In February, as snow and severe weather warnings sweep through the UK and the rest of Europe, hotel prices are likewise dropping along with the temperatures. These are the findings of the trivago Hotel Price Index (tHPI) prepared each month by the hotel price comparison website trivago.co.uk.

Compared to February 2011, cities across the UK are showing a decrease in hotel prices this month. Newcastle (£73) is reporting the greatest decrease, with prices down 17 percent. Blackpool (£55) in second, reported a price decrease of 13 percent, followed by Liverpool (£77, down 10 percent), Edinburgh (£89, down 9 percent), Birmingham (£70, down 5 percent), Sheffield (£64, down 4 percent) and Glasgow (£70, down 4 percent). The Irish capitol of Dublin (£70, down 7 percent) and the Welsh capital of Cardiff (£71, down 12 percent) also reported price drops this month.

Europe’s Cold Climate Possible Cause of Dropping Hotel Rates: Along with the UK, a number of European cities are likewise experiencing a decline in hotel prices this February. Compared to last month, Eastern European cities such as Prague (£61, down 26 percent), Istanbul (£75, down 5 percent), and Budapest (£49, down 6 percent) have all experienced decreases in price- as has the Greek capital of Athens (£60, down 5 percent). Budapest (down 5 percent compared to February 2011) and Athens (down 14 percent compared to February 2011) in particular, are also reporting their lowest hotel rates since May 2008, per the trivago Hotel Price Index. While in Prague, an overnight stay in a standard double is at its lowest reported level since March 2011.

Compared to February 2011, numerous European cities are likewise experiencing similar declines this month. In Oslo (£136, down 9 percent) and Copenhagen (£112, down 3 percent,) prices have decreased since last year. Similar can be observed in the Spanish cities of Valencia (£65, down 15 percent), Madrid (£81, down 7 percent), Malaga (£58, down 4 percent) Granada (£57, down 3 percent) and Sevilla (£63, down 3 percent) -as well as in Western European cities such as Munich (£95, down 8 percent), Dresden (£69, down 4 percent), Amsterdam (£96, down 3 percent).

Carnival destinations show increased hotel prices: Despite the overall price drop across Europe this month, there are a few select cities that have seen an increase in hotel prices. Among those with the greatest increases in price is Venice (£145, up 35 percent) -presumably due to the influx of visitors making their way to the popular Carnival city for the festivities. New Orleans (£147, up 12 percent), American’s most popular Marti Gras (Carnival) destination, also saw a similar increase in prices this month.