European destinations dominate the world’s top ten this year with seven of the top ten including; Paris, London, Rome, Crete, Barcelona, Prague and Istanbul.
“Travellers planning a visit to one of the top 10 destinations in the world will get the best value in Istanbul, with the average nightly hotel rate on TripAdvisor coming in at £78,” commented TripAdvisor spokesperson, Hayley Coleman.
To help travellers plan their next trip to the world’s top ten destinations, TripAdvisor has identified highly-rated value hotels that cost less than the destination average.
1. Paris, France
Paris, France’s capital, is a major European city and a global center for art, fashion, gastronomy and culture. Its 19th-century cityscape is crisscrossed by wide boulevards and the River Seine. Beyond such landmarks as the Eiffel Tower and the 12th-century, Gothic Notre-Dame cathedral, the city is known for its cafe culture and designer boutiques along the Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré.
- Average annual hotel rate in Paris: AUD $301 per night on TripAdvisor
- Highly-rated value hotel: Hotel Bradford Elysees – Astotel, from AUD $198 per night on TripAdvisor
2. London, England
London, the capital of England and the United Kingdom, is a 21st-century city with history stretching back to Roman times. At its centre stand the imposing Houses of Parliament, the iconic ‘Big Ben’ clock tower and Westminster Abbey, site of British monarch coronations. Across the Thames River, the London Eye observation wheel provides panoramic views of the South Bank cultural complex, and the entire city.
- Average annual hotel rate in London: AUD $347 per night on TripAdvisor
- Highly-rated value hotel: The Piccadilly London West End, from AUD $319 per night on TripAdvisor
3. Rome, Italy
Rome, Italy’s capital, is a sprawling, cosmopolitan city with nearly 3,000 years of globally influential art, architecture and culture on display. Ancient ruins such as the Forum and the Colosseum evoke the power of the former Roman Empire. Vatican City, headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church, has St. Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican Museums, which house masterpieces such as Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel frescoes.
- Average annual hotel rate in Rome: AUD $246 per night on TripAdvisor
- Highly-rated value hotel: Deko Rome, from AUD $218 per night on TripAdvisor
4. Bali, Indonesia
Bali is an Indonesian island known for its forested volcanic mountains, iconic rice paddies, beaches and coral reefs. The island is home to religious sites such as cliffside Uluwatu Temple. To the south, the beachside city of Kuta has lively bars, while Seminyak, Sanur and Nusa Dua are popular resort towns. The island is also known for its yoga and meditation retreats.
- Average annual hotel rate in Bali: AUD $200 per night on TripAdvisor
- Highly-rated value hotel: The Villas Tejakula, from AUD $181 per night on TripAdvisor
5. Crete, Greece
Crete, Greece’s largest island, is known for its varied terrain, which ranges from fine-sand beaches at Elafonisi to the White Mountains. Mt. Ida, the tallest of the range, is home to the Ideon Cave, which was the birthplace of Zeus, according to Greek mythology. The capital, Heraklion, is home to the renowned Heraklion Archaeological Museum, housing Minoan artifacts, and Knossos, a Bronze Age settlement.
- Average annual hotel rate in Crete: AUD $218 per night on TripAdvisor
- Highly-rated value hotel: Elounda Garden Suites, from AUD $108 per night on TripAdvisor
6. Barcelona, Spain
Barcelona, the cosmopolitan capital of Spain’s Catalonia region, is known for its art and architecture. The fantastical Sagrada Família church and other modernist landmarks designed by Antoni Gaudí dot the city. Museu Picasso and Fundació Joan Miró feature modern art by their namesakes. City history museum MUHBA, includes several Roman archaeological sites.
- Average annual hotel rate in Barcelona: AUD $166 per night on TripAdvisor
- Highly-rated value hotel: Yurbban Passage Hotel & Spa, from AUD $235 per night on TripAdvisor
7. Prague, Czech Republic
Prague, capital city of the Czech Republic, is bisected by the Vltava River. Nicknamed “the City of a Hundred Spires,” it’s known for its Old Town Square, the heart of its historic core, with colorful baroque buildings, Gothic churches and the medieval Astronomical Clock, which gives an animated hourly show. Completed in 1402, pedestrian Charles Bridge is lined with statues of Catholic saints.
- Average annual hotel rate in Prague: AUD $105 per night on TripAdvisor
- Highly-rated value hotel: Hotel Pod Vezi, from AUD $143 per night on TripAdvisor
8. Marrakech, Morocco
Marrakesh, a former imperial city in western Morocco, is a major economic center and home to mosques, palaces and gardens. The medina is a densely packed, walled medieval city dating to the Berber Empire, with mazelike alleys where thriving souks (marketplaces) sell traditional textiles, pottery and jewelry. A symbol of the city, and visible for miles, is the Moorish minaret of 12th-century Koutoubia Mosque.
- Average annual hotel rate in Marrakech: AUD $125 per night on TripAdvisor
- Highly-rated value hotel: Riad Dar Dialkoum, from AUD $170 per night on TripAdvisor
9. Istanbul, Turkey
Istanbul is a major city in Turkey that straddles Europe and Asia across the Bosphorus Strait. Its Old City reflects cultural influences of the many empires that once ruled here. In the Sultanahmet district, the open-air, Roman-era Hippodrome was for centuries the site of chariot races, and Egyptian obelisks also remain. The iconic Byzantine Hagia Sophia features a soaring 6th-century dome and rare Christian mosaics.
- Average annual hotel rate in Istanbul: AUD $78 per night on TripAdvisor
- Highly-rated value hotel: Dersaadet Hotel Istanbul, from AUD $128 per night on TripAdvisor
10. New York City, United States Of America
New York City comprises 5 boroughs sitting where the Hudson River meets the Atlantic Ocean. At its core is Manhattan, a densely populated borough that’s among the world’s major commercial, financial and cultural centers. Its iconic sites include skyscrapers such as the Empire State Building and sprawling Central Park. Broadway theater is staged in neon-lit Times Square.
- Average annual hotel rate in New York City: AUD $531 per night on TripAdvisor
- Highly-rated value hotel: The Blakely New York, from AUD $327 per night on TripAdvisor
While these destinations may be the most popular in the world, there are many underrated and unknown hot spot destinations in the world which we highly recommend you visit.
If you have any questions about these above travel destinations or would like more information on our top recommended travel destinations, please feel free to get in touch.