Hotel Room Rates Fall the World Over

LONDON--UK and global hotel prices have fallen for the first time in four years, according to a comprehensive index compiled by booking agent Hotels.com.

Prices in the UK fell by 4% year-on-year in the third quarter, while international prices fell by 3%.

Rates fell as hotels tried to entice hard-up travellers with cheap offers.

But the weakening pound, together with slight increases in European rates, meant that some continental hotels cost 30% more for UK holiday makers.

The average hotel price in the UK fell from £101 (US $151.78) in the third quarter last year to £97 (US $145.19) this year.

Prices in Scotland fell the most, with rates in Inverness, (top left photo) for example, falling by 15% to an average of £94 (US $140.70).

Bath was the most expensive place to stay, with an average room costing £142 ($US $212.56). Nottingham was the cheapest, with rates averaging just £65 ($US $97.29).

"Price falls across the UK mean that there are currently great deals to be had, as more affordable accommodation is on offer," said David Roche, (top right photo) president of Hotels.com Worldwide.

And it wasn't just the UK where prices fell.

Global rates were driven down by an average 5% price fall in America, with rates in Las Vegas falling by 20%. (Palazzo Resort, Las Vegas, middle left photo)

But the weak pound meant UK travellers derived less benefit from these price cuts.

In fact, because rates in Europe actually rose in the third quarter, they ended up paying considerably more. In some cases, this was as much as a third more.

"However, European prices are starting to come down and there is likely to be an increasing number of good deals," said Mr Roche.

The most expensive destination globally was Moscow, with the average room costing £207 (US $309.84). The cheapest in their index was Las Vegas, at £58 ($86.82).

The Hotels.com Hotel Price Index is based on prices paid by customers at 68,000 hotels across 12,500 locations around the world.