Hotels.com announced
the release of its 2025 Hotel Price Index which analyzes global year-on-year
average daily rates from its bookings in popular domestic
and international destinations, pricing trends and differences between star
ratings.
Highlights include:
Luxury Abroad: International 5-star hotels are, on
average, 27% less than their U.S. counterparts. Standout deals under $200 can
be found in cities like Hanoi, Pattaya and Auckland.
4-Star Hotels: U.S. travelers upgrading from 3- to
4-star hotels pay 38% more to up-star, while jumping from a 4- to 5-star
property costs 118% more on average.
Domestic Prices Dip, International Rise: U.S. hotel
rates fell slightly (-2%) while international rates rose (+4%).
VIP Access: Hotels.com's VIP Access program offers
member perks worth hundreds of dollars at top-rated properties worldwide.
"For price-conscious travelers in today's
economy, the Hotel Price Index offers a rare, data-driven lens into where
your money goes furthest. It's like a travel cheat sheet — revealing where to
splurge, where to save, and where luxury quietly costs less," said Melanie
Fish, Vice President of Global PR and Hotels.com's travel expert.
She added, "Cities like Bangkok, São Paulo and Mexico
City stand out for offering top-rated stays across all star levels, proving
that great travel doesn't have to come with a high price tag. And for those
travelers looking to stretch their dollars even further, programs like
Hotels.com's VIP Access can add unexpected value, from complimentary upgrades
to spa credits, turning a good deal into a great experience."
Price Insights
Some U.S. cities including San Francisco (-9%), Austin (-7%)
and Atlanta (-6%) saw declines in hotel prices while Chicago (+7%) experienced
an increase.
Internationally, Toronto (-3%), Amsterdam (-3%) and Istanbul
(-2%) saw small decreases in average daily rates, while average prices went up
year-over-year in Kyoto (+13%), Tokyo (+12%) and Madrid (+12%).
More affordable trending destinations including Bogotá,
Colombia and Benidorm, Spain offer highly rated accommodations at a fraction of
the price.
Five-star Luxury for Less
Americans looking to stretch their dollars without
sacrificing luxury should consider heading abroad, where average 5-star rates
are cheaper than those in the U.S. 5-star stays under $200 include:
- Hanoi, Vietnam
- Pattaya, Thailand
- Gothenburg, Sweden
- Panama City, Panama
- Auckland, New Zealand
Cheapest 5-star stays in the U.S.:
- Portland, Oregon
- San Antonio, Texas
- Las Vegas, Nevada
- Atlanta, Georgia
- Miami, Florida
Most popular cities for U.S. travelers booking 5-star stays:
- Las Vegas, Nevada
- New York, New York
- London, England
- Dubai, UAE
- Bangkok, Thailand
Best values for domestic 4-star stays include Las Vegas,
Atlanta, Portland, Orlando, Denver and Houston while destinations like Bangkok
and Bogotá offer 5-star stays at near 3-star prices.
Scoring Perks
Hotels.com Members staying at VIP Access properties enjoy
exclusive perks, discounts, food and beverage credits, spa credits, free
beverages and bottles of wine. These include:
- Equinox Hotel New York: Complimentary
Cryotherapy spa treatment for 2
- One&Only Palmilla, Los Cabos: $175 in
credits for spa and golf course
- Gili Lankanfushi Maldives: 20% off airport
transportation, $100 resort credit and complimentary bottle of wine
- The Retreat Collection at 1 Hotel & Homes
South Beach: $250 resort credit and free breakfast
- Sandblu Resort Santorini: $100 food and beverage
credit
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