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ULURU has topped a list of Australia’s most expensive holiday destinations and finished in the top three dearest places to stay in the world.
The latest Hotels Price Index report based on bookings made through Hotels.com, showed the average price paid to stay at Uluru was $300 a night in the first six months of this year, up from $287 in the same period last year.
On a global scale, only New York City ($316) and Rio de Janeiro ($302) were more expensive.
The Whitsundays off Queensland’s central coast came in second to Uluru at $232 a night — down from $254 last year — followed by Darwin at $212 and Sydney for $199 a night.
At the other end of the scale, Alice Springs offered the cheapest hotel stay at an average $106 a night, followed by Launceston in Tasmania at $141, up from $136.
A spokeswoman for Ayers Rock Resort questioned the methodology used by the price index, pointing out there were only five hotels listed at Uluru compared with 354 in Sydney.
“Every guest who stays at any accommodation at Ayers Rock Resort has access to a comprehensive suite of free daily guest activities which adds significantly to value for money,” she said.
“These include guided garden walks, a daily cultural dance performance, didgeridoo lessons, spear and boomerang throwing lessons, yarns and traditional weapons talks.”
The report found American and Chinese tourists tended to pay the most for accommodation in Australia, spending an average $192 a night followed by UK visitors ($188) and the Swiss and South Africans ($187).
The weaker Australian dollar was credited for a shift in Aussie travelling habits, with more of us opting for pocket friendly destinations such as Ho Chi Minh City and Bangkok.
“Asian cities made up half of the top 10 overseas destinations for Australian jetsetters so far this year,” said Hotels.com regional director Katherine Cole.
“The top five destinations providing Aussies with the best value for money were Pattaya in Thailand for an average $70 a night, Hanoi in Vietnam ($71), Phnom Penh ($71) and Siem Reap ($72) in Cambodia, and Cebu ($74) in the Philippines.”
American destinations lost ground in the popularity stakes with Australians as the dollar weakened against the greenback.
Los Angeles fell six places to 12, and Las Vegas slipped four places to ninth.
Even New York lost its top spot to Bali, which offered a four-star room for an average $150 a night, compared with the Big Apple’s $348 price tag for the same standard.
“The weaker dollar has also seen Aussies travelling more at home with many popular holiday spots across the country offering very affordable accommodation prices,” said Ms Cole.
Dearest Australian holiday destinations – average room prices
1. Uluru $300 (up from $287 last year)
2. Whitsunday Islands $232 (down from $254)
3. Darwin $212 (up from $195)
4. Sydney $199 (up from $190)
5. Perth $193 (down from $200)
6. Canberra $189 (up from $188)
7. Sunshine Coast $184 (up from $166)
8. Byron Bay $182 (up from $169)
9. Blue Mountains $178 (up from $161)
10. Port Douglas $177 (steady at $177)
Cheapest Australian holiday destinations
1. Alice Springs $106 (down from $114)
2. Launceston $141 (up from $136)
3. Cairns $144 (up from $132)
4. Adelaide $152 (up from $141)
5. Melbourne $168 (up from $163)
Cheapest international holiday destinations for Aussie travellers
1. Pattaya, Thailand $70
2. Hanoi, Vietnam $71
3. Phnom Penh, Cambodia $71
4. Siem Reap, Cambodia $72
5. Cebu, Philippines $74
6. Chiang Mai, Thailand $79
7. Manila, Philippines $84
8. Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam $86
9. Bangkok, Thailand $87
10. Hoi An, Vietnam $89
Dearest international holiday destinations – average room prices
1. New York $316 (up from $281 last year)
2. Rio de Janeiro $302 (up from $291)
3. Cancun $294 (up from $236)
4. Boston $282 (up from $239)
5. Honolulu $278 (up from $248)
6. Venice $274 (up from $233)
7. Paris $259 (up from $227)
8. Moscow $254 (up from $233)
9. San Francisco $253 (up from $215)
10. London $251 (up from $214)
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