European hotel prices remain favourable in August and are three percent cheaper in comparison to August 2008. Hotel prices in Madrid and Paris are at their lowest level this year. While the prices in many cities continue to fall, some cities are showing remarkably high prices in August. These are the findings of the tHPI (trivago Hotel Price Index) which is published monthly by the hotel price comparison site trivago.co.uk.

The trivago hotel price index shows that average European accommodation prices in August are three percent less than the previous year and the same as the previous month. A standard double room costs 90 pounds in August 2009, compared to 93 pounds in August 2008. In 36 of the top 50 European cities hotel prices have decreased or remained the same. Average hotel rates in the United Kingdom are currently 13 percent above the European average.

Average hotel prices in some cities have risen considerably in August
Edinburgh has replaced Geneva as the most expensive city in Europe for the first time this year. A room in Edinburgh is 168 pounds in August 2009; 51 percent more than the previous month due to the International Festival in August. Overnight accommodation prices in Stockholm have also risen dramatically (121 pounds). A large Cultural Festival in Stockholm that runs from 11th to the 16th August has driven the prices up by 20 percent from July to August. Additional cities that have seen a large increase in average hotel prices in comparison to the previous month are: Copenhagen (136 pounds), Valencia (75 pounds) and Oslo (126 pounds).

The cheapest European cities in August
The Southern European cities remain the most favourable in August. The average hotel in Paris is 102 pounds, nine percent less than this time last year, Madrid is 33 percent less (66 pounds) and Rome is 13 percent less (91 pounds) in comparison to August 2008. Hotel prices in the Spanish and French capitals are at their lowest level this year. Further cities at an all time low this year are Manchester (72 pounds) and Birmingham (65 pounds).

Hotel prices in the United Kingdom are 13 percent above the European average
In comparison with the rest of Europe, the United Kingdom is currently ranked the tenth most expensive destination in August; the average price for a standard double room is 13 percent above the August average (102 pounds). Wales (99 pounds) is the cheapest country in the United Kingdom, followed by Northern Ireland (109 pounds) and England (116 pounds). Scotland has the highest average hotel rates in August (145 pounds), due to the previously mentioned Cultural Festival in Edinburgh. In London hotel prices have decreased by six percent in comparison to the previous month. The most expensive overnight accommodation is in Switzerland (137 pounds), Norway (124 pounds) and Denmark (124 pounds). The cheapest hotel rooms can be found in Poland (60 pounds), Bulgaria (68 pounds) and Hungary (69 pounds). In Majorca, average hotel prices in August are 43 percent above the Spanish average at 123 pounds.

England regional price ranking: the West Midlands are the cheapest region
Within England, the Greater London area is the most expensive region in England, a standard double room costs an average of 124 pounds. The second most expensive region is South-West England (101 pounds) due to the holiday season; South-East England follows in third place at 95 pounds. In England, overnight accommodation is most favourable in August in the West Midlands (71 pounds), Yorkshire and the Humber (76 pounds) and the East Midlands (77 pounds).