Hotel prices hit bottom, survey finds

by McLean Robbins on


The average hotel room rate has begun to increase for the first time since 2007, shows the latest issue of Hotels.com’s biannual Hotel Price Index (HPI™). But the news isn’t all bad. Despite the 2% increase, hotel room rates are still markedly lower than rates at the peak of the market. As the 2009 HPI predicted, 2010 continues to be another great year for great travel values.

Las Vegas topped the list of top five most popular domestic destinations for the second time this year, with New York, Orlando, Chicago and San Francisco following close behind. Popular cities for international travelers include New York, Las Vegas, San Francisco, Orlando and Los Angeles.

“We’re seeing travel bookings pick up around the world,” said Victor Owens, Hotels.com’s vice president of marketing, North America. “There are, of course, still deals to be had, especially in international destinations like Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Reykjavik which each saw a major drop in hotel prices during the first half of 2010.”

In some cities, however, luxury hotels became a more attractive proposition, with average prices for top-end rooms dropping by over a tenth. Domestically, a 5-star hotel dropped 13 percent in Orlando ($259-$225) and San Francisco ($323-$280). Chicago’s rates have stayed steady with an average room rate of $137, making it ideal for business travelers and one of the best locations for meeting planners to book their next event.

The Big Apple was the most expensive domestic city of those tracked in the global list; but, U.S. and overseas travelers continued to flock to NYC. Prices averaged $224 per room per night during Q2 2010 – an increase of 14 percent compared to 2009. A Gradual return of business travel and an increase in domestic travel fuelled this rise.

The biggest loser is Abu Dhabi, which fell by 46 percent between Q2 2009 and Q2 2010. This means a hotel room that would have cost a U.S. traveler $304 during the first six months of 2009 cost a traveler just $163 this year – a drop of $141. This was fuelled by various factors, including a growth in the number of rooms, as new hotels opened, and a drop in the number of corporate travelers visiting the Emirate, due to the economic situation. This influential city of commerce was affected by the fall of international business travel, as was its larger neighbor, Dubai, which saw a 10% decrease in hotel room prices.

Cost rose most sharply in the second quarter of 2010 for locations that hosted major events or were the scene of major motion pictures. rices rose 60% in Cannes, France, 57% in Eat, Pray, Love location Bali and 53% in World Cup home base Cape Town, South Africa.

For detailed information on your home city or next travel destination, view the report online.

[Image courtesy of Hotels.com]

How to Crash Cannes – a 101 guide

by Annie Scott on


The Cannes Film Festival is an invitation-only, very glitzy affair which attracts hundreds of celebrities and elite guests from around the world. It’s no wonder that many of us fantasize about going. For most people, that dream may seem an impossible one. Well, guess what? It’s not.

This year, I was invited by Stella Artois, one of the main sponsors of the Cannes Film Festival 2010, to attend. Now, I’m not going to tell you “just make friends with someone at Anheuser-Busch.” No. And yes, I was afforded some privileges that crashers won’t be able to come by — but I did manage to figure out how a regular person could get there, attend the private screenings, and have a great time. So here we are:

How to Crash Cannes – a 101 guide

Get yourself to Cannes (obviously).

If you’re thinking about crashing Cannes 2011, book your flight now. The flights to Nice before and during the festival are booked solid and get very expensive if not reserved in advance. Cannes 2011 will be May 11 – 22. This is one thing you can’t get around unless you know someone with a private plane.

*Don’t* book a hotel.

Here’s where we get down to the business of skirting the system. It won’t work if everyone does it, but there are still some sorry folks out there who don’t read Gadling. Chances are, this will work …There are no hostels in Cannes. Some people go as far as finding campsites outside of Cannes and camping to avoid paying through the nose for a hotel when they all seem to be booked. That is not the glamorous kind of experience I’d want to have at the ritzy festival. What’s more, partying till dawn becomes difficult if you’re not staying in Cannes. Here’s something few people know: The Tourist Information Center right at the Palais de Festivals on Croisette has hotel rooms, even when the whole city seems to be sold out (ask for “Last Minute Accommodations”). Not only are there still rooms available — only for those who come to the Information Center and request them in person — but in some cases, they may have worked out deals which mean you’ll get them at discounted rates. Expect to pay about 150 euros per night to stay in the Cannes city center. While one shouldn’t count on it, you may get an even cheaper rate.

If that makes you nervous or is too expensive …

Booking now may save you a little cash, but to save more, you’ll have to stay outside of Cannes. Antibes is a good place to start, as well as Mandelieu. Be careful about transportation, though. Taxis are very expensive in the French Riviera, and having to take one could completely trump your savings. When booking a hotel outside of Cannes, ask specifically about whether Cannes can be reached by train or bus, what time of night the service ends, how much it costs and, most importantly, whether the train or bus stop is walkable to the hotel. If it’s not walkable, you’re not getting a deal. Expect to pay 60 – 70 euros per night for a hotel in a nearby town and be aware that most trains stop at midnight and most buses stop at 1:00 AM.

Getting into films and walking the red carpet — free.

All official Cannes Film Festival screenings are invitation-only. Invitations are given to celebs, friends of the filmmakers, locals, and other folks with connections. It is 100 percent illegal to buy or sell tickets to the festival, so if you see some on Craigslist, be extremely wary; either they’ve fallen into the wrong hands or they’re (probably) fakes. Here’s the good news; no one’s checking IDs or anything. It’s perfectly okay to be given a ticket or to give a ticket away. This results in people with signs like the one at right standing outside the Palais de Festivals during the day. Go ahead and give it a try; there are plenty of people with an extra ticket out there. A little patience could get you in to see a major film. Not only that, but according to the Tourist Information Center, a ticket alone entitles you to walk the red carpet right along with the celebrities. How awesome is that? Answer: I did it twice and it was totally, totally awesome. Be aware that the attire requirement is formal: mandatory tux and black tie or gown.

If that doesn’t pan out, you can still see films at Cannes — just not the official ones. For example, at the beach right next to the Palais de Festivals (below), they show classic films every night except the first and last nights of the festival. The screenings are free and folding chairs are provided. The only thing is, you have to line up to get in; space is limited.
Additionally, you can see films at Espace Miramar, just down the way, for free, or at La Malmaison, also on Croisette, where a parallel, fringe-type festival runs. You can attend for about 7 euros.

Lastly, if you don’t manage to score a ticket but want to tell all your friends that you did, fear not. There are red carpets everywhere, and even the ground along much of Croisette is painted red. A red carpet shot should be pretty easy to fake.

Well, that wraps it up! Cannes is definitely crashable if you’re in-the-know, and now, you are.

My trip to Cannes was sponsored by Stella Artois, but the ideas and opinions expressed in the article are 100 percent my own.

Daily Pampering: Screen Your Own Film at Cannes

by Annie Scott on


If you are thinking of heading to the Cannes Film Festival this year and only 5-star accommodations will do, you have a new option. Palais Stéphanie has just completed a 38 million euro renovation and received the coveted fifth star.

“Through the recent restoration, this classic hotel was transformed into a vibrant and fashionable destination reflecting its glamorous film heritage,” said General Director Richard Duvauchelle. “The 5-star classification is an exciting moment for Palais Stéphanie, and is a culmination of our team’s tireless efforts to offer a chic and upscale hotel option for all travelers providing unparalleled service and amenities.”

The historical hotel, which sits on the original site of the Palais des Congrès, where the Cannes Film Festival was originally held, has upgraded its rooms and suites with high speed internet access and flat screen TVs — they claim to be the most spacious and contemporary available in the region — in a style honoring the old-Hollywood glamour of the past. They’ve also erected a massive Palm d’Or in the lobby and refined their heated rooftop swimming pool, jacuzzis and Le Panorama bar, offering a view of the Bay of Cannes, Lérins Islands and the Esterel Mountains. Palais Stéphanie also has a full casino with 150 slot machines and 19 gaming tables.

If you’d like to screen your own film in Cannes, consider booking their 820-seat auditorium (right) for hosting your own personal film festival any time of year.

Hotel Palais Stéphanie has just 261 rooms and suites, so if you’re coming for the festival (May 12-23), book now, before word gets out about star number cinq (just awarded in September 2009). Rates start at just 165 euros a night in low season, visit PalaisStephanie.com for more information.

Want more? Get your daily dose of pampering right here.