Sofia, Bulgaria offers the best value for travellers when it comes to the common incidental costs while staying in a hotel, according to a cost comparison report released today by TripAdvisor, carried out across 48 destinations selected to be included in this study.
The results are taken from the third annual TripAdvisor TripIndex Room Service report, which compares the cost of hotel room service items in 48 popular destinations around the world. The study takes into account the cost of a one night stay in a four-star hotel, a club sandwich ordered through room service, the dry cleaning of one shirt as well as refreshments from the mini bar.
In Sofia, the combined cost of a night in a hotel, based on availability on TripAdvisor, along with room service comes to an average of S$133.86 – more than four times cheaper than at the costliest destination, New York, where the average hotel price on TripAdvisor, plus room service amenities, totals S$580.51.
“Hotel prices can vary a great deal across destinations – even when comparing like for like amenities – so it pays to shop around to find the best deal. Hotel room rates, for example, can vary between travel agents, so using the price comparison tool on TripAdvisor can be a great way to find and book a good deal,” commented TripAdvisor spokesperson, Jean Ow-Yeong.
Singapore revealed as eleventh priciest destination in the world
The 2015 TripIndex Room Service report places Singapore at eleventh place in the most expensive destinations league table, with New York, Zurich and London taking the top 3 spots. This is an improvement from last year’s results which saw Singapore taking the ninth position.
In Singapore, on average a club sandwich will set travellers back S$25.91, a bottle of water is S$8.01 a mini bottle of vodka costs S$18.36, a can of cola is S$7.05, a packet of peanuts is S$6.70 and it will cost S$16.96 to dry clean a shirt. Taking into consideration the cost of a night’s stay in Singapore which costs an average of S$264.35, the total cost for Singapore amounts to S$347.34.
Head to Southeast Asia or Eastern Europe for a bargain
This study highlights the wide range of prices that can be found in destinations around the world, for example, from the destinations included in this study, Southeast Asia boasts four of the world’s best value destinations with Jakarta (S$150.76); Kuala Lumpur (S$167.12), Hanoi and Bangkok (S$192.22) placed 3rd, 6th, 8th and 12th respectively.
Eastern Europe also boasts six of the world’s 10 best value destinations (Sofia, Kiev, Warsaw, Budapest, Prague and Moscow), yet is also home to six of the world’s 10 most expensive, with Scandinavian cities in particular dominating.
TripIndex Room Service at a glance (costs in SGD)
From the least expensive to the most expensive (green and orange indicate least and most expensive destinations for each item respectively):
|
Cheapest: |
||||||||||
|
Rank |
Country |
City |
Club sandwich |
Water |
Vodka |
Cola |
Peanuts |
Dry cleaning |
Hotel room rate |
Total |
|
1 |
Bulgaria |
Sofia |
$8.50 |
$2.43 |
$5.23 |
$2.78 |
$5.06 |
$7.79 |
$102.07 |
$133.86 |
|
2 |
Ukraine |
Kiev |
$6.44 |
$1.72 |
$2.79 |
$1.29 |
$2.13 |
$5.09 |
$126.38 |
$145.84 |
|
3 |
Indonesia |
Jakarta |
$10.82 |
$3.17 |
$6.99 |
$4.13 |
$3.24 |
$4.28 |
$118.13 |
$150.76 |
|
4 |
Poland |
Warsaw |
$15.25 |
$5.45 |
$7.50 |
$4.47 |
$4.48 |
$12.42 |
$110.84 |
$160.41 |
|
5 |
Egypt |
Sharm el Sheik |
$11.18 |
$2.28 |
$4.61 |
$3.00 |
$3.49 |
$4.52 |
$137.04 |
$166.12 |
|
6 |
Malaysia |
Kuala Lumpur |
$15.20 |
Free |
$15.51 |
$3.01 |
$3.39 |
$6.30 |
$123.71 |
$167.12 |
|
7 |
Hungary |
Budapest |
$13.45 |
$2.53 |
$6.95 |
$2.93 |
$3.24 |
$6.64 |
$131.87 |
$167.61 |
|
8 |
Vietnam |
Hanoi |
$17.34 |
$6.58 |
$14.16 |
$4.19 |
$4.14 |
$8.56 |
$120.01 |
$174.98 |
|
9 |
Czech Republic |
Prague |
$16.33 |
$3.53 |
$6.39 |
$3.47 |
$3.37 |
$8.57 |
$146.36 |
$188.02 |
|
10 |
Russia |
Moscow |
$16.76 |
$4.61 |
$8.31 |
$4.94 |
$4.45 |
$10.06 |
$139.21 |
$188.34 |
|
Most Expensive: |
||||||||||
|
Rank |
Country |
City |
Club sandwich |
Water |
Vodka |
Cola |
Peanuts |
Dry cleaning |
Hotel room rate |
Total |
|
1 |
USA |
New York |
$31.21 |
$7.56 |
$21.45 |
$6.18 |
$8.90 |
$15.02 |
$490.19 |
$580.51 |
|
2 |
Switzerland |
Zurich |
$45.60 |
$8.83 |
$22.63 |
$7.35 |
$6.25 |
$18.58 |
$383.44 |
$492.68 |
|
3 |
UK |
London |
$33.04 |
Free |
$17.76 |
$5.81 |
$8.39 |
$13.26 |
$386.94 |
$465.20 |
|
4 |
Canada |
Toronto |
$25.56 |
$6.10 |
$36.50 |
$4.72 |
$11.32 |
$14.92 |
$329.75 |
$428.87 |
|
5 |
France |
Paris |
$26.89 |
$7.64 |
$13.37 |
$8.78 |
$10.31 |
$14.77 |
$344.24 |
$426.00 |
|
6 |
Japan |
Tokyo |
$29.54 |
$5.83 |
$10.44 |
$4.68 |
$5.78 |
$9.83 |
$319.74 |
$385.84 |
|
7 |
Norway |
Oslo |
$43.01 |
$7.91 |
$25.36 |
$7.74 |
$6.00 |
$27.88 |
$254.51 |
$372.41 |
|
8 |
Hong Kong |
Hong Kong |
$32.30 |
$6.92 |
$19.44 |
$6.89 |
$8.63 |
$15.29 |
$281.89 |
$371.36 |
|
9 |
Sweden |
Stockholm |
$44.66 |
$6.40 |
$17.18 |
$5.56 |
$5.59 |
$14.14 |
$264.35 |
$357.88 |
|
10 |
Denmark |
Copenhagen |
$33.56 |
$6.21 |
$14.10 |
$6.00 |
$5.57 |
$14.49 |
$275.02 |
$354.95 |
For those planning to take a trip to any of the top five best value or most expensive destinations according to TripIndex Room Service 2015, here are some of the best rated hotels that are available to book on TripAdvisor and have availability during the upcoming peak travel season (1 June – 31 August 2015)*:
TripIndex Room Service 2015 best value destinations:
1. Sofia – Average nightly rate on TripAdvisor for hotels in Sofia : S$102.07.
Highly rated hotel currently available to book on TripAdvisor: Suite Hotel Sofia, 4.5 bubble rating – bookable on TripAdvisor for S$91.92 per night.
2. Kiev – Average nightly rate on TripAdvisor for hotels in Kiev: S$126.38
Highly rated hotel currently available to book on TripAdvisor: Oselya Kiev, 4.5 bubble rating – bookable on TripAdvisor for S$127.47 per night.
3. Jakarta – Average nightly rate on TripAdvisor for hotels in Jakarta: S$118.13
Highly rated hotel currently available to book on TripAdvisor: Kosenda Hotel, 4.5 bubble rating – bookable on TripAdvisor for S$104.95 per night.
4. Warsaw – Average nightly rate on TripAdvisor for hotels in Warsaw: S$110.84
Highly rated hotel currently available to book on TripAdvisor: Regent Warsaw Hotel, 4.5 bubble rating – bookable on TripAdvisor for S$137.77 per night.
5. Sharm el Sheikh – Average nightly rate on TripAdvisor for hotels in Sharm el Sheikh: S$137.04
Highly rated hotel currently available to book on TripAdvisor: Domina Coral Bay Prestige Hotel, 4.5 bubble rating – bookable on TripAdvisor for S$160.31 per night.
TripIndex Room Service 2015 most expensive destinations:
1. New York – Average nightly rate on TripAdvisor for hotels in New York: S$490.19
Highly rated hotel currently available to book on TripAdvisor: Casablanca Hotel Times Square, 5 bubble rating – bookable on TripAdvisor for S$518.73 per night.
2. Zurich – Average nightly rate on TripAdvisor for hotels in Zurich: S$383.44
Highly rated hotel currently available to book on TripAdvisor: Hotel Europe, 4.5 bubble rating – bookable on TripAdvisor for S$424.46 per night.
3. London – Average nightly rate on TripAdvisor for hotels in London: S$386.94
Highly rated hotel currently available to book on TripAdvisor: Artist Residence London, 5 bubble rating – bookable on TripAdvisor for S$475.27 per night.
4. Toronto – Average nightly rate on TripAdvisor for hotels in Toronto: S$329.75
Highly rated hotel currently available to book on TripAdvisor: Drake Hotel Toronto, 4.5 bubble rating – bookable on TripAdvisor for S$308.31 per night.
5. Paris – Average nightly rate on TripAdvisor for hotels in Paris: S$344.24
Highly rated hotel currently available to book on TripAdvisor: Le 123 Sebastopol – Astotel, 5 bubble rating – bookable on TripAdvisor for S$388.83 per night.
-Ends-
