Britons miss out on cheaper room rates

By Fred Mawer Published: 5:01PM GMT 02 March 2010

The cost of a highway house stay in a small European cities has increasing for British travellers, interjection to the stability debility of the bruise Photo: ALAMY

According to the Hotel Price Index, a inclusive consult of the tangible prices paid by business engagement on the place to live website Hotels.com, highway house prices in New York fell by an normal of thirty per cent in 2009 for American travellers profitable in US dollars, but due to the bad sell rate by usually eight per cent for Britons profitable in sterling.

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In Europe, normal prices paid by UK travellers in a small cities essentially rose for example, in Paris by 3 per cent and in Rome by one per cent. The majority poignant climb was in Istanbul, where 2009 prices paid by Britons were sixteen per cent up on 2008 partly explained, claims the survey, by travellers being tempted by the comparatively low cost of the countrys five-star hotels and opting for some-more affordable luxury.

Moscow purebred the largest tumble in prices, with highway house rates in 2009 averaging �169, compared with �232 in 2008 a twenty-seven per cent drop. The Russian collateral is no longer judged to be the worlds majority costly city for British travellers to stay in. It is right away second dearest, with Monte Carlo normal room prices �172 per night in 2009 commanding the list.

This week the worth of argent fell serve opposite most heading currencies among fears of a hung parliament. Sterling fell to next $1.5 for the initial time in scarcely a year. It additionally enervated opposite the euro to about 91p.

There has been improved headlines for Britons receiving made at home breaks. Across the UK, the normal cost paid in 2009 for a highway house room was �84, down from �97 the prior year a thirteen per cent tumble according to the survey.

Despite the year-on-year rates dropping from �124 to �111, Bath still has the top normal highway house prices of any UK city a standing it has hold given 2006.

"We see the high rates as a certain thing," pronounced a mouthpiece for Bath Tourism. "Plus it shows people are happy to come to Bath and outlay money, even in a recession."

David Roche, boss of Hotels.com, pronounced he is awaiting that highway house prices will stop descending this year as the tellurian economy starts to collect up and some-more people select to transport again, but he combined that couple of hoteliers are expected to put up prices.

Bath: five affordable hotels

Despite Baths costly reputation, there are a small decent and affordable places to stay in the city. As a ubiquitous rule, keep costs down by avoiding Friday and Saturday nights, when probably each highway house and b&b increases the rates.

White Hart Inn (01225 313985; www.whitehartbath.co.uk) Excellent gastropub with elementary college building place to live (beds �15 a night) and a couple of elementary but competent in isolation bedrooms with their own bathrooms (doubles from �40). Rates embody no-frills, DIY breakfasts, which, continue permitting, you can eat in the yard garden.

Travelodge Bath Waterside (www.travelodge.co.uk) The improved of the bill bondage dual Bath properties, nearby the sight station. Some bedrooms disremember a waterway basin, though others face a bustling road. Book online at slightest twenty-one days ahead, and bedrooms can be as low as �19 a night, room only. However, rates are frequency that cheap: youll have finished flattering well if you compensate underneath �50.

SACO Bath Apartments (01225 486540; bath.sacoapartments.co.uk) Modern and unequivocally atmospheric serviced apartments with entirely versed kitchens, on a Georgian patio nearby Thermae Bath Spa. Rates can be illusory value: Sunday-Thursday nights, now as small as �79 for a college of music unit if you stay dual nights smallest and book online. The dual studios with fold-out beds go for usually �65 a night.

Brooks Guesthouse (01225 425543; www.brooksguesthouse.com) One of the most appropriate of Baths most b & bs, in Victorian buildings a short wander from the Royal Crescent. Buffed-up duration furnishings - fireplaces, mirrors, chandeliers - mix with complicated comforts, such as intelligent showering rooms. Breakfasts, that competence embody toasted brioche with smoked salmon and poached eggs, receptive to advice excellent. Doubles from �85 b & b Sunday-Thursday; infrequently cheaper rates for last-minute bookings.

The Halcyon (01225 444100; www.thehalcyon.com) Brand new boutique highway house in a executive Georgian townhouse. Minimal open areas, but in vogue and charming bedrooms - the cheapest doubles are compact, but keenly labelled at �99 room usually Monday-Thursday.