TRIPADVISOR, INC.
NEEDHAM, Mass., July 19, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TripAdvisor®, the travel planning and booking site, today announced the results of its annual TripIndex™ Cities cost-comparison study, revealing that New Orleans is the most affordable U.S. city for a summer trip, while Hanoi, Vietnam is the least expensive international destination.
TripIndex Cities, conducted by independent research firm TNS, compares the cost of a three-night vacation during the summer travel period of June to September in 39 key tourist cities around the world, taking into account typical in-destination costs for two people. These include: a four-star hotel for three nights, a visit to three attractions, lunch each day, an Uber or taxi to and from dinner each day, plus the cost of dinner itself.1
“According to the TripAdvisor TripIndex, Southern cities offer the least expensive prices for a summer getaway. A three-day trip to the region costs about $1,250 on average, which is almost $600 less than a three-day trip to the Western cities evaluated in the study,” said Brooke Ferencsik, senior director of communications for TripAdvisor. “Hotels represent a significant portion of the travel budget and savvy travelers who book their accommodations in one of the least expensive U.S. cities can save 30 percent on average compared to hotel prices in the most expensive U.S. destinations.”
Summer Savings in Southern Cities
- More than half of the least expensive U.S. destinations during summer are in the South, with New Orleans topping the list ($1,148) and #2 Houston ($1,190), #4 Atlanta ($1,296) and #5 Dallas ($1,315) rounding out the top five.
- Budget-savvy travelers will be happy to know that there are plenty of free activities in Washington, D.C. In fact, the top five things to do in the city on TripAdvisor are all available free of charge.
- Las Vegas offers the least expensive U.S. hotel rates at around $190 per night.
- While New Orleans boasts the most affordable lunch prices ($31 per day), San Diego takes the honor for the least expensive dinners at around $79 for two.
Wild Prices out West
- The West offers the highest prices and is home to five of the top 10 most expensive cities on this year’s U.S. TripIndex: #2 Honolulu ($2,088), #3 Seattle ($1,917), #5 Los Angeles ($1,814), #7 San Francisco ($1,756) and #9 Portland, Ore. ($1,568)
- With its many beloved but more costly amusement parks, Orlando tops the list of the most expensive destinations at around $2,217 for a three-day trip. The top five attractions in Orlando included in the TripAdvisor analysis average approximately $300 for two travelers, but there are still plenty of free and low-cost options for those planning to visit this family-friendly city. Travelers who want to check out Orlando’s popular parks can also save on these must-see attractions by booking multi-day passes on TripAdvisor before their trip.
- New York City was the only U.S. city included in the international analysis and topped the global list as the most expensive at $1,826 for a three-day trip.
Asia Offers Top International Value
- Four of the 10 most affordable cities worldwide are in Southeast Asia: #1 Hanoi ($497) #4 Kuala Lumpur ($627), #5 Bangkok ($645) and #7 Bali ($678).
- On average, Southeast Asia destinations are almost half (47%) as expensive as New Orleans, which is the least expensive city on the U.S. list.
- Hong Kong ($1,135) comes in seventh on the list of the most expensive international destinations, but travelers can still save when visiting the city – the top three most popular attractions on TripAdvisor are available for free.
- Budget-conscious foodies will enjoy Cape Town – the city offers the least expensive lunch and dinner prices at $20 and $38, respectively.
- Despite uncertainty caused by the Brexit, London ($1,411) remains one of the priciest cities for a summer trip and is the third most expensive destination on the international list.
TripIndex Cities: Average Cost of a Three-Day Summer Trip for Two Travelers
From the least expensive to the most expensive (bold and italics indicate least and most expensive destinations for each item respectively):
Least Expensive – U.S:
| Destination | Lunch (per day) | Dinner (per day) | Uber (2-mile round-trip) | Tour/ Activity (per day) | Hotel (per night) | Total (three days) | |||||||||||||
| 1 | New Orleans | $ | 31 | $ | 103 | $ | 21 | $ | 10 | $ | 217 | $ | 1,148 | ||||||
| 2 | Houston | $ | 39 | $ | 102 | $ | 18 | $ | 29 | $ | 209 | $ | 1,190 | ||||||
| 3 | Las Vegas | $ | 40 | $ | 96 | $ | 21 | $ | 51 | $ | 190 | $ | 1,195 | ||||||
| 4 | Atlanta | $ | 35 | $ | 96 | $ | 21 | $ | 33 | $ | 247 | $ | 1,296 | ||||||
| 5 | Dallas | $ | 33 | $ | 103 | $ | 15 | $ | 34 | $ | 252 | $ | 1,315 | ||||||
| 6 | Miami | $ | 35 | $ | 98 | $ | 24 | $ | 38 | $ | 258 | $ | 1,359 | ||||||
| 7 | Washington, D.C. | $ | 46 | $ | 111 | $ | 23 | Free2 | $ | 289 | $ | 1,406 | |||||||
| 8 | Philadelphia | $ | 34 | $ | 101 | $ | 26 | $ | 26 | $ | 307 | $ | 1,483 | ||||||
| 9 | San Diego | $ | 34 | $ | 79 | $ | 21 | $ | 50 | $ | 314 | $ | 1,491 | ||||||
| 10 | Minneapolis | $ | 32 | $ | 93 | $ | 20 | $ | 32 | $ | 328 | $ | 1,516 | ||||||
Most Expensive – U.S:
| Destination | Lunch (per day) | Dinner (per day) | Uber (2-mile round-trip) | Tour/ Activity (per day) | Hotel (per night) | Total (three days) | |||||||||||||
| 1 | Orlando | $ | 37 | $ | 95 | $ | 20 | $ | 302 | $ | 284 | $ | 2,217 | ||||||
| 2 | Honolulu | $ | 42 | $ | 121 | $ | 24 | $ | 74 | $ | 436 | $ | 2,088 | ||||||
| 3 | Seattle | $ | 42 | $ | 108 | $ | 33 | $ | 33 | $ | 424 | $ | 1,917 | ||||||
| 4 | Boston | $ | 37 | $ | 106 | $ | 30 | $ | 31 | $ | 409 | $ | 1,840 | ||||||
| 5 | New York City | $ | 57 | $ | 114 | $ | 36 | $ | 33 | $ | 369 | $ | 1,826 | ||||||
| 6 | Los Angeles | $ | 49 | $ | 116 | $ | 17 | $ | 56 | $ | 367 | $ | 1,814 | ||||||
| 7 | San Francisco | $ | 37 | $ | 98 | $ | 27 | $ | 44 | $ | 380 | $ | 1,756 | ||||||
| 8 | Denver | $ | 38 | $ | 125 | $ | 18 | $ | 24 | $ | 340 | $ | 1,634 | ||||||
| 9 | Portland, Ore. | $ | 35 | $ | 103 | $ | 26 | $ | 8 | $ | 351 | $ | 1,568 | ||||||
| 10 | Chicago | $ | 39 | $ | 115 | $ | 21 | $ | 18 | $ | 313 | $ | 1,516 | ||||||
Least Expensive -- International:
| Destination | Lunch (per day) | Dinner (per day) | Taxi (2-mile round-trip) | Tour/ Activity (per day) | Hotel (per night) | Total (three days) | |||||||||||||
| 1 | Hanoi, Vietnam | $ | 28 | $ | 55 | $ | 2 | $ | 2 | $ | 79 | $ | 497 | ||||||
| 2 | Mumbai, India | $ | 24 | $ | 39 | $ | 3 | $ | 3 | $ | 119 | $ | 565 | ||||||
| 3 | Cape Town, South Africa | $ | 20 | $ | 38 | $ | 5 | $ | 16 | $ | 116 | $ | 583 | ||||||
| 4 | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | $ | 31 | $ | 74 | $ | 3 | $ | 15 | $ | 86 | $ | 627 | ||||||
| 5 | Bangkok, Thailand | $ | 32 | $ | 81 | $ | 3 | $ | 13 | $ | 85 | $ | 645 | ||||||
| 6 | Moscow, Russia | $ | 29 | $ | 65 | $ | 5 | $ | 31 | $ | 89 | $ | 656 | ||||||
| 7 | Bali, Indonesia | $ | 21 | $ | 54 | $ | 2 | $ | 5 | $ | 144 | $ | 678 | ||||||
| 8 | Madrid, Spain | $ | 40 | $ | 67 | $ | 12 | $ | 11 | $ | 115 | $ | 733 | ||||||
| 9 | Berlin, Germany | $ | 48 | $ | 84 | $ | 24 | $ | 9 | $ | 130 | $ | 883 | ||||||
| 10 | Vienna, Austria | $ | 54 | $ | 96 | $ | 13 | $ | 26 | $ | 137 | $ | 978 | ||||||
Most Expensive -- International:
| Destination | Lunch (per day) | Dinner (per day) | Taxi (2-mile round-trip) | Tour/ Activity (per day) | Hotel (per night) | Total (three days) | |||||||||||||
| 1 | New York City | $ | 57 | $ | 114 | $ | 36 | $ | 33 | $ | 369 | $ | 1,826 | ||||||
| 2 | Tokyo, Japan | $ | 68 | $ | 131 | $ | 38 | $ | 2 | $ | 267 | $ | 1,519 | ||||||
| 3 | London, UK | $ | 58 | $ | 99 | $ | 20 | $ | 24 | $ | 268 | $ | 1,411 | ||||||
| 4 | Cancun, Mexico | $ | 23 | $ | 53 | $ | 6 | $ | 43 | $ | 329 | $ | 1,364 | ||||||
| 5 | Paris, France | $ | 43 | $ | 76 | $ | 25 | $ | 13 | $ | 254 | $ | 1,232 | ||||||
| 6 | Singapore | $ | 55 | $ | 124 | $ | 11 | $ | 25 | $ | 182 | $ | 1,188 | ||||||
| 7 | Hong Kong, China | $ | 67 | $ | 121 | $ | 11 | Free | $ | 180 | $ | 1,135 | |||||||
| 8 | Sydney, Australia | $ | 57 | $ | 112 | $ | 23 | $ | 14 | $ | 168 | $ | 1,122 | ||||||
| 9 | Rome, Italy | $ | 41 | $ | 75 | $ | 37 | $ | 13 | $ | 179 | $ | 1,037 | ||||||
| 10 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | $ | 50 | $ | 84 | $ | 6 | $ | 13 | $ | 191 | $ | 1,030 | ||||||
Visiting Expensive Cities on a Budget
Travelers can still find value in the five most expensive TripIndex Cities destinations by booking highly-rated value hotels3 and top-rated tours4 on TripAdvisor.
1. New York City – Average nightly summer hotel rate: $369
- Bag a bargain at highly-rated value hotel Distrikt Hotel, bookable on TripAdvisor for $260
- Check out the sights with the Complete Manhattan Island Cruise bookable on TripAdvisor for $30
2. Tokyo, Japan – Average nightly summer hotel rate: $267
- Bag a bargain at highly-rated value hotel Richmond hotel Asakusa, bookable on TripAdvisor for $142
- Check out the sights with the Tokyo Asakusa Rickshaw Tour bookable on TripAdvisor for $38
3. London, UK – Average nightly summer hotel rate: $268
- Bag a bargain at highly-rated value hotel The Westbridge Hotel, bookable on TripAdvisor for $157
- Check out the sights with the Historical Pub Walking Tour of London bookable on TripAdvisor for $32
4. Cancun, Mexico – Average nightly summer hotel rate: $329
- Bag a bargain at highly-rated value hotel The Royal Caribbean, bookable on TripAdvisor for $164
- Check out the sights with Early Access tour of Tulum Ruins with an Archaeologist bookable on TripAdvisor for $45
5. Paris, France – Average nightly summer hotel rate: $254
- Bag a bargain at highly-rated value hotel Grand Hotel Francais, bookable on TripAdvisor for $144
- Check out the sights with a Skip the Line Eiffel Tower Behind-the-Scenes Theatrical Tour bookable on TripAdvisor for $30
TripAdvisor is the world’s largest travel site**. Travelers can read millions of reviews and opinions and book their next trip at: www.tripadvisor.com.
Notes to editors:
1Please see methodology for more details.
2All of the most popular attractions in Washington, D.C. and Hong Kong were free of charge which meant that the total average cost for attractions in both cities was calculated as $0.00.
3Recommended highly-rated value hotels in the five most expensive destinations have a 4.5 average bubble rating, a minimum of 680 reviews and are at least $65 per night less than the average nightly rate for each destination. Hotel pricing is based on TripAdvisor data for June 20 – September 30, 2016, aggregated from booking partners, including online travel agencies and direct hotel suppliers.
4Top rated single-day tours under $45 for each city with a minimum of 10 reviews.
Methodology
The TripIndex Cities 2016 destination list is comprised of 39 key cities. New York City was the only U.S. city included in the international analysis.
TripIndex Cities prices out the daily cost for the following items in each destination, multiplied by three to represent the cost of a three-day city break for two people.
- Lunch: Meal and soft drink
- Dinner: Starter, main meal and bottle of wine to share
- Taxi: Return taxi journey of two miles each way
- Attraction: Average cost of entry to five popular attractions
- Hotel: Accommodation in a 4-4.5 star hotel
Research was conducted by TNS and TripAdvisor and prices were collected through telephone and web search. Prices for the international list were taken in local currencies between March 23 – May 5, 2016 and currency conversion rates were taken from Oanda.com on June 30, 2016. Prices for the domestic U.S. list were taken between June 29 – 30, 2016.
Meals:
- Lunch for two: Prices specify the average cost of a traditional or common main meal for two people with a soft drink. Prices for the international list were collected from menus on restaurant websites between March 23 – May 5, 2016. Prices for the domestic U.S. list were collected between June 29 – 30, 2016. Restaurants were randomly selected within the mid-range category on TripAdvisor and had a 4.5 average bubble rating.
- Dinner for two: Prices specify the average cost of a traditional or common two-course meal (starter and main) for two people with a bottle of house (or cheapest available) red wine. Prices for the international list were collected from menus on restaurant websites between March 23 – May 5, 2016. Prices for the domestic U.S. list were collected between June 29 – 30, 2016. Restaurants were randomly selected within the mid-range category on TripAdvisor and had a 4.5 average bubble rating.
Lunch meal items:
Main meal: Pizza Margherita / Burger & Fries / Pasta dish / Chicken dish / Fish dish / Meat dish / or Local variants if not available.
Soft drink: Coca-Cola/ Pepsi-Cola / other soft drink
Dinner meal items:
Starter course: Salad / Soup / Prawn dish / Mushroom dish / or local variants if not available.
Main meal: Pizza Margherita / Burger & Fries / Pasta dish / Chicken dish / Fish dish / Meat dish / or Local variants if not available.
Wine: Cheapest available bottle of red wine. Price of two beers used instead in Mumbai.
Return taxi journey: Prices specify the average cost of two taxi journeys of two miles each way between two city center locations (representing an evening’s return transportation). Prices were collected from the Uber website/app and represent the average price of two data collection points (outward/ return journey) between 7pm-11pm local time. Non-car pool option selected. Local standard taxi rates were used where Uber was not available (Berlin and Cancun).
Attractions entry for two: For the international list, prices specify the average cost of entry to three popular attractions in each destination for two people. For the domestic U.S. list, prices specify the average cost of entry to five popular attractions in each destination for two people. Both include attractions with free admission. In destinations where all of the most popular attractions are free, the average cost is calculated as $0.00, as is the case with Washington, D.C. and Hong Kong. Prices were collected from destination websites.
Hotel room rates: Room rates specify the average cost of one night’s stay in 4 and 4.5 star hotels in each destination between June 20 – September 30, 2016, aggregated from booking partners, including online travel agencies and direct hotel suppliers.
About TripAdvisor
TripAdvisor® is the world's largest travel site*, enabling travelers to plan and book the perfect trip. TripAdvisor offers advice from millions of travelers and a wide variety of travel choices and planning features with seamless links to booking tools that check hundreds of websites to find the best hotel prices. TripAdvisor branded sites make up the largest travel community in the world, reaching 340 million unique monthly visitors**, and 350 million reviews and opinions covering 6.5 million accommodations, restaurants and attractions. The sites operate in 48 markets worldwide.
TripAdvisor, Inc. (NASDAQ:TRIP), through its subsidiaries, manages and operates websites under 24 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.housetrip.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, and www.virtualtourist.com.
*Source: comScore Media Metrix for TripAdvisor Sites, worldwide, February 2016
**Source: TripAdvisor log files, Q1 2016
CONTACT: Ellie Botelho (781) 800-5542 ebotelho@tripadvisor.com
