Brits facing holiday hell this summer as European hotel prices soar by 50%
UK tourists face a holiday nightmare this summer after seeing hotel fees in Europe soar by more than 50% in a year.
Three quarters of popular European cities have jacked up their prices in response to surging demand, forcing cash-strapped Brits to spend a fortune if they want to get abroad.
Meanwhile dismal weather at home is affecting staycation plans.
READ MORE: Brits ditch UK for double pay in country where 'life is better and everyone is happy'
Madrid has been named as the worst offender, according to an analysis of 35 destinations by Post Office Travel Money.
A two-night stay in the Spanish capital now costs £385 on average, compared to just £161 in 2022.
And visitors to Berlin face the second highest increase, with the average bill rising from £168 to £372.
Laura Plunkett, head of travel money at the Post Office, said: “This year’s rise in prices makes it even more important for holidaymakers to do their homework before booking a city break.
“The increased price of accommodation could add hundreds of pounds to the overall cost of a holiday.
“We also advise checking costs for meals, drinks and sightseeing before booking.”
The priciest cities for a weekend break were found to be Amsterdam at £525, followed by £480 Venice, £448 Dublin and £402 Florence.
Researchers blamed a shortage of three and four-star rooms, leaving only five-star hotels available.
But travellers can still bag a bargain by heading for the Portuguese capital of Lisbon, where an average two-night stay costs just £121.
Experts also recommend £128 Athens, £130 Vilnius, Lithuania, £130 Krakow, Poland and £146 Riga, Latvia.
Laura added: “There are wide variations in costs between cities.
“People who are prepared to swap destination can make their pounds stretch much further by choosing a cheaper capital like Lisbon or Vilnius.”
Lisbon was found to have the lowest average prices for tourist staples, charging just £39.01 for a three-course meal for two with house wine.
Costs were less than a third of those in Europe’s most expensive cities of Venice and Amsterdam.
It comes after consumer group Which? found hiring a car in Europe is now 77% more expensive than in 2019, amid high demand and depleted stocks.
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