Holidays
In 2007's HPI, Irish and UK holiday-makers were top of the league, parting with an average £99 and £93 per night for hotel rooms, respectively. In 2009, Brits slipped to fourteenth place and spent on average just £90 per room per night.
In contrast, Ireland retained the mantle of 'Europe's biggest spender' averaging £107 per night on accommodation last year. Travellers from Spain, Portugal, Italy and Austria also pushed the boat out in 2009 and spent £100 or more per night while on holiday.
It appears that in spite of the recession, savvy UK holiday-makers took advantage of plummeting hotel prices in 2009. Globally, the average price of a hotel room was 14% lower last year than in 2008 - making it a record year to bag a bargain.
Top money-saving trends in 2009;
Bargain Britain
In 2007, the UK was the most expensive European destination; in 2009, it dropped to thirteenth place. On average, UK hotel prices fell by the most of any European country (13%) in 2009 to just £84 per room per night on average and, as such, Brits also took the opportunity to holiday on home soil and bag a 'staycation' steal.
The 'Euro-no-go-zone'
Despite the global decrease in hotel prices in 2009, the weakness of the Pound meant that, in Europe, UK travellers did not feel the benefit of the credit crunch in many of the European city break destinations last year. As a result, the prices paid by UK travellers in some major cities actually rose - for example in Paris (up 3%) and Rome (up 1%). This encouraged Brits to look beyond the Eurozone and travel further afield to make their money go further.
Go East
The Middle East and other mid-haul destinations outside the Eurozone offered better value for the British pound in 2009. Average prices in Marrakech were down 15% on 2008 but it seems Brits were enticed into spending a little bit more elsewhere with prices paid by UK travellers up 16% in Istanbul, up 15% in Tel Aviv and 12% in Cairo.
Research by hotels.com.
Tagged in Travel