European hotel prices climb

Hotel prices jumped eight percent across Europe in May, new research from Trivago revealed this week, with prices reflecting current affairs and the onset of summer. The average cost of a room for the night across the continent this month is €132, up €10 on last month, with some destinations seeing double-digit price increases.

Destinations in Scandinavia have been particularly hard hit, Trivago said, with the average price in Stockholm up by 26 percent to €178 and Copenhagen up ten percent to €158.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the price of a night in a hotel in Cannes has soared by 30 percent in May ahead of the festival, averaging €172 a night -- Munich, soon to host the UEFA Champions League Finals, has also seen a price increase of 30 percent to €156.

Bargain hunters could do worse than head to Spain this month, including Malaga where prices are down 16 percent to €79 and Seville, which prices are 23 percent down on last month at €111.

Athens, where political instability continues to reign, has seen a price fall of 16 percent compared to the same time last year, leaving travelers paying just €96 on average.

Europe's most expensive destinations (May 2012)
1. Geneva €271
2. Venice €261
3. London €212
4. Paris €194
5. Stockholm €192