Hotels.com Zeroes in on Affordable Luxury

DALLAS, Dec. 14, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The end of the year is when everyone tries to get the most bang for their buck, whether it is a 36-inch flat screen television or a pair of diamond earrings. Getting a good value is important to consumers, which is why hotels.com^® is helping to make a dollar go further on yet another big purchase this holiday travel season – their next vacation!

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According to the hotels.com Hotel Price Index™ (HPI®), average global hotel prices are on the rise (up 3% overall from last year), but that doesn't mean you have to break the bank to ring in the new year in style. Hotels.com has compiled a round-up of some of the best 4 and 5-star destination alternatives travelers can visit if they want to experience the major indulgence of luxury destinations – such as those that made the most expensive destinations list in this year's September HPI – without the major invoice.

"The timing isn't always right for a dream vacation, nor is an extravagant trip in budget for every traveler, but that doesn't mean you can't book a getaway right now that will be out of this world," says Taylor L. Cole, APR, director of public relations and social media for hotels.com. "Hotels.com is dedicated to finding the right hotel for the right price for all our customers, and with great tools and resources like the HPI, guest reviews, our 24-hour call center and last-minute deals, we're making it easier than ever for everyone to book a perfect luxury trip within their price range this season."

Jump into a Tropical Paradise! The Prices are just fine.

• Bora Bora topped our list as most expensive hotspot in 2011 at an average daily rate of $802. Known for its crystal clear lagoons and magnificent surrounding barrier reef, this lavish location is prime snorkeling territory. However, did you know that you can swim along one of the longest stretches of coral reef in the U.S. for less than half the price? Try visiting Lanai Island, HI, where one night's stay in a 5-star property like The Four Seasons Resort Lanai at Manele Bay will only cost you about $392.

If that's still too steep, additional thrifty, yet still well-appointed alternatives can be found on the sunny shores of Miami and Orlando, FL, where rates for many 4-star hotels can be found between $177 and $226.

Skip Skyscraper Prices in Dubai for Celeb Treatment in Morocco

• Even though Dubai had a surprising drop of -3% in average hotel prices in 2011, it is still a major player in luxury travel, continuing to average around $254 a night at 5-star hotels around the city. For those who want to save upwards of $300 on a 5-night stay, hotels.com suggests checking out Marrakech, Morocco, where a comparable room goes for just $193 a night. This northern African city has the same exotic draw of a gorgeous desert landscape and eclectic appeal of sprawling open air markets with treasures to uncover at every turn. Marrakech is so popular, in fact, that over the last few years, it has been a site for filming of big production movies such as Sex and the City 2 and Prince of Persia.

All About the Benjamins

• Bangkok, Thailand took the number one spot for best global value in 2011 with 4-star average hotel rates going for just $100 a night. In the U.S., the same $100 hotel deal can be found in Reno, NV at 4-star properties, including the happening Atlantis Casino Resort Spa. Situated only two hours away from Lake Tahoe's chic winter ski scene, Reno is the perfect spot to embark on a year-end glamour getaway. Even if snow isn't your thing, there is still plenty to do in "the biggest little town in America." At the Atlantis alone, there are so many fantastic recreational amenities to take advantage of, it's hard to know where to start – luckily, hotels.com has over 600 hotel hotel guest reviews for the property to help vacationers figure it out.

Trade the Thrills of Pamplona for the Magic of Lisbon

• Too strapped for cash to spend $237 a night in Pamplona, Spain risking your life in the running of the bulls? Why not take your adventurous side for a look-see at Lisbon, Portugal instead? 5-star property rates are $40 cheaper on average in Lisbon, so you can utilize all the top-notch amenities of the Hotel Tivoli Lisboa, and still have Euros left to see a Fandango dance show. What's more, each year, around the same time as the running of the bulls, the city hosts "Lisboa Magica" – the World Festival of Street Magic – which is sure to dazzle just the same, but leave all your bones intact.

The hotels.com Hotel Price Index (HPI) is a regular survey of hotel prices in major city destinations across the world. The HPI is based on bookings made on hotels.com and prices shown are those actually paid by customers (rather than advertised rates) for the first half of 2011. The report largely compares prices paid in 2010 with prices paid in 2011.

For the full report, featuring infographics, detailed maps, and a city-by-city breakdown, visit:  www.hotel-price-index.com.

Press contacts:
Ashley Aberbach – Finn Partners for hotels.com
Phone: (212) 715-1524
Email: [email protected]

Taylor L. Cole, APR
hotels.com North America
Phone: (469) 335-8442
Email: [email protected]

About the HPI^™

The HPI tracks the real prices paid per room by hotels.com customers around the world using a weighted average based on the number of rooms sold in each of the markets that hotels.com operates. The index started in 2004, and includes all bookings across all-star ratings across the approximately 140,000 properties in the more than 18,000 global locations that make up the sample set of hotels from which prices are taken.

About hotels.com

Hotels.com® is a leading provider of lodging worldwide, offering almost 145,000 properties in over 60 countries from national chain hotels and all-inclusive resorts to local favorites and bed & breakfasts. Hotels.com is the smarter way to book travel by offering welcomerewards®, an industry leading loyalty rewards program; the real opinions of other travelers captured in 2.5 million Guest Reviews and; a Price Match Guarantee, so that those booking with hotels.com can be assured they are getting the best deal, either online or by speaking directly to a travel expert at 1-800-2-HOTELS 24 hours a day. For more information, please visit hotels.com. Hotels.com is an operating company of Expedia, Inc. (NASDAQ: EXPE). Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/hotelsdotcom and Twitter via www.twitter.com/hotelsdotcom or visit the hotels.com Travel Smart Blog for consumer and business travel information. Download the mobile app here: http://www.hotels.com/deals/mobile_app/. Detailed Hotel Price Index data is available at: http://www.hotel-price-index.com, hotels.com, A Smarter Way to Book™.

Hotels.com, Hotel Price Index, HPI and the hotels.com logo are either registered trademarks or trademarks of hotels.com, LP. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners. © 2011 hotels.com, LP. All rights reserved. CST # 2083949-50

SOURCE hotels.com