Top Overseas Destinations Get Cheaper

Overseas visits to these destinations may be easier on your wallet now that hotels are dropping room rates to promote tourism.

Author:: Althea Chang
Publish date:: Mar 8, 2010 7:00 AM EST

The weak U.S. dollar and a global economic downturn has generally deterred Americans from traveling internationally. But as a result, hoteliers abroad have cut room rates just in time for the dollar to gain strength, making a trip overseas a little easier on the wallet. The prices for rooms have dropped significantly from 2008 to 2009, according to a survey from online hotel booking site, Hotels.com, and may remain just as low as hotels work to recover from weaker tourism worldwide. Here are some of the discounts that travelers might still find in some of the most popular international destinations. Photo Credit: Brandon Godfrey

“Dublin offered some of the best value for travelers as the downturn hit hard there,” says Scott Booker, Hotels.com Vice President of Worldwide Retail. It’s among the most popular international travel destinations (it’s home to the the Jameson whiskey distillery and Guinness brewery) and Dublin experienced the biggest drop in hotel room rates last year compared with the year before. Average price per night: $122 Discount from 2008: 27% Photo Credit: UggBoy

The coastal Spanish city in the Catalonian region of the country is a tourist favorite and now more people will be able to afford it. “Barcelona offered better value than ever for visitors with hoteliers cutting their rooms rates combined with the strength of the U.S. dollar against the euro,” said Booker. Average price per night: $160 Discount from 2008: 25% Photo Credit: dawvon

Amsterdam draws travelers from all over the world because of its art, culture, and liberal approach to vide. Now a trip to the Dutch capital will be cheaper for Americans given the U.S. dollar gained strength against the Euro in the last year. odging in Amsterdam has gotten more than 20% cheaper. Average price per night: $161 Discount from 2008: 22% Photo Credit: joiseyshowaa

With several art museums, plus oldest elliptic arch bridge, the Ponte Santa Trinita, Florence is one of Italy’s most popular destinations, according to Hotels.com. But travel there has suffered in the past year, meaning hotel rates have gotten cheaper in order to stimulate tourism. Average price per night: $159 Discount from 2008: 21% Photo Credit: ConsciousVision

Strolling through historic landmarks in Madrid may not mean stretching your budget as you might have two years ago. In addition to a good currency exchange rate, hotel rooms have gotten cheaper here in order to stimulate occupancy rates, according to Hotels.com. Average price per night: $139 Discount from 2008: 21% Photo Credit: felipe_gabaldon

Fewer people traveling to Hong Kong on business may have left too many vacancies at area hotels. But that means deals on hotel room rates for shoppers, foodies and visitors to the city’s scenic Victoria Peak in Hong Kong. Average price per night: $125 Discount from 2008: 20% Photo Credit: huipiiing

Die-hard romantics longing for a gondola ride along the canals in Venice might find a trip there more within reach. “Venice was a great choice for 2009 as it was more affordable than ever, as hoteliers cut rates in attempt to draw visitors,” according to Booker. Average price per night: $216 Discount from 2008: 17% Photo Credit: Dimitry B

“Hotels in London were more affordable than ever with prices down 16% compared to 2008. As a result, visitors flocked to the U.K. capital and at the end of 2009 hotel occupancy stood at a very healthy 82.9%, according to Deloitte,” Booker notes. Average price per night: $185 Discount from 2008: 16% Photo Credit: The Wolf

“Munich’s hotel rates dropped at a similar rate to other European cities,” says Booker, as a result of fewer overseas tourists visiting the Bavarian city. And since hotel rates have gotten cheaper, there may be more room in your budget to enjoy Munich’s arts and entertainment attractions and Oktoberfest. Average price per night: $157 Discount from 2008: 16% Photo Credit: Andi Licious

Visitors to the Vatican and the many museums and art galleries in Rome will save money on stays at this holy and historical city thanks to lower hotel room rates. A night in Rome runs an average of $184, compared with about $220 in 2008. Average price per night: $184 Discount from 2008: 16% Photo Credit: Randy OHC

“Despite its popularity for business and leisure travelers, hoteliers cut prices in an effort to stimulate occupancy. Favorable exchange rates for U.S. travelers also made the French capital better value than ever,” said Booker. So if you haven’t seen the Eiffel Tower yet, now may be the time. Average price per night: $193 Discount from 2008: 14% Photo Credit: Reinante El Pintor de Fuego

Visitors to Calgary in Southern Alberta fell, as “2009 was a softer year for oil-related business travel, and the Calgary Stampede football team saw a lower attendance rate,” according to Hotels.com. It’s a beautiful part of the world, so now might be a great time to check it out. Average price per night: $146 Discount from 2008: 12% Photo Credit: woody1778a

The city of Montreal is a fairly easy drive from some areas in the northeastern United States, and lodging rates aren’t so bad now, either. The Average price per night for a hotel room fell 11% from 2008 to 2009, according to Hotels.com. Average price per night: $136 Discount from 2008: 11% Photo Credit: bensonkua

“Both mid-week and weekend travelers were able to benefit from the lower rates in Edmonton as a result of increased competition and less demand from the corporate and conference sections of the city,” says Booker of Hotels.com. Average price per night: $131 Discount from 2008: 11% Photo Credit: bulliver

Toronto is also a popular destination for business travel and conferences in Canada. But due to a decline in travel there, too many hotel vacancies meant cheaper prices for those who do decide to visit the area. Hotel rates were down about 10% last year from a year prior. Average price per night: $135 Discount from 2008: 10% Photo Credit: Photo Credit: bensonkua

Visitors to Vancouver during the Olympics may have benefited from fairly reasonable hotel rates. And in 2009, “Vancouver offered better value than ever,” according to Hotels.com. Average price per night: $146 Discount from 2008: 8% Photo Credit: Brandon Godfrey

Tokyo may be considered an expensive city even compared with New York, but hotel rates have gotten cheaper there in the last year or so. “As with many popular international destinations, financial cutbacks by business and leisure travelers contributed to the decline in rates,” says Booker, as hoteliers drop prices to boost room occupancy. Average price per night: $178 Discount from 2008: 7% Photo Credit: Oimax

Staying in Victoria, British Columbia has gotten cheaper, meaning visitors have less to worry about during visits to this lush Garden City in Canada. And nearby Butchart Gardens, which is made up of 55 acres of colorful plants and fragrant flowers, offers a timetable of when certain flowers are expected to bloom in a given season making your visit there all the more serene. Average price per night: $133 Discount from 2008: 6% Photo Credit: R. Earl Anderson

New rules that require passports during land border crossings have actually impacted tourism to this famous travel destination in Canada, according to Hotels.com. Plus, the U.S. to Canadian dollar exchange rate has also been unfavorable, leading hoteliers to lower lodging prices there to attract more visitors from the United States. Average price per night: $135 Discount from 2008: 5% Photo Credit: Randy OHC

Ottawa doesn’t generally rely as much on American business travelers, so it hasn’t been as hurt by a slowdown in visitors from the U.S., according to Hotels.com, but the cost of accommodations have still fallen about 3%. Average price per night: $140 Discount from 2008: 3% Photo Credit: poissantfamily

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Hotels Abroad Get Cheaper

The weak U.S. dollar and a global economic downturn has generally deterred Americans from traveling internationally. But as a result, hoteliers abroad have cut room rates just in time for the dollar to gain strength, making a trip overseas a little easier on the wallet. The prices for rooms have dropped significantly from 2008 to 2009, according to a survey from online hotel booking site, Hotels.com, and may remain just as low as hotels work to recover from weaker tourism worldwide. Here are some of the discounts that travelers might still find in some of the most popular international destinations. Photo Credit: Brandon Godfrey