The UK is home to many top stays, and some of the more luxurious sites are more accessible than you think.
Today, Hotels.com has released its 2025 Hotel Price Index to find the best value stays and the destinations “where the pound will go further”.
Here are the key findings, including where in the UK you can find some luxury stays.
What is the Hotel Price Index by Hotels.com?
The Hotel Price Index by Hotels.com analyses global year-on-year average daily rates in the most popular international and domestic destinations and delves into the variation between star ratings.
It compares average daily rates of three, four and five-star hotels from January 1, 2024, to December 31, 2024.
It also compares year-over-year average daily rates from the same period compared to January 1 to December 31 in 2023, across the most popular international and domestic destinations for Brits.
Hotels.com reveals the best UK spots for 5-star stays
For the 2025 Hotel Price Index, Hotels.com has highlighted some of its key findings.
It said that domestic prices remain more affordable, with hotel rates here averaging at £97 per night compared to a rise to £140 per night abroad.
Hotels.com also revealed that five-star luxury hotels in the UK are 21% cheaper than abroad.
Popular cities such as Manchester, Bath and Brighton boast some deals that are less than £200, it said.
Hotels.com also advised those looking to stretch their wallets by going five-star to do it in the UK rather than abroad, with five-star rates averaging at £177 a night compared to £222 a night abroad.
For travellers who want a five-star stay, close to home, you can find the best value in these UK destinations with stays under £200 a night:
- Swindon: £56 a night
- York: £170 a night
- Manchester: £171 a night
- Bath: £193 a night
- Newcastle: £195 a night
Among the most popular cities for Brits booking five-star stays are Brighton, at £106 per night, Cardiff, at £150 per night, and London, which sits higher at £306 per night.
The new Hotel Price Index also revealed some of the UK’s “four-star sweet spots”.
Hotels.com’s analysis showed that four-star hotels offer the best value for travellers looking to upgrade their stays abroad.
Meanwhile, five-star hotels cost, on average, 63% more than four-star hotels, with domestic hotels seeing roughly the same increases.
Hotels.com says the best value for domestic four-star stays includes Aberdeen, Derby and Milton Keynes, all of which have rates under the four-star average of £110 a night.
Best international hotels for 5-star stays
Hotels.com’s new index reveals that some international destinations, including Orlando (-7%) and Las Vegas (-4%) saw declines in hotel prices.
Meanwhile, high-demand destinations like Tokyo (+15%), Seville (+13%) and Madrid (+13%) experienced an increase.
It said that for travellers looking for more affordable trending destinations that are growing in popularity should try Bangkok, Thailand (average daily rate of £77 a night) and Kraków, Poland (average daily rate of £90 a night).
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Hotels.com said the following international cities not only have five-star hotels under £200 but have seen a jump in popularity over the past year:
- Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: £108 a night
- Bangkok. Thailand: £123 a night
- Prague, Czech Republic: £136 a night
- Istanbul, Turkey: £137 a night
- Doha, Qatar: £173 a night
It added that destinations like Bangkok and Istanbul “offer five-star stays at almost three-star prices, redefining the meaning of affordable indulgence”.
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Melanie Fish, travel expert at Hotels.com, said: “For price-conscious travellers in today’s economy, the Hotel Price Index offers a rare, data-driven lens into where your money goes furthest.
“It’s like a travel cheat sheet — revealing where to splurge, where to save, and where luxury quietly costs less.
“Cities like Bangkok, Budapest and Bristol stand out for offering top-rated stays across all star levels, proving that great travel doesn’t have to come with a high price tag.”
