Hotel Prices May be on the Rise, but Affordable Luxury Can be Had

DALLAS, Sept. 19, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- U.S. travelers paid the most for five-star hotels in Tokyo, Rio de Janeiro and Boston in the first half of 2014, according to the most recent Hotels.com® Hotel Price Index™ (HPI®). While a stay at a five-star property in a major city may cost north of $500 per night, the HPI shows that U.S. travelers can still find luxurious values in destinations around the world.

"We've identified some very popular destinations where you can find five-star hotels at a fraction of the cost of other larger cities," said Taylor L. Cole, APR, travel expert for Hotels.com. "For example, explorers can visit world-renowned sites like the amazing pyramids of Egypt, the Great Wall of China, the shops of the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, or the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa all while enjoying plush accommodations for an affordable price."

According to the HPI, the 10 most affordable five-star hotel destinations in the first half of 2014 were found in Europe and Asia with travelers paying an average of $210 or less per night. For the cost of a five-star stay in Boston ($538), travelers were able to stay three nights in Pisa ($172/night; $516 total) or four nights in Warsaw ($130/night; $520 total) while making a luxurious five-star hotel their home.

Four of the most affordable five-star destinations also ranked among the 50 most popular international cities for Americans in the first half of the year – Istanbul (#18), Bangkok (#21), Beijing (#30) and Brussels (#50). Bangkok saw one of the biggest decreases in average five-star prices during the timeframe, dropping 16% to $186.

This chart reflects the actual prices paid per night by travelers from the U.S. in U.S. Dollars ($) during the first half of 2014, as compared to the first half of 2013.

Travelers can also find similar value destinations when searching for four-star properties. For the price of a one-night stay at a four-star property in London ($267) – the most popular international destination for Americans – U.S. travelers were able to stay two nights in Madrid (#14; $131), Bangkok (#21; $100), Shanghai (#25; $130), Prague (#27; $123) or Beijing (#30; $124) during the first half of the year. The HPI also shows what destinations travelers can explore at similar price points. For the average price of a four-star stay in the 8^th most popular international destination for Americans – Montreal ($222) – travelers can relax on the Sentosa Island in Singapore (#19) or explore the medieval architecture and castles of Edinburgh (#40).

Although Honolulu was the 38^th Most Popular Domestic City for Americans, it was also the city where U.S. travelers paid the most in the first half of 2014, with one-star hotel prices averaging $142 per night. For about the same price per night, travelers were able to get away to a four-star hotel in exotic cities such as Cape Town, South Africa ($140) or Sydney ($140).

This chart reflects the actual prices paid per night by travelers from the U.S. in U.S. Dollars ($) during the first half of 2014, as compared to the first half of 2013.

To find more of this year's travel trends, visit http://www.hotel-price-index.com/ and follow us on Twitter @hotelsdotcom with #HotelExperts.

About the HPI®

The HPI is a biannual report that looks at hotel prices in cities all around the world. The data is based on bookings made through the Hotels.com website and the prices listed are the actual prices paid by Americans - not advertised rates.

About Hotels.com (http://www.hotels.com)

Hotels.com is a leading online accommodation booking website owned and operated by Hotels.com L.P. with nearly 325,000 properties around the world, ranging from international chains and all-inclusive resorts to local favorites and bed & breakfasts, together with all the information needed to book the perfect stay. Special apps for mobile phones and tablets can also be downloaded enabling customers to book on the go with access to 20,000 last minute deals.

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SOURCE Hotels.com