Best hotel deals found overseas
04 September 2014 09:00
British travellers are getting better hotel deals abroad than at home
Britons in search of the best hotel deals should look for a holiday abroad rather than on home soil, research suggests.
Nearly two-thirds of cities surveyed by Hotels.com offered tourists lower rates in the first half of this year compared to the same period in 2013 - meaning more cash to spend on necessities like flights and travel insurance.
Countries in Southeast Asia had the cheapest hotel rooms between January and June, according to the study of 115 destinations.
Phnom Penh in Cambodia, for instance, had rooms available for just £34 per night, representing the best value for Brits.
Hanoi in Vietnam had rooms for £37, while the Thai resorts of Pattaya and Chiang Mai had rooms for £39 and £40 respectively.
Prices were flat in nine of the polled destinations, yet they rose in 43.
Places like Greece, Iceland and Ireland, all of which suffered at the hands of the global recession, saw a dramatic jump in prices.
Average hotel room prices around the world rose by 4% in the first six months of 2014.
Monte Carlo was the most expensive destination, where hotel rates rocketed by around a fifth to £223 in the first half of this year, followed by the Middle East destination of Muscat, where prices soared by 5% to £197.
Key West in Florida (£192), New York (£171) and Cancun in Mexico (£170) weren't far behind either.
For those looking to holiday closer to home, London prices rose 9% to £127, while Edinburgh prices were up 7% to £102 and Dublin room rates rose 10% to £87.
Matt Walls, vice president of Hotels.com, says Brits will be getting greater value for their money in most destinations this year.
He claims the strength of the pound means travellers will be able to stretch their budgets much further.