the ordinary. They are in line with high-level travel across multiple administrations. The contract costs cover the entire range of support, including accommodations for military, communications, secret service staff, and other support professionals. Security experts are also required to travel in advance of the president or vice president. Safety and security are not negotiable."

The White House usually does not disclose the costs of the President's and the Vice President's travels. Even when Whit House press secretary Jay Carney was asked how much President Obama's trip to Illinois this month would cost, he did not answer. Carney stated: "I don't have a figure on the cost of presidential travel. It is obviously something, as every president deals with because of security and staff, a significant undertaking. But the president has to travel around the country. He has to travel around the world. That is part of his job."

During last year's campaign, President Obama addressed the issue of traveling in an interview, saying: "The fact of the matter is, I think if you look at my track record, I'm raising a family here. When we travel, we got to travel through Secret Service, and Air Force One, that's not my choice. I think most folks understand how hard I work and how hard this administration is working on behalf of the American people."