Need a Five-Star Hotel? Head to Thailand for the Cheapest Rates

The average cost of a one night’s stay in a Thai hotel dropped by almost 3% last year, making the country one of the best in the world as far as low-cost accommodation rates go.

The survey by the Hotel Price Index also noted that the cost of Singapore hotels rose by a huge 26% in just one year, meaning it is now ranked as Asia’s most expensive city. The survey was based upon figures from the hotels.com website, which advertises 110,000 hotel rooms in more than 18,000 cities across the world.

Last year, the average price for a room in Thailand dropped to $95, a slight reduction from the $98 average in 2009. Political turmoil and a large availability of accommodation options were given as reasons for the decline. Bangkok now joins Prague, Budapest and Berlin in a select group of international cities cited as having the most affordable five-star room rates.

Singapore meanwhile has risen to the top of the pile in Asia as far as expensive hotel rooms go. The average price per night for five-star accommodation in the city jumped from $159.75 to $202.50 last year. The Hotel Price Index attributed the increase to the introduction of several new tourist attractions and a rebound in the city-state’s corporate travel sector.

Japanese and South Korean hotels were rated second and third in terms of expense, at $161.40 per night, followed by China ($151), Taiwan ($144.90) and India ($141.60).

The report also indicated that the average price of a five-star hotel room throughout the world increased by 2% last year.

Globally, the most expensive hotels in the world were those in Russia, followed by Switzerland, Brazil, and Israel, with Singapore in 5^th place.