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Lloret de Mar is the largest resort area along Costa Brava, Spain. It is a popular beach destination so it tends to be over-crowded with tourists during the summer season. Outside the summer season, Lloret de Mar is a quite place to enjoy a romantic walk on the beach and relax.

Planning your budget: packages vs independent travel

While during the summer season the best options is to look for a European vacation package , during the low-season you won’t be able to find too many good deals for places which are traditional associated with the summer vacation.

Since there are buses linking Barcelona to Costa Brava, it’s a good idea is look for flights to Barcelona and then travel to Lloret de Mar. You can rent a car if you want more freedom and plan to visit other places along the coast, as well.

During the off-season, finding cheap hotels in Lloret de Mar is not hard at all. The prices are also considerably lower than during the peak season.

What to do in Lloret de Mar in November

Unfortunately there aren’t many things to do in Lloret de Mar this time of the year. There are some shrine festivals in the area so if you like such gatherings they might be interesting to check out. Torroella de Montgrí takes place on the second fortnight of November and has both a purpose of devotion and entertainment.

If you plan to travel in the area, take a short trip to Salt on Nov 20 and attend the Cem Winter Festival. It’s an excellent choice for those info techno music (attendants must be 18 or older).

You can always plan a day trip to Barcelona and spend some time enjoying the many festivals and events taking place there. Nivalia Ski Show 2009 takes place on Nov 16.

Places to stay

Don’t worry about finding a place to stay during this time of the year. There aren’t any crowds rushing to find a spot here and there aren’t popular festivals to attract visitors either. So, you are in for a relaxing, quiet experience. Pay attention that some hotels close down during the winter season.

Acacias Hotel is a 4-star hotel located 1 km from the beach. In November room rates start at $61/night. Room rates include breakfast and dinner.

Excelsior is a 3-star hotel located right by the sea. All rooms have en-suite bathroom, TV, AC, heating and wi-fi. In November, room rates start at €65.50/night (double room) and include all taxes and fees.

Hotel Anabel is a 4-star hotel, close to the beach. All rooms have AC, bathroom TV, phone, safe and minibar. The hotel is close for the winter season.

Aquarium Hotel is a 4-star hotel located close to the beach and about 1 km from the city center. All rooms have private bathroom, TV, phone, AC, heating and balcony. Breakfast and dinner are included in the room rates (HB). The hotel is closed during the off-season.

Costa Encantada Aparthotel is located about 1 km from the beach. It offers a swimming pool, a children’s pool, restaurant, bar, pub, gym, spa, children play area and many more. All apartments have bathroom, AC, kitchenette, TV, phone and balcony. The hotel is closed during the off-season though.

Placa Paris is a 3-star hotel located in the center of Lloret de Mar. Barcelona Airport is 32 km away. All rooms have private bathroom (with toiletries), TV, phone and minibar. This hotel is not open during the off-season though.

Typically, our vacations last for at most two weeks – thanks to busy working schedules and limited paid vacation days – but there are many time when we’d wish to spend at least a month on the road, experiencing incredible cities and excellent cuisines. Take the Road to Marrakech for 29 days and pay $3,930 per person.

Shorter vacations are excellent choices as well

Vacations tend to average a week and there are good reasons for that. Many of us don’t have the luxury to travel for long or our jobs don’t allow it. But there’s a good part as well: shorter vacations are cheaper and always discounted during the low season.

If you want to spend time checking out the French country side, you can get up to 45% off on France vacations and you can even mix two days on Cote d’Azur with two days in the Bordeaux region.

If you want to go to Africa, there are other choices than Morocco. For example, you can stay in Egypt for 10 days for prices starting at $649 per person or you can choose a discounted adventure vacation in the same area.

Visiting the Christmas Markets

By mid-late November, numerous Christmas Markets open in various cities around Europe. Some of the famous ones can be found in Vienna, Prague and Munich. If you are waiting for a good reason to visit Europe, now you’ve got it.

You can easily create your own vacation package. Look for flights to Europe and decide what city to fly into. You might want to fly into a major hub such as London or Paris and then choose low-cost flights to travel on the continent.

Once the flights are secured, it’s time to figure out the accommodation. Remember that this time of the year is high season in Europe, especially in the above mentioned cities. For example, you can find affordable hotels in Prague , especially since the city has taken quite a hard hit from the economic crisis and the hotel rates went down sharply. In Vienna and Munich it’s a good idea to look for private rooms in hostels .

Depending on your budget, you can plan to spend at least 3 days in each city. The Christmas market in Vienna opens in mid-November so you can get here early, beat the crowds and get the souvenirs. The one in Munich opens on the first Friday of December, while the one in Prague runs through the entire month of December.

The city of Liverpool, England, is directly tied to the Beatles and, inevitably the band still is one of the city’s biggest tourist draws. Liverpool is a lively city, renowned for its music, nightlife and sports activity. It is also famous for being home to the Pier Head Waterfront, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The Royal Liver Building is the iconic symbol of Liverpool’s waterfront. It is surrounded by other historically important buildings, including the Beatles Story, the St. George’s Hall, the St. Nicholas and Our Lady Church and Albert Dock.

Planning the budget: packages vs independent travel

When planning a vacation in Europe, it’s always a good idea to check which option is cheapest and matches your travel style: buying a European vacation package or booking the flight and hotel separately. Typically, the packages are good options for families and for those who like to have everything planned by others and not worry much when traveling. Also, packages come in handy if you want to save some money, particularly if you plan to travel on the spur of the moment.

If you prefer the independent way, make sure to look for flights to England and then decide whether it’s cheaper to fly directly into Liverpool or if it’s worth it to fly into London and then travel to Liverpool.

Liverpool is not an expensive city hotel-wise. Actually it’s got zero five-star hotels which means there are plenty of cheap hotels in Liverpool to choose from. And the downtown area is very easy to tackle on foot so if you are lucky to grab a room here, you’ve hit jackpot.

Things to do in Liverpool

Any time of the year Liverpool is home to various concerts and shows. But November is special as it’s the time when two major festivals take place in the city.

The Liverpool Design Festival is in full swing and ends on Nov 8. There are exhibitions in various venues in the city. Visitors can even buy art work directly from the artists. Liverpool Hope University presents a very interesting applied art exhibition and Michael Barooah’s photographic work presents striking range of images, concentrated on urban environments.

Liverpool music week started on Oct 29 and ends on Nov 16. The concerts are held at various venues and the artists playing include: Super Furry Animals (Nov 5), Seasick Steve (Nov 7), Kasabian (Nov 16) and Twisted Wheel (Nov 6).

Where to stay

It is a good idea to book the accommodation slightly in advance. Considering that the first half of the month is filled with important festivals, the cheap hotels and hostels will probably be quite full, but chances are you’ll still find available rooms.

YHA Liverpool is rated as a four star hostel in the UK. It is very easy to get from the airport to the hostel as it is located on the 500 bus route. The hostel is located near Albert Dock, just 10 min from the city center. Breakfast is included in the room price and there’s also wi-fi available. Guests under 14 years old are not allowed in the hostel and those under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Room rates start at £50/night for a twin room (bathroom ensuite) and a bed in a 8-bed dorm starts at £20.

Hatters Hostel- Liverpool is located in the heart of the city and is the proud owner of an organic vegetables garden (complete with apple trees). Breakfast is included in the room price, there’s a free bike rental store and the wi-fi works everywhere (including on the roof). Room rates start around £50/night for a double room (bathroom ensuite, TV) and a bed in a 6-bed dorm starts at £17.

Everton Hostel is located close to the city center (10-15 min) and offers PCs with free internet in all shared dorms, game room and breakfast included in the room price. Room rates start around £35/night for a double room (bathroom ensuite) and £9/night for a bed in a 10-bed dorm.

Liverpool International Inn is located in the city center, between the two cathedrals. It offers a TV lounge and game room, kitchen, free wi-fi as well as free coffee and tea all day long. Room rates start at £69/night for a twin room (bathroom ensuite) and £16/night for a bed in a 8-bed (mixed) dorm.

Melwood Serviced Apartments is located 3 miles from the city center and offers a nice choice for those traveling in groups or for larger families. The 4-bed apartment costs £125/night.

Lisbon is particularly known for its culture and nightlife. While during summer tourists flock here for the sandy beaches and excellent clubs, during the colder season it’s the vibrant nightlife that draws people.

There’s a lot of sightseeing to be done and there are plenty of neighborhoods to check out. Just remember to pack an umbrella and some good walking shoes as the weather can be quite unpredictable during autumn.

Budgeting: vacation packages or independent traveling?

When it comes to visiting Europe during the low season (fall or spring), it’s very easy to create your own vacation package. During November, both the airfare and hotel prices are at their lowest. Although you can find cheap flights to Lisbon regardless of where you want to fly from, it’s often a good idea to book a flight into a major European hub (such as London or Paris) and then look for a flight to Lisbon.

Lisbon’s city center is filled with lovely hotels and is also an excellent base for your exploration. Hotels in Lisbon range from cheap to luxury and at this time of the year you might find some good bargains at luxury hotels (which are way too expensive during summer).

If you want to book a Europe vacation package look for something which combines the flight and the accommodation. And you might even want to add some days in the near-by cities as well (Madrid, anyone?).

Things to do in Lisbon in November

Although November is considered a low season month in Lisbon, you surely won’t get bored if you plan your vacation here now.

In early November, you can watch the golf players trying to win the Estoril and Sintra International Golf Week. The events take place at several venues and notable international golf player are invited.

The National Horse Fair takes place in mid-November. It is held n the nearby municipality of Golega, directly north-east of Lisbon and is a very interesting equestrian event.

The 3rd International Videoart & Film Festival, called Primeiras – 1as, takes place from Nov 4 until Nov 28.

Also, the National and international contemporary art festival takes place from Nov 19 until Nov 23 at the FIL’s Pavilion 4. The individual tickets cost €8 and the gallery is open from 4 p.m.

Where to stay

There are plenty of places to stay to choose from, covering every possible budget. It’s a good idea to look for a hotel in the city center, as you’ll be close to everything. This time of the year is perfect for exploring the city without running into hoards of tourists.

Hospedaria Verde Esperanca is located in Lisbon historical heart and is a great base for exploring the city. They offer 10 rooms (singles and doubles). During November, the room rates start at €37 per night for a double room (1 bed; bathroom ensuite).

Residencial Joao XXI is located in the heart of Lisbon at a walking distance of trendy Liberdade Avenue. All rooms have AC, private bathrooms, TV and phone. Breakfast is included in the room price. During November, the room rates start at €37 per night for a double room (1 bed).

Goodnight Hostel is located in the heart of Lisbon’s historical downtown area, on a pedestrian street. It offers 12 rooms and 4 dorms, as well as 2 common rooms. In November, the room rates start at €47 per night (1 bed, shared bathroom).

Guesthouse Beira Mar is located in the oldest part of the city and offers great views of the Tagus River. It offers free wi-fi, free breakfast, free towels and free linen. In November, the room rates start at €53 per night (1 bed, private bathroom).

Lisbon Youth Hostel is located in the center of the city and can accommodate up to 174 guests. During November a bed in a 4-bed dorm costs €16 per night.

The past couple of months have been filled with both good and bad news from the hotel industry. The hotels in Italy performed better in August 2009 than the rest of the hotels in Europe but the news from the Americas weren’t that good.

Middle East

On the other hand, hotels in Dubai has seen a 40% increase during Eid, according to this article from ArabianBusiness.com . Compared to the occupancy rates during Ramadan, a week before Eid the hotel bookings started to pick up, taking the occupancy rate up 75 percent. For the winter season, hoteliers expect an occupancy rate of 85-95%.

United States

In United States, the occupancy rates were down in September but the cost of rooms increased. According to this article from The News Tribune , the occupancy rate in Washington State went down by 3.4% in September 2009. But Seattle and Tri-Cities saw increases although small (1.1% and 0.9% respectively). The average room cost saw an increase of 4.6% statewide, reaching $142.99 in September 2009. Tacoma was the only region in the state where the cost of rooms saw an increase of 8.9%.

In Utah, the hotels in Salt Lake County filled 66% of their rooms in September 2009, down from 73% in September last year. Statewide the occupancy rate fell to 60% this year from 66% in September 2008. The average room rate was down $10 a night in Salt Lake City and almost $8 a night statewide.

For the week of 20-26 September 2009, six of the Top 25 travel markets in the States reported an increase in occupancy rates: Norfolk-Virginia Beach (Virginia), Oahu Island (Hawaii), Denver (Colorado), New York (New York), Anaheim-Santa Ana (California) and Orlando (Florida). The occupancy rates in these cities ranged from 48.9% (Orlando) to 79.7% (Oahu Island).

What does it mean for the travelers?

Although some of the markets are starting to see better days, the room prices are still down and the hoteliers still offer travel deals to keep those rooms occupied. In other words, if you still haven’t managed to take a vacation this year, the time before Christmas might just be perfect to find a great bargain. And if you are after a ski vacation, start searching the deals for mid-late January.

Having been nicknamed both the Sin City and the Entertainment Capital of the World, Las Vegas definitely lives up to its name. There’s always something to do in Las Vegas, whether you want to see a show, spend some money gambling or just relax in one of the hot nightclubs.

On the other hand, Las Vegas is also a nice tourist destination suitable even for families with kids. The Southern Nevada Zoological-Botanical Park is home to over 150 species and visiting it is a nice break from the hustle and bustle of the Strip. Of course watching the Fountains at the Bellagio show is a lovely way to start the night. The Lions Habitat at MGM Grand can be visited for free (if you are a guest) and there are countless more activities and places to visit regardless of your age and things you like to do.

Las Vegas Vacation Packages

The hotels in Las Vegas come disguised as casinos and even miniature theme-parks and the nicest of them are along the Strip, which makes the rooms a bit on the expensive side. So everyone wanting to visit Las Vegas is looking for a bargain. The simplest way to start your search is by finding which Las Vegas vacation packages suit your budget and style. Some are flight-only, some are accommodation-only, some are a combination of the two and some even include tickets to shows.

You can also try your luck and create your own package but we warn you…you’ll be spending a lot of time looking for hotels as there are thousands of hotel rooms in Las Vegas. Finding a cheap flight to Las Vegas is the easiest part. The airport is located very close to the Strip and most hotels on the Strip offer complimentary shuttles.

Now for the accommodation part…finding hotels in Las Vegas is not hard, but finding cheap rooms can be tricky. Some of the hotels on the Strip do have special rates for the off-season and they often add tickets to shows or coupons to be used at the restaurants as part of the bargain. Of course there are also the motels and inns, but you’ll be staying quite far from the Strip (so plan to rent a car as well).

Things to do in Las Vegas in November

You really cannot say you’d be bored in Las Vegas, regardless of the time of year when you plan your vacation. There’s always something going on.

You can watch Kathy Griffin at Mandalay Bay on Oct 30 and enjoy her comedy style. Also, every day in November you can take the kids to the Disney’s The Lion King show, taking place at the same resort.

The Vegas Valley Book Festival takes place from Nov 4 until Nov 8 and the main events take place at the Fifth Street School downtown. It was created as an event to bring together those who writ the books and those who read them.

On Nov 5 you can attend the Fantasy show at Atrium Showroom at Luxor Hotel and Casino Las Vegas or choose the Phantom – The Las Vegas Spectacular at Venetian Resort Hotel and Casino .

Places to stay

Depending on what you have planned to do in Las Vegas, you can start the search by looking at the prices offered by some of the popular and not-so-expensive hotels on the Strip. It’s also a good idea to check out the cheaper hotels and even hostels. Here are some ideas to get you started.

USA Hostels Las Vegas offers a swimming pool, hot tub and AC in all rooms and dorms. They offer free pick up from the Greyhound station on weekends, free wi-fi, all you can eat free pancakes each morning and free coffee all day. During November, a twin private room (bathroom ensuite) costs $45 per night.

Sin City Hostel is the only hostel located on the Strip. All rooms have AC and there’s a kitchen the guests can use. During November, a twin private room (shared bathroom) costs $30 per night.

South Point Hotel, Casino and Spa is located just minutes from the Strip and includes a 16-screen Century Theatre movie complex, a 64-lane bowling center, restaurants, casino, an Equestrian Center and a Spa. In November, the room rates start at $70 per night for a Deluxe Non Smoking Room.

The Carriage House is a non-gaming all suites hotel, just a block away from the Strip. All suites have fully equipped kitchens/kitchenettes. The hotel offers: outdoor heated pool, fitness center, free parking and free wi-fi. In November, the room rates start at $59 per night for a deluxe guest room (1 king bed and kitchenette).

Main Street Station Hotel & Casino offers a casino, excellent shows and nice restaurants to choose from. There’s a pool on site as well. In November, the room rates start at $54 per night in a deluxe room. Special offers for accommodation, shows and meals are available.

November is almost knocking on our doors and the weather in the Northern Hemisphere seems to be acting pretty much like it should by now: cold, crisp days, sprinkled with some rain and even some snow. Right about now, a beach, a cozy hotel room and some cocktails sound great. 7 nights in Cancun, 2 persons, from $738

The Entire Latin America is Affordable

I might be biased when I go on and on about Mexico being excellent choices for a vacation at this time of the year. But the fact is, the entire Latin America is an excellent destination for those looking for luxury vacations at great prices. This article in The New York Times talks about a lot of destinations in Latin America and why they are excellent choices for a luxury vacation.

Europe at your feet

In Europe, the high season kicks off with the Christmas Markets. By the end of November and early December, colorful markets open in many European cities, including Vienna and Prague. Needless to say, the hotel prices are higher during that period.

But, if you hurry, you still have a month to plan your visit and go to Vienna while the hotel prices are still low. And, don’t worry… you get to do a lot of shopping even now. You can stay in a hotel close to Vienna city center (which also has hostel rooms) for prices starting at €66 per night (double supreme room, low season).

Prague is another city famous for the Christmas Market but it’s also an excellent destination to visit during the low-season. There are a lot of things to see and you surely won’t get bored. You can stay in a hotel located close to all Prague sights for prices starting at €46 per night in a double room (until Dec 27).

Some European cities are expensive year-round. That’s particularly the case of Paris, London and Rome, although you can find private rooms in hostels in Europe at affordable prices, even in these cities. Apartments are also great choices, especially if you travel with a group of friends. You can split the cost and enjoy cooking a meal together.

Kissimmee, Florida is a popular vacation spot particularly during spring and summer. It’s also located very close to Disney World and is a great choice for families who want to visit the theme parks but choose to save money on accommodation.

Even if you are using Kissimmee as a base for checking out Disney World, you can visit the city and discover its history. The Old Town is filled with restaurants, shops and there’s even a free ferries wheel (you need a coupon from a book though). The Osceola Heritage Park includes a stadium and an arena, while the Warbird Air Museum is more of a work shop than a museum and specializes in restoring WW2 aircrafts to working conditions. There are also plenty of things to do in nature.

Budgeting: independent traveler vs vacation packages

When it comes to planning a family vacation in/near Kissimmee the easiest way to start your budgeting is by looking up Florida vacation packages . The packages can be found in many forms, from hotel-only, flight-only and/or a combination of the two options.

Once you managed to find a cheap flight to Orlando - the closest airport to Kissimmee – all that’s left to do is to look for accommodation in Kissimmee. Because the city is so popular among those who plan to visit Disney World but also want to save some money, you’ll find a variety of places to stay, ranging from high-end resorts to cheap hotels in Kissimmee .

Things to do

If you mix the festivals and events taking place in Kissimmee with the fun offered by Disney World, chances are you won’t get bored while you stay here.

The Osceola Art Festival takes place in Kissimmee from mid to late November. The event is held at Lakefront Park and gives the visitors a chance to see some of the best and inspiring works of art in the States. It’s a great place to visit if you are into photography or oil painting.

Celebrating the Holidays Around The World at Disney World starts in November. You can see stunning Candlelight Processionals, fireworks and beautiful holiday parades.

Places to stay

This time of the year (fall) is not particularly busy in Kissimmee but crowds flock to Disney World pretty much all the time, so it pays to do a bit of research and book the hotel in advance.

Knights Inn Maingate is located just 1 mile from Disney World and offers free shuttle services to Disney World, Seaworld and Universal Studio. There’s a heat swimming pool on site, available year round. The inn offers free breakfast, free parking and free wi-fi. All rooms have fridge and microwave. During November room rates start at $28 per night for a twin room (bathroom ensuite).

Travelodge Suites Kissimmee is located across the street from Nike outlet mall, and offers free shuttles to all theme parks, free breakfast, free coffee, free wi-fi and all rooms have cable TV. There’s a heated pool available for the guests to use. During November room rates start at $40 per night for a double bed private ensuite.

Florida Fantasy Homes International offers luxury bedrooms (dorm style), all fully equipped. There’s a pool on site and the theme parks are located close by. It may not be the good choice for families, but a group of friends can save a lot of money staying here. In November bed prices start at $12 per night in a 6-bed dorm (bathroom ensuite).

Golden Link Motel is located close to the theme parks and the sports complexes. There’s a heated swimming pool on site. Breakfast is free. All rooms have fridge and microwave. There’s free wi-fi in each room, as well as cable TV. During the low season, the daily rates start at $38.95 (excluding tax).

Lighthouse Key Resort and Spa is a luxury resort offering European style spa services. Guests can enjoy the pool , a pool snack bar and the sundeck. The resort also features a fitness center and a movie theater. Average room rates are $161 per night.

Read more about:

>> Great Events and Affordable Hotels at Disney World This Autumn

Key West is both a city and an island, part of the famous Florida Keys. It’s also the southernmost city in United States. Key West is popular among vacationers for its beaches, the possibility to practice a lot of waters ports and the variety of ecotourism activities. If you prefer some non-beach activities, check out the Key West City Cemetery, the McCoy Indigenous Park and the Shipwreck Museum.

Key West Vacation Packages

Key West is a vacation destination year round but the peak travel season starts just before Christmas. So the fall is a great time to grab one of the Florida Vacation Packages and spend a relaxing vacation. These come in many forms, from flight-only to hotel-only or a combination of the two options. Ideally you should look for a package which offers the flight, accommodation, meals and transfer to/from the airport.

The closest large airport to Key West is Miami, so it only makes sense to look for flights to Miami , if you prefer to create your own package or just love the independent way of traveling. Fort Lauderdale is also relatively close, so it is worth it to look into some alternative flights as well. Make sure to rent a car since it’s the cheapest and easiest way to get from the airport to Key West.

When it comes to accommodation, finding cheap hotels in Key West is not very hard, although the island is small. In general, the hotels in Key West tend to be more expensive than on other Keys.

Festivals and Events in Key West

One of the most interesting festivals takes place in Key West from Oct 23 until Nov 1: Fantasy Fest. In short, it’s an outrageous street festival filled with carnivals, good food and activities which will make your jaw drop.

Remember that we suggested renting a car from the airport? The reason is simple: you can drive between the Keys and check out the festivals there too.

The BubbaFest Bike Tour is a bike tour for all everyone, regardless of their fitness level. It takes place from Nov 7 until Nov 14 and starts in Key Largo. The finish line is in Key West.

Where to stay

If you plan to come to Key West during one of the festivals, make sure to book your accommodation in advance, as the cheap hotels tend to fill up quite quickly. Also, you can consider staying on one of the other Keys.

Eden House : is located in the historic old town Key West, close to Duval Street. The guests can use the heated pool, hammocks, garden café and elevated sundeck. During the low season, standard daily rates start at $160 per night for a small deluxe room. The hotel is running special offers and packages during this time of the year.

Best Western Hibiscus Motel offers complimentary breakfast, a pool for the guests to use and high speed internet. All rooms are equipped with coffee maker, fridge and hair dryer. During the low season, room rates range between $89 and $179 depending on the day of the week, with the highest rates being during the weekend.

Fairfield Inn and Suites Key West is located close to the beaches and shops. It offers 106 rooms, an outdoor swimming pool, fitness center, free wi-fi, free breakfast and free parking. During the low seasons, room rates start at $119 per night.

Doubletree Grand Key Resort offers green lodging and free shuttles to Duval Street, the airport and the beach. It’s a pet friendly resort. The guests can use the pool and the fitness center. The guests can choose between 216 rooms, all with free wi-fi and the breakfast included in the room price. During the low season, room rates start at $159 per night.

Sheraton Suites Key West is located opposite to Smather’s Beach. It offers 180 suites, all with excellent views. There’s a pool on site for the guests to use. All rooms have fridge, microwave, coffee maker, TV and free wi-fi. Suite rates start at $129 per night during the low season.

Read more about:

>>Hot Weather and Affordable Hotels in Florida Keys
>>Snorkeling, Beaches, Festivals and Affordable Hotels in Key Largo This Fall

The STR Global recently reported the Americas hotels performance results for August 2009. According to this article published by Hospitality.net , all three key performance metrics reported in US Dollars declined in August 2009.

The region

The markets for which the numbers are reported include: USA, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Canada and Mexico.

Occupancy for the entire region dropped by 9.7% (reaching 61.1%) compared to last year, while the daily rate dropped by 10.2%. Also, the revenue per available room dropped to US$59.97 (18.9% decrease).

Among the markets, only San Juan (Puerto Rico) reported an increase in occupancy (to 81.7%). Three markets experienced decreased of over 20%: Buenos Aires (Argentina), Mexico City (Mexico) and Santiago (Chile), while Washington DC didn’t see any changes.

When it comes to the Average Daily Rate (ADR), Manitoba (Canada) reported a small increase, while Santiago and Washington DC reported a decrease of only 5%. Mexico City reported the highest decrease (30%), while New York saw a decrease of 27.1% (US$185.56).

The Revenue per Available Room (RevPAR) saw the same trend. While San Juan saw the smallest decrease, Buenos Aires, Mexico City, New York and Santiago experienced the highest decrease, of over 30%.

The reason

The results in August 2009 continue the trend reported by the industry in the past months. Demand has been showing signs of stabilization, as Mark Lomanno, president of STR, said, but the market is not back to the levels it was before the economic crisis.

Europe hotels

Across the Big Pond, in Europe, Italian hotels performed quite well in August. In Rome, the occupancy rate increased by 17.9% in August 2009 compared to last year but the markets in most European countries have a bleak future ahead. Vienna (Austria), Budapest (Hungary) and Prague (Czech Rep.) took the hardest hit in August 2009 as RevPAR declined by up to 25%.

It is estimated that the occupancy rate in Russia will drop by 26% by the end of 2009. Also, UK hoteliers expect the year to end with a decline as well, and hope to see an improvement in early 2010.