The second annual TripAdvisor TripIndex Room Service compares the cost of in-room amenities in 62 popular cities around the world, including 15 in the U.S. The study takes into account the price of a club sandwich ordered through room service, the dry cleaning of one shirt, and the following items from the mini bar: a bottle of water, peanuts, a mini bottle of vodka, and a can of soda.
NEWTON, MASS. – TripAdvisor announced the results of the 2014 TripIndex Room Service, a cost-comparison of common incidental items and services that many travelers will encounter when staying in a hotel. The study reveals Las Vegas is the priciest U.S. city for in-room amenities at an average of $68, while Denver is the least expensive with an average of $41.
The second annual TripAdvisor TripIndex Room Service compares the cost of in-room amenities in 62 popular cities around the world, including 15 in the U.S. The study takes into account the price of a club sandwich ordered through room service, the dry cleaning of one shirt, and the following items from the mini bar: a bottle of water, peanuts, a mini bottle of vodka, and a can of soda.
“With a wide range of in-room amenities available to travelers, the TripIndex Room Service provides a useful snapshot of what guests can expect to pay for hotel incidentals in cities around the world,” said Brooke Ferencsik, director of communications at TripAdvisor. “While 39 percent of U.S. travelers report ordering room service in the last 12 months, only 13 percent said they made a mini bar purchase, so it’s not surprising that some hotel brands have recently announced plans to phase out the mini bar.”
Expect to Pay More for Room Service in America
- Travelers can expect to spend about 22 percent more in the U.S. for these common incidental hotel costs than in popular cities around the world.
- $55 is the average total cost for room service in U.S. cities, $3 more expensive than in 2013.
- $45 is the average TripIndex Room Service total cost for international cities, representing no change from 2013.
Most Affordable Areas for In-Room Amenities
- At $41, Denver is the best value U.S. city for room service, narrowly edging out Seattle ($42) and Minneapolis ($46).
- Coming in at $18, Tunis, Tunisia is the least expensive international city for room service and is less than half the price of the least expensive U.S. city.
- Travelers will find the biggest international room service bargain in Africa, where three of the continent’s destinations are featured in the top five places offering the best value abroad: Tunis (#1); Cape Town, South Africa (#2); and Marrakech, Morocco (#5).
Spendy Spots for Hotel Services
- Among the featured U.S. cities, Las Vegas is the most expensive destination ($68). New York City is a close second at just under $68, followed by Washington, D.C. at $62.
- Helsinki, Finland is the most expensive international spot for room service. At $89, it is nearly five times as expensive as the least expensive destination.
- Scandinavia represents the priciest global region for room service, with Nordic cities claiming four of the 10 most expensive spots: Helsinki (#1); Oslo, Norway (#2); Stockholm, Sweden (#5); and Copenhagen, Denmark (#10).
No Tie Between Room Service and Hotel Prices in the U.S.
While expensive room service and pricey hotel room rates go hand-in-hand internationally, the TripIndex shows no correlation between the two travel expenses in U.S. cities.
- Although travelers will pay the most in Las Vegas for room service, those looking for value may still be able to wager savings on a Vegas trip, as it boasts the least expensive hotel rates among the featured U.S. cities ($140 per night), and is actually the least expensive U.S. destination when the two costs are combined.
- With the most expensive nightly rate ($381), San Francisco demonstrates that hotel prices are still the biggest indicator of total expense. By factoring in the cost of the nightly rate, the “City by the Bay” jumps from middle of the pack in the U.S. (#8) to the most expensive destination.
TripIndex Room Service
U.S. Cities (ranked from least expensive to most expensive for total room service cost):
Destination |
Club sandwich |
Water |
Peanuts |
Soda |
Vodka |
Dry Cleaning |
Total Room Service Cost |
Hotel Room Rate |
|
1. |
Denver, Colorado |
11.65 |
4.44 |
6.34 |
3.25 |
7.17 |
8.58 |
41.43 |
265.33 |
2. |
Seattle, Washington |
13.00 |
4.08 |
5.92 |
3.08 |
8.33 |
7.17 |
41.58 |
364.63 |
3. |
Minneapolis, Minnesota |
12.00 |
3.50 |
8.35 |
3.62 |
9.17 |
9.08 |
45.72 |
245.49 |
4. |
Dallas, Texas |
12.33 |
4.17 |
8.90 |
3.17 |
10.73 |
9.42 |
48.72 |
218.99 |
5. |
Orlando, Florida |
14.00 |
4.25 |
9.53 |
3.75 |
9.68 |
8.17 |
49.38 |
203.41 |
6. |
Chicago, Illinois |
14.33 |
4.75 |
9.83 |
3.83 |
9.83 |
9.08 |
51.67 |
300.20 |
7. |
New Orleans, Louisiana |
16.25 |
5.17 |
10.17 |
4.33 |
9.17 |
7.67 |
52.76 |
210.75 |
8. |
San Francisco, California |
17.00 |
4.83 |
6.00 |
4.50 |
8.83 |
12.00 |
53.16 |
381.23 |
9. |
Boston, Massachusetts |
14.67 |
5.34 |
12.78 |
4.36 |
11.11 |
10.25 |
58.51 |
361.97 |
10. |
Atlanta, Georgia |
14.00 |
4.66 |
10.16 |
4.87 |
15.20 |
10.67 |
59.56 |
208.32 |
11. |
Honolulu, Hawaii |
18.33 |
6.00 |
11.50 |
4.00 |
10.67 |
9.42 |
59.92 |
322.42 |
12. |
Los Angeles, California |
17.33 |
6.75 |
10.75 |
4.17 |
10.67 |
11.00 |
60.67 |
277.97 |
13. |
Washington, D.C. |
19.00 |
5.00 |
7.33 |
7.33 |
9.33 |
13.67 |
61.66 |
268.48 |
14. |
New York City, New York |
24.15 |
3.93 |
7.13 |
3.86 |
16.76 |
12.00 |
67.83 |
363.74 |
15. |
16.67 |
6.67 |
12.00 |
5.33 |
12.67 |
14.67 |
68.01 |
139.51 |
Best Value International Cities
Destination |
Club sandwich |
Water |
Peanuts |
Soda |
Vodka |
Dry Cleaning |
Total Room Service Cost |
Hotel Room Rate |
|
1. |
Tunis, Tunisia |
6.95 |
1.83 |
2.56 |
2.02 |
1.58 |
3.47 |
18.41 |
168.45 |
2. |
Cape Town, South Africa |
7.25 |
2.37 |
2.31 |
1.66 |
2.31 |
7.07 |
22.97 |
119.54 |
3. |
Budapest, Hungary |
7.82 |
2.41 |
5.59 |
2.48 |
1.56 |
5.60 |
25.46 |
109.58 |
4. |
Prague, Czech Republic |
8.11 |
2.46 |
4.20 |
2.54 |
2.54 |
5.92 |
25.77 |
125.31 |
5. |
Marrakech, Morocco |
10.63 |
1.89 |
6.42 |
2.20 |
0.00 |
5.81 |
26.95 |
143.32 |
6. |
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico |
10.24 |
2.46 |
5.69 |
1.86 |
2.12 |
4.65 |
27.02 |
130.47 |
7. |
Istanbul, Turkey |
6.62 |
2.30 |
6.71 |
2.94 |
4.05 |
5.06 |
27.68 |
165.00 |
8. |
Jakarta, Indonesia |
8.59 |
2.86 |
4.40 |
3.23 |
2.77 |
5.99 |
27.84 |
90.81 |
9. |
Dubrovnik, Croatia |
9.10 |
3.40 |
6.18 |
3.67 |
1.76 |
3.73 |
27.84 |
242.45 |
10. |
Hanoi, Vietnam |
9.48 |
2.25 |
6.88 |
2.86 |
2.01 |
4.42 |
27.90 |
98.98 |
Most Expensive International Cities
Destination |
Club sandwich |
Water |
Peanuts |
Soda |
Vodka |
Dry Cleaning |
Total Room Service Cost |
Hotel Room Rate |
|
1. |
Helsinki, Finland |
38.16 |
6.44 |
12.13 |
6.37 |
5.51 |
20.33 |
88.94 |
200.46 |
2. |
Oslo, Norway |
29.42 |
7.43 |
15.75 |
7.12 |
5.12 |
22.75 |
87.59 |
199.53 |
3. |
Seoul, South Korea |
27.35 |
7.40 |
6.13 |
7.86 |
9.90 |
14.67 |
73.31 |
154.59 |
4. |
Zurich, Switzerland |
31.29 |
5.94 |
10.84 |
5.56 |
4.32 |
14.39 |
72.34 |
296.52 |
5. |
Stockholm, Sweden |
28.40 |
4.13 |
11.31 |
4.93 |
5.03 |
15.36 |
69.16 |
236.75 |
6. |
Paris, France |
23.58 |
6.81 |
12.58 |
6.79 |
6.97 |
11.16 |
67.89 |
327.60 |
7. |
New York City, New York |
24.15 |
3.93 |
16.76 |
3.86 |
7.13 |
12.00 |
67.83 |
363.74 |
8. |
Toronto, Canada |
20.81 |
5.35 |
18.23 |
3.39 |
8.04 |
9.88 |
65.70 |
230.32 |
9. |
Singapore |
19.38 |
5.21 |
14.83 |
6.56 |
6.20 |
10.16 |
62.34 |
203.41 |
10. |
Copenhagen, Denmark |
24.27 |
2.76 |
10.76 |
5.01 |
3.70 |
13.38 |
59.88 |
242.31 |
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.