Istanbul
The top five cheapest and most expensive travel destinations have been revealed in the latest Hotels.com Hotel Price Index - giving holiday-makers all they need to know before booking their travel this year.
Budget and blow the budget
Monte Carlo became the world's most expensive city destination for UK travellers in 2009 with average hotel prices topping £172 per night. The Hotel Price Index (HPI®) showed that Moscow was the second most expensive destination despite suffering a significant drop (-27%) in average room rates. Abu Dhabi, New York and Geneva came in at third, fourth and fifth place respectively.
At the other end of the scale, Riga was the world's least expensive city according to the HPI with average hotel prices dropping by 8% to £55 per night. Family favourite Orlando, landed in second place, while Tallinn, Las Vegas and Kuala Lumpur formed the remainder of the top five cheapest global travel destinations.
Top risers and fallers
Istanbul, where room rates experienced a hike of 16%, was 2009's highest climber. Average hotel prices in the popular mid-haul, year-round sun destinations of Tel Aviv and Cairo also rose. South American hotspots, Rio de Janeiro and Mexico City also saw average price increases of 13% and 10% respectively.
Among last year's top fallers were the Russian cities of Moscow and St Petersburg which saw average hotel prices fall by 27% and 18%. Mumbai, Marrakech and Cancun saw average room rates drop significantly providing travellers with great value.
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