Budget Busters: Ten cities worth breaking the bank for

Hotels.com uses its Hotel Price Index to reveal the most expensive cities for Canadians

TORONTO, Oct. 10, 2013 /CNW/ - Travel is rarely cheap, so many of us exercise caution when planning our budgets and choosing destinations and accommodation. A select few, however, go wherever their heart desires and, more often than not, its destinations where the sun, sand and scenic landscapes could convert any skeptic. So for those wondering where these lucky travellers are going, Hotels.com® has you covered by using its Hotel Price Index™ (HPI™) to locate the most expensive destinations for Canadian travellers and some less pricey alternatives.

"Everyone likes to splurge now and then," says Taylor L. Cole, APR, travel expert for Hotels.com. "Why not spend your hard-earned travel dollars in some incredible cities well-known for luxury accommodation and beautiful scenery using the HPI as your guide".

Most Expensive Cities for Canadians

1. City: Paradise Island, Bahamas
Average Daily Hotel Rate: $394
A small island that reflects its name well, Paradise Island is dominated by Atlantis Paradise Island Resort and Casino, which is a tourist attraction in itself with a giant aquarium, casino, shopping center, marina, water park and more.

2. City: Providenciales, Turks and Caicos
Average Daily Hotel Rate: $360
If you're looking for perfect beaches, this is a destination to consider having been voted the number one beach destination in the world. This is the most developed island and includes attractions from shopping facilities to a professionally-designed golf course.

3. City: Lahaina, Hawaii
Average Daily Hotel Rate: $303
Despite Hawaii's reputation as a sun-filled paradise, Lahaina is also active after dark where popular family eateries become night clubs after hours. The Old Lahaina Luau is also considered the most authentic luau in the world.

4. City: Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
Average Daily Hotel Rate: $301
This city combines the historic authenticity of the nation's capital, Santo Domingo, with the modern comfort of all-inclusive resorts that line the beaches. Tourists have the option of staying in a resort paradise or escaping to explore the first European settlement in the Western Hemisphere.

5. City: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Average Daily Hotel Rate: $285
One of the most recognizable tourist destinations in the world, Rio de Janeiro is renowned for its sprawling beaches, picturesque landscape and giant Christ the Redeemer statue. Visit at the end of February for Carnival, the biggest carnival in the world.

6. City: Key West, Florida
Average Daily Hotel Rate: $274
At the southernmost tip of the continental United States and closer to Cuba than to Miami, Key West is a city and an island of the same name. With a tropical climate, a historically beautiful Old Town and a trendy entertainment strip known as Duval Street, this city has a wide appeal.

7. City: New York City, New York
Average Daily Hotel Rate: $264
The setting of many famous movies, shows, books and songs, this busy city is known around the world for its trendy neighbourhoods, theatre, nightlife and museums. Whether you're visiting in the summer and exploring by foot or in winter by horse and carriage, this is the place to see and be seen.

8. City: Dubrovnik, Croatia
Average Daily Hotel Rate: $255
Nicknamed the "Pearl of the Adriatic," Dubrovnik is a picturesque medieval seaport and UNESCO World Heritage Site. Fans of the hit TV series "Game of Thrones" might recognize neighbourhoods that were used in filming.

9. City: Lake Louise, Alberta
Average Daily Hotel Rate: $250
This is actually a hamlet and a popular destination featured on Canadian postcards in large part because of the turquoise blue waters surrounded by snow-capped mountains. This area has an endless supply of activities for travellers seeking adventure, regardless of the season. Relax at the end of an active day in one of the area's famous hot springs.

10. City: Napa, California
Average Daily Hotel Rate: $242
Filled with some of the most famous U.S. wineries and top rated spas, the region is also home to Thomas Keller's The French Laundry considered one of the best restaurants in the country.

If these dream destinations are a bit too far from reach right now, don't fret. A visit to Jacksonville, Florida; Granada, Spain; or Ko Samui, Thailand are all budget-friendly alternatives with average room rates under $104, and weather and delicious food without the premium prices. For more great hotel deals, check out the Hotels.com mobile app to find the perfect hotel for your budget.

Learn more about the HPI by visiting hotel-price-index.com and follow the conversation on Twitter @hotelsdotcomca, #HPI.

Editors Note: All prices are in Canadian Dollars.

About the HPI™
The HPI is a biannual report that looks at hotel prices in cities all around the world. The data is based on bookings made through the Hotels.com website and the prices listed are the actual prices paid by Canadians - not advertised rates. The report compares prices paid in the first half of 2012 with those paid in the first half of 2013.

About Hotels.com^®

Hotels.com (also known in Canada as Hotels.ca) is a leading online accommodation booking brand. Through the Expedia, Inc. global network of websites, Hotels.com, LP connects travellers with approximately 220,000 properties around the world, ranging from international chains and all-inclusive resorts to local favourites and bed & breakfasts, together with all the information needed to book the perfect stay. Hotels.com, LP benefits from one of the largest hotel contracting teams in the industry, obtaining the best rates for its customers, and offers frequent sales, special deals and promotions. There are more than 7 million Guest Reviews on the websites from users who have actually stayed in the hotels to ensure customers can make an informed choice when booking. Through Hotels.com, LP's industry-leading loyalty program Welcome RewardsTM, customers can earn a free* night for every 10 nights stayed at more than 85,000 hotels. Under its Price Match Guarantee†, if a customer can find the same deal for less on a prepaid hotel, Hotels.com, LP will refund the difference. Travellers can book online or by contacting one of the multilingual call centers. Special apps for mobile phones and tablets can also be downloaded at www.hotels.com/deals/mobile_app/ enabling customers to book on the go with access to 20,000 last minute deals. Hotels.com publishes an award-winning twice-yearly review of international hotel room price trends called the Hotels.com Hotel Price Index™, which is now produced in 31 individual country editions, with North American data available at www.hotel-price-index.com. Follow Hotels.com on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/Hotels.comCA, on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/hotelsdotcomca and on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/user/hotelsdotcom. More Hotels.com news is available at: http://press.hotels.com/en-ca/. Hotels.com, LP is part of Expedia, Inc., the largest online travel company in the world with an extensive portfolio that includes some of the world's best-known brands.

Hotels.com, Hotel Price Index, HPI, Finding You the Perfect Place and the Hotels.com logo are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Hotels.com, LP. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners. © 2013 Hotels.com, LP. All rights reserved. CST # 2083949-50

*Your free night is good at any Welcome Rewards eligible property. The maximum value of your free night is the average daily rate of your ten (10) nights. Your free night does not include taxes and fees.

† Price match guarantee on hotel bookings. If you find a lower price on exactly the same stay elsewhere, we'll match it or let you cancel your booking without a penalty.  Terms and conditions apply.

Image with caption: "Buzios beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil is a hot spot worth splurging on (CNW Group/Hotels.com)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20131010_C8764_PHOTO_EN_31914.jpg

SOURCE: Hotels.com

For further information:

Press contacts: 

Lauren Wasley   
energi PR for Hotels.com 
Phone: [phone] ext. 19 
Email: [e-mail]
Twitter: @energiPR 

Taylor L. Cole, APR 
Hotels.com North America
Phone: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
Twitter: @TravelwithTLC