While local economies in our favorite travel destinations may still be feeling the pinch of the global recession – especially in international locales – the hotel industry continues to bounce back (though prices have yet to reach pre-recession levels). According to the annual hotels.com Hotel Price Index the cost to book a room increased by 4 percent worldwide from 2010 to 2011, with the biggest jumps in the Pacific (8 percent) and North America (5 percent).
What really struck us about this year’s survey, however, was the comparison of what different nationalities tend to pay for a hotel room in their own countries versus what they shell out while abroad. Turns out Americans are the second thriftiest when it comes to what they’ll plunk down for a hotel in the U.S. – paying an average of $120/night – while at the same time splurging when traveling outside the country, where they pay around $171/night. (Only Australians, the Japanese, and the Swiss pay more.)
Why this vast difference in habits? We can only speculate, but perhaps Americans are willing to spend a little more for their special trips out of the country. It could also be that our “vacations” in the U.S. are often spent visiting the in-laws or stopping at roadside motels on the way to a destination, where hotel prices tend to be lower. To that end, room rates in European capitals and Caribbean resorts, two of the most popular international destinations for Americans, tend to be on the high side.
Regardless of the motivation, we’d like to help our fellow Americans spend a little less when they visit other countries. One option is to find a hotel a little farther from the city center, or not directly on the beach in an exotic locale. It also helps to be flexible on travel dates – a hotel maybe lower its rates significantly if it needs to fill rooms on certain dates or days of the week (look for low weekend rates at properties in the business district, for example). Finally, we always recommend travelers consider visiting their preferred destination during the shoulder season, when hotel prices tend to be lower but weather conditions are still optimal.
Summer is off season for the Caribbean, so now is a great time to be looking for hotel deals. And even though travel to Europe is at its peak, there are still bargains to be found, if you know where to look. Here’s a selection of our top travel deals for this season:
- $111+: 5-star Budapest hotel (best rates in July and August)
- $62+: 4-star Prague hotel (best rates in July and August)
- $142+: 5-star Berlin hotel (select weekends in summer)
- $129+: Waterfront hotel in San Juan, Puerto Rico (May through October)
- $159+: St. Thomas resort on the beach (book by May 31 for travel June-September)
Use our Travel Search price comparison tool to always find the lowest rates and travel deals on hotels.
