Hotel rates in Greece drop to lowest level in recent years
Greece is emerging as a great bargain for tourists this year as hotel prices here are currently at their lowest point in the last few years, according to international booking sites and specialized travel corporations.
Global online hotel rate search engine Trivago shows that Greece is the fourth most economical destination among 24 European countries this month. The average online rate per night for two people in a twin room stands at 78 euros, down 15.2 percent from last May’s 92 euros and 20.4 percent lower than the 98 euros seen in May 2011.
The only countries that are currently cheaper than Greece are Bulgaria (56 euros), Romania (66 euros) and Poland (73 euros), while the most expensive is Switzerland (206 euros). Turkey is in fact the fourth most expensive European destination, with an average online room price of 168 euros.
In Athens hotel rates are showing a 12.5 percent decline year-on-year, as the average rate this months is 84 euros, against 96 euros in May 2012. The drop from May 2011 is even greater, at 26.3 percent from 114 euros. This ranks Athens as the seventh cheapest European metropolis in terms of hotel accommodation.
Booking.com showed yesterday that Greece has the lowest online accommodation rates among its competitors, with prices starting from 6 euros per room, against 8 euros in Turkey and Spain, 9 euros in Bulgaria and 13 in Italy.
US travel website Price of Travel, which compares travel services around the world, includes three Greek islands among its selection of 14 low-price beach destinations in Europe: Kos ranks fifth with a price of 45.50 euros for two people in July, Milos follows on 49 euros and Rhodes is in eighth position with 54.60 euros. Price of Travel also includes Athens among the 18 cheapest destinations worth visiting with the best weather conditions in May.
