High-priced digs - hotel prices in US cities - Brief Article

American Demographics, Nov, 1997 by Matthew Klein

The priciest hotel stay among major U.S. cities can be had in New York City, where a double room for one night runs an average of $188, according to a new Zagat Survey. Miami is close behind, at $186, largely because rates there have been rising at a fast clip. The average double room in Miami increased 40 percent in price between 1995 and 1997, compared with a 16 percent increase in the Big Apple, and a 24 percent rise on average for the 32 most-expensive cities.

The only city in the top 32 where prices grew faster than Miami was another Florida city, Fort Lauderdale, at 41 percent. Fort Lauderdale is the 14th most expensive place to stay, with an average per-night cost of $155.

Among the priciest towns, Honolulu (19th) had the smallest price hike. The average price of a hotel room in Honolulu rose 7 percent between 1995 and 1997, to $149.

The Zagat Survey also rates hotel quality, and a high room rate doesn't necessarily equate with a great room. Out of the 32 most-expensive cities, New York's hotels rank 30th in quality. Miami's high prices are a little more likely to be worth it; it ranks sixth on the quality scale. The city with the best hotels is Phoenix/Scottsdale, Arizona. Yet hoteliers charge fairly steep prices-the city ranks sixth in cost, at an average of $168 per night.

The converse applies in Las Vegas. Of the 32 most-expensive cities, Las Vegas has the least-expensive average stay, at $105. Unfortunately, travelers to the gambling mecca are getting what they pay for. Las Vegas hotels rank 32nd for quality.

For more information, see Zagat Survey's The Zagat Hotels, Resorts & Spa Survey, Fifth Edition, or contact the company at (800) 333-3421.