According to the latest report from leading hotel booking website Hotels.com, revealing the top 10 favorite overseas travel destinations for travelers in 2016, Japan remains a hot spot, taking up three of the top five spots, namely Tokyo and Osaka, which have retained the top two spots for years, as well as Okinawa. Other popular destinations on the list include Bangkok, Seoul, Hong Kong, Kyoto, Singapore, Shanghai, and the only European city — Paris.
Tokyo and Osaka remain the most loved overseas travel destinations. (Image source / MOOK Moleskine)
The Hotel Price Index™ (HPI™) report also indicates that in 2016, amid rapidly changing global political situations and highly volatile exchange rates, the average hotel rate paid by travelers worldwide remained the same as in 2015. This year marks the third consecutive year that the global HPI index stood at 114, with only North America and the Caribbean seeing a slight 1% increase, while indices in all other regions declined.
Paris saw fewer visitors last year due to frequent terrorist attacks. (Image source / MOOK Moleskine)
Looking closely at the changes in the average nightly hotel rates paid by travelers in the top 10 destinations, compared to 2015, only two destinations showed a decline: Paris (down 10%) and Bangkok (down slightly by 1%). Paris was affected by the frequent terrorist attacks last year, which somewhat deterred travelers. Hong Kong and Singapore remained stable, with no change in the average nightly rate, while the rest saw an increase of around 10%, with Okinawa (up 13%) showing the most significant rise.
2016 Ranking of Favorite Overseas Travel Destinations
Average Nightly Hotel Rate Changes (New Taiwan Dollars)
| Ranking | City | Average Nightly Rate | Compared to2015Previous Year |
| 1 | Tokyo | 4,153* | 7% |
| 2 | Osaka | 4,137 | 10% |
| 3 | Bangkok | 2,462 | -1% |
| 4 | Seoul | 2,890 | 6% |
| 5 | Okinawa | 4,515 | 13% |
| 6 | Hong Kong | 4,210 | 0% |
| 7 | Kyoto | 4,292 | 12% |
| 8 | Singapore | 4,156 | 0% |
| 9 | Shanghai | 3,982 | 7% |
| 10 | Paris | 4,687 | -10% |
Among the top 100 favorite overseas travel cities, the destinations with the highest hotel rates are all located in the U.S. (Image source / MOOK Moleskine)
It’s worth noting that among the top 100 popular destinations, the cities where travelers paid the highest hotel rates are all in the U.S., namely Boston, with an average nightly rate of NT$7,905, followed by Honolulu (Hawaii) at NT$7,831, and New York, with an average nightly rate of NT$7,769.
With the continuous launch of low-cost carriers and a significant increase in flight options, travelers can save on budgets by flying budget airlines. The report also reveals destinations where the average nightly hotel rates dropped by double digits, making it easier for travelers to manage accommodation expenses.
The best time to visit Milan, Mexico City, and Sabah—destinations where hotel prices dropped significantly. (Image source / MOOK Moleskine)
With the euro depreciation and lower airfares, traveling to Europe is no longer as expensive. Aside from Paris, mentioned above, compared to 2015, the average nightly hotel rate in fashion capital Milan dropped by over 20%, giving travelers more budget for shopping. Other European cities that saw price drops include Brussels (down 14%) and London (down 12%), affected by Brexit and the fall in the British pound.
This year, cross exploring ancient civilizations off your bucket list of dreams. According to the report, among destinations that saw double-digit drops, two major ancient civilization sites—Mexico City and Siem Reap—experienced declines of 17% and 15%, respectively, compared to 2015. Travelers who prefer laid-back island getaways shouldn’t miss the relaxing vibes of Sabah and Boracay, which also saw price decreases of over 10%.
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