Study: Super Bowl Hotel Rates Already Ridiculous in Phoenix

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If you want to book a hotel room for Super Bowl Weekend this football season, not only should you act now, but you can also expect to pay exorbitant prices.

As football fans look ahead to Super Bowl XLIX at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, only about one in 10 hotels in the greater Phoenix area currently have occupancy, according to a study by CheapHotels.org. On top of that, most of the four-star and five-star hotels have already been booked, leaving fans scrambling to get a room at one of the budget hotels in the area.

Of course, calling them “budget hotels” may be a bit misleading. Even the more wallet-friendly hotels in the area are charging guests prices as grand as the Super Bowl itself.

According to the study, hotels that still have occupancy are taking advantage of the current circumstances, charging an average of 345 percent more than they usually do for Super Bowl Weekend (Jan. 30, 2015 to Feb. 2, 2015).

That’s just the average rate hike, too. The study highlights nine hotels in the area that have raised rates more than 345 percent. The greatest offenders were GasLight Inn (deluxe room up 926 percent to $1200 per night), Hotel 502 (standard queen up 743 percent to $750) and La Quinte L10 West (standard up 697 percent to $789). Even Legacy Suites Extended Stay, which generally charges about $59 per night for its queen studios, is capitalizing on the opportunity, raising rates by 663 percent to $450.

According to CheapHotels.org, football fans currently have to pay $170 per night for the cheapest available double room close to the Phoenix Airport (if you want to avoid poorly-rated motels in the area). If you want to be closer to the action, though, consider yourself lucky if you find a room at $250 per night.

There are some motels offering rooms for less than $100 per night, according to the study, but these motels have received “very poor client evaluations.” Although, considering the prices hotels in the area are charging, it may be worth it to some football fans to live frugally for a few days.

For the full survey, including the complete list of the greatest rate-hikers, visit www.cheaphotels.org/press/superbowl2015.html.

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