New Zealand hotel prices are up 6 percent but there are still bargains to be found across the world. Photo / iStock
New Zealand hotel prices are up 6 percent but there are still bargains to be found across the world. Photo / iStock
New Zealand hotel prices jumped by 6 per cent during the the past year, well ahead of the average prices paid around the world, according to new research.
For Kiwis travelling overseas, Thailand represented the best value-for-money and Paris also fell in price for the second year running.
The latest Hotel Price Index from Hotels.com has revealed the average price paid by international and domestic travellers for a hotel room in New Zealand climbed to $173 per night in 2015, compared with $163 in 2014.
"The growth in domestic hotel prices comes off the back of a record-breaking year for international visitors to New Zealand in the year ending December 2015, with a 9.6 per cent increase in total arrivals on the previous year," Hotels.com said.
Auckland recorded the biggest surge of 12 per cent to $175 per night, followed by the adventure capital of Queenstown, and Palmerston North. Both cities recorded growth of 11 per cent, with average room rates rising to $235 and $133 respectively.
Only four New Zealand destinations recorded negative growth in the average price paid for a hotel room in 2015. These included Christchurch, Dunedin, Napier and Nelson, all down 1 per cent to $163, $154, $154 and $148 respectively.
Katherine Cole, regional director, Australia, New Zealand & Singapore for the Hotels.com brand, said that as the New Zealand tourism industry broke records in 2015, demand soared across the hotel industry from domestic and international guest bookings.
This is a promising sign for the local tourism industry and, with many major hotel development projects in the pipeline, we'll see increased supply in the long term, which will be welcome news to holidaymakers planning a trip in New Zealand.
"This is a promising sign for the local tourism industry and, with many major hotel development projects in the pipeline, we'll see increased supply in the long term, which will be welcome news to holidaymakers planning a trip in New Zealand," she said.
Kiwis wanting an international holiday, should look at destinations such Thailand and Bali.
The HPI revealed that Thailand remained exceptional value-for-money for Kiwis in 2015. Bangkok in particular offered travellers the best value accommodation in 2015, despite prices rising there by 13 per cent to $103 per night. This was closely followed by Phuket which recorded a 6 per cent decline to $107 per night.
The Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur came in third spot at $111 per night. Bali took the fourth place at $134 per night.
Katherine Cole, regional director, Australia, New Zealand & Singapore for the Hotels.com brand.
As the New Zealand dollar continued to slide against the US dollar, the price of accommodation increased for New Zealanders who travelled to the there last year, with four cities dominating the top five list of where Kiwis paid the most for hotels worldwide.
New York was the most expensive.
A night's stay in the Big Apple cost Kiwis an average of $341 per night in 2015.
This was followed closely by Honolulu, which saw an increase of 10 per cent to $327, San Francisco by 19 per cent to $321 and Los Angeles by 11 per cent to $266.
For a second year running, Paris saw the biggest fall in the average price paid for a hotel room by Kiwis in 2015, with the cost of a hotel room falling 15 per cent to $218 per night.
The Pacific favourite of Rarotonga represented better value for money for Kiwis in 2015, falling 12 per cent to $234 per night.
