Holidaymakers facing steeper hotel bills in popular hotspots
THE AVERAGE price of a hotel room worldwide increased by nearly two-thirds in the first half of 2012, though the Eurozone’s economic troubles have kept a lid on hotel bills on the continent.
The Hotels Price Index (HPI), a survey by online accommodation provider Hotels.com, revealed Monte Carlo as the most expensive city for UK travellers, where the average hotel rate jumped by 19 per cent to £197 a night compared with the same period last year.
Rio de Janeiro came second, at £182, with prices up by 31 per cent followed by Muscat with £179 and New York at £171.
Results across Europe were mixed as the Eurozone crisis continued to impact prices, particularly in cities and beach resorts across Spain and Greece. Rates in Benidorm and Alicante both dropped eight per cent to £70 and £65 respectively and Athens fell by 10 per cent to £72.
Travellers to the Middle East were faced with steep price increases, with prices in Dubai and Abu Dhabi up 21 per cent and 12 per cent respectively while Japan’s recovery following last year’s earthquake lifted rates across Asia.