Hotels.com Index Reveals World's Cheapest Five-Star Destinations

Hotels.com has released its 2026 Hotel Price Index, identifying global and domestic destinations where five-star hotel stays are available at significantly reduced rates. The report, which analyzes data from over 11,000 travelers and internal reservation platforms, highlights savvy booking strategies that can lead to substantial savings.

Internationally, Nha Trang, Vietnam, emerged as the most affordable destination for luxury accommodations, with average five-star room rates of £70 per night. Following closely are Zaragoza, Spain, and Wrocław, Poland, both offering luxury stays at approximately £120 per night. Tirana, Albania, and Riga, Latvia, round out the top five, with rates around £130 per night. Other notable international destinations with luxury options under £200 per night include Zagreb, Croatia (£130), Sofia, Bulgaria (£135), Heraklion, Greece (£135), Tallinn, Estonia (£140), and Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic (£140).

For travelers seeking luxury closer to home, Brighton, UK, offers the most value, with five-star rooms averaging £115 per night. Bristol also provides luxury stays at £115, followed by Chichester (£120), Llandudno (£125), and Worcester (£125). Other affordable UK options include Bournemouth (£130), Cornwall (£135), Leeds (£145), Cardiff (£155), and Liverpool (£170).

The index also identified destinations experiencing notable drops in room rates. Loire, France, has seen a 32 percent decrease, followed by Edmonton, Canada, at 31 percent. St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, recorded a 30 percent drop, with Dortmund, Germany, and Turin, Italy, both seeing a 21 percent decrease. Internationally, Kassandra, Greece, and Agrigento, Italy, also reported 21 percent price drops, while Montego Bay, Jamaica, saw an 18 percent decrease, and Cancun, Mexico, and Dominica experienced 16 percent and 13 percent drops, respectively.

According to Hotels.com travel expert Melanie Fish, booking closer to the travel date can yield significant savings, with travelers saving as much as 26 percent by booking less than seven days in advance compared to booking over four months out. Checking in on a Sunday can also lead to savings of approximately 14 percent compared to Saturday stays. January is identified as the most affordable month for travel, while the second week of July typically sees the highest hotel rates for domestic trips. These insights suggest that strategic booking can unlock luxury experiences at a fraction of the usual cost, with travelers becoming increasingly adept at maximizing value.