Five Champagne Destinations on a Beer Budget

Hotels.com helps Canadians find luxurious international deals without the lavish price tag - less than $200 per night for five-star hotels!

TORONTO, April 10, 2012 /CNW/ - Sightseeing, shopping and spas are common temptations when planning a luxurious vacation, however, luxury and affordability don't often go hand-in-hand. This spring, hotels.com® is helping Canadians satisfy their travel cravings and make their extravagant travel dreams a reality. Based on the findings from the latest Hotel Price Index™ (HPI™), the experts at hotels.com have put together a list of the top five international destinations where five-star accommodations can be found for less than $200 a night.

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 2010 with those of 2011.

"Travellers on a tight budget often don't realize that it's possible to visit exotic destinations and luxury hotels without going into debt," said Jennifer Drew, director of market management for Canada for hotels.com. "The HPI is a valuable resource that can be used by everyone to help plan travel and discover which destinations can give you the best bang for your buck."

Marrakech, Morocco

Morocco has become an increasingly popular destination for Canadian travellers and when visiting the city of Marrakech it's easy to see why. The 'old city' has more boutique shopping options than even the most seasoned shopper can handle, and non-shopaholics can enjoy the exciting nightclubs or traditional Moroccan cuisine. If you love art and nature, a visit to the Majorelle Garden is a must-see. Owned by famous fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent, the garden was created in the 1930s and is designed to look like a Gauguin painting. Average daily five-star hotel rate: $166 CDN

Budapest, Hungary

What is the perfect complement to a glass of champagne? A day at the spa! But even without the fizzy, if you're into opulent spa treatments, travel to Budapest is a must since it is a top spa destination. Located in a country of innovators -- think vinyl records, CD-ROMs and the discovery of vitamin C -- Budapest is the sophisticated capital of Hungary, and one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. Besides the spas, must-sees include the iconic Hungarian Parliament Building, St Stephen's Basilica and the Great Market Hall. Average daily five-star hotel rate: $173 CDN

Beijing, China

It's predicted that China will be the most visited country on the planet by 2020 and the increase in popularity among Canadian travellers was also evident in the latest HPI results. Foodies enjoy Beijing for its flavourful cuisine but, besides eating, you should make time to visit some of the historic sites. The Forbidden City is a popular attraction, once off-limits to citizens and visitors, as the previous home of the royal family and is now a well-preserved historic site. Tiananmen Square is another must-see and also the site of the world-famous man vs. tank protest photograph. Average daily five-star hotel rate: $179 CDN

Bangkok, Thailand

Thailand's capital, Bangkok, is one of Asia's most cosmopolitan cities but still manages to keep its rich historic culture. The city includes impressive temples like Wat Phra Kaew and the Grand Palace, a unique and world-famous floating market, and several flashy nightlife districts like Patpong, Nana Plaza and Soi Cowboy. For a unique dining experience, dinner cruises are offered on the Chao Praya River where guests can indulge in a six-course meal while admiring the colourful city at night. Bangkok travel is high on the list for Canadian travellers jumping from the 50^th most popular destination in 2010, to the 29^th in 2011, according to the HPI. Average daily five-star hotel rate: $193 CDN

Berlin, Germany

Travel to Berlin and you'll find more than sausages and steins. The vibrant German capital can satisfy any traveller interested in European culture. Popular attractions include the East Side Gallery, an open air art gallery of more than 100 paintings on the Berlin wall, and for those interested in architecture, the Reichstag building. The Reichstag building is considered one of Berlin's most impressive historical landmarks and is also where parliament sits, and can be viewed in session, during the week. Average daily five-star hotel rate: $196 CDN

So why not fake it this spring? Make like the rich and famous and plan a trip to one of these exotic destinations, no one needs to know how much you actually spent! Hotels.com makes luxury travel affordable with international travel deals, like the current Europe sale, and a price-match guarantee to ensure you get the best rate no matter where in the world you're heading.

For the HPI full report, featuring infographics, detailed maps, colourful photos and a regional breakdown, visit: www.hotel-price-index.com.

About the HPI™
The HPI tracks the real prices paid per room by hotels.com customers around the world using a weighted average based on the number of rooms sold in each of the markets that hotels.com operates. The index started in 2004, and includes all bookings across the almost 149,000 properties in over 60 countries that make up the sample set of hotels from which prices are taken.

About hotels.com®
Hotels.com also known in Canada as hotels.ca) is a leading provider of worldwide accommodations to Canadians, offering reservation services through its website at http://www.hotels.com/and its toll-free call centre at 1-800-CA-HOTELS (1-800-224-6835). Hotels.com offers travellers the widest selection of accommodations - from traditional hotels to vacation rentals - almost 149,000 properties in Canada, the United States, Europe, and around the world. The company offers a one-stop shopping source for hotels, with over three million customer reviews, a Price Match Guarantee,  an industry leading loyalty rewards program, Welcome Rewards™, and pricing in Canadian dollars.  Follow us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/hotelsdotcomca and Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/hotelsdotcomca. Hotels.com is a brand owned and operated by Expedia, Inc. (NASDAQ: EXPE). Download the mobile app here: http://www.hotels.com/deals/mobile_app/. Detailed Hotel Price Index data is available at: http://www.hotel-price-index.com, hotels.com, Finding You The Perfect Place™.

Hotels.com, Hotel Price Index, HPI, Welcome Rewards, 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. © 2012 Hotels.com, LP. All rights reserved.

Image with caption: "Based on the latest Hotels.com Hotel Price Index (HPI), travel to exotic attractions, like the Temple of the Emerald Buddha in Bangkok, can be in your future without the hefty price tag (CNW Group/Hotels.com)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20120410_C4143_PHOTO_EN_12088.jpg

For further information:

Press contacts: 

Lauren Wasley
energi PR for hotels.com
Phone: [phone] ext. 19
Email: [e-mail]

Taylor L. Cole, APR
hotels.com North America
Phone: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]