Tourism & Hospitality | Tuesday 17 April, 2018 11:28 am |

Each year, the Hotel Price Index™(HPI™) from Hotels.com™reveals tons of interesting facts and trends about the cost of overnight stays around the world. This year, Hotels.com is giving away the secrets of where to go for the most luxe holiday stays on the planet for a seriously good price. Whether you want to nibble on caviar by your own private pool or relax on your 1,000 thread count Egyptian cotton sheets, Hotels.com has the key to the best affordable luxury holidays out there. All hail, the Luxe for Less hot list.

 

Sit back, sip some Champagne and get your planner out as Hotels.com guides you through the top tips for luxury travel in 2018.

 

Luxe for Less Top5: Where to go for the best value luxury holiday that money canbuy

The HPI has uncovered the Top 5 most popular destinations for low cost 5-star accommodation – from resorts and high-end chains to villas and luxury boutiques – for travellers around the world in 2017, and they were[i]:

 

1. Kathu, Thailand

Best for: Beach chic, infinity pools and mouth-watering food

1. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Best for: High-flying city glam in the heart of Southeast Asia

1. Istanbul, Turkey

Best for: Where East meets West and history unfolds before you

1. Riga, Latvia

Best for: Discovering it before your mates do. A striking city rich in Eastern European culture 

1. Bogota, Colombia

Best for: One of the best music and night life scenes in Latin America

 

Viva España

The World Tourism Organisation revealed in 2017 that Spain officially overtook the USA to become the second most-visited country in the world (after France), welcoming an estimated 82 million visitors, up from 75 million the previous year[ii].When there are tapas at every corner, beaches galore and an accent that makes you weak at the knees, it isn’t surprising Spain has seen such a growth in popularity. As increased demand is likely to push up prices, it’s important to know where to go for affordable luxury while still being on-trend of course.

 

1. Barcelona: local travellers paid 13% less for 5-star stays in 2017 than they did the previous year.

Best for: Gaudi, tapas, beach meets city

1. Zaragoza: Offered Spanish travellers 5-star rooms for less than €110 a night. 

Best for: epic Instagrams of sunsets (#travelbrag) on the Ebro River and an eclectic mix of gothic and Moorish architecture 

1. Granada:Also offered Spanish travellers 5-star rooms for less than €110 a night.

Best for: The unmissable Alhambra and equally unmissable churros with chocolate sauce (divine!)

1. Menorca: UK travellers enjoyed a 22% decrease in prices paid at 5-star properties on Menorca. 

Best for: its burgeoning wine industry and it’s the rumoured birthplace of mayonnaise! 

 

Have your sushi and eat it too

If you just want to eat sushi for breakfast, dim sum for lunch and a mixture of both for dinner, Japan is the place for you- and spoiler alert, it’s affordable! Thanks to the rising strength of various global currencies including the Euro and the Australian Dollar against the Yen, Japan is currently a better value luxury destination for travellers from Australia, Spain, France, Finland, Mexico, Canada and the USA – but where to go for the best of the best?

 

1. Osaka:Average price decrease of 12% for travellers from Australia and Canada[iii].

Best for: Becoming a samurai at the Osaka Castle 

1. Tokyo:Average price decrease of 18% for travellers from Spain3.

Best for: Mindboggling skyscrapers and stunning views from the Tokyo Skytree

1. Okinawa:Average price decrease of 10%3.

Best for: Cuisine you can’t get anywhere else in the world – not even the rest of Japan!

 

Return to Rio for its carnival spirit

Rio ramped up the competition to claim the gold! The buzz of the Olympic Games may be over, but the vibrant Brazilian seaside city still has so much to offer, especially those seeking a luxurious getaway. HPI data revealed that prices paid for 4 and 5-star properties dropped by an average of 17% in 2017 (compared to 2016) for travellers from France, United Kingdom, Mexico and USA[iv].

 

Best for spending your savings:

1. Caipirinhas on Copacabana Beach
2. A cable car up to Christ the Redeemer 
3. A delicious dinner at one of the city’s incredible restaurants – try Oro! 
4. Checking out the modern art scene
5. Going to surf school in Arpoador

 

America is still (one of) the greatest

Whether it is The Golden Gate Bridge, Mickey Mouse, or the White House you want to visit, the USA has seen some incredible price drops across the country in notoriously expensive cities, making them more accessible for everyone.

 

Top destinations where prices paid for stays in 4 and 5-star properties dropped, include:

1. Boston:Average price decrease of 16% for travellers from Australia and Brazil[v].

Best for: clam chowder and fresh lobster

1. Orlando:Average price decrease of 19% for travellers from Australia, Spain, Finland, France, Sweden, Mexico and Canada4.

Best for: unleashing your inner kid and drinking Butter Beer

1. San Diego:Average price decrease of 18% for travellers from France and Brazil4.

Best for: surfing and being a laid-back beach bum

1. Washington DC:Average price decrease of 18% for travellers from Brazil and Canada4.

Best for: the spectacular blossom in spring, a bustling food scene

 

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[i]Based on destinations that regularly featured in the top 10 lowest averages paid for by travellers from Australia, Japan, Spain, Finland, France, Sweden, UK, Brazil, Mexico, Canada and the USA.

[ii]United Nations World Tourism Organization rankings, as reported in BBC News, 15 January 2018: http://www.bbc.com/news/business-42692641.

[iii]Travelers from Australia, Spain, Finland, France, Mexico, Canada and the USA all experienced price decreases for 4 and 5-star accommodation in various Japanese destinations in 2017, when compared to 2016. The decreases mentioned in this press release are averages from this data set.

[iv]Travelers from France, UK, Mexico and the USA all experienced price decreases for 4 and 5-star accommodation in various Japanese destinations in 2017, when compared to 2016. The decreases mentioned in this press release are averages from this data set.

[v]Travelers from Australia, Japan, Spain, Finland, France, Sweden, UK, Brazil, Mexico, Canada and the USA all experienced price decreases for 4 and 5-star accommodation in various USA destinations in 2017, when compared to 2016. The decreases mentioned in this press release are averages from this data set.