Business travel
Gulliver
Hotel prices
Russian alpha beds
Feb 16th 2011, 12:02 by A.B.
MOSCOW still has the most expensive hotel rooms of any city in the world, according to the latest annual survey (PDF) by Hogg Robinson Group (HRG). The average price of a bed in the Russian capital declined over the course of 2010 by 3% when measured in pounds (12% in roubles) to £258.67, yet keeps the city in the top slot for a sixth successive year.
Abu Dhabi, which was behind Moscow last year, plunged to 19th place, mirroring Dubai’s fall in the previous year, and for much the same reason of soaring supply. As a result New York moved up to second place with rates of £211.92, an increase of 3% on 2009.
The biggest increases were seen in Australian cities, with costs in Sydney and Brisbane soaring by 21% and 32% respectively. The report attributed to this to a strengthening of Australia's dollar and its resource-rich economy. And it was a recovery in the financial sector that helped London avoid the downward trend shown elsewhere in Europe. Instead, its average rate rose 3% to £156.91, though this was still only enough to place it 29th out of 75 cities, below the likes of Istanbul, Johannesburg and Mumbai.
Most expensive cities: 1) Moscow £258.67 2) New York City £211.92 3) Geneva £203.42 4) Paris £200.90 5) Zurich £198.58 6) Washington, DC £193.12 7) Hong Kong £191.24 8) Stockholm £189.30 9) Doha £183.54 10) Riyadh £175.82
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Since Moscow has the most expensive hotel rooms of any city in the world, - let's stay away from Moscow ! With empty hotel rooms prices will rapidly decline.
And how much would they charge per night in this Russian palace ? Its far away from Moscow but its the comfort that counts !
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/russia/8323981/Vladimir...
Does the Moscow beds come with bedbugs, like in New York or London??
The headline of the post is utterly hilarious, thank you for a minute of good laugh.
Anjin-San
Well, that depends on how many stars a hotel has: a four-star hotel might boast that it is 'insect-companion-free', however I would not be so sure about three-star ones, as they often tend to be Soviet-era hotels that have been scarcely renovated since the fall of the USSR; that the way it is in post-Soviet countries, like Russia and Ukraine.
And here I thought that Luanda was the most expensive city. Perhaps you should talk to your colleague Baobab?
Tokyo is really a bargain today compared with the cities mentioned. I just booked a double room there that includes free breakfast for two, free internet, parking, premier lounge that include free cocktails and snacks, and use of a very upscale fitness center. $350 before taxes. Try that in NYC, or any other major city.
Also, can't beat the food!
There are much cheaper - and bed-bug free, thank you - rooms in Moscow. But foreigners who insist on 5-star hotels that speak fluent English, accept credit cards, provide Internet and laundry services, you are in a narrow band that you pay to occupy.
Before I had my current flat, I stayed in hotel rooms in Moscow for 45-50$/night (2005-2006), that were quite clean and safe. But no English, no credit cards, no Internet, no laundry service, no room service...
@SU321: no internet, no laundry, and no service. How can that place be a 'hotel' then! Its not even a service aptmt. Its got to be cheaper anyways!
I know there are good reasons to use average rates but it's unfortunately rather misleading. £203.42 will, on average, get you a broom cupboard in Geneva while £193.12 gets you a reasonably-sized room in DC. To get the same room in Geneva you're looking to pay upwards of £250 (if you're lucky)...