With a big summer of sport ahead, England fans can save as much as 50% on accommodation in France this June by choosing their destinations wisely, research by travel planning and booking site TripAdvisor has found.
Fans that opt for accommodation within host cities can expect to pay a premium for hotel accommodation in France this summer. The average matchday rate bookable on TripAdvisor1 for stays in Marseille on 11 June is £182, while for stays in Saint Etienne on 20 June the average rate is even higher at £369. For trips to Lens on 16 June, hotel availability on TripAdvisor is already in short supply.
However, there is still availability in smaller destinations just outside the host cities, often offering much cheaper nightly rates. For example, instead of opting to stay in Marseille, fans could consider Les-Pennes-Mirabeau which is situated just 12 miles away and where the average hotel rate bookable on TripAdvisor is £94 – almost 50% cheaper than in Marseille.
Similarly, fans travelling to Lens should consider Bruay-la-Buissière for accommodation, which is less than 14 miles away from Lens. There, the average matchday rate bookable on TripAdvisor is just £62 for stays on 16 June, compared to £130 in nearby Arras. It is a similar story for the final group matchday on 20 June in Saint Etienne – average rates in Andrezieux-Boutheon, just nine miles away, are £273 – more than 25% cheaper than the average rate available in Saint Etienne.
For fans travelling to all three games, staying nearby the host city offers a potential saving of up to £252 on accommodation alone this summer.
“If you have a ticket but you haven’t booked your hotel yet, don’t fear. By widening your search a little further afield, there are still some bargain room rates on TripAdvisor for places like Bruay-la-Buissière and Les-Pennes-Mirabeau. Even factoring in the added transport costs of getting to and from the ground, stays in these destinations will still work out a much cheaper option for many fans,” commented James Kay, TripAdvisor spokesperson.
How to save money on your stay in France:
June 11, Marseille - Average nightly rate bookable on TripAdvisor, £182
Alternative options:
Perched on a rocky outcrop and located 20 kilometres from Marseille, Pennes-Mirabeau looks like a typical village in Provence. This scenic spot even has its own medieval castle.
· Average nightly rate bookable on TripAdvisor, £94
· Value hotel option: Kyriad Marseille, average bubble rating of 4 out of 5 – bookable on TripAdvisor for an average of £55 per night
2. Bouc-Bel-Air
Bouc-Bel-Air is a pleasant village well located between the two cities of Aix-en-Provence and Marseille. The village has kept its Provencal authenticity with its ancient feudal castle, which dates back to the 7th century. Perched on a hill, Bouc-Bel-Air offers a stunning panorama all around the town.
· Average nightly rate bookable on TripAdvisor, £77
· Value hotel option: Kyriad Aix Les Milles, average bubble rating of 4 out of 5 – bookable on TripAdvisor for an average of £63 per night
June 16, Lens – Limited accommodation availability on TripAdvisor
Alternative options:
Bruay-la-Buissière is located just 14 miles from the city of Lens. It is one of the oldest “Corons” (mining community village) of the region, and its rich heritage is documented in local historical monuments.
· Average nightly rate bookable on TripAdvisor, £62
· Value hotel option: Inter-Hotel Le Liberty, average bubble rating of 4 out of 5 – bookable on TripAdvisor for an average of £50 per night
2. Arras
Arras is famous for its two magnificent baroque squares which form an architecture unique in the world, with its belfry and its Citadel both listed as World Heritage sites by UNESCO.
· Average nightly rate bookable on TripAdvisor, £130
· Value hotel option: B&B Hotel Arras, average bubble rating of 4 out of 5 – bookable on TripAdvisor for an average of £55 per night
June 20, Saint Etienne – Average nightly rate bookable on TripAdvisor, £369
Alternative option:
Near Saint-Etienne, Andrézieux-Boutheon is historically known to be the terminus of the first railway line in France that ensured the transport of coal. The city was one of the first Châteaux of the Loire, with architecture that reflects the Renaissance ideals of its age.
· Average nightly rate bookable on TripAdvisor, £273
· Value hotel option: Actuel Hotel, average bubble rating of 4 out of 5 – bookable on TripAdvisor for an average of £132 per night
-Ends-
For more information please contact James Kay / jkay@tripadvisor.com / 020 3194 2237
Notes to editors:
1All average nightly rates based on availability on TripAdvisor as of 21 March 2016. Prices converted from USD at an exchange rate of 0.700122.
About TripAdvisor
TripAdvisor® is the world's largest travel site*, enabling travellers to plan and book the perfect trip. TripAdvisor offers advice from millions of travellers and a wide variety of travel choices and planning features with seamless links to booking tools that check hundreds of websites to find hotel prices. TripAdvisor branded sites make up the largest travel community in the world, reaching 350 million unique monthly visitors**, and 320 million reviews and opinions covering 6.2 million accommodations, restaurants and attractions. The sites operate in 48 markets worldwide.
TripAdvisor, Inc. (NASDAQ:TRIP) manages and operates websites under 23 other travel media brands:
www.airfarewatchdog.com, www.bookingbuddy.com, www.cruisecritic.com, www.everytrail.com,www.familyvacationcritic.com, www.flipkey.com, www.thefork.com (including www.lafourchette.com,www.eltenedor.com, www.iens.nl, www.besttables.com and www.dimmi.com.au), www.gateguru.com,www.holidaylettings.co.uk, www.holidaywatchdog.com, www.independenttraveler.com, www.jetsetter.com,www.niumba.com, www.onetime.com, www.oyster.com, www.seatguru.com, www.smartertravel.com,www.tingo.com, www.travelpod.com, www.tripbod.com, www.vacationhomerentals.com, www.viator.com, andwww.virtualtourist.com.
*Source: comScore Media Metrix for TripAdvisor Sites, worldwide, November 2015
**Source: TripAdvisor log files, Q3 2015
