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Finding a good deal on a holiday is getting harder, as research has found that hotel prices are rising.

In a huge global survey, hotel website Hotels.com has gathered information from more than 140,000 hotels in 85 countries to find out how much we are paying for a room.

It was found that worldwide room rates have gone up by 4 per cent in the past year, but fear not. There are still plenty of bargains to be had.

The region that performed best for bargain hunters was Asia. This beautiful part of the world saw an overall drop in hotel room prices of 2 per cent.

And for those of you who fancy soaking up the sun in North Africa, there’s never been a better time to go.

The research found that hotel rooms in Egypt were down by 22 per cent last year, while prices in Sharm El Sheikh dropped by a whopping 30 per cent. Tunisia also saw a fall in prices of 9 per cent in 2011. Given the unrest in this part of the world, it was no surprise to see room rates drop.

There is also good news for those of us planning a staycation this year. UK hotel prices dropped by 1 per cent to an average of £82. However, if you’re planning a trip to London, be warned – prices in the capital went up by 1 per cent to an average of £115.

A number of countries across Europe saw hotel price increases, but Greece’s economic problems are an opportunity for holidaymakers. Hotel prices in Athens dropped by 10 per cent last year, making the Greek capital the ideal holiday destination for bargain-hunting travellers. And the weather isn’t bad either.

(Image: WomEOS, urban)

About the author

Oonagh ShielContent Manager at Cheapflights whose travel life can be best summed up as BC (before children) and PC (post children). We only travel during the school holidays so short-haul trips and staycations are our specialities!

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