Athens Hotel Rate Hikes Reflect Increasing Popularity

Athens ranks third among European destinations with the highest increase in hotel rates for May compared to the previous month, according to online booking agent trivago.gr’s Hotel Price Index released on Wednesday.

The average nightly rate for accommodation in the Greek capital comes to 133 euros, up by 34.3 percent compared with April (at 99 euros) and 25.5 percent compared to May 2014 (106 euros). Athens ranks third after Venice with 335 euros per night (238 euros in the previous month) and Prague at 150 euros.

According to trivago.gr, this rise reflects Athens’ positive image as a choice destination.

Athens airport traffic, meanwhile, continued its upward trend in April reaching 1.46 million passengers, a 21.1 percent annual growth rate y-o-y. The number of foreign passengers rose by 22.8 percent and domestic travelers by 18 percent.

Other Greek destinations hiking accommodation rates include Delphi at 84 euros per night, up by 13.5 percent compared to April and by 25.4 percent compared to May 2014, while in Heraklio, Crete, nightly prices rose by 11.4 percent to 88 euros on a monthly and annual basis. Nafplio rates rose by 33 percent against last year at 117 euros.